"The New Hero Battle, Game 4: Italy's Ubers vs. Spain's FC Barcha, begins now!"
With the referee's signal, the match that had captured the attention of countless fans finally kicked off. The ball was passed to Bachira Meguru, who stood ready at the center of the field.
"Wow, I'd heard about it, but being on the field really makes it clear—this is like trying to break through an impenetrable wall," Bachira muttered, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he observed Ubers' tightly knit, ironclad defensive formation. "Well then, let's see just how far the monster inside me can go!"
Facing Kunigami, who charged forward first, Bachira kept the ball glued to his feet. He shifted his weight rapidly, alternating between his left and right foot in a mesmerizing dribble that made it impossible to predict his next move. His unorthodox style constantly disrupted Kunigami's balance, keeping him on edge.
'What a strange dribble. He's constantly moving, but it doesn't feel as aggressive as Bachira's usual style. Is he waiting for me to make the first move and expose a weakness?' Kunigami analyzed Bachira's movements. Thanks to Snuffy's guidance, his understanding of defense had grown exponentially. He quickly grasped Bachira's intent. 'Even though I know you're setting a trap, what if I willingly step into it?'
With his mind made up, Kunigami shifted his defensive approach. He lunged forward aggressively the moment Bachira touched the ball, aiming to intercept.
But Bachira swiftly flicked the ball to the right, evading Kunigami's tackle, then pulled it back with a quick step. Just as Kunigami's weight shifted to the left—
"Got you, muscle-headed hero!" Bachira's face lit up with the glee of a successful prank. He quickly moved his left foot, using his heel to knock the ball from behind back to the right. "This is the new Bachira Meguru—a trick that waits just one step longer.
*Swish— Swish—*
But before Bachira could revel in his success, a low, grinding sound echoed as Kunigami violently planted his foot into the turf, forcing an abrupt stop. Grass and dirt flew as he used the momentum to pivot and keep up with Bachira's movement. "Dancing alone is no fun. Let me join you!"
"You actually kept up? Impressive... your physicality is something else. Well then..." Bachira's gaze dropped slightly, focusing on the ball's trajectory.
As the ball he had flicked to the right approached his foot, the tension between the two players thickened. Both could feel it—the next touch would decide the outcome of this duel. So—
"Just kidding!"
Just as Kunigami tensed his body, preparing to react to Bachira's next move, Bachira suddenly accelerated. His right foot, which had been planted as his pivot, subtly shifted inward.
Unnoticed by Kunigami, Bachira had already switched his center of gravity. Kunigami, who had been focused entirely on the moment the ball would meet Bachira's right foot, was caught off guard by the sudden change in pace. His reaction slowed just enough for Bachira to completely shake him off with a dazzling shift in rhythm.
"Not everyone gets to be my dance partner, you know," Bachira teased as he received the ball with his left foot and pushed it forward, swiftly gliding past the now-lagging Kunigami.
However, he was immediately met by Lorenzo, who had quickly moved in to cover the gap. "Oh, hello there, Mr. 25 Million. Think I can be your dance partner too?"
'Wow, his reaction time is insane. He covered the gap almost the moment Kunigami lost his position. As expected of one of the Eleven Heroes. But his defensive stance is so weird—normally, you'd maintain balance to react to your opponent's moves. This guy's just swaying all over the place. I can't figure out his intentions or his center of gravity at all.'
Bachira quickly processed the situation and realized he couldn't overpower Lorenzo in a direct confrontation.
Instead, he feigned a move to the right, forcing Lorenzo to hesitate and creating just enough space for his next action.
With a quick flick of his heel, Bachira sent the ball sideways in a precise pass.
"Nice one, Bachira!" Kira Ryosuke, who had been making a run into space, received the pass. But before he could advance further, Barou quickly closed in to block his path. "Didn't expect to see you here. I thought you'd end up in Germany or something. Wouldn't a place like Bastard München, with their focus on rationality, suit you better?"
"True, both Bastard München and your Ubers would fit my playstyle well. But what's suitable isn't always what's best. In Blue Lock, I realized something—I'm different from all of you."
Kira acknowledged Barou's words with a calm demeanor, dribbling the ball while casually chatting. "I've been too deeply influenced by Japan's outdated football philosophy. Compared to you guys, I lack individuality and soul. I realized this during the U-20 match. I was actually very close to entering the FLOW state, but I couldn't do it. The team dynamic was different from the one I first entered FLOW with."
"That slight difference held me back. So, I knew that relying solely on the team would never make me the best in the world. I had to carve out my own style and imprint my soul onto my play."
Barou quickly adjusted his stance to keep up with Kira's movements, then sneered, "So, have you found it? From what I see, your dribbling is still the same old textbook stuff. Where's this 'soul' of yours?"
"Is being textbook so bad?" Kira's response caught Barou off guard. Then, Kira began attempting to break through with movements so precise they could've been lifted straight from a coaching manual.
At first, Barou managed to keep up, but gradually, as Kira flawlessly executed one iconic dribbling move after another, Barou realized with growing frustration that he was struggling to match Kira's rhythm.
"Not to boast, but as the so-called 'treasure' of Japanese football, having textbook-perfect technique was one of my biggest selling points. There's no reason for me to abandon that. On the contrary, I'm going to make every single move I do as precise as a textbook example."
Kira continued to explain, but Barou found it increasingly difficult to defend against him.
Finally, after Kira used a Puskas feint to disrupt Barou's balance, he seized the moment to pull the ball back, switch feet, and execute a flawless Maradona turn, bringing an end to the prolonged duel.
"If I've never had a distinctive style, then I'll make this 'lack of style' my unique trademark. I'll incorporate every possible move into my arsenal. I may not be able to deliver a decisive finishing blow, but I can adapt to any situation with an endless variety of techniques.
"My ego is to become an offensive kaleidoscope in the football world—a living encyclopedia of the game!"
------------------
Want to read 20 advance chapters ahead?
Go to my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass