When Ryōsuke spoke, Michael was taken aback. He hadn't expected such a direct challenge.
"Hey, who do you think you are? What right do you have to challenge Michael one-on-one?" Alexis immediately spoke up, anxiety clear in his voice.
"Oh? What right?" Ryōsuke walked up to him, his gaze piercing, "Isn't my rating — which surpasses all of yours — enough? Besides, this is between Michael and me. What's it to you, sidekick?"
His words enraged Alexis, veins bulging on his forehead as he trembled. His usual fake smile vanished completely.
"Enough, Alexis." Michael held him back while turning to Ryōsuke with furrowed brows, "Are you suggesting we have a one-on-one right here, right now?"
"That's the best solution, isn't it?" Ryōsuke replied calmly, glancing at the onlookers, "This way, it won't affect the next match, and we can settle our issues directly!"
Michael hesitated. Against anyone else, he would have accepted instantly — he had absolute confidence that no one in the team could match his individual abilities.
But this was different. Facing Ryōsuke, Michael's confidence wavered. During their recent team practice match, Ryōsuke had overwhelmed him. Then in the FC Barcha match, Ryōsuke had outperformed him both offensively and defensively.
A one-on-one against him? Michael knew his chances of winning were slim.
"What's wrong, scared? Only brave enough to show off in front of those beneath you, but afraid to challenge those above?" Ryōsuke lifted his chin with a slight smirk.
If Michael and Alexis hadn't come to provoke him, he wouldn't have bothered with them — but their arrogance demanded a lesson.
Meanwhile, other players on the scene began to chime in.
"Yeah, if you don't accept his abilities, settle it with a one-on-one!"
"Right, I agree!"
"Better than pulling dirty tricks during the actual match!"
Not just members of Blue Lock, but even some of Bastard München's original team members supported the proposal.
Michael felt frustrated but maintained his rationality. His chances of winning against Ryōsuke in a one-on-one were slim — the risk was too great. Yet refusing would brand him a coward in his teammates' eyes, diminishing their respect even further.
He couldn't let that happen. His mind raced until he found a solution.
"Fine, I agree." Michael forced a smile, "But I have one condition — we need a witness."
"Aren't all these people here enough witnesses?"
"No... not enough. Let's get Noel to be our witness!" Michael said quickly.
In his mind, Noel was the type of rigid person who would never allow such things within the team. If he rejected it, Michael could use that as an excuse to back out of the challenge.
"Alright."
Ryōsuke didn't refuse and immediately led Michael to find Noel in the guidance room to explain the situation.
Hearing his words, Noel's brows furrowed slightly, as if wrestling with something.
Seeing his expression change, Michael immediately smiled, "So you see, Ryōsuke, your suggestion is too childish..."
"Okay, I'll be the witness."
Before Michael could finish speaking, Noel responded.
"Such a thing has never happened in Bastard München before, but as Kira said, if outsiders see our team playing chaotically and stealing balls from each other during matches, it will damage our club's reputation."
"But..." A troubled expression crossed Michael's face — this was completely different from what he had imagined.
"Michael, didn't you and Alexis just question my decision? Well, this is your chance to win back the ace position."
"What's wrong? You were the one who wanted to settle things with me, so why hesitate now? Worried your proudest individual skills will be crushed? Or can't you win without stealing balls from your teammates?" Ryōsuke regarded him with a relaxed expression.
"You!" Michael's gaze sharpened as he glared, teeth clenched.
Being easily swayed by emotions, Ryōsuke's words had instantly provoked him. With Noel's approval, he had no escape.
Michael reconsidered — he had only performed poorly against Ryōsuke in official matches, not in one-on-one situations.
One-on-one battles were different from official matches, with fewer variables. In this format, he might stand a chance. Trapped in this situation, he had to accept.
"Fine, let's do this!"
Michael nodded and returned to the field with Ryōsuke.
Noel stood at the sideline and said expressionlessly, "The first to score two goals wins. After each goal, attack and defense switch. Any problems with these rules?"
"No." Michael shook his head.
"Sorry, but I think two goals would waste too much time." Ryōsuke said, "One goal is enough to determine the winner."
"With just one goal, there's too much room for accidents!" Michael immediately rejected the suggestion, suspecting Ryōsuke wanted the advantage of attacking first.
"If you're worried, then you can attack first. Score one goal and you win. How's that?" Ryōsuke smiled at him, "Any other concerns?"
"Tch, you'll regret this." Michael replied with furrowed brows — this was quite an advantageous proposal for him.
"Alright, then Michael will attack first."
As Noel finished speaking, everyone's attention turned to the two on the field.
The competition for who would be Bastard München's absolute core.
Michael now had the ball under his foot, staring intently at Ryōsuke. In a one-on-one situation, the attacker held the advantage — more offensive options and control of the initiative.
'Just one goal to win — Ryōsuke, you'll pay for your arrogance.' Michael thought, his lips curling into a slight smile, 'This match will be recorded. Once I win, the whole world will see me defeat him!'
As he observed his opponent, the path to attack lay wide open!
"I'm the only protagonist here!"
Michael roared, exploding forward with all his power as he charged toward Ryōsuke's side.
❖ Flow! ❖
Michael had unleashed his full power — against this opponent, he absolutely couldn't lose!
Ryōsuke quickly retreated, marking him closely, giving no space to shoot.
"You're in my way!"
But this was all within Michael's expectations. As one of the most prominent rising stars, his individual skill was undeniable!
In that instant, he suddenly changed direction, skillfully pulling the ball back with his right foot and nutmegging it through Ryōsuke's legs!
"A nutmeg!" Ashito shouted.
Although he really disliked Michael as a person, his abilities were undeniable.
Feinting with speed before suddenly changing direction for the nutmeg — his movements flowed like water!
'I've won, Ryōsuke! Regret your arrogance!' A confident smile spread across Michael's face.
In a one-on-one, getting past your opponent meant victory. No defensive backup, no goalkeeper — a direct shot would mean a goal!
He believed he had gotten past Ryōsuke, victory within his grasp.
But at that moment, a calm voice rang out beside his ear.
"Oh? You've won?"
Michael's eyes widened in horror as he turned to look at Ryōsuke, who was standing right beside him.
'How is this possible?! Shouldn't I have gotten past him?!' Michael couldn't believe his eyes.
In the instant Michael thought he'd slipped past, Ryōsuke had pivoted with lightning speed and executed the steal!
Like a sharp spear, Ryōsuke's right foot struck, taking the ball cleanly from under Michael's feet.
Successful defense!
Michael lost his balance and crashed to the ground, his once-handsome face now covered in dirt.
"Amazing! That level of defense!" Yoichi exclaimed in awe. No matter how many times he witnessed it, Ryōsuke's strength defied common sense.
"That must have been a foul!" Alexis called out desperately to the coach.
"No, it was a clean tackle." Noel replied flatly, not even sparing him a glance.
"But—"
"Shut up. Don't make me repeat myself."
Hearing Noel's authoritative tone, Alexis swallowed his words.
Meanwhile, Michael slowly picked himself up, brushing dirt from his uniform. Such humiliation was foreign to him.
"Damn it..." He muttered, his teeth grinding audibly.
"Are you done prettying yourself up, you self-proclaimed king of clowns?" Ryōsuke smiled, regarding him as insignificant.
'I must stop his shot! I must stop it!' Michael glared at him with murderous intent, 'Even if I have to foul him — if Ryōsuke gets injured, they'll have to let me take his position.'
He let out a cold laugh, dark thoughts brewing in his mind.
"Are you ready?" Ryōsuke asked calmly.
"Come on." Michael shot back.
"Well then... accept your defeat like a good stepping stone." Ryōsuke fixed his gaze on him.
At that moment, his new skill activated!
❖ Divine Reflection! ❖
❖ Thunder Impact! ❖
Bang!
Before Michael could react, Ryōsuke had already completed his shot. The ball burst into the net, dropping slowly after its explosive impact.
The entire field fell into a deathlike silence — everything had happened so fast that no one could react.
"Did he shoot?"
"What just happened?"
"I couldn't even see Kira's shooting motion!"
Everyone murmured among themselves, and even Noel's eyes widened in surprise.
Michael stared at Ryōsuke in shock, then at the ball lying in the goal, his mind struggling to process what had happened. How could the shooting motion have been invisible to him?
Then realization struck him — the technique Ryōsuke had used was his own pride and joy, the Kaiser Impact.
Michael's strength wasn't just his Metavision and solid technical skills — it was also his shooting speed, which surpassed both Manuel Neuer and Noel, making it the fastest in the world.
Yet Ryōsuke had just used that very technique, and somehow made it even faster than Michael's original Kaiser Impact!
"H-how is this possible?!" Michael felt his whole body growing weak, as if he might collapse, "My position, my teammates... and now even my signature move has been taken away?"
"The match is decided — Ryōsuke is the winner." Noel walked onto the field, his gaze fixed on Ryōsuke, "Congratulations. Your position is now secured, and in one aspect, you've surpassed even the world's number one, claiming his throne."
"Hey, just one goal isn't fair! We should at least make it best of three!"
Alexis shouted from the sideline, desperately trying to get another chance for Michael, but Michael had already fallen into complete despair, as if his very soul had been stolen.
"Shut up. These were the rules Michael agreed to, and no matter how many times we do this, the result would be the same. There's no need to waste time." Noel's glare silenced Alexis instantly.
Then, he turned back to Ryōsuke.
"So, Kira, how do you plan to deal with them?"
❖❖❖
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