Chapter 116: Revenger

The broadcast confirms Sae scored the opener, and the stadium roars as the commentators hail his long-awaited genius, sensing the birth of a hero. Rather than accept his teammates' praise, Sae shuts them down, claiming he could have scored three times but wasted his effort passing to forwards like Sendo, who fluffed a clear chance. His barbs cut Sendo deep. Aiku observes that Gagamaru simply made a fine save, but Sae asks what use a striker is if he cannot score, deeming Sendo lesser than a midfielder like himself. When Aiku calls him harsh and asks how many strikers Japan even has, Sae says that is exactly what the match will reveal, then warns Sendo not to fail again. Aiku slings an arm around the stung ace and tells him not to miss the next one.

The U-20 regroups as Blue Lock watches, frustrated. Gagamaru fumes despite his save, Aryu admires Sae's style, and Niko flags Sae's alarming scoring range, noting the U-20 grow far stronger by pairing airtight defense with Sae as an instant counter trigger. Isagi agrees, reading their pattern: four defenders lock down, steal the ball, and fire Sae forward, and he wonders how to dismantle it.

From the stands Anri tells Ego the drilled plays are failing and frets about the outcome. Ego answers that practice is only practice, a low-stress showcase of technique, while the real match piles on pressure from setting, opponent, body, and mind, and the sole way through is improvisation. Anri, anxious, asks if he will give any direction, but Ego snaps at her to shut up and watch, trusting his egoist to deliver when it counts.

Play resumes with Blue Lock in possession as Rin feeds Isagi, who is hunting the missing piece to break the U-20 open. Unsure yet what he lacks, Isagi clears his mind and pours everything into building with Rin. He returns the ball to Rin, whom Itsuki Wakatsuki marks, taunting that he has nowhere to go, but Rin fires a short pass back to the onrushing Isagi. The pair trade passes at ever tighter range, and Wakatsuki realizes Isagi is moving in calculated orbits around Rin to widen his mobility, letting the two flow past. Rin then heels the ball behind both defenders to Bachira, who, envious of their coordination, spots the numbers advantage and drives it to Rin, now with a lane opened in the defense. Ego commends Rin's improvisation, calling his awakening the road to victory.

Sae voices his disgust with the U-20 forwards and reveals he passed up three chances before scoring himself, warning Sendo not to mess up again. The Blue Lock Eleven analyze the U-20's counterattacking style. Ego contrasts practice with real competition and preaches improvisation. The game resumes with Blue Lock in possession, and Rin and Isagi flow past the defenders to break down the defense, leaving Rin to receive the ball in the penalty area.

Revenger is chapter 116 overall and the fourth chapter of Volume 14 in the U-20 Arc, adapted in Episode 31. Running twenty-one pages, it released in Japan on January 27, 2021, and in English on July 19, 2022.