Team V was on offense once again, while Reo had no time to pass, as Raichi was on him.

Reo: 'This stalker won't get off my back!'

Raichi: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?! REPORT ME TO THE POLICE FOR BEING GOOD AT MY JOB?!!!

Reo: He's been running nonstop! Doesn't he ever ware out?

Raichi: I admit when we started the match I thought you were something else, but the longer it's gone on, the clearer it's become how to stop you. Whenever you receive a pass, the first thing you do is look for your Nagi!

Reo seemed to be aggravated by this, while Imamura and Naruhaya marked Nagi.

Ryu: He's right! No easy passes to your buddy, so he's pretty much the north side of useless!

Raichi: Same thing goes for you! Without that prodigy of yours, you're just a Jack of all Trades and Master of None!!

Reo: Bastard...!!

Angered, Reo elbowed Kunigami in the throat, which caused a whistle to be blown.

Ref: Team V, Number 9: Reo Mikage. For elbowing an opponent, you receive a yellow card.

Raichi smirked holding his throat.

Raichi: Yeah, get mad. One more card and you're off the field pal.

Raichi immediately ran to the ball, kicking it to Chigiri.

Raichi: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR PRINCESS?!! GO, DO YOUR THING!!!!

Zantetsu was in the path, as the two stared each other down.

Zantetsu: Just try it missy. I'm still faster than you are.

Chigiri: Don't call me missy, moron. 'If Ryu could do it, then there's no way in hell I won't be able to outrun specs either. Especially since he exposed his weapon!'

Chigiri kicked the ball far out.

Zantetsu: There's nobody over there. Who are you passing to?

Chigiri ran past Zantetsu.

Chigiri: Myself since you asked.

Zantetsu: You're so nave missy. Nave... Naive. Whatever, I'm faster than you are!!

Zantetsu ran forward, and got past Chigiri.

Chigiri: You haven't noticed yet four eyes? Your initial burn is.

Ryu: 'Hmph, not bad Red Panther. You've got a 50 meters dash of 5.77 seconds. I've only got 6.27 myself.'

Chigiri caught up to the ball he kicked.

Chigiri: Why don't you hang back a while?

He shot the ball to the goal, scoring.

Score: 4-3 Team Z

Ryu and Azure looked at Chigiri, who turned and pointed.

Ryu: -_- You've got speed, and I've got everything else. Don't make me crush that ego.

Team V once again got the ball, however once someone got the ball and was about to pass to Reo, they felt a minor chill go up their spine.

Azure: I'll take it up for now.

Reo: What?!

The ball was passed to Azure.

Azure: Being honest, I'm not sure if I even trust you to not lose your cool when it comes to Nagi again. Besides...

A black and white glow appeared in Azure's eyes.

Azure: I'm hungry for another goal now.

Azure took the ball up the field.

Isagi: Get ready!!

Azure: 'I see you.'

Azure did a roulette, as Isagi was stunned.

Isagi: 'Argh, I just can't guard this guy! We already accounted for this though!'

Ryu ran forward, as he was ready to take the ball from Azure.

Ryu: 'The day you score a goal from this distance on purpose I'll throw myself into a cold lake! It's two on one Azure, and when it's me, you're not getting past like usual!'

Azure: Alright then.

Azure smirked, which surprised Ryu.

Azure: Here's my retort!

Azure did an Elastico, and then brought the ball up into the air.

Chigiri: 'What kind of crazy move is that?!'

As the ball came down, he immediately nutmeg'd Ryu to get by.

Ryu: 'I've never seen him do something like that!'

Azure: 'Man, I can't tell what's happened to me all of a sudden.'

As Kuon and Gagamaru came in to guard Azure, he did a rainbow flick to get the ball up in the air.

Azure: 'Suddenly I'm pulling off moves that I never even thought to try in a game! And they're working like a charm!'

Naruhaya: There's no way!!!

Once Azure was near his range, he prepared to shoot the ball instantly.

Chigiri: NO YOU DON'T!!!!

Chigiri came sprinting in, sliding to block the shot. However to the speedsters horror, Azure simply lobbed the ball into the air.

Azure: 'Finally, I'm playing at a level that those weaklings in high school couldn't push me to! I'm the best I've ever been!!'

Azure kicked the ball, as it flew to the goal.

Iemon: 'Which way will it turn?! Right?! Left?!!'

As the Team Z goalie pondered the question, the ball continued to travel.

Azure: Surprise fucker.

The ball went straight forward, before diving down into the goal. Every player on the field looked at the grinning Striker, with even Nagi amazed.

Score: 4-4

Isagi: 'I just can't believe it! This game pushed our players to the next level, but it wasn't just us!'

Ryu looked at Azure wide eyed.

Ryu: 'Azure just leveled up mid game!!'

Azure turned, looking at Nagi.

Nagi: 'Azure... Just changed.'

Azure: Come on, you can't tell me this isn't making your blood pump too Nagi.

Nagi: 'This is a new feeling. Is this what it's like...'

A glow began to form in Nagi's eyes.

Nagi: 'To feel competitive?'

Team Z got the ball once again, as Ryu was more on edge than before.

Ryu: 'Damnit. Azure's moving at 100 percent now, and some of our players are low on steam.'

Ryu looked around as he tried to think of options.

Ryu: 'Come on, I know I can find something.'

Ryu gritted his teeth, with numbers entering his mind.

Ryu: 'There gotta be plenty of ways I can create an opportunity for others, and myself!!'

Azure soon enough had ran in front of Ryu.

Azure: 'Can't make a decision? I'll take that then.'

Ryu looked at Azure, as the teen felt something different.

Ryu: 'You're not the one in control here Azure.'

Ryu completely stopped, with Azure on his toes.

Azure: 'You won't get me with that Ryu! All I have to do at this distance is not slow down entirely!'

Azure moved back a bit.

Ryu: You better be ready.

Instead of dribbling past, Ryu kicked the ball high, passing.

Azure: 'You passed?!'

???: I read you loud and clear!

Once the ball landed, it was revealed that Ryu passed to Bachira, who grinned like a madman.

Bachira: One special goal coming right up!

Bachira began to dribble forward.

Bachira: You gotta love this feeling!! Every player came to Blue Lock because they want to be the best Striker in the world!!

Ryu's eyes widened hearing this.

Ryu: 'The best Striker...'

Bachira: If we crap out against Team V now, it's as good as admitting that's all we're worth!!

He did an Elastico to get past two players.

Bachira: Two more!!

Ryu: 'I never really played that position. It was only during the last match since one of our players got injured. Even then, I was still really a Midfielder.'

Bachira got even further, getting past Reo with fast scissors into a roulette.

Bachira: One more!!

Ryu: 'Ego must've seen something I didn't. He saw my ego...'

Bachira: Boom!!

Bachira lobbed the ball into the air, scoring the goal.

Score: 5-4 Team Z

Ryu looked up with a smile.

Ryu: 'All this time I've still been thinking mainly like a Midfielder. True, it'll always be apart of me...'

He clenched his fist.

Ryu: 'But since coming to Blue Lock, I've had so much fun as a Forward!'

Azure looked at the clock.

Azure: We've got 7 minutes until the regulation ends. Just 7 minutes.

The ball was kicked to Azure, as the Team V players ran up the field.

Nagi: Give it to me!

The Team V player were surprised, while Azure only smirked.

Azure: Take it away, Nagi.

Azure passed the ball to Nagi, as an aura resembling the void of space surrounded him.

Isagi: 'What just happened? That's the first time he's bothered taking the initiative.'

Reo: Nagi?

Nagi: Reo... Let me try.

He dribbled up the field, surprising everyone.

Naruhaya: What's going on?!

Imamura: So he's got dribbling as a weapon too?!!

Nagi lifted the ball into the air, surprising Naruhaya. However he quickly kicked it down and into between Naruhaya's legs.

Naruhaya: 'He did that just to nutmeg me!!'

Before Imamura could stop Nagi, he passed it out to Zantetsu, who was chased by Chigiri.

Ryu: 'He just changed the flow of their entire team. The madness on this field, as well as Azure's last goal, as also made Seishiro Nagi kick it into high gear too!'

Nagi: Zantetsu, give me a sick pass man.

Zantetsu: You feeling alright? You've never asked me to pass to you before!

Reo: Nagi, what are you?

Nagi: 'I've played with Azure this entire time, so why now? Is it because he's playing at his best now? Or is it because, the entire time I thought these guys were lame, they were actually cool?'

Zantetsu got a pass through to Nagi, as he jumped to trap the ball, on the side of the goal.

Nagi: 'It's too late. Now that I have it, the rest is inevitable. Playing my curiosity, it can't be stopped.'

Ryu: You've gotta be kidding, is there any pass this guy can't trap?!

Nagi kept the ball in the air as he landed on the ground.

Nagi: 'For the first time in my life...'

He jumped back up, before spinning his body, and kicking the ball in.

Nagi: 'I want a challenge!!!'

Score: 5-5

Nagi fell, as Reo ran to him.

Reo: Nagi!! Are you-

Nagi: You know what?

Nagi got back up, with an aura being seen around him.

Nagi: It turns out soccer is pretty fun.

Ryu: 'Man, we're low on time, and stamina.'

Naruhaya: Man, and we were just about to run away with it too!!

Isagi: I'm not sure how we're gonna get past both those monsters as we are now.

Ryu thought to himself, however unlike before, this process was slightly different.

Ryu: 'We've only got a little bit of time left on the clock.'

HIT THE MUSIC!!

Ryu began to concentrate, as numbers began to poor out of his mind.

Ryu: 'There won't be anymore unexpected developments anymore. No player has the skill or the motivation for that anymore, knowing that both Azure and Nagi are already amped up.'

The numbers began to go back in his head, as a small red aura began to surround Ryu.

Ryu: 'Azure right now is too far ahead. I'm not gonna be able to guard him once he gets the ball again, and he's just good enough to stick to me.'

The ball was kicked off, as once again, Ryu had the ball, while still thinking, as data kept pouring into his head. While dribbling, his pupils soon became slitted.

Ryu: 'I've got all these things about me, so what can I do to win?!'

Ryu did a two touch to get the ball in between Reo's legs.

Reo: Argh, damnit!

Ryu: 'My head is killing me! Processing this much information at once is such a fucking pain!!'

Ryu stopped, before something clicked for him.

Ryu: 'Processing...'

All the data in Ryu's mind stopped flowing, as the teen then had a realization.

Ryu: 'Of course!! It's so simple now!!' ISAGI!!!

Ryu kicked the ball over to Isagi, who was almost shocked Ryu passed to him.

Ryu: 'Right now, what I lack as a soccer player is to be able to make hyper fast decisions!! With my little bit of experience, it's not gonna happen!!'

Isagi got the ball, as he gritted his teeth.

Ryu: 'What I can do now however, is use someone else's to my advantage!! Isagi can see the field the best, even better than Azure!!' CHIGIRI, RUN!!!

Ryu began to run fast, blazing past the Team V players, while Chigiri although confused soon realized what he was going after.

Chigiri: 'You slick bastard!! Fine, I'll play along!!'

Chigiri ran as well, as Nagi guarded Isagi.

Isagi: 'Who can get to the goal first?! We only have a little bit of time left! Less than a minute!!'

Puzzle pieces began to scatter in Isagi's mind, as something clicked in him as well.

Isagi: 'I see it!! Chigiri is gonna get marked by Zantetsu immediately after he gets in too close, and Kaito is just sneaking around to defend Ryu, so the one who I can use to seal our victory is-!!'

Isagi kicked the ball, as Chigiri was the one he passed to.

Chigiri: 'Me huh?! I already know this close to the goal his explosive acceleration with get me...'

As Chigiri ran, he looked like he was ready to shoot.

Zantetsu: 'No way!! His range is that far?!'

Zantetsu sprinted forward, ready to block the shot.

Chigiri: Stupid, I already know that I can't score from this distance.

Chigiri passed the ball, much to the shock of Zantetsu.

Chigiri: But the the one who can easily score from outside that box is him!!

The ball was passed to Ryu.

Chigiri: Team Z's Wild Dragon!!

As the ball went to Ryu, Azure was there ready to defend.

Azure: 'This it it Ryu.'

Ryu trapped the ball, before taking a step forward, ready to shoot. Azure saw the path to the goal, and quickly planted his foot on the ground.

Azure: 'I'll be able to block it!! Your distance for curve shots under pressure is around 28 meters Ryu!! When I block this, Team V will get it, and then either Nagi or I will be able to score last!! THIS IS OUR VICTORY!!!'

The crimson aura from around Ryu flared to life, as his eyes were wide, as Azure only then noticed his slitted pupils.

Ryu: 'No Azure. I found out what I needed to win long before arriving at this spot.'

Veins on Ryu's legs could be seen, as he began to grit his teeth.

Ryu: 'My biggest advantage over you it the strength I have in my legs!! So just like you can't catch up to me at my full speed, I'll keep you from even scrapping the ball-!!!'

He kicked the ball with all his might, as it went speeding like a bullet towards the goal, going past Azure's outstretched leg.

Azure: 'SO FAST!!!'

Ryu: 'WITH MY DRAGON STRIKE!!!!'

The ball flew fast, as the goalie was far too late to react, with the ball hitting the net, threatening to break through it.

Score: 6-5 Team Z

Everyone was shocked seeing this.

Ryu: 'TAKE A LOOK WORLD!!!!'

Once getting both feet on the ground, Ryu yelled into the sky.

Ryu: YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! 'This is the both the Awakening and Rebirth: OF RYU KAIZEN!!!!'

Azure was shocked, looking at the time, seeing only 15 seconds left on the clock. Seeing this, he laid on his back.

Azure: ... You're too good at controlling the field, you know that?

The members of Team Z ran towards Ryu, yelling in victory as well.

Bachira: You we're a champ!!!

Kunigami put Ryu in a head lock, ruffling his hair, while Bachira and Isagi playfully punched him.

Isagi: You tricky son of a bitch, did you actually force me to make a play for you?!!

Chigiri: And rope me into assisting you to take the glory?!

Ryu: Well to be honest, I thought that was the only way.

They were all confused.

Ryu: I only started playing Soccer with a team this season, so I don't exactly have the IQ to make last second clutch plays by myself yet. Isagi however is. Even though he's not as good as I am in terms of skill, he's someone who can dictate the field in his own unique way.

Imamura: DID YOU SAY YOU ONLY STARTED THIS SEASON?!!!

Naruhaya: YOU MEAN ALL THIS TIME I WAS GETTING BEAT AT EVERY SINGLE TURN BY A NEWBY?!!!

Ryu: ANYWAY, Isagi's the only one I could think of who could make the right play, and Chigiri was the only one I knew who could keep pace with me.

Bachira: But what about that last goal? How'd you know you could do something like that?

Ryu: I...

He scratched the back of his head, while the thought a smug young man came into his mind.

Ryu: -_- Leg strength is my best trait and that's that.

Bachira: Hmmmmm? Sounds to me like you're hiding something!

Azure: He is.

Azure walked up to the team.

Azure: He's just too embarrassed to say who that last move was-

Ryu: SAY ANOTHER WORD AND YOU'RE COOKED!!!

Azure: Ha, whatever.

Azure held his fist up, smirking.

Azure: I told you I wouldn't go easy, and I didn't. Next time I'm gonna try even harder to shut you down. For now, welcome to the world of Strikers, Ryu.

Ryu looked at Azure's fist, before holding his up, as the two shared a fist bump. Azure then turned around, waving.

Azure: But if we end up as teammates again, I'm still gonna outscore you like this game.

Ryu only then realized the score, and more specifically their points.

Ryu: OH GOD DAMNIT!!!!

Isagi: What's wrong?!

Ryu: I LET THAT PRICK SCORE A HAT TRICK ON ME WHILE I ONLY GOT TWO GOALS!!!

Nearly every player on Team Z fell back once hearing this.

Chigiri: You fucking horde!! If I took that last shot I could've at least evened it out between us!

Ryu: Yeah right, you probably would've missed!!

Zantetsu: -_- Did we seriously lose to the same guy?

Reo: I don't think I'll ever live this one down.

Azure: Both of you save it.

Azure walked towards both of them.

Azure: He's a god inside the game, but out he's a goof.

Azure looked back at Ryu, seemingly seeing someone else there as well.

Azure: Barely experienced or not, he's a monster.

CHAPTER END!!