Chapter Text
BLUE LOCK FIELD MANUAL – Engagement Protocol: Infected Swarms | Rev. 5.4a
Section 11.2 – Crowd Dispersal and Elimination
- Engagement is not advised unless retreat is unviable.
- For clusters exceeding twelve (12): initiate dispersal. Break formation and isolate from perimeter inward.
- For clusters under twelve (12): maintain a three-point flank. Prioritize edge containment.
- Neutralize the most vocal infected first to limit audio spread and cluster agitation.
- In the event of encirclement: confirm target density, then engage to reduce forward momentum.
THE NEXT MORNING, COUGHS LINGERED but most were steady enough to move. After losing a full day, Kaiser pushed a hard pace northwest, barely stopping until the trees broke open.
The path dipped into a steep valley, lined with broken guardrails—the skeleton of a pre-outbreak hiking route now jagged and half-swallowed by nature.
You slowed to a stop. The others followed, boots dragging, breath loud in the stillness. Ness shook out his map and cleared his throat.
Reo groaned. “Please don’t. Every time you do, we get kicked in the ass.”
“The terrain narrows in approximately eight hundred metres,” Ness said. “A natural chokehold. If we’re going to be attacked, it will be there.”
“Which means we’re getting attacked, attacked,” Kurona muttered.
You stood to the side, eyes tracing the ridgeline ahead. It was sharp and shadowed, a funnel of stone.
“It’d be hard to move through that,” Isagi murmured beside you. “If something’s waiting, you won’t see it until you’re in it.”
“And there’s no way to turn back,” you added.
Ness crouched by the edge of the old road, sweeping his hand over the map and terrain notes on scrap paper. He tapped near the circled zone. “This marks a bottleneck. One of the key corridors around Fujioka—steep on both sides, limited cover, visibility under fifty metres.”
Barou leaned over his shoulder. “So we charge in on prayers?”
“This was the one route units were told not to use,” Aiku said. “Too easy to trap, too hard to defend. Even before infection it was prone to mudslides and rockfalls. Now it’s an infected hotspot.”
“Then why not reroute?” Kunigami asked.
“Because every other way adds days,” you said. “And we don’t have days.”
Ness looked up. “We can’t avoid the infected. We need a plan to cut through.”
“Ooh, I have a great plan,” Bachira said. “Kunigami takes all the guns, Barou follows with his axe.”
Barou side-eyed him. “Better plan—we string you up in a tree and let the infected use you as a piñata.”
“That could work,” Aiku said dryly.
“Can we not do this right now?” Hiori sniffled. “We’re close to Fujioka. We just need to make it through.”
You looked around. Kurona retied his braid. Kunigami fiddled with his hatchet. Ness knelt sketching terrain into the dirt, silent and focused. Everyone looked frayed, running on fumes and adrenaline. You wanted another day of rest, another warm meal. But you didn’t have that luxury.
Your next words were for the group, but it was Kaiser’s eyes you met. “We’ve got one shot. We need coordination. That won’t happen unless everyone trains first.”
“What do you mean, training?” Isagi asked.
Kaiser glanced at the map. “Three units: short range, flank, overwatch. Short range pushes first, cuts the line. Flank hits the left incline and scouts ahead. Overwatch takes high ground on the opposite ridge—cover fire if we’re compromised.” He looked at you. “Triage stays back beyond the bend. You’ll have a short window to pull people out.”
Bachira grinned. “I understood about five words, but it sounded impressive.”
“Can we keep the lingo to a minimum?” Reo muttered.
“Short range fights up close,” Aiku explained. “Melee. They’re the first to meet the infected.”
“Flank comes from the side,” Ness added. “Recon and distraction.”
“Bait,” Kurona said. Ness just shrugged.
“Overwatch is sniper support,” Kaiser said. “High ground, eyes on the field. Triage handles anyone bleeding out.”
“You act like we can do that,” Barou said.
“Which is why we’ll train you,” you answered. “You don’t need to be experts—just think smart, move fast. Aiku can run melee drills. Ness can teach terrain and blind spots.”
“So it’s a training camp!” Bachira announced. “Boy scouts for a day!”
“Except we’re learning how to kill infected instead of tying knots,” Reo muttered.
“Knots are very useful,” Ness said. “I can teach those too.”
“Who’s going where?” Kunigami asked.
“I want Isagi and Hiori,” Kaiser said.
Isagi startled. “Because we’re already holding guns?”
“You’ve got good spatial awareness and focus. Least likely to shoot yourselves.” Kaiser slung his rifle. “Move.”
Isagi rolled his eyes skyward. Hiori gave him a sympathetic look before following Kaiser, rifles clutched gingerly.
Aiku glanced at Ness. “Who do you want?”
“Do we get a say in this?” Reo asked.
“Not unless you’re a team captain, no,” Aiku said.
Ness studied the group. “Kurona and Reo. We’ll walk terrain—simulate cover, blind corners, elevation.”
Kurona nodded. Reo frowned but didn’t argue when Ness handed him the map.
“Follow me. If you know the terrain, you can flank.”
Aiku planted his hands on his hips. “Alright then. Barou, Kunigami, Bachira—congrats. You’re with me at the front.”
“Wait, what are we doing again?” Bachira asked.
“You smash the infected and anything else in the way. I’ll make sure you can take a hit and look damn good doing it.”
Bachira grinned at Barou. “See? Kunigami charges first, then you with the axe. My plan was perfect.”
Barou pushed up his sleeves. “Just stay out of my way, donkey.”
“Likewise, your majesty.”
“Can you two not?” Kunigami muttered. “Save the punches for the infected.”
“Don’t deck my face either,” Aiku added. “The moneymaker’s off-limits.”
They peeled left, boots crunching leaves. You watched until they disappeared into the trees. The wind whistled low. Your hand brushed your revolver.
You hoped this would work. You didn’t have other options if it didn’t.
Aiku was already shouting when you reached the sparring zone.
They’d cleared a rough circle between two leaning trees. Kunigami, stripped to his undershirt, squared off against Barou—who looked more likely to throw a real punch than pull one.
“Barou!” Aiku barked. “Stop leading with your shoulder. You’re not a tank.”
Barou blocked Kunigami’s swing and spun him off balance. “Maybe you’re just a shit teacher.”
“Maybe,” Aiku said. “But I’m still breathing. Watch your left.”
Off to the side, Bachira stabbed his crowbar into a sagging sack of tarp—probably meant to be a dummy.
“How’s it going?” you asked, standing beside him.
Bachira swung the crowbar like a wand. “I wanted to spar with Barou, but Aiku said that was a disaster waiting to happen. So it’s me and Mr. Tarp.”
“I think you’ve got a good sense already,” you said.
“You think so?”
“Sure. You’re aiming at weak points.” You pointed to the dummy: collarbone, side of the neck, base of the skull. “You’re fast. If you miss, you can always follow through.”
Bachira lit up.
A grunt behind you—Kunigami hit the ground. He rolled, came up swinging, and forced Barou back a step.
“Attaboy!” Aiku crowed. “There’s our Captain Immune!”
Kunigami scowled, ducking a fist.
“Can I spar with Captain Immune next?” Bachira asked brightly.
Farther along the ridge, Ness walked Kurona and Reo through terrain drills.
He gestured precisely—trees, lines of sight, fallback positions—while Reo trailed behind, lips pressed tight.
Kurona was focused, each step deliberate. He tapped a branch with a stick, then crouched behind it, checking the angle like he was already picturing crossfire.
“Use the ridge,” Ness said. “If you’re flanked from below, force them uphill. It slows them. That buys seconds and seconds matter.”
“Where would you place the lookouts?” you asked.
Ness pointed immediately. “There. And there. I already sent Kurona to mark those trees.”
As if on cue, Kurona yelped. You turned just in time to see his braid vanish as he slipped down the ridge.
Ness dropped his pack. “Grab the bush! Kurona—?!”
“I’m okay,” Kurona called. “I—I think!”
You glanced at Reo. He was drinking from his canteen, scanning—but distant.
“Reo,” you said softly.
His eyes lifted, bitterness caught in his throat. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t have to be.”
He twisted the lid too tight. Sniffed. “Nagi hated walking. Said it was boring. Too slow. He’d fall behind just to piss me off.”
You stayed quiet.
“I never thought he’d fall behind for real.”
You curled your fingers until your nails bit your palm.
Reo exhaled. “I keep thinking—if I’d said something, if I hadn’t pushed him so much—maybe—”
“It wouldn’t have changed anything.”
Reo finally turned. His eyes were red-rimmed but dry. “Did you find another note?”
“No. But I think he’s alright. Like you said—if anyone could take the Demon, it’s Nagi.”
“What about this bottleneck? Can he make it through?”
“I think Nagi knows what he can handle.”
“Mikage—Reo!” Ness called. “Kurona found handholds we can use. Come on!”
Reo muttered as he stomped through the leaves, “Should’ve gone after the Demon too. Better than being in the bait squad.”
You heard Kaiser before you saw him.
“Miss from this range again and you’ll be on the other end of the rifle.”
You rounded the bend. Hiori stood steady, rifle raised, stance clean. He inhaled. Exhaled. Fired.
The empty can burst into metal fragments.
“Finally,” Kaiser muttered. He saw you then. His posture shifted—straighter, sharper.
“Nice shot, Hiori,” you said.
He smiled over his shoulder. “Thanks.”
“Do it again first,” Kaiser said.
Isagi sat by the packs, rifle in pieces across his lap, cleaning each part with careful precision. His fingers were steady—too steady. He looked up. “Hey.”
You crouched beside him. “How’s the shooting?”
He shrugged. “Haven’t tried. Kaiser said I should get a feel for the gun first.” His voice dipped on the word gun. He didn’t meet your eyes.
“I keep thinking about the first infected I saw,” he said quietly. “She was wearing a school uniform. I froze. Bachira had to take her down.” Isagi swallowed. “Take it down, I mean.”
You closed your eyes briefly. Nanase. Tokimitsu. Who had ever imagined black eyes could turn a someone into an it?
“I thought I’d be stronger by now.” Isagi glanced at you, his expression unreadable. “Am I ready?”
You didn’t answer right away.
“Let’s see.” You nodded at the cans lined up ahead of Hiori and Kaiser. “Take a shot.”
“I—what?”
“Just try. I won’t let Kaiser yell at you.”
Isagi stood, fumbling with the rifle. Hiori adjusted his grip with a small smile, steadying him as he raised the barrel.
You shot Kaiser a look. He only shrugged, arms crossed.
Isagi inhaled. Aimed.
You mouthed the rhythm under your breath.
Breathe. Sight. Pull.
The bullet pinged into the dirt—a near miss.
Kaiser snorted. “Tomorrow’s going to be difficult if you can’t hit a few cans.”
“I’m not used to firing something that can kill,” Isagi snapped.
“Do you expect the infected to feel sorry for you?”
You stepped between them, took the rifle, reset the safety, and handed it back without a word.
To Hiori, you said, “Keep him grounded. You’re calm. He needs that.”
Hiori nodded. Isagi only stopped glaring at Kaiser when Hiori ruffled his hair.
“Try again, Isagi,” Hiori said gently. “Yer holding yer breath. Lemme count with you.”
You moved to Kaiser, pulling a magazine from your pack and tossing it to him. He caught it one-handed.
“You’re too harsh,” you said. “This isn’t Blue Lock. They’re not Unit 09.”
“I’m trying to keep them alive tomorrow, Spatz.”
“They will. They’re stronger than you think.”
“Whatever happens, there’s only so much I can do.”
“They know that.”
“I wasn’t talking about everyone else.”
He held your gaze. Your pulse skittered in your throat. Something passed between you—sharp, unspoken.
Kaiser turned away first. “Shoulders back, Isagi,” he called. “The rifle disrespects you when you slouch.”
The sun bled gold into grey as it dipped behind the ridge.
By the time you returned, the fire was low. Someone had managed a pot of broth with the last of the cabbage. It smelled like ash, maybe herbs if you strained.
Aiku sharpened a blade with lazy strokes. Kunigami and Barou chewed silently through charred rations. Bachira, draped in a stolen jacket, tried to roast a beetle on a stick.
“Dinner,” he offered when you passed, holding it out.
“Hard pass,” you said.
Kurona crouched with Reo, running through a terrain sketch. Reo only nodded, silent. Ness stood nearby, transceiver light painting his face blue.
Isagi and Hiori sat with rifles across their knees. Hiori murmured something low; Isagi kept glancing at his hands.
Kaiser sat apart, posture sharp, rifle still slung across his back. You dropped down beside him with a sigh.
“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be,” Aiku said, poking the fire.
“Which is much better than nothing,” Ness added.
“We’ll be in and out, no problem,” Bachira said. “We’ll fight, we’ll shoot, and the Commander will drag us out if we bleed too much.”
“Hear, hear,” Kurona said, raising his canteen. The others lifted what they held in quiet agreement.
Barou rolled his eyes. “Idiots.”
You smiled faintly, tugging your jacket tighter, watching each of them across the firelight. Tomorrow, you’d move through the chokehold. Tomorrow, you’d be pinned—or make it through.
Kaiser shifted, sliding his pack behind you as a cushion, though you hadn’t asked. Aiku drifted over then, Bachira’s makeshift spear hefted over his shoulder.
“We had an operation like this back in Unit 09,” he said, sitting down in front of you and Kaiser. “One of the better ones, I feel like.”
“They wanted to clear out that route for executive travel,” you said.
Kaiser started unzipping his bedroll. “And since no one else could do it, we had to.”
Ness overheard you talking and moved to sit beside Kaiser. “I liked that mission. Lead Operative Itoshi seemed a lot happier afterwards.”
“That’s a stretch,” Aiku muttered.
Kaiser scoffed. “He was happy because Shidou got roped into joining another unit and we didn’t have to deal with him for a week.”
You and Ness shared a small smile. You remembered that bottleneck mission. You hadn’t been able to sleep in the days leading up to it. But the rumours turned out to be worse than reality. Or maybe you had just been competent enough to deal with it that way.
And Rin had seemed happier after the mission. Everyone was, when their debriefs were successful and they didn’t have to count casualties.
“Try to sleep,” Kaiser said, settling into his bedroll. “We move at dawn.”
Aiku smirked. “Oh, I know you were just foaming at the mouth to say that.”