BLUE LOCK CHAPTER 18: THANKS FOR THE HELP

Chapter 18 opens with Team Z catching a brief moment of hope after taking the lead, only for Isagi to notice something unsettling in Kuon’s expression. As the scoreboard shows 3–2, the team prepares to push forward, determined to score again and control the momentum. They arrange a new attacking formation built around Isagi, Kunigami, and Bachira, trusting their combinations to break through Team W’s defense. But the moment play resumes, something feels wrong. Every passing lane closes before it forms, and Team W shuts down their triangle instantly, as if they already know Team Z’s plan.

Isagi’s confusion grows as their coordinated attacks fail. His instincts can’t detect any opening, and he senses something deeper is sabotaging their efforts. When Team W suddenly steals the ball and launches a perfect counter, the truth hits him: their entire strategy has been exposed. Shock spreads across Team Z as Kuon reveals that he leaked their tactics. His earlier “smile” was not imagined. It was the face of betrayal.

The game turns brutal as Team W exploits every weakness Kuon provided, scoring again and leveling the match. When a final chance appears, Kuon intentionally misses a goal that was handed to him, confirming that he is no longer playing for Team Z at all. Rage erupts, especially from Raichi, who attacks him before being stopped by a yellow card. Kuon then explains his calculated reasoning. Since only the top two teams advance and Team Z’s odds of winning are slim, he chose the only path where he himself could survive. By striking a deal with Team W, providing information in exchange for goals, he ensured his personal advancement under the rule that the top scorer on each losing team still moves on.

Kuon admits he abandoned teamwork entirely the moment he realized how weak Team Z was compared to their final opponent. His ego drives him to value survival over loyalty, and he mocks Isagi for believing in unity. Team W takes full advantage and scores again, pulling ahead 4–3. The chapter ends with Kuon’s chilling declaration of victory and Team Z standing stunned, betrayed, and desperate, as Isagi refuses to let the match end on someone else’s selfish terms.