13 Chapter 13

Ego's voice boomed through the room, echoing off the walls as he declared, "Nakamura Katsuro, you are expelled from the program." The room was filled with stunned silence as everyone turned to look at the muscular player.

Katsuro was livid. His face contorted with anger as he confronted Ego, "This isn't fair! Why did you expel me? Expel that shitty ball of nervousness or that bastard Reo instead!"

"And what's the point of this game?" Katsuro demanded. "Tag has nothing to do with football."

Ego's reply was calm and collected, "Everything we do here at Blue Lock is related to football, Katsuro. Take a look around you and do not allow your emotions to cloud your judgment. The exercise of 'tag' may seem simple, but it is a microcosm of the larger picture, a test of one's ability to navigate the field and make split-second decisions under pressure. The penalty area, as you are aware, is where 75% of goals are scored. The ability to flourish in that small but crucial space is a testament to one's capabilities as a striker. And if one cannot survive and thrive within that 16.5 x 40.32 meter space, then they are not fit to don the mantle of a striker."

Katsuro scoffs, his frustration boiling over. "It still has nothing to do with football! What's the point of this stupid game?", he repeated.

Ego's reply was calm, measured, and filled with the confidence of a mastermind. "The fleeing side requires not only speed, but also tactical awareness and positioning. The pursuer, on the other hand, requires not only accurate dribbling, but also the precision to make calculated shots. These are all integral skills to a striker's success. The game of 'tag' may not be football in its purest form, but it is an optimal training exercise that will hone your skills and reveal the selfishness within you."

Katsuro fumed, his anger growing. "What kind of nonsense is that? Football lasts more than 90 minutes. You can't expect me to know all that stuff in under two minutes."

Ego's response was calm, measured. "On average, a player possesses the ball during a match for approximately 136 seconds. The tag game was designed to provide you with the exact same opportunity."

Katsuro was still confused. "So what do you expect me to do in that situation!?"

Ego's reply was unwavering. "If that was the case in a real match, you would have been expelled from the team, Katsuro. The ability to make the most of every moment, to seize opportunities when they arise, is what separates the successful from the defeated."

Stunned, Katsuro was unable to respond. Ego then replayed the scene for everyone to see. "You had just one second left to survive. One second to shoot, to make a move, to prove yourself. And yet, you wasted that chance. That, is the very essence of the 'tag' exercise. To test not only your physical abilities but also your mental fortitude and tactical awareness."

Ego's words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the high stakes at play in the Blue Lock facility.

Ego stood in front of the screen, addressing the players gathered in the room. "Imagine this scenario," he began. "You're in the middle of a match. Your team has the ball, and your teammate takes a shot. But it misses the goal and hits your body. At that moment, you feel defeated. But what if, by sheer luck, the ball falls before you? All you have to do is tap the ball, and you would have saved yourself from your own mistake. That's the beauty of being a striker."

"Now let's apply that to the game of tag," Ego continued. "The one who is 'it,' the one who has the ball, decides who they want to win. But they also get to decide who they want to lose. A striker carries all the responsibilities on their back. They have to keep attacking until the very last second."

Ego's piercing gaze fixated on Reo and Nagi as he began to address them. "Allow me to draw your attention to Reo and Nagi. When everyone else was in their pursuit, what did they do? They didn't shy away from the challenge. They took it head on, and went straight for the ball. These two players are amongst the strongest in the room, and their actions exemplify the type of egoism I seek. They were not afraid to use others as a means to grow stronger themselves, to ignite the fire within their teammates, and push themselves to their limits. That's the kind of tenacity and courage I am looking for. Their egoism drives them forward, propelling them towards their ultimate goal, and they will stop at nothing until they achieve it."

Nagi tilted his head to the side, a little confused by Ego's words, but choosing to let them in one ear and out the other. Reo, on the other hand, had broaden smile on his face, recognizing Ego as a master strategist and a genius. Excited at the prospect of what he could get out from him.

Ego, continued, " This is the type of egoism I seek, this is the type of egoism you need to survive in Blue Lock."

Ego stood still on the screen for a moment before the group, his eyes fixed on Katsuro, who still seemed unable to grasp the reality of his expulsion from the team. "Katsuro," Ego began, his voice filled with a sense of finality, "your time here is up. Leave."

Katsuro's eyes flickered with resentment as he cast a glance towards Reo, before reluctantly making his way towards the door. Ego watched him go, then turned back to the remaining players, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination.

"And now, allow me to speak to the rest of you," Ego continued, his voice filled with a sense of urgency. "You have felt the thrill of true danger, the kind of excitement that only comes from facing an opponent who truly pushes you to your limits. The football you have played up until this point, the games you have won and lost, are for weaklings, for those who are content with mediocrity."

Ego continued, "You've all passed the entrance test. Your room is designed for no more than 11 people and now, the eleven of you will be Blue Lock's Team V." He declared, his voice full of conviction and excitement.

The remaining players looked at each other, feeling a sense of camaraderie and pride knowing they were a part of something special. Reo's eyes couldn't help but gain a certain glint after hearing that declaration, it seemed that they were going to face other teams on the field. He could varely contain his excited grin.

**Dear readers,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to let you know that I will be taking a trip and unfortunately, I will not be able to release chapters as frequently as I have been for the next week. I appreciate your understanding and I hope you enjoyed the bonus chapter. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Ego_Epicenter