Chapter 19 - 19

--- Scene 1 - The Beginning of the Collapse Asaf Shinji did not only feel the weight of his shoulders... but also the weight of the entire world pressing on his chest. The sound of Ego's whistle echoes throughout the metal hall, while giant screens display an unforgiving analysis of the moment he messed up: his hesitation. His lateness. Not making a decision in half a second. The cameras focused on him specifically, as if to say to all the players: "This is a living example of what happens when you think more than you move." That was worse than screaming. More severe than insults. More severe than defeat itself. At that moment... Assaf felt for the first time that the world he had entered—the world of Blue Lock—was not just a system to raise his talent. Rather, it is a machine that creates monsters... and crushes everyone who stumbles. He slowly raised his head. His friends are watching him: Isagi with worried eyes, Bairo with a nervous smile as if he's studying the situation, Shido with a slight laugh as if what's happening is entertainment, and Kunigmochi with his arms crossed, watching him without sympathy. Then Ego said: "Asaf Shenji... You are not bad. "You're...empty." The words stuck like a nail in his chest. Assaf's hand pressed to his chest involuntarily. --- Scene 2 — The System's Appearance at the Cruelest Moment The System's window appeared before his eyes: [System Warning — Player Status: Unstable] • Concentration: Low • Confidence: Weak • Pressure: High • Risk of Psychological Collapse: 38% Asaf froze. Even the regime... sees it as weak now. Then another message appeared: [Note: Pressure can turn into strength... if you can control it] Asaf asked inwardly: But... how? An immediate answer emerged: ["Exploit fear... Make it a tool. If you run from it, you will be crushed. If you confront it, you will excel."] Asaf closed his eyes. Breathe slowly. He tried to rebalance his chest. --- Scene 3 — Issagi Intervention Isagi put his hand on Asaf's shoulder. "Heh...don't listen to Ego's talk a lot. You are not empty. You just…need to realize yourself more." Assaf replied with a trembling voice: "But... everyone saw the mistake." Even I… I saw him." "Mistakes are part of the game." "If you're strong enough to feel this pain... then you're strong enough to get through it," Isagi gave a tired half-smile. They were simple words... but they were a hand reaching into Asaf's darkness and pulling him out a little. --- Scene 4 - The beginning of the new training. Ego's voice interrupts the silence: "You losers... to the field immediately. We will begin the "Decision Under Pressure" exercise. "This training will expose the empty players… and reshape them or tear them apart." The back wall of the hall opened, revealing a huge stadium surrounded by screens displaying changing scenarios. "During this training... you will be bombarded with successive football situations without stopping. Each player will face 50 situations within 7 minutes. Whoever is more than a second late...is considered a failure." "Fifty positions?" Pyro whispered. "This is crazy." "Excellent... finally something fun," Shido laughed. As for Assaf... he felt something like a cold knife extending through his spine. --- Scene 5 — The Beginning of Hell The countdown has begun. 3… 2… 1… GO The first scenario unfolded in front of Assaf: a quick pass coming from the right. A defender is moving towards him quickly. An opportunity to shoot... or pass... or maneuver. Hesitation for only a small part. A red timer appeared above his head: [0.8s] "This is how the end begins," Ego shouted from the speakers. During this second... he lost the ball. [Failure: 1/50] The next scenario came up immediately. Then the next. Then the next. Assaf tries... to move... to fight... but the pressure is too fast for him. [Fail: 9/50] [Fail: 15/50] [Fail: 21/50] His breath is ragged. His feet are shaking. His mind is falling apart. "Impossible... Impossible to keep up with the rhythm..." He felt like everything was faster than him. --- Scene 6 - The regime intervenes in an unprecedented way while Assaf flounders... The screen suddenly stops for just a moment in front of him. [System analysis: The player suffers from distraction due to fear of failure] [Hint: Focus on "the first move you see"... don't analyze, just move] Assaf asked: The first move? System response: [Unconscious is faster than conscious... use it] In the following scenario... the ball passed. The defender appeared. He saw a very small opening. For the first time... he didn't think. move. Pass the ball between the defender's feet. Receive it from the other side. Go. [Success: 1] Then a second... then a third... without thinking. Without analysis. Movement...then movement. Like a tiger, it moves on instinct. --- Scene 7 - The Beginning of the Transformation Isaghi was watching him from afar: "Asaf... is moving differently... is... breaking free?" Bayro opened his eyes in astonishment: "This is not the Assaf I know... He looks like a player who has found his own tune." Asaf was now going through scenarios with astonishing speed. [Success: 14] [Success: 20] [Success: 27] The greater the pressure... the faster it becomes. The more complex the scenario becomes... the clearer it becomes. Even Ego stopped talking for a moment. --- Scene 8 - Hitting the Critical Limit But Scenario No. 41... was different. Two defenders. Tight space. A third attacker is coming from behind. Unstable high ball. Suddenly...the fear returned. He hesitated for a split second. The red meter appeared. [0.7s] "No…no…not now…" He saw the defenders closing the gap. At the last moment... Assaf shouted: "Shut your mouth... and move!!!" He kicked the ball with an unconscious movement towards an imaginary angle. It was an illogical ball... but it passed between the two defenders. And it hit the ground. She wore him again. [Success: 41] This was… an explosive moment. --- Scene 9 - End of training After the end of the fifty scenarios... Assaf fell to his knees, panting heavily. The lighting in the hall dimmed. Ego appeared on the screen. "Asaf Shenji… you are no longer empty." Asaf slowly raised his head. Ego smiles a devilish smile: "You are beginning to discover your existence." And this...is the most dangerous moment in Blue Lock." The system window appears: [Special Development — "Instant Decision Instinct" unlocked] • Decision-making speed +42% • Reduced delay under pressure • Increased effectiveness of instinctive action