[150] FC Barcha’s New Weapon

Kira swiftly shook off Barou and kept sprinting forward, but Aiku quickly stepped in to block him again.

This was the essence of Ubers' ironclad defense—not just a lineup of physically dominant individual defenders, but also a formation meticulously designed by Snuffy to ensure that whenever one player was beaten, another would immediately be there to cover.

"What a troublesome team… Guess I'll leave it to you!" Unable to break through quickly and with Barou lurking behind, ready to pounce, Kira didn't hold onto the ball for long.

Instead, he decisively played a direct through pass forward. Not only was he skilled in attack, but as someone who excelled in team play, his passing ability was just as formidable.

The ball smoothly bypassed Aiku's attempted mid-air interception with his right leg.

While Kira wasn't on the level of top-tier playmakers who could perfectly anticipate a teammate's movements and deliver a pass for a direct shot, his precision was still undeniable.

The ball landed right at the feet of Otoya, who had broken free from his marker with clever off-the-ball movement.

"Incredible… No wonder you're considered a treasure. But…" Otoya burst forward after receiving the ball.

Against those physically dominant ball carriers, Niko might struggle to keep up.

However, when it came to players who relied on movement rather than raw power, he had already awakened his Meta Vision, allowing him to track their every step with ease and shut them down effortlessly.

"Players like you—assassins—can only thrive when hidden in the shadows. The moment you're exposed and caught in the open, you're powerless."

"So, stop right there. This path is closed."

"So, you're my next opponent, huh? I gotta say, we've already had two ball carriers beat their markers and draw extra defenders, yet you guys still have someone who can keep up? Your team's defense is practically cheating." Otoya remarked expressionlessly, throwing shade at Ubers before suddenly shifting the ball and changing direction.

His incredibly flexible body bent at an absurd angle—almost like a speed skater leaning into a turn. With his body compressed so low to the ground, he practically skimmed across the surface, slipping past Niko's outstretched arms in an instant. Niko's pupils shrank in shock as Otoya blew past him.

"First, let me correct you—I'm not an assassin. I'm a ninja." Otoya narrowed his eyes, planting his foot firmly to regain his balance. "And even when a ninja lurking in the shadows is exposed, as long as he wields a sharp blade, he has the power to take his enemy down with him."

"This is the weapon I've honed to sharpen my attack—Extreme Low-Bend Dribble!"

It sounded impressive, but in reality, Otoya's move was a true double-edged sword.

Even though he got past his opponent, the extreme bending motion forced him to stop momentarily to reset his balance.

That brief pause meant he had no time to regain control and accelerate before Niko recovered and caught up. So—

"I'll leave it to you, our team's little monster!" Otoya declared, lifting his foot to send a cross into the box before Niko could react.

Waiting on the other end was Bachira, who had already broken past the defense and positioned himself perfectly for the strike.

"No hesitation here—I'm going all in…!"

As the ball flew in from the flank, Bachira leaped into the air. Instead of a textbook bicycle kick, he initiated the motion but then twisted his torso midair, coiling his core as much as possible to load power into his right leg.

Then, like a spring compressed to its limit—BANG!

Bachira's body unleashed a powerful rotation, striking the ball in midair with a sideways scissor kick!

"My monster's instinct is telling me—this is the right call!"

"Well then… I can only say—your 'little monster' made the wrong judgment."

A cold, emotionless voice suddenly rang out from ahead. Bachira's pupils shrank as he instinctively jerked his head up in midair.

What he saw sent a chill down his spine—Shinichi had moved into position as if he had predicted everything, sliding over at the exact moment when Bachira had already committed to his strike, unable to change course.

Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Shinichi leaped up and intercepted the shot with his chest, effortlessly stopping a strike that had been loaded with Bachira's full power.

"No way… This monster…"

Kira couldn't believe his eyes. Reading our link-up play on the first attempt was already insane, but Bachira's shot—

Bachira had utilized every ounce of his core strength in that strike. Even FC Barcha's goalkeeper would struggle to handle it cleanly if he had anticipated it.

The sheer power behind the shot made it nearly impossible to control, even with one's hands.

Yet Shinichi had stopped it as if it were nothing more than a simple pass.

It wasn't just about the technique—Bachira's shot was incredibly deceptive.

From his aerial position, defenders couldn't risk making contact, as even the slightest touch could result in a foul.

Given the space to fully unleash his power, Bachira's shot was a nearly unstoppable straight drive, almost parallel to the ground. Even if someone could predict its trajectory, controlling the ball afterward would be another matter entirely.

Moreover, Bachira's coordination and agility were top-tier. Even in midair, he had the control to land gracefully, quickly recover, and execute a follow-up shot if the ball rebounded off an opponent.

This was the Venomous Bee Sting—a hidden technique masked by a flashy finish. Lethal and precise, it was a move designed to take down anyone caught off guard.

To Kira and the others, this shot should have been an instant kill, an attack no one could defend against on first sight.

Yet Shinichi had completely dismantled it.

No, dismantling wasn't even the right word—he hadn't just ignored the obvious threat of Bachira's shot. He had swatted it aside as if it were meaningless, crushing both the visible blade and the hidden sting behind it in a single motion.

With sheer stopping power alone, he had utterly obliterated Bachira's attack.

[Right from kickoff, FC Barcha has delivered a dazzling display of relentless attacking play! Their three distinct ball carriers have each showcased their unique skills, perfectly embodying the philosophy of their mentor, Lavinho.]

[We can see FC Barcha's players continuously breaking past defenders, drawing in extra coverage, and immediately distributing the ball. Even a defensive powerhouse like Ubers is starting to show cracks under such intense offensive pressure!]

[With Otoya's pass, the ball finds its way back to Bachira! The cross is slightly high, but Bachira is ready—he takes off! Is he going to finish this attack with a powerful bicycle kick?!]

[He shoots! Ah! But—Shinichi! It's Shinichi! The defensive genius saves the team once again! Shinichi stands as an impenetrable safeguard, always protecting Ubers' final line of defense. As long as he's there, it feels like Ubers' goal will never be breached! That's the kind of presence he exudes right now!]

[And now—it's Ubers' turn to attack!]

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