The doors to the Second Selection arena slid open with a heavy mechanical rumble, as if Blue Lock itself was awakening to witness the next stage of its experiment. The survivors stepped inside one by one, each carrying sharpened resolve and fresh scars—mental or physical—from the First Selection battles.
Akashi Sejiro scanned the vast chamber as he entered with Team X. Rows of elevated monitors, steel pillars, reinforced turf… everything here felt colder, more clinical. Blue Lock wasn't hiding its purpose anymore.
It was here to break them
—then rebuild something greater from the pieces.
Barou strutted in ahead of everyone, ego shining like a neon sign.
"Tch. Finally. A stage worthy of me," he said, cracking his knuckles.
Akashi followed silently, letting his eyes work.
Perfect Memory mapped faces.
The Eye of the Emperor tracked micro-movements.
Absolute Defence retained threat profiles.
Isagi… he's calmer now. More focused. Kunigami's posture is firm—more controlled strength. Chigiri's gait is lighter; he's regained full trust in his body. Nagi and Reo… unchanged, yet more dangerous after victory.
Everyone evolved. Good.
Nagi yawned loudly as he and Reo approached.
"Huh… red-eyes again," Nagi said, eyeing Akashi with mild curiosity. "You're still here? Impressive. Effort sucks."
Reo smiled politely. "We saw your last match. Your link-up with Barou is getting interesting."
Barou scoffed.
"Link-up? Don't make me laugh. He's simply good at keeping up with my level."
Akashi didn't argue.
He didn't need to.
He just thought:
Keep talking, King. The higher you roar, the further you fall when someone finally dethrones you.
---
The Arena Gathers
More players filed in.
Bachira waved cheerfully at Akashi.
"Hey Akashi! You leveled up, huh? Your movement feels more spicy now!"
Isagi followed behind him, eyes sharp—sharper than Akashi remembered.
"Akashi," Isagi said. "Your prediction ability… it's getting scary."
Akashi gave a calm nod.
"Yours too. Your spatial awareness improved."
Isagi smirked.
"Just don't slow down. I'm catching up."
Internal thought flickered behind his eyes:
He's strong… but I won't let him get too far ahead. Akashi, Barou, Nagi… they're monsters. But I refuse to be left behind.
From the distance, Kunigami and Chigiri watched quietly.
Kunigami crossed his arms. That guy… Akashi… He's steady. Dangerous. I need to train harder.
Chigiri brushed his hair back. His footwork is like water. Really annoying to deal with… but beautiful to watch.
---
Ego's Stage
The arena suddenly darkened.
A booming click echoed across the steel chamber.
Massive screens flickered alive, forming a single towering image:
Ego Jinpachi.
Cold grin.
Sharper than ever.
"Welcome, strikers," Ego began. "To the Second Selection. Congratulations on surviving Phase One… but don't delude yourselves."
His gaze scanned across the hall.
"From this point forward, you are no longer competing as teams. You are competing as individuals—strikers among strikers. And only the most monstrous egos will reach the top."
A nervous ripple passed through the players—except for a few.
Barou smirked.
Akashi narrowed his eyes.
Isagi's heart hammered.
Nagi scratched his cheek, bored.
Reo straightened in anticipation.
Ego pointed toward a massive transparent platform rising from the floor.
"And now… I present the ones at the peak of Blue Lock so far."
Lights carved sharp silhouettes onto the platform.
Three figures.
The atmosphere tightened.
Akashi's pupils contracted as he recognized the first two:
Rank #3 — Aryu Jyubei.
Tall, elegant, glossy hair that somehow stayed perfect.
"Beauty is everything," Aryu murmured. "And being on this stage is the height of beauty."
Rank #2 — Tokimitsu Aoshi.
Shaking, sweating. "I-I-I don't know if I can handle this pressure…!"
Barou rolled his eyes.
"What a joke."
But the real pressure hadn't arrived yet.
Then—
he stepped forward.
---
Itoshi Rin
Everything stopped.
The air felt heavier.
The room felt smaller.
Consciousness felt sharper.
Dark teal hair.
Cold, predatory eyes.
Posture straight and merciless.
Rank #1 — Itoshi Rin.
The younger brother of Japan's brightest star.
Rin didn't bother acknowledging anyone. His presence alone was enough to bend the energy of the entire arena around him.
Akashi felt something electric stir inside his chest.
So this is…it. The one at the top.
Isagi's breath hitched. "That… that's Rin…!"
Chigiri whispered, "So that's the monster we've been hearing about."
Barou scoffed loudly, masking the chill down his spine.
"Rank #1? We'll see."
Nagi stared with sleepy curiosity.
"He looks… strong. That sucks."
Reo clenched his fists with excitement.
"Finally… someone at this level!"
Rin lifted two soccer balls given to him by the machine. He said nothing.
Ego's voice filled the silence:
"Observe the difference between yourselves… and a true genius."
---
The Display
Two balls descended from the launcher—one to Rin's right foot, one to his left.
He received both without breaking tempo.
Then he moved.
Lightning-fast touches.
Two different rhythms.
One ball weaving through imaginary defenders on the ground—
the other bouncing under perfect control in the air.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
No emotion.
Just precision bordering on the impossible.
Akashi's eyes widened.
His Eye of the Emperor tried to track Rin's dual footwork—
—failed.
His predictive tempo… his reaction loop…
This isn't talent.
This is inevitability.
Rin ended with a spin—launching both balls simultaneously.
One curved into the top-left corner.
The other struck the bottom-right net.
Perfect symmetry.
Silence swallowed the arena.
Rin finally spoke:
"If any of you think you can surpass me…
wake up."
He turned away.
As if no one here mattered.
As if they were already forgotten.
---
Second Selection Begins
Ego's voice erupted.
"THE SECOND SELECTION—PHASE ONE. START."
The hall burst into intense, unspoken warfare.
Barou's blood boiled. I'll destroy him. I'll destroy all of them.
Isagi's brain raced. I need to learn. I need to evolve. I won't lose here.
Nagi's eyes softened. Effort. Gross. But… Rin looks fun.
Reo trembled with ambition. I'll catch him. I'll catch Rin and climb higher.
Akashi inhaled slowly, deeply.
His heartbeat steadied.
This arena… is where predators are made.
And I'm not here to admire monsters.
He stepped forward.
I'm here to become one.