On the other side, Isagi Yoichi's team was also in their dormitory, urgently preparing for battle.
"Although it seemed cool when we declared war, the pressure of actually having to play against them is really immense."
The four of them were no longer as imposing as they were on the field just now; every one of their expressions was grave. This was especially true for Isagi.
Their 4-man team was the type with maxed-out offense but insufficient defense. Barou, Nagi, and Otoya were all attacking forwards. Trying to win through defense was not an option; they had to go on an all-out attack against their opponents.
"In other words, the pace of tomorrow's match will be extremely fast."
"Even if they're not fast, we have to drive the pace of the game."
This was the strategy Isagi had thought of to defeat the enemy: to win with an even more ferocious attack. Among them, Barou had a high chance of becoming a wild card.
In the third stage, he had once wanted to integrate Barou into the team, to form a perfect chemical reaction with himself and Nagi to win the match. In the end, Barou was completely uncontrollable. His Majesty the King did as he pleased, only playing his own football, and finally scored the winning goal in an unexpected way.
Isagi had reason to believe that since even he couldn't see through Barou's actions, others wouldn't be able to either.
However.
"You guys... were really teammates with that guy, Tendou?"
Otoya's expression was a bit strange when he heard his arrangement.
"What's wrong, Eita? Do you have an objection to this arrangement?"
"Objection? It's more like this is no different from sending ourselves to our deaths. That guy Tendou's eyes... they can see the future."
???
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the other three in the dormitory all froze. They didn't quite understand what Otoya meant, and neither did the audience.
Left with no choice, Otoya could only tell them what he had experienced, from beginning to end.
"The first person to discover this was the Crow. Although in the end, that guy Tendou never admitted it, at the same time, he never denied it either."
"If all goes as expected, Tendou's eyes can see through all of our futures. So your plan to have Barou score an unexpected goal is not going to work."
There was such a thing?
After Isagi heard the whole story, his expression became grave. Otoya's voice was very soft, but the content was terrifying.
Isagi quickly thought back, recalling the scenes of playing football with Tendou in the past. And then he discovered that Tendou's actions in a match were indeed always one step, or even two, three steps... ahead of his opponents. At first, he only thought that Tendou's talent was too high... alright, his talent is too high.
Eyes that can see the future?
He had never even heard of such a thing!
Nagi Seishiro also revealed how he felt when he faced Tendou at that time. A sense of powerlessness that went deep into his bones.
The animation team took the opportunity to insert a flashback, a scene from the match between Tendou's team and Karasu's team. It was a full three minutes long. Such treatment, besides Tendou, no other supporting character had ever received. Just like in Kuroko's Basketball, Tendou's high popularity allowed him to snatch more screen time from Isagi. It was said that the animation team was already planning to make a spin-off, titled The Legend of Tendou.
And the real-world audience.
'Damn! I was wondering how he was so awesome! So he's a pupil-jutsu user!'
'Azure Sky Eyes! Just the name sounds extraordinary.'
'Amaterasu!'
'Foresight? Suddenly thought of those two Teiko captain and vice-captain from Kuroko's Basketball!'
'Hahaha, me too! If their character designs weren't different, I'd have thought they were the same person.'
'Demon Star of Teiko, step forward!'
The audience's discussion was enthusiastic, intense, and very lively. Although the anime had vaguely hinted at it before, this was the first time that another of Tendou's abilities had been truly revealed, along with the name of his Six Eyes.
And Isagi's team?
The three of them were silent. If this were the case, tomorrow's competition would be even more difficult.
...
A silent night passed.
The next day.
Because there was a match, Tendou and the others, after getting up, washing up, and eating breakfast, went to the field for a simple warm-up. After resting for three days, it was enough for them to forget all their physical fatigue.
In contrast, Isagi's team had to play a match every other day. In terms of stamina, they were definitely worse off than Tendou's team. However, they had another advantage, and that was their fighting spirit.
In the world of football, fighting spirit is extremely important, a key factor that can determine the outcome. Isagi's team, having climbed up from "loser's hell," had a desire for victory that surpassed Tendou's four!
...
In the afternoon, the eight players from the two teams arrived at the match venue. After both sides confirmed the duel, the gate to the field slowly opened.
"It's starting. Both sides have chosen a 2-2 formation," Anri said.
She and Ego were, as always, peeping from the control room. The importance of this match was self-evident. Whichever side won would form a 5-man team and then go to the final point to challenge the world all-star team. That would be the time to test the results of their Blue Lock project.
"Ego-san, who do you think will win?"
"The charm of football lies in its unpredictability. Even the seemingly stronger side can often be upset in a single-elimination match."
"What determines the outcome of a match is not necessarily strength, but also fighting spirit, and awakening in a desperate situation."
Ego did not give an answer. Because Isagi's team had the potential to pull off an upset.
...
The match began.
In white jerseys were Isagi, Barou, Nagi, and Otoya.
In black jerseys were Tendou, Reo, Karasu, and Chigiri.
Both teams' formation was a 2-2, two in front and two in back.
Isagi's team kicked off. He passed the ball to Nagi without hesitation.
"Bring it on, Nagi!" Reo was the first to meet him. Now was a good time to show their respective growth. They had been playing together since they first came into contact with football, on the same team for half a year, and they knew each other very well. To win against the other, it could only depend on what kind of progress each had made during their time apart.
"Hai!" Nagi replied obediently, but his actions were not obedient at all. Facing Reo's defense, he suddenly flicked the ball up while on the move. Without giving Reo time to react, his other foot also flicked up, using continuous touches to get past him. The ball, like a naughty "child," went over Reo's head. Nagi smoothly exerted force and accelerated past Reo's right side.
But.
BAM!
Just as Nagi was about to shake off his opponent, Reo suddenly extended his right arm, blocking Nagi's path.
The ball can pass, but the man cannot!
"Hmm?" Nagi was clearly stunned. This was the first time he had faced such a defense from Reo.
"Leaving me alone to go with Isagi... is this all you got from it, Nagi?!"
"Your dribbling is like those flashy tricks in a circus."
The "Nagi-man" was still brooding over being abandoned.
"Nice one, young master! Your revenge is magnificent." Chigiri was the first to rush over, getting to the first ball. "I'll be taking this ball!"
But.
"Bami!"
A familiar verbal tic suddenly exploded in his ear. Looking closely, Otoya, at some unknown point, had silently rushed over. Before Chigiri, he took a dive and controlled the ball under his feet.
"We meet again, you bastard ninja!" Chigiri gritted his teeth.
"Don't talk to me. I don't know you at all," Otoya said, landing and immediately accelerating past Chigiri. At the same time, Isagi and Barou were already coordinating with Otoya, making high-speed forward runs.
"I can do it! As long as I make good use of Eita's weapon, devour him, we definitely have a chance to win," Isagi roared in his heart as he pushed forward.
And now, in front of him, were Tendou and Karasu.
...
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