Chapter 16: The Overwhelming Might of Itoshi Rin

Twenty four hours came and passed. Both Ayanokouji and Rin's teams arrived in Stage 4. There were a couple of groups that arrived as well inside Stage 4, but they didn't dare look on at the two teams in front of them.

Rin, Bachira, and their two other members agreed to the match as did Ayanokouji, Shido, Raichi, and Igarashi.

The sliding door opened and the multiple groups inside looked on as the two teams disappeared in the darkness.

Ayanokouji: (Itoshi Rin. The number one ranked Blue Lock player and the brother of Itoshi Sae. In every aspect of the game, he excels. Dribbling, shooting, positioning, speed, physicality, height, it didn't matter. Witnessing a player like that first hand will give me incredibly useful information.)

They were each given jerseys with Ayanokouji's team being team White and Rin's team being team Red.

After a couple of minutes, both teams exited the changing rooms and began heading over to the pitch.

Igarshi: Why... did you have to pick a fight with the number 1 player, Shido? We're going to get destroyed. They even have Bachira on their team!

Shido: Where's the fun if you already know you're going to defeat your opponent?

Raichi: Tch! I got no problem with this. For once, lunatic, we're on the same side. Let's crush them.

Ayanokouji: Raichi, I need you to neutralize Bachira. Shido will take one of the two other members, Igarashi can take the other one and I'll take Rin. Our plan is strictly defensive and counterattack when possible.

Raichi: Fine by me. I'll take that dribbler out of the game.

Shido: I don't really care who I defend. They aren't getting past me.

Igarashi: I'll hold my own this game.

Ayanokouji: Then let's beat the number 1.

Both teams entered the pitch with the screen turning on revealing the scoreboard.

The ball would first be in the possession of Team Red as Bachira went up to kickoff.

***THE GAME HAD BEGUN***

With his dribbling, Bachira sprinted forward, the ball glued to his feet.

Raichi, just as Ayanokouji said prior, pressured Bachira by getting incredibly physical.

Bachira: Wow, this is what Reo must have felt when getting pressured by you in our last game.

Ayanokouji: No it's completely different.

From Bachira's blind spot, Ayanokouji dashed at full speed and snatched the ball away from his feet.

Bachira: Eh?

Ayanokouji: (Now, our counterattack.)

Raichi: (Didn't he just tell me to defend him? Why'd he come by and help me?)

Shido responded to Ayanokouji's plan and sprinted to the penalty box.

The defender on him, was Jyubei Aryu, a long and tall striker with long hair to match. His reach was incredibly difficult to surpass.

Aryu: You're not stylish at all, more akin to a brute.

Shido: Fuck you. I'll leave you in my dust.

Tokimitsu: If I don't stop you, I'll be hindering the team. I don't know... I'll be left behind...

Ayanokouji: (He's muttering to himself and has no self-confidence. How did he even get this far? In any case, his speed and strength are pretty decent.)

Despite Ayanokouji's speed, Tokimitsu caught up to him and tried to use his large frame to push Ayanokouji to the side.

However, Ayanokouji utilizes his eyes to find a potential weakspot, dribbling it to his right and then inward between his legs, passing him.

Rin, however, was not doing much of anything in terms of defense. He looked like he was spectating.

Ayanokouji: (Strange, he isn't defending.)

Shido: I'm open, Kiyo.

Shido had shoulder blocked Aryu and leapt right past him.

Taking advantage of their defense, Ayanokouji hit the ball dead in the center with the same velocity of a shot. It was more like a 'dart' pass then a through ball. He called it a 'bullet pass.'

As soon as the ball passed through into the penalty box, Shido saw it go towards him in slow motion. He made an adjustment and swerved around, backheeling the ball inside to score the first goal of the game.

Igarashi: Yeah!

Raichi: Let's go!

***Team White [1] - Team Red [0]***

Rin looked unfazed and walked over to get the ball from the goal in order to check it off once again.

Rin: Not a bad goal. But your goal told me one thing: you still think of this act of combat using a ball as a sport.

Ayanokouji: (Hm?)

Rin: And I definitely don't need the sort of person that caters to a monster because he's no good as a striker. You should've stayed home if you planned to play as a midfielder.

With this comment, he directed it to Ayanokouji.

Rin: This is a battlefield. You could only stay so predictable for so long until it gets plucked and you're left with nothing. I'll give you a taste of death because losing everything on the field, is the same as dying for me.

Placing the ball down, a dark aura emitted from Rin, and the first person to react to what he was planning to do... was Ayanokouji.

As if by some unknown instinct, he began sprinting down the field to where their goal was.

Igarashi: Huh? Where are you going?

Shido: Oh...

From the kickoff, Rin kicked the ball perfectly to create a swirl, sending it high in the air.

Meanwhile, Ayanokouji ran using 100 percent of his speed in order to reach it in time.

The ball beautifully descended down, in a spiral, right past the keeper's reach and hit... Ayanokouji's heel.

Rin's eyes widened.

The ball ricocheted onto the crossbar and in the possession of Igarashi.

Ayanokouji controlled his fall and rolled down.

Ayanokouji: (That was too close. It was a goal if I didn't return and defend. His ball placement is incredible.)

Rin: Not only are you a good midfielder, but you're also a good defender, if nothing else.

Shido smiled.

Shido: Next time, take a better shot, number 1.

Igarashi passed it along to Raichi who sent a sharp pass to Shido.

Shido: Another counterattack! We're coming for the throat!

But before he made his drive up, both Tokimitsu and Aryu charged up towards him to pressure him.

Shido, seeing this, sent a pass towards Ayanokouji but it got easily intercepted by Rin.

Rin: I'll take your advice to heart, retard. I'll take a perfect shot.

Ayanokouji attempted to rush towards Rin in order to block the shot again, but it already left his foot in a spiral, dropping down and smashing right into the back of the goal from 20 meters away.

***Team White [1] - Team Red [1]***

Rin: This is only the beginning. Retards, prepare for your execution.

Igarashi: (What the hell?! He didn't even touch it for more than a second. How are we going to handle a monster like that?)

Ayanokouji: (Tokimitsu's ability is his stamina, strength, and speed. They all appear to be somewhat inhuman but his weakness derives from his constant muttering. Aryu has long limbs perfect for defense an snatching passes. He also has developed his body well for specifically ball control. Bachira's is his dribbling. But Rin is different. I still can't break down his shooting ability. He also shares a similar vision to Isagi, but on a level I can't differentiate. It'll take a bit longer to analyze him then I initially thought. But I'll have to give it a try. It's our only chance. The momentum of the game has swung to them.)

Ayanokouji took the ball out from the goal and brought to the middle and passed it off to Shido. He then returns the favor and passes right back to him. Shido sprints forward and Ayanokouji is about to send a pass through but Rin instantly appears in front of him.

Rin: You're the kind of trash I hate the worst. Always looking for someone else to bail you out. That monster is a rival to you not a teammate. Get it through that thick skull of yours. How can you call yourself a striker and not even own a shred of ego for your own goal. You're just pathetic.

Ayanokouji: Sorry I disappointed you.

He stopped his pass and started to formulate his next set of dribbling moves and techniques to bypass Rin. However, they weren't able to cut through Rin.

The two danced across the field in a heated collision. Ayanokouji pulled back and used his acceleration in an attempt to pass Rin, but he maintained his ground and stopped his advances. Each time Ayanokouji used a stepover, Rin would extend his leg to steal the ball and Ayanokouji would pull back.

It was a heated collision between both prodigies who looked to be matched.

Ayanokouji: (These eyes of mine... just keep following the movements. Keep analyzing. My body.... buy me enough time. His short-range movement, his eyes, premonition, and technique. Let me have a look at it all.)

Ayanokouji faked it to the right to which Rin shifted in the direction and tackled him.

He shuffled the ball to his other foot and turned around, ready to pass him but Rin recovered easily and halted his assault again. The moves became so complicated that only the masterpiece, the revenger, and the beast could see exactly where the ball was going.

Shido knew that Ayanokouji needed help. But he chose not to advance.

Shido: (You can't get your explosion if I helped you out, Kiyo. I'll trust you.)

Rin: (His dribbling is similar to Bachira's but vamped in his own way. From talking to Bachira, I found out his ability is copying. But I'm surprised such a cheater is this good in his ball control. Well, it ends now.)

Ayanokouji's eyes emitted his golden aura and he heel-flicked it over his head, startling Rin slightly but not for long. He shoulder-blocked him and remained in front, almost taking the ball away.

Aryu: Bachira, go help our Rin. He seems to be having a bit of trouble.

Rin: I have him under control. Don't even move. He's mine.

Ayanokouji: (I'll...)

Rin: (...destroy...)

Ayanokouji: (...you...)

Ayanokouji's analysis, slowly but surely, began to start making a hint of progress. But before it continued to flourish, it all came to an end.

Rin saw through Ayanokouji's final attempt, a roulette, and stole the ball from him.

Rin: Thanks, loser.

Dashing forward, Rin was about to shoot it again, but he was slightly surprised at Ayanokouji, recovering from having the ball taken away, and now in front of him defending him.

Rin: You're tenacious if anything else, poker face.

Ayanokouji: (I can't let our encounter end. I need to keep observing him. I've never taken this long to create an analysis on someone. For most it's almost instantaneous but for Rin, I'm getting it like a slow update on a game console. I need more time. I need to do battle with you more, Rin.)

Rin eyes Bachira running up from the middle an past Raichi who was closely guarding him.

Raichi: Damn!

Rin also saw both Tokimitsu and Aryu break containment and penetrating the penalty box.

Rin: It's over for you, Ayanokouji. It's been over for you ever since you entered this battlefield. You just don't know you've already been shot.

Without looking, Rin gave a pass to Bachira.

Bachira: Thank you!

Raichi got back up to his face.

Raichi: No, you don't!

Bachira: Hehehe, but I'm already through.

Completing multiple stepovers and a roulette, Bachira went right through Raichi.

Bachira: (As much as I want Isagi to claim me, I need to take this seriously too. If they're as good as they say they were, they'll beat our team fairly, hehehe.)

Rin skated across the line of the penalty box and used Tokimitsu as a sacrificial lamb against Ayanokouji to acquire space.

Ayanokouji: (He saw one step ahead of me...)

Bachira smiled and sent a long pass over to Rin who direct shot it cleanly past the hologram, scoring his second goal of the game.

***Team White [1] - Team Red [2]***

Rin: After one measly attack, you both fell a cliff. I thought you wanted to destroy me, lunatic. You're not even making it worth my time.

Shido: Ah, hahaha, fuck you two, brother-loving ass.

Ayanokouji: (60 percent... that goal gave me incredible insight into his abilities. He's not limited to one weapon. Sure his shooting ability is S-rated but it can be easily stopped with multiple defenders. The reason why he's so dangerous, is his way of using the array of skills on his team for his own benefit. He creates unlimited goal scoring options by taking Bachira, Aryu, and Tokimitsu and making them into pawns. His way of thinking, is parallel to mine. The field is his own pawn.)

Shido smiled and pulled Ayanokouji to his shoulder.

Shido: So, how's it going?

Igarashi: What are you talking about? We're going to get wrecked!

Raichi, however, didn't say a word, because he looked over at Ayanokouji's face and it said all that needed to be said.

Ayanokouji: You were exactly right, Shido.

Shido looked incredibly excited and started laughing as he met eyes with Ayanokouji.

Ayanokouji's eyes were wide open and a small dash of blood went down Ayanokouji's cheek from his eyes.

Ayanokouji: Do you call this feeling of apprehension... excitement, Shido?

Rin, along with the rest of their team, looked on at the display.

Aryu: Shining... I can see they're shining...

Tokimitsu: Oh... did I hurt him... there's blood coming down from his eyes....

Bachira: No, I saw that before and I kinda guessed it. He's excited.

Rin looked at the scene, also curious.

Rin: Excited? Don't make me laugh. I'll wring it dry in our next possession. This game is starting to bore me.

But what Rin said just then and there....

WAS A TOTAL AND UTTER LIE.