After the grueling test, the players were taken to a new training ground, one no one had ever seen before.
The ground was a pitch divided by lines of light, their positions shifting every minute, as if the ground itself were constantly moving.
The air was thick with tension… because everyone understood this wasn't an ordinary training session.
Ego stood before them and said,
"Now we'll test the essence of a true striker… How do you make the ball an extension of your body?"
The players froze.
The system appeared to Asaf:
[Conditions for unlocking Principle 3:
- Control under pressure
- Resisting loss of balance
- Maintaining possession against at least two opponents]
Asaf breathed slowly.
"So… this is the possession test."
---
Control Test – Doubles
Ego divided the players into pairs.
But when it was Asaf's turn… Ego paired him up against two opponents at once.
Isagi shouted from behind,
"This isn't fair, Ego!"
But Ego smiled sarcastically:
"Unfairness… is only appropriate for those who possess something greater than justice."
The coach threw the ball toward Asaf.
Before it even touched the ground… the two players swarmed him, advancing aggressively.
Asaf caught the ball with a single touch.
But the pressure was relentless.
One player shoved him by the shoulder, while the other extended his leg, trying to intercept the ball.
The system was in place:
[45% pressure… 60%… 72%…] The pressure on Asaf began to mount unbearably.
The opposing players descended upon him all at once, each trying to steal the ball simultaneously.
It wasn't just a test of skill, but a test of will.
Pato surged forward from the front, Rendo from the right, and Okona from behind.
The ball lay at Asaf's feet, its movement almost at a standstill, as if it refused to cooperate.
Asaf felt heat rising to his face.
Everyone is screaming, the crowd (in the control rooms) is silent, the system in his head is warning:
> [Extremely high mental pressure – 85%]
[Possibility of losing the ball: High]
[Do you want to activate Emergency Mode?]
Asaf closed his eyes for a moment, but didn't press any buttons.
- "No… I don't want help right now… I'll face this on my own."
---
Confusion and collapse
The ball suddenly lurched in front of him as a result of a collision with another player.
He panicked.
He stumbled.
He missed the first dribble, and the second.
Isagi shouted from behind:
- "Shinji!! Focus!! You're stronger than this!"
But Asaf felt fear for the first time since entering the Blue Look world.
- "What if I lose the ball? What if we lose? What if I can never control it?!"
The pressure became unbearable… Everything seemed to be moving at breakneck speed.
The colors, the sounds, the players' movements around him… everything was jarring and frightening.
---
A Flash of Awareness
Then suddenly… something happened.
Asaf remembered Issage's words from days past:
– "He who possesses true selfishness… creates his own path. He doesn't wait for anyone."
He stopped trying to focus on all the players.
Instead, he focused on the third principle – Possession:
– "The ball is part of me… I possess the ball… I possess the path… I possess the situation."
He slowly opened his eyes.
Suddenly, the chaos dissipated.
Everything coalesced in his mind.
The other players moved, but Asaf saw every line, every path, every possibility… before it happened.
The system announced:
> [Third Principle – Possession: Level 2 Ready to Activate]
[New Skill: King of First Touch Under Pressure]
---
The Mental Explosion
As the next attack began, Pato, Okuna, and Rendo surged forward once more.
Asaf didn't move randomly…
He danced between their steps with astonishing agility, watching the ball as if it were a thread following his mind.
A right step… the ball followed… a light touch… a simple turn… the ball at his feet, complete control of the movement.
One of the players shouted:
– "What is this?! No human could do this!"
Isagi rushed over and shouted excitedly:
– "Shinji!! You're back! You… you're the king of possession!"
---
Survival
The last three attacks passed as they tried to steal the ball, but Asaf never lost it.
The clock struck, the whistle blew, and everyone stood in awe.
Asaf took a deep breath, feeling power surge through him.
The system flashed through his mind:
> [Principle 3 – Fully Unlocked]
[Skill Acquired: King of First Touch Under Pressure]
[Increased Ball Control by 25%]
Asaf smiled faintly, for the first time since the pressure began:
– "I did it… now the ball's mine."
Isagi laughed and said,
"Finally! This is the real Asaf… No one will be able to stand against you anymore."
---