Chapter 10: Battle Against Team Z

As the group joked around, the mechanical voice rang out again.

“The fourth match in Building 5 has concluded! The fifth match will be Team V versus Team Z. Both teams, prepare to head to the field!”

“Alright, enough messing around. Time to claim our next victory! But this time, I’m definitely scoring the most goals!”

“Heh, we’ll see about that—on the field.”

Rin Itoshi walked off toward the locker room, with Ryūma and the others following close behind.

...

In Team V’s locker room...

“Oh? Already changed? Let’s not waste time—given our strength, none of you are even thinking about losing, right?”

Ryūma grinned arrogantly as he changed, addressing the group.

“Of course! With you leading us, Ryūma, we three can’t even imagine defeat!”

“Hahaha! The three of you flattering me in perfect sync—now that’s music to my ears!”

“Alright, let’s go, brothers!”

Laughing proudly, Ryūma headed straight for the field. Behind him, everyone else—except Rin Itoshi, whose face remained as cold as ever—no longer carried the nervousness of their first game.

Watching the backs of Ryūma and Rin Itoshi, the rest of Team V believed with absolute certainty: as long as those two were here, victory was guaranteed!

...

On the field...

“Ah~ The sky’s so blue, Ryūma. But what if it rains?”

“Forget that, Hiori. The real issue is why Team Z is acting so cocky? Making a whole show and keeping us waiting?”

“Good thing Blue Lock forbids violence. Hiori, if this were outside, I’d beat them down until they were kneeling on the ground singing ‘Conquest.’ Guess you could say Blue Lock saved them!”

Just as Ryūma was boasting to Yo Hiori, Team Z finally arrived.

The first four to appear were towering, muscular giants, each larger than the last. Yet they left the center spot open, clearly reserved for their core player.

Then, the last one emerged, stepping into the middle of the four as the rest of Team Z followed behind.

Ryūma was so stunned he could hardly speak, even considering reporting this to Ego.

“Wait... Hiori, did I come to the wrong place? Are you sure this is supposed to be 300 forwards? Those four from Team Z—are they high jumpers or what?”

“Look at their height! The tallest one—my head barely reaches his chest!”

“And that guy in the middle is even more ridiculous. He’s round like a ball—he’s a forward? If you hadn’t told me, I’d swear he was some gang boss bringing his crew for a fight!”

Before Ryūma could complain further, Yo Hiori teased him with a grin.

“Ryūma, didn’t you just say if this were outside Blue Lock, you’d beat them until they were kneeling?”

“Uh—don’t twist my words, Hiori! I was a model student, you know. No way I’d ever do something so cruel!”

Yo Hiori gave him a look that screamed, “Do you even believe yourself?” and added,

“Still, I’m curious... is that fat guy really a forward? Can he even run?”

The mechanical voice cut off their banter.

“Building 5, Match 5: Team V versus Team Z. Kickoff!!”

Team Z had possession!

(Huh? I just realized—the guy on Team Z who looks kind of like Lupin the Third is Yukio Ishikari.)

(Man, he’s tall. And the other three aren’t short either. Passing’s gonna be risky—easy to get intercepted mid-air.)

While Ryūma was still processing, the match had already begun.

But Team Z didn’t attack. Instead, they calmly passed the ball back and forth in their own half, keeping it away from Team V’s pressing players.

(Huh? What are they doing? Not attacking? Fine, then I won’t hold back!)

Ryūma burst forward at full speed toward the ball carrier.

“No clue what you’re planning, but this ball is mine!”

His speed exploded as he moved in for the steal—but the Z player immediately passed it off.

Even with Ryūma’s pace, he couldn’t outrun their rapid one-touch passing.

“Tch! Work with me on the press! Triplets, don’t let them link passes. Hiori, be ready to receive. The rest of you, mark your man!”

Shouting orders, Ryūma lunged at the next ball carrier—only for him to pass it again instantly.

“Intercept him, Triplets!”

Ryūma yelled, charging alongside them—when suddenly, a figure appeared in front of the ball and swung his leg for a shot!

(Huh? Is this Z forward insane? Shooting from their own half? That range makes me and Rin look tame!)

Before Ryūma could finish the thought, the ball thundered off his foot—[Boom!]—and went straight out of bounds on Team V’s left midfield sideline.

(What the hell was that? Clearing it just to stop me? But I still get the ball. Pointless trick.)

“I’ll take the throw-in! Keep up with me!”

Ryūma grabbed the ball and surged down the left flank. As the first defender closed in, his eyes flashed purple once more.

“Accelerate!”

He exploded forward, zigzagging through three defenders in an instant.

“Damn! He’s too fast! You take him!”

“Damn it—he blew past me before I even reacted!”

“He’s nothing like the footage! Facing him in person is impossible—stop him, quick!”

Though Ryūma left three defenders behind, they seemed strangely unconcerned.

“Heh! Too easy. They’re practically giving me this goal. The first point is mine!”

But just as he neared the box, Yukio Ishikari’s massive frame loomed in front of him.

“You’re not getting past me, Ryūma.”

“Oh yeah? Only one way to find out, big guy.”

Ryūma’s feet blurred—rapid inside-outside touches, an ultra-fast step-over. He dropped his shoulder left, then suddenly burst right.

“Not happening!”

Using his long legs, Ishikari stretched out to block.

But Ryūma reacted instantly, spinning into a Marseille turn and blasting past him on the left!

Just as he prepared to push forward, another figure appeared out of nowhere, cutting off the ball.

He passed it back to a Z forward retreating into defense. But instead of counterattacking, the forward simply booted the ball out of bounds again!

(When did he get here? Must’ve been hiding behind Ishikari’s tall frame, waiting as backup. So even if I’d beaten Ishikari clean, I still wouldn’t have gotten through. These guys… they don’t even attack!)

(Every time they win the ball, they either pass endlessly to kill time or just clear it out. The whole team’s formation never changes. How do they plan to win like this?)

(Wait… maintaining formation without ever attacking...)

As Ryūma returned to the sideline for the throw-in, he studied Team Z’s setup again—and finally understood why they were so tough to break.

Four players stood in a line across the front of the penalty area, spaced just right to cover every gap. Ishikari was among them, and the others were nearly as tall and broad.

Ahead of them stood five more: one wide on each flank, the remaining three forming another line that sealed every hole left by the first four.

Up front, only one man remained—his sole task: boot any incoming ball out of bounds. A perfect wall of defense!

Their strategy was obvious: if they couldn’t outscore Ryūma and Rin Itoshi, they’d fight tooth and nail to defend, grind out a draw, and secure a point!

“So this is what they call an iron wall? How fascinating!”

“Ego was right—strikers are destroyers! Scoring is the way to break them!”

“If I can shatter this wall… my soccer will evolve again!”

Lowering his head, Ryūma exhaled deeply. Then he snapped it up, eyes blazing, and laughed manically.

“I’ll use my speed to rip apart their formation!”

“My dribbling to crush their confidence!!”

“My shot to completely destroy them!!!”

The words had barely left his mouth before Ryūma drove his left foot into the turf. Purple flames surged around him, his pupils turning deep violet once more.

Then, exploding with terrifying speed, he charged at Team Z with the ball!