Chapter 6: Rewritten Fate

Kira felt the ball roll under his feet, his senses sharp and his mind whirring with calculations. This wasn't just a game anymore—this was survival. Every instinct needed to be sharper, every reflex quicker. As he surveyed the dimly lit room, he locked eyes with a figure slumped in the corner: Bachira. The eccentric player, with his wild grin and carefree attitude, was the perfect target. Too relaxed, too disconnected from the chaos unfolding around him.

"Perfect," Kira thought, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint smirk. He tapped into his God-Speed Impulse, a skill still fusing with his new body. Though weakened, it gave him a sudden burst of speed, moving faster than anyone in the room could react. With a sharp inhale, he launched the ball straight at Bachira's head, the force of the kick sending a gust of air that rushed past him like a knife.

Just as the ball was about to connect, Bachira's eyes flickered open. His body moved with an almost inhuman grace, his wide grin never fading as he dodged the attack at the last possible moment. The ball grazed his hair, spinning wildly before it hit the ground.

"That was close!" Bachira's voice rang out, filled with amusement and excitement. His grin widened, as if the near miss only fed his hunger for more.

Kira's eyes narrowed. Bachira wasn't someone to be underestimated. Despite his playful demeanor, he had an uncanny ability to read the flow of the game, moving in ways that made no sense until it was too late. Kira's resolve only hardened. He couldn't afford to let anyone get in his way, least of all someone who treated this life-or-death struggle like a joke.

The room's tension ratcheted up as Kira quickly reassessed his options. Bachira had proven to be elusive, but there were other targets—easier ones. Kira's gaze flickered to Igarashi, the weakest player in the room. A plan formed in his mind. He wouldn't waste time going after the strongest just yet. The first step in this brutal game was simple: eliminate the weak.

With the God-Speed Impulse still coursing through him, Kira darted across the room with near-supernatural agility. Igarashi, panicking and out of his depth, hadn't even registered Kira's approach. Kira faked left, then right. The movement was sharp and precise, causing Igarashi to flinch. In that split second, Kira struck. His foot connected with the ball, and it hurtled toward Igarashi's legs with pinpoint accuracy.

The ball smashed into Igarashi's shin, sending him stumbling backward. "Damn it!" he cried, his voice cracking in fear. His eyes darted around the room in desperation, searching for someone—anyone—who could save him.

"Hey, Bachira, stop playing around!" Kunigami's voice boomed from across the room, frustration evident in his tone. Bachira merely chuckled, his grin unshakable as he watched the game unfold, a glint of madness in his eyes.

Kunigami didn't have time to deal with Bachira's antics. His focus shifted as Igarashi, in a last-ditch effort, lunged toward Isagi. "Take him instead!" Igarashi screamed, shoving Isagi forward like a human shield.

Kira, already repositioned and in control of the ball, took aim. His heart pounded as he launched it again, this time at Isagi. The ball slammed into Isagi's midsection, knocking the air from his lungs. He staggered but managed to stay on his feet, eyes wide with shock. He hadn't even seen it coming. Now, he was on the verge of elimination.

For a moment, everything stopped. The room seemed to hold its breath as Isagi's mind raced, scrambling to make sense of the chaos. Then, slowly, he locked eyes with Kira. In that brief exchange, there was a moment of understanding—a silent acknowledgment of what needed to happen next.

Kira's expression darkened. "Not this time, Isagi," he thought. He wasn't going to fall to this nobody again. He'd been eliminated before, humiliated by Ego's cruel game. But this time, he had changed. This time, he was stronger. His name would not be forgotten.

Before anyone else could react, Bachira, ever the wild card, cackled as he threw himself back into the chaos. "Let's make this fun!" he shouted, hurtling toward Kunigami in an unexpected tackle. Kunigami, strong and disciplined, shoved Bachira aside with ease, but Bachira landed on his feet, laughing like a man possessed.

With the clock ticking down and tensions at a breaking point, Isagi saw his chance. His eyes fixed on Bachira, and for a moment, he made his move. He surged forward, determined to take Bachira out of the equation. But just as he was about to strike, Isagi hesitated. Something in him recoiled at the thought, a voice in the back of his mind telling him that Bachira wasn't the real threat.

His gaze shifted once again to Kira.

The air between them buzzed with tension as they locked eyes, but before Isagi could react, Bachira, ever unpredictable, snatched the ball from under his feet and sprinted toward Kira. "I like you, Isagi!" Bachira yelled, laughing maniacally as he sent the ball hurtling toward Kira with alarming speed.

Kira, his body still under the influence of God-Speed Impulse, dodged the ball with a graceful leap. His body moved with the reflexes of a seasoned predator. But Bachira wasn't done. Another kick followed, this one aimed at Kira's torso. Kira ducked, letting the ball fly past his head. It ricocheted off the wall and rolled to a stop at Isagi's feet.

There were only seconds left. Isagi's heart raced. This was it. His last chance.

With no other options, Isagi kicked the ball with all his might, sending it soaring straight toward Kira. The ball flew fast, but Kira's body reacted even faster. Time seemed to slow as Kira performed an awe-inspiring mid-air bicycle kick, sending the ball streaking back across the room with stunning power.

The ball slammed into Igarashi's face, the impact knocking him to the floor just as the final second ticked down. The sound of the ball's impact echoed in the room, followed by a heavy silence.

"Eliminated."

Ego's voice, cold and detached, cut through the air like a knife. Igarashi lay motionless on the floor, dazed, his dream shattered by the reality of Blue Lock's ruthless game. The ball rolled away from him, and all eyes turned toward the screen as Ego's face appeared, his sharp eyes gleaming behind his glasses.

"Number 300, Gurimu Igarashi," Ego began, his voice dripping with disdain. "You have failed."

Igarashi slowly pushed himself up, clutching his face in disbelief. The room was thick with tension, every player knowing what was about to come.

"You were given an opportunity to fight for your survival, and you've squandered it. In Blue Lock, hesitation is death. Fear is your enemy." Ego's words struck like daggers, each one stripping away any remaining hope Igarashi had left.

Kira stood tall, his gaze fixed on the screen. Ego's speech felt eerily familiar, but this time, it wasn't directed at him. This time, it was Igarashi's dream being crushed. Kira had changed his fate—rewritten his story. This was his second chance.

"You, Igarashi, lack the hunger, the killer instinct that defines a true striker." Ego's tone was merciless. "In Blue Lock, there is no room for the weak or the hesitant. You have been played like a fool, and now your football career is over."

Igarashi trembled, his eyes wide with disbelief. The weight of Ego's words settled heavily on his shoulders. His knees buckled as he dropped to the ground, the reality of his situation hitting him all at once. His dream—his only chance to escape his fate of becoming a monk—had been destroyed by Kira.

"You are disqualified," Ego continued, his voice devoid of any empathy. "You no longer have the right to stand on the field."

The door to the room slid open with a hiss, signaling Igarashi's exit. Trembling, he rose to his feet, his body moving like a puppet with its strings cut. Staggering toward the door, he took one final glance at the room before stepping into the hallway, disappearing from the competition—and from football—forever.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Eleven players remained. Ego's cold voice echoed through the room once more.

"Congratulations, you rough diamonds. You have earned the right to remain in Blue Lock."

Kira clenched his fists, his heart pounding. He had survived. He wasn't the same player who had fallen before. He had evolved, grown into something more dangerous. Something unstoppable. His gaze drifted to Isagi, who was still catching his breath nearby. Their eyes met briefly, and Kira knew this wasn't over.

Isagi was strong, but Kira would be stronger. He wasn't going to let anyone take this second chance from him.

As Igarashi stumbled out of the room, Kira felt the weight of the moment sink in. The echo of the door closing behind Igarashi reverberated in his mind. This was a pivotal moment, not just for Igarashi, but for every remaining player. Kira stood amidst the remnants of tension, aware that he was now part of a team, a group of eleven players who would live and breathe football together in the ruthless environment of Blue Lock.

Ego's voice still hung in the air, and Kira could almost feel the eyes of the remaining players on him. They were now a unit, but how long would that last? Would alliances form, or would betrayal soon take root? Kira's thoughts raced, contemplating the future challenges they would face together. He needed to establish himself not only as a formidable striker but also as a leader who could navigate the treacherous waters of competition.

"Congratulations, you rough diamonds. You have finally passed the selection and earned the qualification to live in Blue Lock. There are exactly eleven people in this room. From now on, you will be a team that lives together, sometimes helping each other, sometimes betraying each other. You are the Z Team of Blue Lock."

Kira glanced around at his fellow players. Each one wore a mixture of relief and uncertainty. Some wore confident smirks, while others were still digesting the shock of Igarashi's elimination. He could sense the tension brewing in the room, a ticking clock of unspoken words and rivalries waiting to explode.

"In the next few days, you will undergo physical tests. Enjoy your life in Blue Lock," Ego concluded, his smile chilling and void of warmth.

As the screen went dark, the atmosphere shifted. Kira exchanged glances with Isagi, who stood nearby, his brow furrowed as if deep in thought. They both knew that surviving the elimination round was just the beginning. The real test was maintaining their footing amidst the upcoming physical trials and mental games that Blue Lock had in store.

Kira felt a surge of determination course through him. He was ready to push his limits and discover just how far he could go. No more hesitation. No more looking back. He had a goal, a burning desire to prove himself, not only to Ego but to every player in this room who dared to think they could outshine him.

As he contemplated the road ahead, the players began to regroup, exchanging glances and sizing each other up. There was an undeniable tension in the air, a blend of excitement and anxiety. Kira could hear whispers of strategies forming and alliances being proposed. This was the essence of Blue Lock—a crucible where friendships could blossom or shatter in an instant, depending on the choices they made.

Suddenly, Bachira broke the silence with his characteristic exuberance. "Alright, team! Let's get to know each other! We're gonna be together for a while, right?" His voice was bright, but Kira could sense an underlying challenge in his tone. Bachira was always one to thrive in the chaos, and he wasn't going to back down.

Kunigami, ever the serious one, nodded in agreement. "We should establish our strengths and weaknesses. Understanding each other will help us survive."

Kira took a step forward, feeling the weight of their gazes upon him. "We need to stay sharp. Each one of us has a unique skill set, and we need to leverage that. Our survival depends on it."

Isagi chimed in, "Agreed. We need to support each other, but we also have to be ready for competition. The moment we let our guard down is the moment we get eliminated."

The room buzzed with chatter as they began to share their strengths and tactics, building a foundation for their new team. But in the back of Kira's mind, he remained vigilant. He knew that the bonds they were forming could easily turn into weapons against them. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford.

(In the control room of Blue Lock's core, Ego Jinpachi sat in a chair, leaning forward, staring intently at the surveillance screen divided into countless small squares in front of him. His glasses were almost touching the screen.)

"What's the matter, Mr. Ego? Is there a particular player you're interested in?"

Beside Ego Jinpachi, there was a woman in uniform who asked. She had impressive curves and a delicate face. She was Teieri Anri, a new staff member of the football Association. It was she who collaborated with Ego Jinpachi on the Blue Lock project and assisted him in handling various matters, big and small.

"No, they are all just rough diamonds. They are far from shining as they should. There is no existence worth paying attention to," Ego Jinpachi replied, leaning back in his chair with his back against it. He casually pushed his glasses up, seemingly indifferent.

Although he answered that way, his gaze involuntarily lingered for an extra second on a particular player on the screen—Kira Ryosuke.

"It seems that there is a beast in Blue Lock that I didn't notice before," he thought to himself.