After dinner, Ryōsuke took a short rest before heading to the gym to practice. The well-equipped facility allowed him to continue training according to Riko's previous regimen.
Jogging, advanced push-ups, planks, and flexibility training — he didn't slack off at all. Before he knew it, several hours had passed.
〘 Congratulations! Earned Competition Points: 4! 〙
After his intense workout, Ryōsuke successfully earned his daily 10 Competition Points, which had become like a daily check-in routine for him.
〚 Current Competition Points: 50 〛
Having previously upgraded Total Concentration Breathing to Level 2, he had started with 30 Competition Points at Blue Lock. Adding the 10 points from Tag and the 10 just earned from working out, he now had 50 Competition Points.
Just enough to upgrade Thunderclap and Flash to Level 2.
His week of hellish training had improved his physical condition considerably. However, after only eight days, the improvement was still limited. He couldn't use Thunderclap and Flash unlimited times under Total Breathing state, and each use still resulted in noticeable muscle soreness.
In a 90-minute match, he could now use Thunderclap and Flash shots once with each leg under Total Breathing state — two usage opportunities total. For sprinting with the ball, using it with both legs simultaneously under Total Concentration Breathing was limited to once per match.
Though extremely powerful, the ability's limited use during matches made it insufficient. For shots and breakthroughs, one or two times wasn't nearly enough.
Though Jinpachi hadn't mentioned it, Ryōsuke knew they would face other teams in a few days, where he would need to score multiple goals.
This was when Thunderclap and Flash would prove its worth.
While accumulating Competition Points for new skills was an option, those skills would require practice and familiarization. With no time to unlock them before the first match, upgrading the First Form was his best choice.
Ryōsuke then chose to upgrade Thunderclap and Flash.
〘 Upgrade Successful! Skill: Thunder Breathing - First Form: Thunderclap and Flash Has Reached LV2! 〙
〘 Proficiency Reseted! 〙
— — — — — — — — — —
〚 Host: Ryōsuke Kira 〛
〚 Current Competition Points: 0 〛
〚 Current Skills: 〛
〚 Skill: Thunder Breathing - First Form: Thunderclap and Flash | Level: 2 | EXP: 0% 〛
— — — — — — — — — —
After spending all his Competition Points, he stopped training. There was still time left today — perfect for testing out the effects of his upgraded skill.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
He arrived at Team Z's exclusive soccer field — each team had their own field for unrestricted training.
Ryōsuke retrieved a soccer ball and placed it thirty meters from the goal. Even among Blue Lock's genius players, few could shoot accurately from such a distance.
He adjusted his breathing, entering the Total Concentration Breathing state. He felt the air flow through his lungs, oxygen merging with his blood, converting to power, then concentrating in his right leg—
❖ Thunderclap and Flash ➠ Shot! ❖
Ryōsuke kicked the ball, transforming his leg power into pure kinetic energy. The ball shot out like a heavy artillery shell — making Rensuke's proud left-foot cannon seem like a mere bird gun in comparison.
In both range and power, this Form under Total Concentration Breathing was unmatched.
The cannonball-like shot struck the upper right corner of the goal, retaining its enormous energy. Like a wild beast fighting its cage, it tore at the net as if ready to burst through at any moment.
After a few seconds, the beast's fury subsided, and the ball dropped quietly to the ground.
'The accuracy and power have improved, but it's not perfect yet. There's still a few centimeters' deviation from my target, though it's certainly better than Level 1 and easier to control. Most importantly...' Ryōsuke examined his right leg carefully.
The familiar soreness appeared quickly, but it was milder than at Level 1. The strain on his right leg had decreased notably, and recovery time would be shorter.
Still, he couldn't use Thunderclap and Flash repeatedly with the same leg in quick succession. Forcing it risked muscle strain that could compromise future matches and training.
With both legs now capable and proper stamina management, he could use the technique twice per leg in a match — potentially contributing four goals in the initial matches.
But this was theoretical, dependent on careful distribution of stamina and timing. He'd need to score with Thunderclap and Flash under Total Concentration Breathing early in the first half, then rest before using the same leg again in the second half.
This meant if he missed his shooting opportunity in the first half, using the First Form in the second half would leave insufficient time for his leg to recover. Securing first-half shooting chances was crucial.
Getting shooting opportunities wasn't just about breaking through the opponent's defense line — even teammates could become obstacles.
Ryōsuke's plan was straightforward: demonstrate his abilities during the Tag Selection to gain his teammates' trust, then step into a leadership role.
Though Blue Lock would ultimately produce just one winner, the immediate priority was advancing through the first round of selection. Team Z's success in the original timeline had been precarious, with far too many variables at play — even discounting the protagonist's apparent plot armor.
Ryōsuke was determined to control his own destiny rather than leave it to chance.
"What an amazing shot!"
The familiar voice caught his attention as Meguru and Yoichi walked onto the field together.
Despite the late hour, unable to sleep, they had come to practice together.
❖❖❖
T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!
For just $1.50 you can access all the extra content, and descriptive images, costs only $2!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
https://www.patreon.com/mrblackwing