Chapter 17: The First Selection Match Begins!
Ten minutes later—
"In that case," Ryosuke Kira said calmly, his voice cutting through the tense air, "I'll temporarily take the role of team captain for this round of the selection."
It wasn't arrogance that made him say it — it was simply fact.
During the short span of training, he had already defeated Raichi, then Kunigami, and even Bachira, one after another.
"His speed… it's basically cheating."
"Is there anyone in Blue Lock faster than him?"
"It's ridiculous. He doesn't even need technique — just speed alone is enough to overtake past anyone…"
The others whispered among themselves, disbelief painted across every face. Three challengers, three total losses — after seeing those matches, no one doubted anymore.
Kira wasn't in their league. He stood in an entirely different dimension.
Even the hot-headed Raichi, though seething with frustration, could only sit in silence, fists clenched. His pride screamed at him to talk back, but the image of Kira's terrifying calm and overwhelming dominance replayed in his mind.
He had felt it — that impossible strength.
And so, everyone — willingly or not — acknowledged Kira as their leader.
A quiet realization took root in their hearts.
Maybe… just maybe, this man could actually lead them to victory.
"Then let's begin assigning positions and forming our strategy," Kira continued, his tone composed yet confident. "I'll be center forward — the team's core. We'll build our attack around me."
There was no conceit in his words, only rationality. It was the simplest path toward victory.
"Raichi," he continued, turning to the other boy, "your stamina and aggression make you perfect for defense. You'll be our defender. As for goalkeeper — Iemon, that's your role."
"You—!" Raichi's voice thundered in protest. The idea of being shoved into defense lit fury in his veins. But when his gaze met Kira's, that calm yet suffocating pressure silenced him instantly.
"…Fine," he muttered finally. "As long as we win."
Kira's eyes swept across the rest of the team. "Any objections?"
None came. Everyone nodded, some with hesitation, others with silent respect. The arrangement fit perfectly with their individual abilities — and more importantly, with his leadership, none of them wanted to stand against him.
"Then we begin preparation," he said simply.
---
An hour later, Team Z entered their designated stadium.
Their match would be the very first of the First Selection. From the moment the announcement had come, they'd only had two hours to prepare — not nearly enough time to study their opponents.
That meant neither side had intel.
For most, that only fueled their nerves. Hearts pounded, palms sweated — every player's mind raced with questions about the opposing team's strength and tactics.
Only one man remained calm.
Ryousuke Kira.
He already knew exactly what awaited them.
Across the pitch, the gates opened, and Team X made their entrance. Their formation was tight and deliberate, each step radiating confidence. Kira's gaze met that of a tall, broad-shouldered player walking in front.
The man's hair was spiked high, his eyes sharp, and his face carried a fierce, humorless sternness. Every line of his posture exuded dominance.
Shoei Baro — the King of Team X.
In the original Blue Lock anime, he was infamous for his arrogance — a man who refused to pass, who demanded that every play revolve around him. He saw opponents as ants and teammates as servants. To him, soccer was a kingdom, and he, the king.
A poisonous teammate — but a monstrously talented one.
He possessed a robust physique, explosive strength, and terrifying accuracy in his mid-range shots. His title as the "King of the Field" was not empty talk.
In the original timeline, Barou's match against Team Z had been a massacre — 5–1, with all five goals scored by him alone. His talent was unquestionable; his teamwork, nonexistent.
But now, things were different.
This time, I was here.
And he had no intention of letting history, or kind of future, repeat itself.
Opening his system interface, Ryosuke scanned the glowing blue panel in front of him.
[Host: Kira Ryosuke]
[Current Points: 30]
[Current Skills:]
[Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — Total Concentration Lv.2 | Proficiency: 18.07%]
[ Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — First Form: Thunderclap and Flash | Lv.2 Proficiency: 15.11%]
Three days had passed since his last skill upgrade, and he had earned 30 more competitive points. As expected, skill progression had slowed dramatically after the upgrade — the higher the level, the harder it was to improve.
He closed the interface and turned his gaze back to Barou, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
You're strong, Barou…
But your arrogance will be your downfall.
He already had a plan.
— — — — — — —
"The decisions regarding fouls and rule violations in the First Selection will be determined by the Video Assistant Referee," the loudspeakers echoed across the facility.
The Blue Prison wasn't just a prison — it was a technological marvel.
The indoor stadium was massive, identical in dimension to a standard professional field, but surrounded entirely by reinforced, high-tech walls. There was no sky, no spectators — only the hum of cameras and sensors recording every movement from every angle.
"The first match of Building Five — Team X versus Team Z. Duration: 45 minutes. Begin!"
A bright chime rang out.
The First Selection had begun!
In the center circle, Kira received the opening pass from Isagi. Without hesitation, he sprinted forward, cutting through the field like a flash of lightning.
In the original match, Team Z had fallen into chaos immediately after kickoff — every player had fought selfishly for possession. But this time was different.
Kira had prevented it.
Every player stayed in position. Every formation held. There was no confusion — only focus.
— — — — — — —
Inside the control room, Jinpachi Ego — the architect of Blue Lock — watched the screens intently. The walls were lined with monitors, each showing a different angle of the match. Hundreds of cameras captured every step, every touch, every bead of sweat.
"Just two hours…" Ego murmured, his sharp eyes narrowing in intrigue. "And he's already transformed them from zero to one."
His voice held a rare note of admiration.
"To mold chaos into cohesion in such little time… interesting. Very interesting."
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〔TL〕
Every 100 powerstones = 1 bonus ch.
Every 2 review after 100 ps = 1 bonus ch.
Let's hope we complete this week.