Project: Bland King

Chapter 70: Battle of Concepts

Kiyotaka: This is where I'll surpass you.

His words echoed across BLTV. A player the world had only known for a mere two months now challenged one of the world's top strikers in a duel for the final goal.

Noel Noa stood there in awe at the audacity. His memories surfaced of a player with that same determination to succeed, even if it meant ruining the rest of his career.

In the observatory room, Anri couldn't believe her eyes.

Anri: D-Did Kiyotaka just challenge a master striker?

Ego's smile widened, relishing in the past.

Ego: This was his plan from the very start.

Anri: Huh?

Ego: To put it simply, he saw it all before the match even started.

Anri: His future sight...

Ego: Everything about this ability is irrational and unexplainable even to me. It is the trump card he's been searching for since he entered Blue Lock. It didn't result from copying but from his inherent visionary prowess. He always associated it with spatial awareness and then to metavision. However, the person who opened his eyes to it all was the master striker Snuffy.

He pulled up the tape of Kiyotaka firing a pass over to Rin while being guarded by Snuffy.

Ego: He didn't unlock his vision here, but this is where his thought presence was derived. This is where his football IQ reached its current peak. And ever since, he's used 'Future Sight' to dismantle geniuses, prodigies, and Master Strikers alike.

He returned to the live feed, which showed Loki and Kiyotaka staring at each other.

Ego: Blue Lockers and New Gen 11 are no longer on the same level as our masterpiece. He knew that and created this whole farce for a different goal: Revenge.

Anri: The goal Loki stole in the previous match...

Ego: He's entered the biggest gamble of his entire life. And not just him... every one of his supporters unknowingly went "All-in" too.

Finishing his sentence, Ego started to chuckle until his laughter became utterly uncontrollable.

Anri appeared worried.

Anri: Ego, I don't understand. What's so funny?!

Ego grinned maniacally even as he gripped the phantom pain in  his knee.

Ego: He's finally embracing the role of a villain!

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Loki: Have you lost your mind?

Kiyotaka: Yes, and that's why you lost. You didn't think I'd risk jeopardizing my entire future on a gamble. The problem with that line of thought is that I had no future to begin with, only a hope of surviving to reach it. And achieving that future can only come through settling business here.

Isagi: (Kiyotaka...)

Kaiser: ...

Rin: (So this whole time... your eyes were looking past me...and to an even higher level.)

Noel Noa walked over.

Noel Noa: So, what do you want to do now, Loki? He's got you cornered.

Loki's malice and rage finally bubbled over, reaching its breaking point. His eyes stared right at Kiyotaka's, filled to the brim with sheer putrid disgust.