Blue Lock felt different on this morning of the final round-robin match.
Not louder.
Not quieter.
Just… sharper.
Every surviving striker carried the look of someone walking toward either glory or erasure. Team X had momentum again—three wins, one loss—and all that remained between survival and elimination was a rematch with Team Y.
Akashi Sejiro tightened his gloves as the team gathered in the tunnel. Perfect Memory replayed every detail of their last encounter with Team Y:
• Their defensive collapse after Barou's first goal
• Ranmaru's pace
• Their improved midfield pressure
• The fear in their eyes after Akashi scored
But fear isn't permanent. Pressure transforms players. If Team Y adapted as much as we did… this match won't be easy.
Barou cracked his neck beside him.
"Last match of Phase One," Barou growled. "I'm not letting some no-name team stand in my way. I'll crush them."
Akashi offered a small nod.
"Crush them intelligently."
Barou scoffed. "Tch. Don't start lecturing me."
But inside, Barou admitted:
That he needs to make them understand who was the best player even if it meant working with Akashi
---
Team Y Arrives
Team Y walked onto the pitch with a weight they didn't have before.
Captain Tetsuya Ranmaru carried himself differently now—faster footwork during warm-ups, sharper posture, pupils dilated with competitive fire. His teammates moved with cohesion and purpose.
Ranmaru locked eyes with Akashi.
"That red-eyed guy…" Ranmaru whispered. "He's the one who tore us apart.
This time… I'm going through him."
Senda, their midfielder, nodded.
"And Barou too. They're dangerous together. We shut them both down."
Their internal fear had evolved into conviction.
And that made them exponentially more dangerous.
---
Kickoff
The whistle shrieked.
Team Y struck first—fast, coordinated, confident. Ranmaru darted past two midfielders, Senda threading passes into the gaps.
Barou inhaled sharply.
"They think they can match my speed?"
Akashi's eyes tracked Ranmaru's movement.
He's faster than before. Not instinctive—trained. He evolved specifically to counter me.
Ranmaru feinted left—hard.
Akashi cut the angle instantly.
He read me?! Ranmaru's heart skipped. Already?!
But Ranmaru didn't freeze.
He spun, surged forward—
—and Barou intercepted with brute force.
"You're not scoring," Barou snarled.
He launched the ball to Akashi instantly—an unspoken acknowledgment that they needed each other.
Akashi accelerated.
Barou mirrored.
Team Y braced.
Too late.
A single pass between them shattered three defenders.
Barou slammed the ball into the net.
1–0.
---
Isagi, watching from Broadcast, clenched his fists.
"Team X is scary now… their chemistry is actually real."
Chigiri smiled faintly.
"But Team Y looks sharp too. This won't be an easy win."
Down on the pitch, Ranmaru wasn't discouraged.
So what if they scored? That was the past version of me they beat. I'm not that player anymore.
Senda flicked a deceptive pass—a no-look through-ball.
Ranmaru exploded into the seam.
Akashi saw it—too late.
He baited me… and used the opening.
Ranmaru cut between two defenders and fired.
The net shook.
1–1.
Barou glared.
"That little… I'll crush him."
Akashi said under his breath.
"He's not the same opponent. We need to dominate or we go home."
---
Team X regrouped.
Akashi spoke first.
"Ranmaru's new pathing is direct, but unstable. Force him to the right channel. His right-foot finishing isn't as strong."
The midfielder nodded. Barou glared.
"You talk too much."
But inside—
He's reading them better than anyone. I'll trust it for now.
When play resumed, Akashi immediately pressed Ranmaru, guiding his movement like a shepherd herding a wolf.
Ranmaru grit his teeth.
He's messing with my rhythm…!
He pushed right—hesitated—
And that hesitation killed him, boom! ankle breaker sent to the ground.
From the side -
Barou snatched the ball, muscles coiled with explosive rage. He bolted downfield.
Team Y's defenders collapsed as they faced his charge but they decided to outnumber him.
—and Barou passed.
A perfect, brutal pass.
Akashi was already sprinting into the blind spot.
Good pass, Akashi thought. He's learning.
Two defenders lunged.
Akashi's Eyes of the Emperor saw their timing, their footwork and dismantled it.
A feint.
A burst.
A shot into the top corner.
2–1.
---
With that Team Y panicked.
Their shape broke.
Their rhythm collapsed.
Akashi intercepted Senda's final pass attempt with surgical precision.
Bachira whistled from the stands.
"Whoa… he read that before Senda even made the choice!"
Kunigami nodded.
"That guy… he's becoming a monster."
Chigiri said. "He already was a monster."
Akashi flicked the ball forward.
Barou was waiting.
"Give it!"
Akashi lobbed a high pass—measured, perfect.
Barou roared as he smashed through the final defender, unleashing a cannon shot that ripped into the net.
3–1.
The whistle ended the match.
Team X had survived.
---
After the Match
Ranmaru dropped to his knees, panting.
"We still couldn't beat them…"
Senda placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We lost but, This isn't the end."
At the opposite end of the pitch—
Barou smirked. "I told you. I'm the King."
Akashi approached him.
"You played well."
Barou clicked his tongue but didn't deny it.
Inside Akashi's mind, something crystallized:
This victory wasn't luck.
It was growth.
And this is just the beginning.
They made their way towards the their hall.
---
Ego's Announcement
The arena lights shut off abruptly.
Ego Jinpachi appeared on the giant screens.
"Congratulations, strikers. Those who have survived the First Selection… move on to the Second Selection."
The screen flickered.
"From this point forward, individual skill will decide whether you advance or disappear forever. Teamwork will matter—but only if it amplifies your ego."
His voice dropped an octave.
"Prepare yourselves.
The real Blue Lock begins now."
Akashi felt his heartbeat steady.
Second Selection… I've been waiting for this.
Barou cracked his knuckles.
"Good. More prey."
And with that the final chapter of Phase One closed.