𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓 | 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙠

10. 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦

𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄 move to the second selection was impossible, much to the dismay of Team Z, but the other stratums hadn't completed their games yet, so they had to endure.

Ego had forbode them from even touching a soccer ball until then, sentencing them to a physical training hell.

For 9 days, Team Z labored, preforming extremely intese workouts in order to build stronger bodies.

The training wasn't that hard in Adonis's opinion, but he'd been training like this everyday for years, his body was more than capable.

It was on their tenth day, that Team Z was finally able escape that hell Ego called training, the exhausted players relieved to finally be done.

'At this time, Blue Lock's first selection has been completed for all wings. All players who have completed the first round, please put on your training suits, and proceed to the underground training area in your respective wings.'

Team Z wasted no time putting on their suits, excitement spreadig between the teens as they headed down to the basement, as instructed, for the second selection.

Upon their arrival, they saw the vast amount of players there, all 125 players left in Blue Lock present in the same room.

"Hi there, you lumps of talent. Good job on your physical training. Gathered here are twenty-five players from all five wings. All 125 of you cleared the first selection round."

Everyone looks around, taking in the sheer amount of players left in the facility.

"I'm sure the clever ones have already noticed, but there aren't anyone from wings 1,2,3, or 4. Thats because those don't exist." Ego spoke, his words like a heavy weight dropped on the shoulders of the Blue Lockers

"Only five wings exist in Blue Lock. By making you were all in Teams V-Z at the bottom, you all fought like madmen in the first selection round."

The discontent from those that advanced was very obvious, as many of the players erupted in anger at the fact that they had been tricked.

"Yeah, thats right, I'm trying to kill your tepid confidence. I created this scheme to produce the hungry mindset you need to become the best in the world."

More angered shouts resonate throughout the facility, Ego's words only make them angrier.

"Take Noel Noa for example," Ego started, "The man currently referred to as the worlds best striker grew up in the slums of France. Throughout those days in poverty, with violence and crime nearby, he knew that he could change his destiny with a football. It was his only chance."

"A lot of strikers come out of similar circumstances, theres no measuring their hunger to achieve their goals" He continued, "You all grew up in tepid Japan, where you can still survive even if you fail in football. Since you guys will never reach the same point as them, I created blue lock to give you that level of 'goal hunger.'"

"Just now, all of you came here wanting to destroy the ones above you, right? 'I'm gonna win.' Thats what you were thinking when you walked in, right?" He proceeded to lecture them, saying, "That hunger will become an Ego that can change the world."

The benefactor pauses in his monologue for a brief second, taking in all the stunned faces before he continues.

"Now then, lets begin the second selection."

After another long, and boring—as Adonis would put it—lecture from Ego, they were open to finally start the first of the five stages of the second selection.

All 124 players watch just one move forward, his dark hair swept over his face, paired distinct eyelashes that Adonis could recognize anywhere.

The Blue Lockers watch him take out two of the balls and set them on the ground, kicking one on a high and soft trajectory, the other a low and fast curve shot, a loud noise rining as both of them collide in the air.

The man then says something about being finished stretching as he walked through the door, being the first one to begin.

Challenger: Rin Itoshi.

The remaining Blue Lockers freak out, shocked at the display of skill and the fact that he shared a name with Itoshi Sae, the prodigy of Japan.

Everyone who remained's attention was brought to another man, taller than nearly everyone in the room, being the second to walk out of the remaining players.

He doesn't even bother taking out any of the balls, walkimg forwards lazily, yawning and scratching his head.

He turns back around, seeing all the eyes in the room locked onto him, a nervous and innocent smile forming on his lips.

His dark eyes wander, searching the room until they land on the subject of his interest.

He raises his finger to his lips, in a shushing manner as he had 10 days ago—after their stratum's last game—a signal that only the white-haired boy would understand.

The door opens for him, the man dropping his hand and turning back around, walking through without a word, the door closing after him.

He couldn't help but wish he was at home, asleep, but he did sign up for this.

He just wished he didn't make it this far.

New Challenger: Akito Kaguya.

—

900 words

ts about to be fire yall get ready