Unfortunately, in a direct head-on clash, Yoichi Isagi and Nijiro Nanase were no match for Shōei Barō.
With a series of chop feints, Shōei Barō completely shook off both players.
After getting past them, he pushed forward toward the center of Team A’s backfield.
But it was clear he could hardly advance any farther. Not only had Yo Hiori successfully tracked back to block him,
Rin Itoshi and Ryusei Shido—who had been marking him—also arrived in the same area of Team A’s backfield.
The match once again descended into a chaotic free-for-all.
Shōei Barō didn’t rush forward. Instead, he kept analyzing, watching every player around him.
But Yo Hiori gave him no time to think—he suddenly burst forward to intercept.
Shōei Barō reacted instantly, pulling the ball back with his right foot. But in the very moment he did…
a figure darted in and blasted the ball right out from under him!
“Huh?! Ryūma Banjō?!”
Sure enough—it was Ryūma Banjō, fully switched into his Limit-Breaking State.
Yo Hiori was just about to say something more, but his expression instantly soured.
Because at this critical moment, the ball Ryūma had kicked away was flying straight toward Kudo Tōya.
As Kudo Tōya trapped the ball with his chest and swung his right leg wide, Ryusei Shido on the opposite side moved at the same time—
but not toward Tōya. He sprinted in the opposite direction.
Rin Itoshi did the same, having read Ryusei Shido’s intention, bolting toward the far side.
Sure enough, without any wasted motion, Tōya planted his foot and sent the ball toward the right side of Team A’s backfield—
exactly where Ryusei Shido and Rin Itoshi were heading.
As the ball dropped perfectly, Ryusei Shido knew he absolutely couldn’t let Rin Itoshi catch him.
If Rin got there first, his aerial Blitz Shot would die before it ever left the ground.
But just as Ryusei Shido was about to leap, Rin Itoshi’s arm pressed across his chest, completely cutting off his chance to jump.
“Nice, Rin! He can’t shoot now!”
Hearing Yoichi Isagi’s words, Ryusei Shido didn’t show disappointment—he burst into laughter instead.
“Impossible? What does that even mean?”
“Who said it’s impossible?!”
Using the pressure from Rin’s arm, Ryusei Shido twisted his body, spinning with the momentum.
In a ridiculous contorted posture, he whipped the ball toward Team A’s goal.
The shot curved in a wide, right-opening “U” arc that left everyone in Blue Lock bewildered.
But just before it could go in, Yoichi Isagi leapt high and headed it away.
“Right here, Shido!!”
“Huh?! Yoichi Isagi?!”
From a distance, Ryūma Banjō felt a surge of excitement.
(The moment I saw you move, I knew you were hiding something big.)
(And since Hiori is the closest to the ball now, I’ll wait for him to pass it to me—then I’ll end this match.)
(Tōya’s still over there strolling around… no idea what’s going through his head.)
When Ryūma glanced toward where Kudo Tōya had been, he realized Tōya was already gone.
He whipped his head toward the ball, shouting:
“Hiori! Hurry! Just get the ball—”
Kudo Tōya had already beaten Yo Hiori to it.
Planting his left foot, he swung his right leg far back, taking the posture of a textbook shot.
Seeing this, Yo Hiori grit his teeth and threw himself into a sliding tackle.
His tackling skills weren’t refined—barely serviceable—but desperation forced his hand. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel fire.net
Yet even this didn’t draw so much as a flicker of surprise from Kudo Tōya.
“Pointless. I’m on a completely different level from you.”
As he spoke, his right foot drove hard into the ball—
but it wasn’t a shot. It was a pass.
And the moment he struck it, Tōya burst forward toward his left flank.
The target of the pass was Kyohei Shiguma, who instantly understood what Tōya wanted.
He stepped forward and returned the ball with a quick one-touch pass.
Tōya was already set—left leg raised.
As the ball rolled into place, he unleashed a full-power Blitz Shot straight at Team A’s goal.
This time, the Blue Lock keeper reacted perfectly, diving toward Tōya’s shot.
But at the last instant, the ball smacked the post—
then ricocheted into Team A’s net.
GOAL!! Team A 4 : 3 Team B
“Haha! You’re this strong?! Little Tōya-chan?!”
Ryusei Shido yelled excitedly, jumping onto Kudo Tōya’s back.
“Get off me, you horny demon!”
“Alright, alright! But seriously—what’s with you? How did you suddenly get this strong?”
Kudo Tōya looked back at Ryusei Shido, then glanced toward Ryūma Banjō and Rin Itoshi before replying calmly:
“I’m not completely sure myself.”
“All I know is—right now, I rule this entire field.”
“At this moment… I’m invincible.”
On the side, Rin Itoshi approached with a thoroughly annoyed expression.
“Tch. You really love the sound of your own voice.”
Ryūma Banjō joined in, scoffing.
“Yeah, sure. Score one lucky goal and suddenly you’re invincible?”
“You’ll understand what I mean soon enough. Right now—I’m unbeatable.”
With that, Kudo Tōya dragged the still-barking Ryusei Shido back toward their half, waiting for the kickoff.
After Tōya left, Ryūma Banjō fell deep into thought.
He wasn’t nearly as relaxed as he looked.
(Tōya was right about one thing—I really can’t stop him.)
(There were several times I couldn’t even slow him down… What am I supposed to do?)
Ryūma glanced at Rin Itoshi and asked:
“So, Rin? Any way to deal with Tōya?”
“Yeah. Leave him to me. I’ll go trade a few blows with him.”
Ryūma blinked, then quickly clarified:
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“I meant the two of us teaming up to handle him. Ryusei can watch him at key moments—”
“Cut it out. It’s decided.”
Rin Itoshi clearly wasn’t planning to listen any further. He turned and headed to the center circle.
Ryūma twitched at the corner of his mouth, muttering:
“Fine. When Tōya destroys you later, I’ll be right there laughing and clapping!!”