Chapter 7: Level Up! Total Concentration Breathing LV2
"Same as during the day—although intermittent use isn't really a problem, every time I enter Total Concentration Breathing, it still only lasts for a fleeting moment."
"Thunderclap and Flash looks like an ability that instantly boosts explosive leg power. It's not only useful for shooting, but also for breaking through and repositioning on the field. Combined with Total Concentration Breathing, it can create truly absurd results. It affects both legs, though the soreness isn't as bad as when shooting. Still, it's something that can only be used at critical moments."
"And even outside of Total Concentration Breathing, this skill has a wide range of applications. Since it'll take time before I can maintain the breathing technique for long periods, I need to fully master the basics first…"
Ryosuke Kira wiped the sweat off his forehead. The soreness hadn't completely faded yet, but he didn't dislike the feeling.
His proficiency with Total Concentration Breathing was also rising bit by bit.
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Every day after that, Kira went to the field before sunrise for training.
Because he caused too much of a commotion the first day, he no longer used Thunderclap and Flash in full concentration mode inside the stadium, instead practicing it in his normal state.
Most importantly, a match lasts over ninety minutes. Kira knew his current limits. Even if others called him a genius or a prodigy, that alone wasn't enough. Total Concentration Breathing could temporarily enhance his stamina, but the time he could sustain it during a full match was limited. Once he used Thunderclap and Flash in that state, he couldn't use it again for a while afterward. That made the "basic version" of the technique all the more crucial.
The accuracy of shots using Thunderclap and Flash, the speed while dribbling — these were all things Kira needed to train.
During this same early hour, Riko would also come to the facility for her morning exercise. Since this was Kira's personal technical training, she didn't interfere — at most helping him with warm-ups.
But sometimes, as she stretched, she'd find herself unconsciously watching him train — his movements and speed far exceeded her expectations.
And, she couldn't deny it — Ryosuke Kira was remarkably handsome.
Once the sun rose completely and more people arrived, Riko would take him to the gym to begin the most important part — physical conditioning. He spent almost the entire day there, even eating lunch and dinner inside.
At night, Kira continued practicing his breathing technique — jogging outdoors, adjusting his breathing, and trying to apply the explosive power of Thunderclap and Flash to running.
He even went so far as to buy a gourd, just like in Demon Slayer, blowing into it every day to strengthen his lung capacity.
Before he knew it, a week had quietly passed.
Time flew by, and it was now the day before he had to report to the Football Association.
It was already evening. After finishing his final day of physical training, Kira washed off the sweat in the gym's shower room.
Feeling the gentle stream of water washing away his fatigue, he opened his system interface.
[ God-Tier Football Skill System ]
[ Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — Total Concentration LV1 | Proficiency: 100% | Upgrade available – Cost: 50 Points ]
[ Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — First Form: Thunderclap and Flash LV1 | Proficiency: 100% | Upgrade available – Cost: 50 Points ]
[ Current Points: 80 ]
After all his training, he had finally maxed out both Total Concentration Breathing and Thunderclap and Flash today. Every morning he practiced over a thousand shots, and every night he worked on his breathing technique without fail.
A week might not seem long, but Kira could feel his progress — visible, tangible improvement with each passing day.
Physically, he was far stronger than he'd been a week ago, even more than he expected. That wasn't just from the breathing practice — it was also thanks to Riko's custom "Hell Mode" training program and the balanced meals she prepared every day to maximize efficiency.
Through constant breathing and lung capacity training, Kira's control over Total Concentration Breathing had steadily improved. Though he could still only sustain it for two to three seconds at a time, he could now use it more frequently.
Moreover, as his stamina and mastery grew, the strain from using Thunderclap and Flash in that state lessened. His left-footed shots had also become much sharper — now he could even perform Thunderclap and Flash shots with either foot at high accuracy, something the original Ryosuke could never have done.
He refocused his thoughts on the two skills, considering which one to upgrade first.
"If I upgrade Total Concentration Breathing, I should be able to extend how long I can stay in that state and use it more often. If I upgrade Thunderclap and Flash, the move's power will increase and its side effects will lessen... For now, Total Concentration Breathing is more important — it boosts my physical stats and training efficiency. And since Blue Lock starts tomorrow, I still have fitness tests and adaptation days before the first official match in three days — I can always upgrade Thunderclap and Flash then."
Having made up his mind, Kira confirmed his choice.
[ Upgrade successful! Thunder Breathing – Total Concentration has reached LV2. Proficiency reset. ]
[ Thunder Breathing – Total Concentration LV2 | Proficiency: 0% ]
[ Current Points: 30 ]
The glowing system text flashed before Kira's eyes as he felt a mysterious surge of power flow through his body.
After the upgrade, the skill's proficiency reset, meaning he'd need to retrain it from scratch — and he knew it would only take more time and effort to reach the next level.
He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and carefully felt the difference between LV2 and before.
He could clearly sense oxygen rushing into his lungs, turning into energy throughout his body.
After a while, Kira exhaled, returning to his normal breathing rhythm.
"The duration's increased quite a bit — from just two or three seconds to over ten. And the cooldown seems shorter too. I should be able to use it much more often during matches."
Even just a few extra seconds could make all the difference — in high-speed football, one second could open up an enormous gap.