Ethereal ✦ Blue Lock

10||Oblivion

Chapter 10: Team Z: Now With Extra Drama!

Alternative name: Chigiri's Legs: Still Faster Than Your Wits

Song: Thunder

I was lightning before the thunder

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Louis's POV:

I snatched the ball from Ryouta's legs, barely glancing her way before sending it off to Kuon. She didn't even try to pass. Huh. Weird. Usually, she's all about controlling the field. I wonder if something happened.

Kuon scored another goal... which now made him the top scorer.

Raichi charged forward with the ball, looking to pass it off to Kuon, but just as he did, the browy twin moved in to stop him. The ball barely reached Kuon before the non-browy twin swiped it effortlessly.

"Idiot, you let it get stolen?!" Raichi shouted, frustration evident in his voice.

"We've gotta stop them, Isagi," I said  as I joined number 11 in charging toward the twins. The ball was headed straight toward my feet, and just as I prepared to shift its direction, she appeared out of nowhere.

"Guess it's mine" Ryouta said, spinning 360 degrees around me, effortlessly keeping the ball at her feet before darting towards the goal. Her expression... it was off. She wasn't playing with her usual spark. There was no fun, no excitement in her eyes, but still she had her usual mischievous smirk.

Something was seriously wrong with this match. Kuon scoring three goals against a team that absolutely demolished others we barely go against? It didn't make sense. And Aiza... who's totaly playing solo, till know her whole style is about using everyone in her team, to create game.

"Not so fast!" Kira intercepted, snatching the ball from her. It soared into the air, landing at the feet of an opposing player, who immediately passed it to the Wanima brothers. They were back to their two-on-one routine, only this time, they were quicker, sharper. Before I could position myself, they had already outmaneuvered Isagi and Chigiri.

Iemon lunged at the non-browy brother, but it was too late. The other brother had already taken the shot.

Team W - 2

Team Z - 3

For the next 15 minutes, Aiza missed the ball three times inside the penalty area. Same mistakes all over again.

Kuon followed up with another set of glaring mistakes, and the Wanima brothers were on the verge of scoring again—until Kira managed to snatch the ball at the very last second.

Kuon apologized, bowing so low his head nearly touched the ground. But that smirk on his face...

It was becoming painfully clear. This game was flipping upside down. The other team was shutting down our every move with a precision that was almost too perfect.

In the last 30 minutes I was the forward, with Kira and Isagi flanking me as wings. I pushed forward, ball at my feet, scanning for a teammate to pass to, but everyone was locked down. Great. Guess I'll have to go it alone. What a hassle. Our trained triangle tactic was useless. I couldn't pass to either Isagi or Kira.

"Kunigami!" I shouted, sending the ball his way. He surged forward, but the Wanima brothers swooped in, trapping him in their two-on-one formation. With ease, they stole the ball and bolted toward our goal.