In the evening, Ryōsuke returned to Blue Lock and resumed training with his teammates.
Though they had already secured advancement by winning three consecutive matches, with only the final match against Team V remaining, he wanted more than mere qualification.
He had made up his mind — he couldn't lose a single match. After all, he had made a promise to Riko.
During physical training, his mind turned to strategizing against their next opponents.
Team V stood as the strongest of the five teams on paper, operating in an entirely different league from the others.
Most notable was Seishirō Nagi, a one-in-a-million genius whose incredible ball control allowed him to receive any seemingly impossible pass and position himself perfectly for shots.
Alongside him stood his two formidable allies: Reo Mikage, an all-around hexagonal warrior, and Zantetsu Tsurugi, who possessed Blue Lock's fastest explosive speed.
The match against Team V would prove particularly challenging, as their average ability far surpassed Team Z's.
Their first hurdle would be defending against the combined offensive power of these three pillars — they couldn't afford to lose momentum.
"Everyone, gather around. We all know the next match against Team V will be tough, but we've already secured our advancement, so the result won't affect our standing — I want to hear your thoughts." Ryōsuke's gaze swept across the gathered players, searching for their resolve.
"Just qualifying isn't enough, we're going all the way to the end."
"Since it's the last match, Team Z definitely needs to win them all!"
"That's right, Team V is on a winning streak and must be getting cocky! Let's go knock them down a peg!"
All ten team members responded without hesitation.
Ryōsuke nodded with satisfaction, seeing the fire burning in everyone's eyes.
Now everyone in Team Z wanted more than qualification — they hungered to seize victory. Only teams with such hunger can achieve it.
"Good, let's begin our next phase of tactical training."
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Meanwhile, in Team V's locker room.
"Here's all the intelligence we have on Team Z. ALL IMPORT, as they say." Zantetsu adjusted his glasses as he addressed his teammates.
However, the other members of Team V showed little interest.
Despite Team Z's three consecutive wins by large margins — matching their own record — most of Team V dismissed them entirely.
They had witnessed the dominance of their three pillars, particularly Seishirō, who effortlessly defeated opponents while barely trying in the second half of matches. No one could compare to him.
Even Ryōsuke stood no chance against their genius, who had already reached an inhuman level of skill.
Besides, even without Seishirō, Team V boasted two other elite players in Zantetsu and Reo, while Team Z's overall strength remained questionable.
Having secured their advancement to the next round, they felt no pressure about the final match.
Reo reclined in his chair, glancing at Seishirō, who was absorbed in his mobile game.
"Hey Nagi, shouldn't you prepare a little? They've won three straight matches, just like us."
"No need — we'll win anyway." He replied, eyes fixed on his phone.
"True enough. We don't know what losing feels like."
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Several days later, the final match was about to begin.
During this time, Ryōsuke had not only led the team in practice but had also maintained his own rigorous training regimen.
With daily Competition Points now doubled, he could exchange them for more training time in the Competition Space, enhancing both his skills and physical capabilities.
Everyone gathered in the middle of the field.
"So that's Team V?"
"That white-haired one is Seishirō Nagi — he looked terrifying in the videos..."
"We're up against some real powerhouses this time..."
"What's wrong, are you scared?" Ryōsuke asked with a smile, looking at his teammates.
"Scared? No way!"
"We're not scared — we're excited."
"Team Z is going to advance with a perfect record!"
"Mm." He nodded and shifted his gaze to the opponents' half of the field.
At that moment, Team V's members were also studying Ryōsuke.
"Reo, is that the somewhat decent player from Team Z you mentioned?" Seishirō asked through a yawn, his tone dripping with disinterest.
"Yes, he's the only one worth noting in Team Z, but he's nothing compared to my Nagi!" Reo replied with casual arrogance.
"Oh." Seishirō nodded listlessly.
For him, victory was simply a foregone conclusion.
[Building 5, Match 10, Team Z versus Team V is about to begin, with Team V taking the kickoff! Players please take your positions!]
Everyone moved into position as tension filled the air.
The whistle blew!
Team V launched their attack, with Reo driving through the middle while Zantetsu and Seishirō pushed deep into Team Z's territory.
Team Z's formation immediately contracted — the first goal of any match was crucial, as it would determine which team controlled the momentum.
Yoichi and Meguru moved to double-team Reo, determined to shut down his every move.
This was the strategy Ryōsuke had planned for Team Z. While Team V was formidable, their offense depended entirely on their three star players, with the rest serving only as support.
Among the trio, Reo alone possessed the tactical skills to orchestrate plays — he was the key to their offensive strategy. By containing his passes, Team Z could cripple Team V's attack.
"Such persistent defense~"
Though faced with tighter defense than anticipated, Reo remained unfazed.
❖❖❖
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/collection/1305258