"It's almost time to report to the JFU. How are things progressing, Mr. Ego?"
Anri Teieri spoke while folding Ego Jinpachi's laundry.
Ego was pouring out the water from a cup of instant noodles.
"Anri, wait. This is a sacred moment of bliss."
She picked up the empty noodle cups from the table.
"Mr. Ego, you really do love instant ramen. Don't tell me that's all you eat."
Ego mixed the sauce into the noodles.
"This is rebellion. When I was still a player, my diet was restricted; now I'm taking revenge for all those lost bowls."
"At least clean up after yourself. Honestly."
"I don't do things other people can do for me. Besides, I was told I only need to do football."
"How's the first selection of Blue Lock going?"
"Perfectly."
On the training pitch, Team Z was hard at work.
Ryan was sprinting down the field, slicing through every defender in front of him.
At the goal, he launched a thunderous strike
the ball slammed into the net.
"Damn it! So this is what it feels like to face Ryan … only pure despair."
This time it was Isagi carrying the ball forward. He took a shot
the ball clanged off the post.
Kunigami laughed.
"Haha! Told you that last goal of yours was pure luck!"
Isagi grimaced as he was subbed out.
Damn it, everyone's stronger than me, their stamina's insane.
I know my weapon is "the sense of a goal" and spatial awareness, but how am I supposed to use it?
If I keep holding the team back in training, I'll be left behind.
"I don't want to be the guy who got lucky once and then disappeared."
Just then, Ego's voice echoed through the field's screens.
"Hey hey, my precious raw talents! Sauce and mayonnaise, truly the perfect combination!"
He sat cross-legged on the screen, happily eating ramen, making everyone's stomachs growl.
"Now then, it's time to announce your match results and rankings. Dun-da-da-daaa!"
A scoreboard appeared.
Team Z – 1st place: 6 points, +13 goal difference
Team Y – 2nd: 6 points, +12 goal difference
Team X – 3rd, Team W – 4th, Team V – 5th
"So we're only one goal ahead of Team Y?"
"Now, for a little extra seasoning based on your individual performances, we're updating your personal Blue Lock rankings."
Everyone looked for their numbers.
"The striker must prove his worth through goals. And the one who scores the highest-value goals earns the top spot. Therefore, the highest-ranked player of Team Z is still you Ryan."
"If I wasn't, I'd accuse you of rigging the system."
The whole team nodded instinctively if Ryan wasn't first, who else could be?
Isagi – Rank 267
Bachira – 266
Chigiri – 268
Kunigami – 269
"Finding your weapon is only step one of being a forward. The next stage is to hone it make it shine."
Ego slurped the last bite of ramen.
"Make it stand out. For example Argentina's world-class striker, Lionel Messi.
His weapon is his unique, ultra-precise high-frequency dribbling and that terrifyingly quick left-footed shot. Because he has perfected that weapon, he dominates the world.
Your weapons are different, so your paths to growth must be different too.
Even if you mimic Messi, your own weapon will never shine that way.
Take the raw stone of talent within you and carve it into something only you can wield
otherwise, it's just self-satisfied garbage."
The screen displayed the next fixture: Team W vs Team Z, countdown 24 hours.
"So we play again in a day."
"Time to study Team W's footage."
"Alright, that's it for today. Rest up and prepare for tomorrow."
"Got it!"
Everyone split up
"Shower time!"
"Dinner time!"
Isagi stayed alone on the sideline, thinking about Ego's words.
Make your weapon stand out.
But how? My weapon isn't something obvious like speed or power.
It's instinct smelling the scent of a goal. It only appears when a chance comes.
Then a thought hit him.
Opportunities can come at any moment. If I'm too tired to react, it's meaningless.
That's it I need the stamina to keep running for ninety minutes, to respond the instant a chance appears.
I have to win. I have to refine my weapon.
Isagi started running laps again.
"Hey, Isagi! Stop running! You just finished practice, you need rest!"
Ryan called out from the exit. He'd noticed Isagi hadn't left, and after dinner, found him still running.
Isagi halted and walked over.
"I just wanted to train a bit more. I need stamina to last ninety minutes."
"Stick to the routine I gave you. Did you finish today's plan?"
"Not yet. I did the ten-kilometer run but only half of the rest."
"Then why are you still running? Strength training's just as important. With your build, I could take on ten of you."
Ryan grabbed Isagi by the collar and started dragging him off the field.
"What you need now is food, fuel for your body, then a good nap, and after that, finish the rest of your workout."
"Yes, sir…"
When Isagi woke up from his nap, most of the team was still asleep.
He headed to the gym alone to start strength training.
But as soon as he entered, he saw Ryan already bench-pressing.
"Yo, Isagi! You're up early."
"Ryan? You're already here? I thought I'd be the first."
"Heh, rookie, you've got a lot to learn. I was here a whole ten minutes before you."
A moment later, Kunigami walked in.
Isagi blinked in surprise; he could've sworn Kunigami was snoring when he left.
Kunigami grinned.
"If the guys ranked above me aren't slacking, how could I?"
"That's unfair count me in!"
Bachira appeared, and soon the entire Team Z trickled in after them.
Thus began the era of full-team grind.
Isagi watched as the gym filled up, a strange warmth in his chest.
Not long ago, no one even knew his name. He'd thought his football career would end in tears.
But here he was among teammates who were rivals, yet also brothers in arms.
To have come to Blue Lock, to have met Ryan Hoshino… it really was a blessing.
From the control room, Ego watched the monitors showing every member of Team Z training.
"When the top player pushes himself, the rest follow. Those at the bottom strive to catch up, creating a cycle of competition. This is the true design of Blue Lock.
Only in the fiercest competitive environment can the world's number-one striker be born."
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