"A Breakthrough!"

Igarashi's fists clenched.

But there was no fight in him left.

With a final look at the players around him.

His gaze landed on Kira.

Who stood off to the side.

Igarashi's breathing slowed.

But the pain in his eyes remained as he turned on his heel.

And walked towards the door.

Hiss…

The door slid open with a soft hiss.

And without another word.

Igarashi stepped outside.

The door shutting behind him.

Kira suddenly felt a piercing gaze.

He looked up to see Isagi standing there across the room.

His calm eyes locking onto his own.

Kira felt a surge of anger and frustration.

Welling up inside him.

Without a second thought.

He stormed toward Isagi.

His movements sharp and urgent.

He grabbed Isagi's shirt with a tight grip.

Shaking him slightly, his voice low but full of fury.

"You... why the hell did you pass it to me?!" Kira spat.

His words seething with anger.

"If I didn't take that shot... I would've been expelled!"

Isagi stood there, unfazed.

He looked directly into Kira's eyes without flinching.

"So? I believed that you'd make it."

Isagi's words were simple but filled with confidence.

"And you did."

Kira blinked, shocked and confused by Isagi's response.

"Huh?" Kira stuttered, his grip loosening slightly.

Isagi met his gaze with a calm smile.

"I mean, results are everything in this place, right?" Isagi continued.

"I believed in you, so you won."

Kira froze, his anger faltering for a moment.

There was no bitterness, no malice.

Just an honest belief in him as a worthy rival.

Before Kira could respond.

A voice suddenly rang out from behind them.

"Haha! So that's what you were planning!"

Bachira appeared out of nowhere.

A wide grin plastered across his face.

As he clapped Isagi on the shoulder.

Isagi jumped slightly.

Caught off guard by the sudden appearance of this eccentric player.

"I like you, Isagi!" Bachira said.

His eyes gleaming with excitement.

Isagi, now thoroughly confused.

Slowly backed away from Bachira.

Trying to process what had just happened.

"Oh?.. I see..." Isagi said.

His voice trailing off as he eyed Bachira warily.

The situation was getting stranger by the minute.

Just then, the voice of Jinpachi Ego cut through the air again.

Drawing the players' attention back to the screen.

"Isagi is correct! Results are, in fact, everything in this place."

Jinpachi's voice rang out, sharp and clear.

"In this world, you either win or lose."

A tense silence filled the room as everyone listened closely.

"But how was it everyone?" Jinpachi continued.

His tone growing more intense.

"Since you were born, wasn't this the first time you felt true danger? Were you scared? Shocked?"

A chill ran down everybody's spine.

"That was just a taste of Blue Lock's essence."

Jinpachi finished with a biting edge.

"You understand that much, right? The football you've played all your lives is for weaklings!"

Jinpachi's words continued to cut through the room.

"Didn't you get those shivers? 'Nice... I survived...' That is the feeling of 'Victory!'"

"So shove it in those brains of yours!"

A nervous tension settled over everyone.

"Since each time you rejoice in that feeling, your 'ego' will steadily grow,"

"And you'll need it to climb to the top and be the best striker in the world."

Jinpachi let the room digest his words for a moment before speaking again.

"Congratulations," he said with a finality.

"You have passed Blue Lock's entrance test!"

…

The room then erupted into a sudden chorus of cheers.

Some players pumped their fists in the air.

While others simply exhaled in relief.

But for Isagi, the cheers felt hollow.

Like the calm after a storm.

Jinpachi's voice continued.

His tone shifting once more.

"Your room was designed for no more than 11 people... so from now on, you'll cohabitate together. You fated eleven..."

"You may collaborate with each other... and also betray each other."

"You and the rivals you'll have to trample... are Blue Lock's 'Team Z.'"

…

Three days had passed.

The players of Team Z were no longer just competitors.

They were now comrades in the most twisted game of survival they could imagine.

The gym was their battleground now.

…

The sound of pounding footsteps.

And labored breathing filled the gym.

As the treadmills whirred steadily beneath the runners.

There Isagi, Raichi, and Kira pushed themselves.

Their bodies drenched in sweat.

Maintaining the relentless pace of 20 km/h.

The display screen on Isagi's treadmill flashed his running time.

0:42:13.

Isagi's breathing grew ragged.

His chest heaved as he fought to keep up.

His legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.

"Hah... Hah... Hah…" Isagi gasped.

His vision blurring slightly.

Raichi, running.

Glanced over at him.

The time on Raichi's treadmill read.

1:13:49

But he showed no signs of slowing down.

His breathing was steady.

He smirked.

"Oi, Isagi!" Raichi bellowed.

His voice dripping with mockery.

"Your endurance's fuckin' garbage!!"

Isagi's head snapped up slightly at the words.

But he lacked the energy to respond.

All he could manage were strained grunts.

"Guh… Hah…"

Raichi wasn't done.

"Ha, ha~! And you, hot shit, think you can be the best striker in the world?!"

His laughter echoed through the gym.

"How about this?"

Raichi continued.

"When you lose to me, you can stick it up your ass and go home to cry about it, you bum!"

Isagi's fists clenched instinctively.

Around the treadmill's handles.

But he didn't have the breath to fire back.

His legs screamed in protest.

But he refused to stop.

To Raichi's side.

Kira Ryosuke maintained his pace without faltering.

His own treadmill displayed the same time as Raichi's.

1:13:49

Yet Kira seemed calm.

His focused expression.

A stark contrast to Raichi's animated taunting.

Kira didn't even glance at Raichi or Isagi.

His attention was laser-focused on himself.

Isagi gritted his teeth.

His body was close to its limit.

Come on... Just a little more...

His legs trembling but still moving forward.

The timer ticked forward.

And though his lungs burned and his body screamed.

He kept going.

Refusing to let the treadmill beat him.

Raichi chuckled under his breath.

Clearly enjoying Isagi's struggle.

But unbeknownst to him.

Isagi's body was about to change.

Ding!

A digital screen popped up.

In front of Isagi.

[Name: Yoichi Isagi]

- Status -

(1) Physical Fitness: B-

(2) Soccer Technique: B-

(3) Game Intelligence: A

(4) Talents: (1/~)

(5) Devour Shop: 1480 Points

A rush of adrenaline surged through his veins.

Sparking an unfamiliar vitality deep within him.

It felt like a barrier had cracked open inside.

Unleashing a hidden reserve of strength.

"So this is what it feels like to breakthrough..."

Isagi thought.

1:00:00

He was not struggling as much anymore.

Kira glanced over briefly.

His eyes noticed the subtle shift in Isagi's posture.

Raichi, seeing that his taunts no longer had an effect.

Growled under his breath.

"Tch, don't get cocky Isagi! This is just the start!"

But Isagi kept his focus on the treadmill.

1:10:00...

1:15:00...

The seconds dragged on like hours.

His vision blurring slightly.

As his body reached its breaking point.

Chest heaving with the effort to keep his lungs working.

Finally, with a shuddering gasp.

His legs buckled, and his pace faltered.

The treadmill's automatic stop kicked in.

Slowing the belt to a halt as Isagi stumbled.

The timer on his screen read.

1:17:34

Isagi leaned forward.

Placing his hands on his knees as he gulped for air.

His entire body ached.

But a small, triumphant smile spread across his face.

"I did it..."

Despite the pain and exhaustion.

He felt a surge of pride.

This was his best run yet.

Then he noticed the treadmills on either side of him.

Slowing to a stop as well.

Kira and Raichi had finished their runs.

At the exact same time.

The timers on their screens blinked brightly.

1:58:27

Isagi, still catching his breath.

Couldn't help but be impressed.

Kira, noticing Isagi's glance.

Gave him a nod.

"You've come a long way,"

"Keep at it, and you might catch up one day."

Raichi scoffed.

Throwing his towel over his shoulder.

"Tch, don't let it get to your head, Isagi. You're still way behind us. But hey,"

He added with a sly grin.

"You didn't completely embarrass yourself today. That's something."

Isagi straightened up.

His legs still trembling slightly.

But his resolve unshaken.

"I'll get there."

He said quietly.

More to himself than to them.

One step at a time... I'll close the gap.