Chapter 23: Crown the Corpse King
In another area of Blue Lock, Building 5, a fierce battle was underway—Team X versus Team V.
Only five minutes remained in the second half, and the scoreboard showed a tense 2–2 deadlock. Every player on the pitch was on edge.
Hiori Yo advanced steadily with the ball. A midfielder from Team V immediately closed in to double-team him. But Hiori, unfazed, shifted his weight, smoothly evading the pressure. His sharp eyes scanned the field, mapping every player's movement.
Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure and delivered a precise through pass in the direction of Hanegami Zeya.
Zeya calmly tracked the ball. This zone—this space—was his domain. If he controlled it cleanly, it would turn into a deadly opportunity.
Just then, a familiar presence charged toward him at high speed.
Itoshi Rin.
The core of Team V.
In the first half, Rin had equalized with sharp tactical execution and incredible awareness. His play was refined, elite—even surpassing Zeya in certain facets.
But unlike Team X, Rin lacked a teammate like Hiori.
Bang!
Zeya leapt and controlled the pass with his chest, landing smoothly.
Rin kept a two-meter buffer, expression unreadable. Earlier, his lack of distance control had let Zeya blow past him. But not this time. Now he knew Zeya's weapon. He was ready.
Zeya looked him over.
That face—it was unmistakable. This had to be the younger brother of Itoshi Sae.
A genius younger brother.
"You're strong. You must be Sae's brother. Strange, he never mentioned you."
Zeya's voice was calm, thoughtful. He was genuinely curious.
"You know that guy?" Rin's voice turned icy. Any mention of his brother was like salt in a wound.
"I trained with the Matadors during middle school. Didn't stay long. But I met Sae there. We clicked. Became friends."
Zeya rarely offered explanations. But this one came with respect. Sae, to him, was the strongest peer he'd ever met.
It was Yūshin Seiichi who burned to defeat Sae. Zeya had no such fixation.
"Friends? With him? You think you earned his recognition?" Rin's calm cracked. His fists clenched. His voice sharpened with frustration.
All his life, he'd fought to be noticed by Sae. And now this outsider claimed something he couldn't get?
"I don't know what went wrong between you and your brother," Zeya said, unmoved. "But it seems you've misunderstood something."
Tap!
Without warning, Zeya exploded forward.
A burst of speed—quicker than before.
He cut straight past Rin like a thunderbolt.
"You're just another corpse beneath my throne," Zeya muttered coldly.
Rin spun around in disbelief, eyes wide as Zeya prepared his shot.
Boom!
A fierce strike smashed into the net.
Drop!
Team X 3 — Team V 2.
Zeya slowed his steps, stopped beside Rin, and looked at him with quiet finality.
"You've misunderstood. It's not that Sae recognized me. It's that I recognized him."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Rin stood frozen. His teeth clenched. Green flames flickered in his eyes.
I'll crush you. You and Sae—both of you.
You're now on my list.
…
"Zeya! A hat trick again!" Hiori Yo sprinted up to him, overjoyed.
They had grown close in the short time together. Zeya might seem cold, but his actions carried warmth.
Hiori glanced at Zeya's back and sighed inwardly.
Yūshin Seiichi got to grow up playing with this guy… lucky bastard.
…
The last few minutes passed swiftly, including injury time.
Rin gave it everything—but he couldn't crack Zeya's defense.
Drop… Drop… Drop!
The match was over.
Team X 3 — Team V 2.
"We advanced!"
"Let's gooo!"
"It's all thanks to Hanegami Zeya!"
"Yeah! We're lucky to have him!"
Zeya ignored them.
These teammates weren't worth his attention.
His eyes locked onto Rin, who walked silently toward the locker room.
That fury. That obsession. Even in the end, Rin burned with intent to kill.
Interesting.
So Yūshin wasn't lying… There really are monsters in here worth devouring.
He cracked his neck and muttered to himself with irritation.
Tch. Still no message from that idiot Seiichi?
How long does it take to get a damn phone?!