Chapter Three - I woke up, I chose violence.

The bell rang suddenly as me, Isagi and Bachira was practicing in the spare field. "Please return back to your designated team rooms for the re-evaluated results from the stamina training." The voice said as we started to make our way back to the room. Upon reaching there I saw the other members of Team Z, checking out their new ranks. 

"Ah Isagi. Look. My ranking went from 300 to 275." The monk said as he carried an excited glee in his eyes. However, he seemed to be under the delusion of him improving 25 ranks. It was true that at the beginning of the selection there were 300 candidates or strikers. However, the first selection eliminated a player in every stratum. Considering there are 11 members on each team, the 300 strikers would be divided into 25 teams with 25 strikers being disqualified. That would leave a total of 275 strikers inside Blue Lock. 275 is a perfect number for 25 teams of 11 members. If that's true, then that means I have improved a little too. 

I was dead last at number 300 when I joined but now looking at it again, I am number 270.  

"Woah, I am 274 now." Isagi said as he looked at his own number that was updated on his sleeve. 

The huge screen flickered, and the image of Ego Jinpachi appeared over it, "Nice work everyone, you lumps of talent. Are you enjoying your life in Blue Lock so far?"  

"Are you kidding me? How are we supposed to play in this shitty place?" 

"That's right. It is shitty here. I want some real food." 

A plethora of insults veiled behind whining complaints were launched at Ego as he looked at them with the same craziness in his eyes that he used to carry in them --- a tamed hurricane.

But what they complained about was baseless. If they haven't caught up, Team Z means that we are the last team among other 25 teams. Since Blue Lock is based on strict regimen to polish unpolished gems and create the finest striker, there was definitely an element of heirarchy added to it. The ranking system on our sleeves and the team names. If this was true then this means that the food and everything else had some relation to us being at lower rank. 

"The reason you're treated shitty is because you're shitty at football, idiot." Ego replied as he hovered his index finger and a hologram appeared over it. The technology used seem to be high-tech. "Allow me to tell you a little about Blue Lock." Ego said as a huge pentagon appeared on his index finger and 5 smaller pentagons detached from it, with team alphabets written in each corner of the 5 vertices shape. 

"Oh, by the way, since a member from each team was kicked out in initial selection there are only 275 of you left by now," Ego explained as I looked at the reaction of my teammates. There were many emotions on display on their faces. From surprise to fear and disappointment. "The team names are also ranked. Rank 1 to 11 are placed in Team B and then 12 to 22 are placed in Team C, got it?"  

The realisation of something that they should've understood quite earlier finally dawned on them as their confident expression crumbled. It was quite obvious from the start. Although there was a lot of untapped potential, there was not much the current member of Team Z had to offer to become best in Japan, rest alone the world. 

"You get that right? Your Team Z is the lowest ranked team in all 5 stratums." Ego said, landing a final blow at everyone's ego. Pun intended.

"Those in the upper ranks are having meals of utmost delicacy and living a life befitting of a striker. If you want to enjoy that too, boost your ranking and prove your worth." 

Ego's words cause a stir in everyone, removing the gloom and installing a newfound vigour. 

"Now, let the first selection begin." 

Ego said. But there was a vital point in his words. All of the people in this team were Strikers or forwards. Meanwhile Football is played using forwards, mid-fielders, defenders and goal keepers. The Ego he wants every striker to have can't bloom in this environment. 

However, there could be another agenda behind this. It was very much possible that the environment was built to not only create a perfect "Striker" but also create "Perfect Stepping-stones." That was the only explanation I could arrive at for the moment. And what Ego said after that further simplified my point. 

"Eradicate all of your concepts about football that you have learned until now. Rebuild yourself from zero. What Japan needs the most to win the world cup isn't a teamwork comprising of 11 people, but goals scored by a single person. A Hero who will pull the nation out of its sports demise."  

He said as I could feel the look in Isagi's eyes change. 

"Are you ready for battle?" Ego asked as everyone fell into an uproar of agreement and that they would crush their opponents. 

I sighed. It won't be that easy.

(***) 

Qualifications to move forward are: 

(i) Top 2 teams of each stratum would be qualified to move to next round. 

(ii) The top scorers from the losing team would be allowed to stay in Blue Lock as well. 

 Right now, all of us were playing rock paper scissors to decide who can play as strikers. Since all of us here were strikers, the topmost priority was frontlines. However, I needed a much more neutral spot. 

The mid-field. 

The synergy amongst strikers in Team Z was non-existent. And with the introduction of "top scorer" from each team qualifying even if the team loses and the ego of scoring more goals, this team was bound to be in shambles once the game started. There were just 15 minutes left to our first game which was against Team X. 

Isagi and Bachira won and were now in the forward most rank. Rock-paper-scissors was a game of luck and experience. However, if one could read the hand action, useless possibilities could be disregarded and arrival at one coherent, winning situation is possible. Gagamaru and I were about to play for final time, deciding who would get the final mid fielder spot and the loser would get to be goalkeeper. Just like his appearance, he was quite simple and lost as I was able to read the clenched fist that was closed with much more strength than usual. Which means he would definitely place rock. My analysis was correct as I won by placing paper.

The bell rang and it was now finally time to start our first game. However, I had a premonition about something related to Raichi. I guess violence would be the last resort. 

(***)

3rd person

Bachira: Are you scared? Even if you are, let's have fun. We can't win at football if we don't. 

He spoke to Isagi as he nodded in response. 

Isagi: Ok.

The kickoff proceeded as Bachira passed to Isagi who sprinted forward. However, his path was blocked by three player from team X. Isagi froze, taking in the situation about the field and who to pass the ball to. But before he could decide, his own teammate --- Raichi came out and snatched the ball from him. 

"Hey! What are you doing? We are teammates." Isagi said, with his eyes wide open. 

"I don't care about team. It is everyone for themselves. Remember the most goals rule? I only care about that." Raichi replied with his signature maniac sneer as he bolted forward.

"If that is how we are playing, I am doing the same. Fair and square." Kunigami joined, followed by everyone else. 

The team had descended into a frenzied state, as if possessed by a singular goal: to snatch the ball from their own teammates. Position and strategy were forgotten, replaced by a primal urge to possess the coveted football. The air was thick with tension as each member strained to outmaneuver the others, their faces twisted in a determined grimace. Bodies collided in a chaotic dance, limbs flailing as they fought for dominance. It was a wild scene, a flurry of activity that seemed to take on a life of its own. The sound of breathless grunts and sharp exhales filled the air, punctuated by the occasional thud of a body hitting the ground. Sweat dripped from foreheads and stung eyes, adding to the intensity of the moment. It was as if the very fabric of the game had been ripped apart, leaving only a raw, untamed instinct to triumph over one's own teammates. 

It was a scene of total anarchy where the thin line between friends and foes had totally severed for team Z. As all members of Team Z tried to snatch ball from each other, a figure ran at full sprint towards them.

"Get out of my way, or I will kill you all."

**BAROU SHOUEI; BL Rank# 250**

Barou, a tall boy with punk styled black hair and red eyes charged like a wild bull on loose towards team Z and in a mere instant stole the ball, moving towards the goal with a wild charge. 

"I will stop him," Isagi spoke to himself.

Isagi arrived in front of him, trying to block the biggest threat on the field. 

'Left... or right? Which way will he go?' Isagi thought to himself. However his thoughts proved to be completely wrong as he Barou softly touched the ball and heel kicked it, tossing the ball above Isagi's head and charging forward, catching up to the ball before it made contact with the ground. 

"Kuon. I am sorry. He got past me," Isagi spoke as he looked back in panic. Kuon teamed up with another member of team z and ganged up on Barou, "It's ok, Isagi. It is 2v1," he assured Isagi but his own words seemed to bite his flesh off as Barou nutmegged both of them in a row and shot the ball towards the goal. However, Kiyotaka arrived all of a sudden as he jumped at an unusually high height, trapping the ball on his feet and completely nullifying the spin it had on it.

"Ayanokouji? When did he arrive there? He was just behind me." Kuon said as he looked at him with an astonished face. 

Barou's face contorted into that of a confusion as he replayed the scene of Kiyotaka jumping all the way to the top spot where the ball was and trapping it with an extraordinary skill. 

"Oh, it seems like I blocked it. Yay?" Kiyotaka exclaimed, trying to sound surprised by what he did himself.

'Was he holding back before?' Isagi thought to himself as everyone started shouting at Kiyo, "Pass the ball to me, gloomy face." Raichi screamed atop his lungs as Kiyo looked at him and shot it. Like a bomb shot from a canon, the ball went between them towards Kunigami who had reached within his shooting range.

"Thanks for that, Ayanokouji." He said and kicked the ball but three more defenders clustered and defended it. 

"Tch." Kunigami clicked his tongue. 

"Second ball," one of the members of team X exclaimed as they passed the ball to Barou again. 

"You stopped it once on accident. It won't happen again." He said and was about to charge but Kiyotaka arrived in front of him, "Sorry, but I can't let you get in your shooting zone." He said as Barou's red eyes widened.

'Was he able to calculate my shooting range just from that one shot?'

Shrugging of the thoughts, Barou went forward and tried to nutmeg him but he placed his feet where Barou's right foot was, destablising his footing. 

'This guy... he seems like someone who has given up on life but he is the real deal. If I can't go pass him, I will make my own way through him,' Barou thought as he tried to tackle him but was only stopped in his track as Kiyotaka held his ground, not even budging a single inch.

"Like I said, I can't let you get into your shooting range," Kiyotaka said but once again Raichi and the others stole the ball from Kiyo and Barou. Just as he looked back, he saw team X counter attack and steal the ball in a single instant, bypassing the 'zero defences' of team Z and score the first goal.

Barou got away from Kiyo and looked down on him, "Even though you are this talented, you will lose because of how trash your teammates are." He said and then stopped, looking above his shoulder from the corner of his eye, "And I am the King of this field. I will crush you next."

Isagi walked over to Kiyotaka, "Hey. I think we can win if you, me and Bachira work together," he suggested. 

"We have a numbers disadvantage." 

"How?"

"It is not 11 v 11 anymore. It is 19 v 3 for us," Kiyo explained as Isagi's heart sank. Any and all hopes of winning in his eyes was lost as despair took over him. 

"Why do you think you lost the 1 v 1 with Barou?" Kiyo asked as Isagi started to think over his situation. 

"You limited your options to wether he would go left or right, right?" 

"Huh? How do you know?" Isagi was left flabbergasted --- discombobulated, as he saw Kiyo see right through him. 

"That is beyond the point. Answer me what I asked." 

"Yes, I did." 

"Then you just need to cure your tunnel vision. Expand your information taking skill," Kiyo explained as the missing pieces of puzzles started to fall into place for Isagi. "Your ability is your awreness around you. The only way you can maximise its potential is by taking in as much information as possible. Factor in as many possibilities as you can. Right now just expand it by one." 

"Do you get what I mean?" Kiyo asked as Isagi nodded, the blue aura surrounding him like a tactile veil.

"Yeah." 

**KICKOFF**

This time Team X started their attack. 

Isagi: 'Expand your sight. Use your Spatial Awareness. Take in everything and use every situation to your benefit.' He mumbled to himself as he caught upto the Team X member. He performed a fast scissors, but Isagi intercepted his quick left turn, stealing the ball from him. Looking back, he saw Kiyo standing in his mid-field position idly like a statue. Isagi looked to his right and saw Barou charging towards him. Just as he was halfway through, Kiyotaka arrived in front of him, marking him and rendering him unable to receive or steal ball in any way. Looking over his shoulder Kiyo spoke, "Go."

"Bachira, your turn." 

"Sir, yes sir," Bachira responded as he got the ball and started to dribble his way towards the post. His way of dribbling was highly creative one where he adjusted himself to situations rather than the rigid dribble where people changed their surrounding according to themselves. Just as he got close to the goal, Igaguri stole the ball, "Sorry, but your blind spot needs some working," he said and kicked the ball.

"This goal would be mine." He said but it bounced off the pole and fell straight towards Barou. However, this time Kiyo wasn't around to stop him. Taking advantage of the situation, Barou charged with ferocity of a bull and got inside his shooting range. "Witness the goal of the King --- the sole ruler of this field." He said and blasted the ball past Gagamaru, scoring another goal.

The whistle blowed and first half of the game was over, giving all player a 15 minutes break. 

"Hey Raichi... Igaguri. Come with me to the backstage for a while." Kiyo said, an ominous dark aura enveloping him. Isagi gulped audibly as the familiar sensation of a demon gnawing at his guts invaded him again. It was the same feeling he had felt in initial selection. It was like a demon had creeped from the pits of hell. Kiyo's presence had completely changed, his eyes gleaming in a dark shade of molten gold. 

"Haah? Why should I hear to you? I'd rath-"

Raichi's words got caught in his throat as Kiyo stepped in front of him before his eyes could even process what was going on. "Come. with. me." 

Raichi looked at him with sublte hints of intimidation but veiled it behind his smirk, "Lets see what you got to say." 

"You too, Igaguri," Kiyo said and both of them started to walk towards an empty place behind the field. 

"Didn't he seemed way too different just now?" Bachira asked as Isagi nodded. 

"But that's good. The monster inside me is telling me that something good is about to happen. I can play an exciting game of football." Bachira said with an excited glint in his eyes.

Meanwhile Isagi just started to ponder over Kiyo's words. Maximising everything I have. 

It was at that moment he realised the true meaning behind his words. 

It wasn't just about Isagi's own skills. Kiyo was telling him to use the discord between his own teammates to his advantage. 

"But how? How am I able to do something like that?" As Isagi was questioning himself, he saw Kiyo return with Raichi and Igaguri behind him, their bodies totally ok but their cheeks swollen, traces of wiped blood over their face and their eyes reflecting the look one could only see in the eyes of a dead person. It was like their soul had left their body in the past 5 minutes they were alone with him. A shiver ran down everyone's spine as they saw the always enthusiastic Raichi just bend his neck and get into his position. 

"What did you do to them?" Kunigami asked as Kiyo swatted his hand away.

"I won't go back," Kiyo said as his eyes glinted in an ominous shade. His eyes seemed focused on the goal. A determination that put everyone else's to shame. The freedom he had longed for was fleeting right in front of his eyes because of poor coordination between some random kids. He wasn't ready to let others decide what would happen to him. 

Looking back he looked at Bachira and Isagi. "Are you ready?" He asked. 

Isagi and Bachira looked at each other and then at him. With a confused smirk over Isagi and ecstatic smile over Bachira they nodded, "Yeah!"

"Well then, let's go." Kiyo said as everyone fell into their positions, still skeptical of Kiyo and kept looking at Raichi. He bit his lip but stayed in his new spot, the fear in his heart too much for him.

The whistle blew and Isagi kicked the ball towards Kiyo. With the control over ball, Kiyo finally decided to show a glimpse of his physical abilities. 

"I wonder if I can replicate it." He talked to himself before kicking the ball forward. 

(A/N)

Since the previous chap was too small and insignificant, I decided to upload a proper chapter where there is SOME action. Next chapter would be more detailed. I was having a hard time writing football maneuvers unlike fighting scenes, but I think I have gotten the hang of it. Will edit the drafts now. 

Sayonara.