"He's devouring people!"
The university students on the sidelines cried out in alarm.
Tendou, still in high school, was facing Itoshi Sae in what could be called a battle above his weight class. Although the gap wasn't huge, the ease with which he knocked Sae aside showed that his physical condition was just too much.
One must know, the professional training Itoshi Sae received at Real Madrid's youth academy and the training received in a high school football club here were simply incomparable. It could even be said that even the top high school players right now, who already look outstanding, have not yet had their talents fully unearthed. This is also why, after the Blue Lock project was implemented, those 300-plus players saw their abilities rapidly improve in a short period. In the later stages of the manga, Isagi Yoichi and the others are even able to catch up to the most outstanding young generation in Europe today.
A professional trainer is far too important for a player.
However, they didn't know that Tendou was undergoing the most professional training imaginable. It was a kind of training even more professional than that of a pro club. All of his training plans were meticulously crafted by the system.
Itoshi Sae was also greatly surprised. He hadn't expected the difference in their physical strength to be so immense. This was true, innate talent.
Then what about that guy in Norway? How strong must he be?
He thought of that monster who had made his Bundesliga debut at the age of 18 earlier this year and had even turned down an invitation from Juventus.
But just as he himself had said.
Itoshi Sae would not believe he was weaker than anyone!
"It's not over yet, kid."
He let out a loud shout, a light blooming in his pupils. Itoshi Sae stabilized his body and, like an刺 an arrow, shot through the air.
Clap!
Tendou, who was in the middle of a shooting motion, didn't have time to connect his right foot with the ball and blast it into the goal. In the next second, Itoshi Sae had rushed over and cleared the ball with a slide tackle.
"This is really... interesting." Tendou looked directly into his opponent's pupils. Strands of light were emanating from them, making his already cold and proud expression even more unapproachable.
He asked, "What is this?"
"Flow!" Itoshi Sae uttered a single word.
Translated, it meant Flow State!
So it really is that!
Tendou already knew what this was. It was a state-based buff, similar to the Zone. It was first proposed by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and refers to the optimal experience state an individual reaches in an activity where challenge and skill are balanced.
This state has four characteristics:
First, complete concentration. Attention is fully focused on the current "task," automatically filtering out all external distractions.
Second, a distorted sense of time. One might feel time speeding up or standing still. Many people have surely experienced this; when you are focused on something, time passes without you noticing.
Third, intrinsic pleasure. No external incentives or rewards are needed; the player derives satisfaction from the game itself. This sense of pleasure probably refers to the excitement of the body's cells, which can boost the player's motivation and passion for the fight.
Fourth, autotelic experience. Actions and consciousness merge, and there is no need for conscious thought.
Itoshi Sae didn't hide it. He believed that Tendou would sooner or later be able to enter such a state and master it. He suddenly felt that Japanese football was not entirely hopeless. At least the arrogant kid in front of him had talent that was enough to make him take notice.
"Let's continue, kid. Our match isn't over yet."
Without any more words, Itoshi Sae placed his foot on the ball again and, in the next second, charged forward with it once more. After entering the Flow State, his agility had increased by another three levels.
Tendou once again took the initiative to meet him head-on, embodying his aggressive style through and through.
"Hmph." Itoshi Sae let out a cold snort. The moment their bodies made contact, his legs began to rapidly move back and forth in front of the ball.
Step-overs!
Not like Cristiano Ronaldo's step-overs that looked like he was being electrocuted. Itoshi Sae's step-overs were very smooth, almost without pause. Tendou was forced to retreat continuously, not daring to rashly stick out a foot to disrupt him.
"This guy's shooting range is over 30 meters!"
Tendou observed with his Six Eyes, as if trying to see right through Itoshi Sae, searching for a flaw. Observe, analyze, track... and finally, defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!
Tendou's Six Eyes snapped open, as sharp as a falcon's.
"Dismantle!"
He had found the opening, seeing through Itoshi Sae's movements from the future. Amidst the dazzling step-overs, Tendou found the flaw, kicked out his foot, and knocked the ball away.
"What?!" Itoshi Sae was shocked again. Although his step-over technique couldn't compare to Robinho's, it shouldn't be so easy for someone to steal the ball from him like that, right?
It's not fake. This kid... he really has an ability that can read my movements.
Is it those eyes?
Itoshi Sae stared into Tendou's eyes, which were as vast as the sky, giving off an immense, endless pressure.
But.
"It's not over!"
Itoshi Sae immediately pressed to win the ball back.
On the sidelines, the university students' eyes gradually widened, their mouths hanging open. Their faces were filled with shock.
Where on earth did this damn high school student pop out from? They had heard of genius players like Kira Ryosuke. Geniuses always received a lot of attention.
But this guy in front of them? Why had they never heard his name before?
Watching Tendou on the field, entangled with Itoshi Sae, their figures constantly crisscrossing, with offense and defense going back and forth, and Tendou even faintly holding the upper hand.
They cried out, "This isn't scientific!"
"Even breaking the limits isn't enough?"
"It seems I've underestimated the people of this world, and also underestimated the sport of football."
Tendou had played basketball for so many years and had long since gotten used to controlling the ball with his hands. Now, switching to kicking a ball with his feet, he realized it wasn't that simple.
"In that case..."
"I'll crush you in one go, Mr. Lower Eyelashes!"
BOOM!
The gates of the Zone swung open, and Tendou stepped right in. This domain was like Tendou's personal backyard; he could enter whenever he wanted. His overwhelming talent seemed to mock all who were incompetent.
BZZT!
Silvery-white electrical sparks erupted from the corners of his eyes, and his gaze turned to the extreme of coldness.
"What is this now?!" Itoshi Sae's whole body trembled, feeling a bone-chilling cold. He was currently on high alert for Tendou's explosive burst, but suddenly saw that black monster appear right behind him.
What?
Before his body could even react, Tendou's figure vanished from in front of him and reappeared behind him.
"It's not the Flow State. It's an unknown domain I've never seen before," he thought, turning his head in horror. He asked in his mind, "What in the world is this?"
"Sae-kun!"
Just then, a car screeched to a halt by the side of the field. A middle-aged man in a black suit got out of the car and shouted towards Itoshi Sae on the field.
"It's getting late, it's time to go back to Tokyo!"
...
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