Chapter 66: Evolution? Useless Before Absolute Power
"Nice shot."
Nagi Seishirō and Kira Ryosuke high-fived. Though this was their first time fighting side-by-side, the two produced a remarkably high-quality combination.
"Your trap was beautiful."
Kira praised him. Nagi's unique, transcendent trapping ability was something no one else in Blue Lock could replicate.
"Damn it… damn it… DAMN IT!"
Seeing Kira and Nagi connect so perfectly, Mikage Reo burned with rage. His excessive possessiveness twisted into overwhelming jealousy.
"Calm down."
Niko Ikki tried to reassure him, calmly analyzing the situation.
"Kira Ryosuke is the command tower of their team. He's the only one with passing ability. As long as we—"
"Shut it!"
Barou Shouei cut him off, lifting his head and looking down at the other two.
"As long as I tear their formation apart, it's enough. Just keep feeding me the ball, and I'll score. Victory goes to whoever gets to five goals first, right? So all we have to do is score five before they do!"
Even facing Niko and Reo, Barou still didn't acknowledge them at all.
"You arrogant idiot. Did you forget why your team lost to us?"
Reo sneered.
"That had nothing to do with you. My useless teammates held me back, that's all."
Barou shot back mercilessly.
"You—what did you say?!"
"Stop. For now, let's follow Barou's plan."
Niko quickly stepped in between them.
"Barou is the strongest attacker among us."
Reo disliked Barou's egocentric attitude—but he couldn't deny that point. He had seen Barou's ability firsthand.
If attacking power were scored out of 100, Niko would be about 80, Reo around 90, while Barou exceeded the scale at 110.
Reo was extremely well-rounded—excellent at everything, but not outstanding enough in any one area. Against true prodigies, he always came out inferior.
Although Reo agreed verbally to support Barou's style, his thoughts didn't stop churning.
Even if they won this match, it wouldn't be enough.
What Reo wanted was to defeat Kira Ryosuke in front of Nagi, completely and utterly.
He wanted to prove he was superior to Kira.
He had to find a way to surpass Kira!
There was no time to think more; it was Red Team's turn to attack.
Reo quickly dribbled past the halfway line, assessing the field.
'The pitch is smaller, but there are fewer players. So the space feels wider. More room for offense, more options.'
As he analyzed, Kira appeared before him like a towering wall.
"Damn…"
Reo muttered. He remembered Kira's terrifying defense from previous matches—just standing there, Kira gave him crushing pressure.
Like a beast waiting for its prey.
Though he desperately wanted to beat Kira in a 1-on-1, Reo instinctively passed to Barou.
Barou was currently matched up against Kunigami Rensuke. Though Barou had incredible firepower, Kunigami's defense and physicality were strong enough to trouble him in the original story.
Barou received the ball and immediately prepared to attack—
But in that instant, Kira—who had originally been marking Reo—suddenly appeared behind Barou, using Thunderclap and Flash's explosive acceleration to steal the ball!
In a small-sided match like this, helping on defense was far harder than in a full game. As soon as you left your mark, someone else on the opponent's team would be left wide open, turning everything into three isolated 1-on-1s.
The fewer players there were, the harder coordinated defense became.
But for Kira, this wasn't a disadvantage—it was a blessing.
A smaller field meant rapid transitions, where his versatility shone brightest.
Most importantly, Kira knew Barou would never pass. He was always the finisher—
which meant Kira's teammates could safely abandon their marks to double-team him.
"Damn you!"
Barou roared, trying to chase him—
But Kira had already used "Thunder Swarm," sending a gorgeous curve shot into the goal.
2–0!
"Hey, Barou, you should've passed back immediately!"
Reo yelled in frustration. When Kira double-teamed him, Barou should've sent the ball back instantly—Reo had been left completely open.
"Why the hell would I pass to you? As servants, just do your job."
"You self-absorbed idiot! Did you forget how you lost last time?!"
Reo and Barou erupted into a fierce shouting match. Niko stayed silent, brain spinning rapidly.
'Kira left Reo unmarked to double-team Barou… He knows Barou will never pass. And although Barou is strong, he can't beat that kind of coordinated defense alone.
Kira is treating us like puppets… Damn it. We need to stop making Barou the primary attacker.'
Soon Niko pulled Reo aside and shared his plan—they both needed to take more offensive responsibility, otherwise Kira's team would only need to counter Barou.
"I understand."
Reo nodded, turning his gaze toward Kira.
His chest tightened with frustration. He wanted to prove himself to Nagi, yet Kira kept completely overpowering him.
This couldn't continue. He had to beat Kira at least once.
A bold idea began forming in his mind.
Red Team attacked again, Reo advancing with the ball.
"Hey! Pass!"
Barou struggled against Kunigami, raising his hand demanding the ball.
But this time, Reo ignored him, locking his eyes on Kira ahead.
Because of Kira, Nagi had abandoned him.
Born into an ultra-wealthy family lacking nothing, Reo subconsciously believed everything he wanted would become his. It turned into intense possessiveness.
Kira had taken his victories—and his treasure, Nagi Seishirō.
Reo was driven into madness.
He wanted to show Nagi that he mattered more than Kira.
To do that, he would use a technique he had never tried before.
"Today, I will defeat you!"
Reo roared and charged forward.
In his mind, he replayed Kira's high-difficulty moves from past matches. His body moved instinctively to imitate them.
If his own ability couldn't win—
Then he would become someone like Kira.
He tensed his legs, sprinting at Kira's side—
Just as Kira prepared to move, Reo suddenly braked, pivoted, and burst forward again!
"I'll call this—Chameleon!"
Reo shouted ecstatically, convinced he had passed Kira.
He had successfully copied Kira's sequence!
In the original story, Reo only learned this technique before the third selection. But the suffocating pressure Kira gave him now forced him to evolve earlier.
Only by becoming like the enemy, could he defeat the enemy!
"That's Kira's move?!"
Kunigami stared in shock. He didn't expect Reo to perfectly mimic Kira's rhythm.
Reo truly stood among geniuses.
Feeling the attention on him, Reo grinned proudly.
"I finally got past you!"
Ahead lay only the Blue Lock Man goalkeeper. Victory was within reach.
"Watch me, Nagi!"
He felt Nagi's gaze on him—
No.
Reo froze.
Nagi wasn't looking at him—
but at something behind him.
The hairs on the back of Reo's neck bristled.
Something terrifying loomed behind him.
Kira Ryosuke.
"You did well. But sorry—this won't work."
Kira's calm voice sounded behind him. A dark, oppressive shadow appeared at his side.
"Impossible?!"
Reo's pupils dilated. His voice trembled.
He believed he had passed Kira—but he was only a cheap imitation.
Even if he mastered the technique early, Kira could easily read Reo's movements and predict the copied feint.
Kira had let him believe he succeeded, then struck the moment Reo relaxed, using his overwhelming speed and physique to steal the ball.
"No way…"
Niko was stunned as well.
"Reo did everything right… and he still couldn't beat Kira?!"
Reo had created massive space. Under normal circumstances, no defender could recover.
But it meant nothing.
Kira closed that distance instantly, as if Reo had barely moved.
Was this guy… even scarier than in the first selection?
Before Niko could finish the thought, Kira was already racing to the Red Team's goal—
Shot! Goal!
...
Ten minutes later, the match ended.
The Red Team collapsed on the turf, completely exhausted. Their attack achieved nothing, and they couldn't stop Kira at all. He toyed with them and ended the match 5–0 with ease.
What was supposed to be their revenge match instead showed them the hopeless gap.
Afterwards, it was time for the winning team to choose one member from the losing side.
A defeated player was like a trophy for the victor.
"How about Barou? He's big and useful in attack."
Kunigami suggested.
"I think Reo is better—he's more well-rounded."
Nagi replied calmly.
Both looked at Kira, leaving the final decision to him.
"Kira, what do you think?"
"I've already made my choice."
Kira answered easily, walking straight toward one of them.
"Come with us—Niko Ikki."
"What?"
Niko widened his eyes in shock. He never expected to be chosen.
Weaker attack than Barou, less versatile than Reo—Niko thought he was the least likely pick.
"Let's go. Time for the next room."