Chapter 67: Tired? Then run 3000 meters to rest
"Um… Kira, I want to ask—why did you choose me?"
Walking through the passage toward the next area, Niko Ikki looked at Kira Ryosuke with puzzlement. He was genuinely curious why he had been chosen.
"Because you're the most suitable choice."
Kira Ryosuke answered with a relaxed smile.
"Barou's personality is far too self-centered. His way of playing completely destroys team atmosphere, so I eliminated him first. Reo has strong overall abilities, but his mentality is too easily influenced by external factors, so he can't maintain high concentration on the field. As for you, Niko—your physical ability and offensive technique are lacking, but you have something those two don't. You have outstanding vision, excellent control of the game, and your personality is easy to get along with. Compared to the other two, you're far more suitable as a teammate."
Kira Ryosuke was telling the truth. Among the three on the red team, only Niko Ikki fit the role of an ideal teammate.
"I see…"
Niko nodded, then turned his gaze toward Kira Ryosuke.
Although he didn't want to admit it, after fighting Kira twice, Niko fully understood the gap.
Kira Ryosuke… was an absolute monster.
Niko Ikki also hoped that by following Kira Ryosuke, he could learn how the latter became so overwhelmingly strong.
Before long, they arrived at the new floor—the one that could only be accessed after forming a four-man team.
Just like the previous building, the facilities here were complete: cafeteria, bathhouse, training grounds, gym.
"Looks like we're first."
Kira Ryosuke looked around. No one else was here, unsurprising since they had finished with a clean 5–0 and didn't spend much time.
But not long after they arrived, another team walked in.
Kunigami Rensuke immediately turned with expectations blazing in his eyes, hoping Isagi's team had advanced.
He spotted Bachira Meguru first, and his face lit up with happiness.
But as the other members walked in, Kunigami's smile gradually stiffened.
Itoshi Rin, Aryu Jyubei, and Tokimitsu Aoshi.
"What?"
Kunigami stared wide-eyed. Seeing Rin's team appear told him everything.
Isagi's team had lost, and Bachira had been chosen as their "spoils."
"What happened, Bachira?"
Kunigami hurried to Bachira's side and asked anxiously. He cared deeply about his former teammates being eliminated.
Kira Ryosuke wasn't surprised. Itoshi Rin had always been one of the strongest in Blue Lock, and both Aryu and Tokimitsu were physical monsters. Their two teams had wildly different overall strengths. In the original story, Isagi's team had lost twice to Rin.
But Kira Ryosuke wasn't worried about them being eliminated. The stronger the opponent, the more they would evolve.
At this moment, Itoshi Rin walked straight toward Kira Ryosuke, ignoring everyone else.
"Don't waste my time. Let me kill you, insect."
Blue veins bulged on Rin's forehead. Just looking at Kira Ryosuke made irritation surge through him.
And worse—once again in this selection, Kira Ryosuke had finished ahead of him.
"I'd like to, but maybe take a look at that notice first."
Kira Ryosuke pointed at the wall. It clearly stated that matches between teams must have at least a 24-hour interval.
"You're only delaying your death. Enjoy the extra day you get to crawl around."
Throwing his final threat, Rin turned and left for his assigned room.
Meanwhile, Niko Ikki stood frozen in nervous silence. He knew very well how terrifying Rin's strength was. The oppressive aura he emitted made Niko feel suffocated.
Only a monster like Kira Ryosuke could stare Rin down without flinching.
Niko couldn't help wondering—between Rin and Kira Ryosuke, who was truly stronger?
"...So that's what happened…"
Bachira briefly explained the earlier match to Kunigami, who swallowed hard.
Isagi, Bachira, and Chigiri—this combination was anything but weak—yet they were crushed.
Itoshi Rin… just how strong was he?
"Frustrating, but nothing to do about it now."
At that moment, Bachira turned with expectant eyes toward Kira Ryosuke.
"But now I'm part of another team. That means next time we'll be opponents. I'm gonna give it everything I have."
"Then do your best."
Kira Ryosuke smiled.
"But in the end, the ones who will win… will be us."
...
Blue Lock Monitoring Room
Ego Jinpachi pushed up his glasses, staring at the five men in front of him.
Their skin colors varied, they came from different countries—but all five were world-class players.
Ego had paid a huge amount to invite them here to spar with the Blue Lock players, letting the boys understand the true meaning of "the gap."
These five were on an entirely different level—compared to Blue Lock's players, it was a dimensional divide.
"One billion yen each. And you'll receive one million per goal. Same as agreed."
Ego stated.
"Honestly, this is like free money dropping from the sky."
A bearded Western man said casually—as if he truly didn't care.
Adam Blake, England's "Goal Addict," a powerhouse with monstrous physical ability. Handling a bunch of 17–18-year-olds was practically a joke to him.
"To think we're playing against kids, but hey—money's money."
Beside him stood a muscular man with dreadlocks—Dada Silva, known as the "Heavy Tank."
"Well, I wouldn't say that."
A man who looked like a child spoke—but in reality, he was a rising international star: Pablo Cavazos.
"Your country is incredible, spending money on a project like this that can't possibly succeed."
A carefree-looking man, Leonardo Luna, stretched lazily.
"But before we go in, I need to tell you one thing."
Ego's expression turned serious.
"If you lose even one match, you won't get a single yen."
"Oh? Ego, do you think we can lose?"
The youngest among them—a cropped-hair Black youth—asked politely. Despite his age, his eyes were sharp as a lion's.
Julian Loki, a rising French league superstar. He was the same age as Blue Lock's players, yet possessed frightening ability.
One could say his potential surpassed even the other four.
"I originally thought it was impossible. Even if you played ten thousand matches, you'd win by overwhelming margins. But after noticing certain things, I changed my mind. Even if the probability is tiny… inside Blue Lock, there are people even you must not underestimate."
Ego said slowly.
"No way someone like that exists."
Four of the five said in unison—except Loki, whose eyes narrowed.
"Ego… who is this person?"
"You'll know soon enough."
Ego smiled meaningfully.
"Just one exchange, and you'll understand exactly who I mean. If my prediction is correct… your time on the field will come sooner than expected."
...
Meanwhile, following the broadcast instructions, Kira Ryosuke's group entered their room.
The four-man accommodation was much nicer—spacious, with four separate beds. The food was also richer.
Their luggage had already been delivered.
"Kira, do you play games?"
Nagi Seishiro raised his phone.
"No. I don't really play mobile games. I'm going to train."
After saying that, Kira Ryosuke left, heading straight to the gym. Kunigami, used to Kira's training-maniac habits, followed immediately.
Niko desperately wanted to learn from Kira Ryosuke, so he followed too.
Nagi was originally lazy and rarely trained—relying purely on talent. But since Kira Ryosuke was training, he figured he should at least try experiencing the "fun" of effort, so he reluctantly put away his phone and went to the gym as well.
Once inside, Kira Ryosuke warmed up and immediately started high-intensity work. Kunigami followed.
Niko began with light exercises while secretly observing Ryosuke's routine, planning to imitate it.
A few hours later, Niko had completely collapsed.
He realized one thing deeply—Kira Ryosuke… was not human.
The training intensity he imposed on himself was harsher than anything Ego had prepared. Niko forced himself to endure but quickly ended up vomiting in exhaustion.
"K-Kira… Didn't you already play a match today? Aren't you tired…?"
Holding the bucket he'd been puking into, Niko sat weakly on the ground.
Even after ten days of physical improvement, he was nothing compared to this monster.
"It's fine. You only needed to score five goals. The field was small, so it wasn't very tiring."
Kira Ryosuke replied casually while running at high speed on the treadmill—barely out of breath.
Compared to Aida Riko's training plans, this wasn't even hard.
"M-Monster…"
Niko trembled. During the match, he hadn't even attacked—just tried to help defend Kira Ryosuke, and that alone nearly killed him.
But for Ryosuke, the match seemed like nothing.
Terrifying…
To maintain such brutal training every day—what kind of willpower did this guy have?
"Since day one in Blue Lock, Kira has been training at this insane intensity. We… we can't compare at all…"
Kunigami was exhausted too and had to stop. Even Nagi was wiping sweat with a towel.
"Training really is such a pain…"
Nagi sighed and secretly pulled out his phone to play.
But Kira Ryosuke suddenly appeared in front of him and snatched the phone from his hand.
"Hey, I wasn't ready!"
"Training isn't over yet. No slacking."
Kira smiled, but his tone carried an unmistakable authority.
Without realizing it, he had become a little like coach Aida Riko.
"This level already makes you tired? Get up and run 3000 meters to rest."
"3…3000 meters… to REST?"
Niko's hands shook around the bucket.
He originally wanted to copy Ryosuke's routine—only to discover it was suicide.
But before he could protest, Ryosuke grabbed him and dropped him onto the treadmill.
"Come on, Niko. Just treat a light 3000-meter jog as rest. Tonight you can eat more. And Nagi—I saw your hand. No phone until training is over."
"Your stamina is way too low. You need to improve that—no excuses."
"Hey, Niko! Don't puke on the treadmill! Ego might make us pay for it!"