BLUE LOCK: FIRST SELECTION
275 Players left...
Fifth Stratum: 55 players
Five-Team Round-Robin League Phase
○Win »» 3 pts
△Draw »» 1 pts
●Lost »» 0 pts
Only the top two teams advance to the second selection.
However, the top scorer from each team will survive and advance to the next stage.
"Create football from zero."
"Eleven players working together is not what we need right now to make Japan the greatest in the world," said Ego.
"My own goals or the team's victory? The first selection will determine your fate as strikers."
"Are you ready to fight in Blue Lock?!"
Ego's voice, resonating with eagerness and excitement, exploded through the television. Then the television turned off.
__________
"We have to create football from zero."
"When we are all simply strikers, how do we do this?" Ezaki said, appearing perplexed.
"I called out first; I want to be the striker!" Morinaga yelled.
Barou commanded, "I don't care what Ego says; I want all of you to pass me the ball."
He said with a self-assured sneer, "I'll show you who the real striker is."
All across the room, people kept saying, "I want to be the striker" and "No, I'm going to be the striker." As everyone wanted to be the focal point.
And as arguments over who should be the striker broke out, the room descended into chaos.
The other players exchanged glances as they contemplated their next move. But it was clear that there could only be one striker, and tensions were running high.
In the manga, Ego discussed starting the game of football from zero to one in hopes of capturing each player's ego. This led to the creation of a field of disorder and a free-for-all where there is no cohesiveness among teammates. Ego did so because he wanted every team to fight together with each individual's weapon. I wasn't going to let my team be in total chaos; there was no way I was going to pass on 1000 system points, so I disrupted the atmosphere.
"I believe that ego means that we should use our talents to turn zero into one," I said as I approached the whiteboard to explain myself.
"Our Talents?" Daido said
The other players listened closely as I went on.
"Using that as a guiding principle, a team can evolve into 10 or even 100. Only an individual's skills or talent can make a striker turn 0 into 1."
"Thus, we must collaborate while utilizing our individual talents," I said as I wrapped up my lengthy speech.
I explained that Ego created the conditions for us to go beyond our comfort zones and realize our full potential.
" So by doing this, we can all become the strikers who turn 0 into 1."
Ego once more appeared on the screen and said, "You're only half right."
"I don't want a team that works together, but creating football from 0 into 1 is made when each player on the field uses their weapon."
Ego then gave a lengthy explanation about how he believed in individualism rather than teamwork in football.
"No matter what your roles are, you must go beyond using your own weapons. Act as your own force."
"I want you all to use your weapons."
The screen dwindled as Ego's voice faded away, leaving the team to ponder his words.
"Nice call, Murano," Ezaki said as he patted my back.
"Don't sweat it."
"I want us to decide our positions based on our weapons and make sure we utilize them effectively during the game."
"Does anyone object to what I'm proposing?" I asked
With a silent nod from Team X, I assumed that everyone was on board with the plan.
I mentioned my individual talents in the hopes that my teammates would do the same.
With the rest of the team gathered, we discussed our weapons and listed our skills on paper.
Tsukoteru Eiyu > "I think I got a pretty high pace. I beat multiple defenders with it."
Kosei Otsuka > "I'm double-footed. I'm really good at switching the ball between my feet."
Yuza Dokomo > "I don't know, I just have a high vertical jump. Does that count?"
Daiya Morinaga > "I score goals with my head. The air is my territory."
Haato Meiji > "I am never tired. Stamina, if you ask me."
Yawara Banku > "No defender can steal the ball from me because I'm physically tough."
Chihiro Ezaki > "I'm quick and have good technique."
Burai Daido > "Stylish. I play beautiful football."
Shoei Baro > "I can score from any distance. All I need is for you to pass me the ball."
Ruto Kora > "I don't know, maybe my shot and pass precision."
Me > "Finesse shot, I also have a knack for finding open spaces on the field to receive passes and create scoring opportunities."
We worked together to create a formation, but it seemed like it would take days. The team then settled on me as the "tactical brain," after I explained how I believed we could all use our weapons.
In order to give neither team an advantage, I chose to imitate Team Z's formation. I settled on being the second striker, and Ruto as the midfielder. I could count on him to pass me the ball with his high pass accuracy, and he trusted me to make finesse shots at the goal.
I made the choice to abandon playing as the offensive center forward because I was confident that our team would benefit from our current positions. Not only that, but I also didn't want my team to believe that I was favoring myself. I had to gain their trust in order to manage upcoming tactical plans.
I'm not sure if they would stick to the tactics but this was the only way to do so.
Fifth Stratum
Center Field
Team X vs. Team Z
Team X (4-2-2-2)
Goalkeeper: No. 1, Yuza Dokomo.
Left-Back: No. 2, Tsukoteru Eiyu
Center-Backs: No. 3, Yawara Banku
Center-Backs: No. 4, Daiya Morinaga
Right-Back: No. 5, Chihiro Ezaki
Left-Midfielder: No. 6, Haato Meiji
Right-Midfielder: No. 7, Kosei Otsuka
Left-Winger: No. 8, Ruto Kora
Right-Winger: No. 11, Burai Daido
Second Striker: No. 9, Hayashi Murano
Striker: No. 10, Shoei Barou
»»
Team Z (4-2-2-2)
Goalkeeper: No. 1, Okuhito Iemon
Left-Back: No. 2, Wataru Kuon
Center-Backs: No. 13, Gurimu Igarashi
Center-Backs: No. 5, Asahi Naruhaya
Right-Back: No. 4, Hyoma Chigiri
Left-Midfielder: No. 8, Jingo Raichi
Right-Midfielder: No. 7, Yudai Imamura
Left-Winger: No. 6, Gin Gagamaru
Right-Winger: No. 9, Rensuke Kunigami
Second Striker: No. 8, Meguru Bachira
Striker: No. 11, Yoichi Isagi
My system window popped up as I entered the Field.
[System Quests]
Match-Day Challenges
1. Score a hattrick (0/3)
2. Assist at least one goal (0/1)
3. Win the match (0/1)
4. Complete the game without receiving a yellow card or red card
* Rewards: 500 system cash, Two 5x pills, +5 All Physical Stats.
'The system sure knows how to fire me up with those rewards!'
I eventually joined my team in formation as the system's window closed.
Kickoff!!
The game started when Bachira passed the ball to Isagi.
Daido, Meiji, and Otsuka, from Team X, rushed toward Isagi to steal the ball. Isagi couldn't find a gap to run through, so he strolled back. While he was still in possession of the ball, Raichi, a teammate, came up from behind and took it.
But as Raichi was speaking to Isagi, Kunigami, who was furious at Raichi (Z), went and stole the ball.
The other players then swarmed around them, ready to steal the ball.
This broke Team Z's formation as they struggled to regain control of the ball.
However, their efforts were in vain, as Otsuka (Team X) managed to steal the ball.
But as Team X gained possession, Daido (X) stole the ball from his own teammate.
'WTF? I thought we agreed to work together.'
With most of the players swarming the area, I saw an opportunity, just as Barou did when he created football from zero in the manga. At this point, all I had to do was take Barou's place.
I sprinted towards the ball and snatched it away from Daido, feeling a rush of excitement and adrenaline.
I saw Isagi standing still as he saw me break through the chaos.
"What are you looking at, stupid?" I said as I hit a roulette move and passed Isagi using feints.
"Sorry, Kuon! He's heading your way." Isagi yelled.
I repeated similar moves as I cut through Kuon and Imamura.
The only thing standing between me and the goal was the goalkeeper.
I yelled as I placed a finesse shot into the top corner of the net, "You're not a real goalie, so piss off!"
GOAL!!!
My teammates ran toward me as the ball hit the net.
Team Z was rendered speechless.
Team X 1 - 0 Team Z
"Nice shot, Murano."
"Great shot," said my teammates as they swarmed around me.
"You are so great! Murano." Daido said as he placed his arm around my shoulder, still in disbelief that we had scored.
"Don't try that shit again," I said firmly, warning him not to steal the ball again.
"Just pass me the ball, and I will win the game for us," I said to my teammates, who were looking delighted.
I want my team to rely on me to the point that they depend on me to win games, to become the focal point.
I need to secure an easy win today all by myself. Doing so would not only boost my ego but also show my teammates that I am capable of leading them to victory myself. I need to prove to them that they can count on me, so I can wipe away an inch of self-interest or ego from them.
'I don't want a team of egoists, but one where the supporting cast works to fulfill my ego.'
We returned to our formation and waited for Team Z, who were fighting amongst themselves.
We knew we had the upper hand and were ready to take them on.
"Pip, Team Z, Get back to the game." It echoed to remind Team Z that the match was still going on.