Chapter 13:The Striker’s Weapon

The locker room was filled with the sounds of Team Z changing out of their sweaty uniforms, the air thick with the scent of exertion and adrenaline. After their narrow victory against Team X, the players felt a mix of relief, exhaustion, and lingering tension. They had won, but the match had been a close one, and the sheer force of Barou's talent had left them all on edge.

As Kira pulled off his shirt and sat down on one of the benches, Isagi approached him, his eyes reflecting a mixture of admiration and curiosity. "Kira," Isagi started, "I've got to say, the way you played today was incredible. Your dribbling, your speed, and that final goal... We wouldn't have won without you."

Kira gave a small nod, acknowledging the praise, but his expression remained serious. "We did well, but it was a team effort. I couldn't have done it alone. Bachira's passes, Kunigami's defense... We need everyone working together."

Raichi, overhearing their conversation, scoffed. "Team effort, huh? Let's be real—if we're going to win the next game, Ineed to be the forward. My strength is what's going to crush the next team."

That comment ignited a wave of opinions across the room.

"I should be the striker!" shouted Kuon from the other side. "I've got the power to break through any defense."

"No way, it's got to be me," chimed in Igarashi. "I've been practicing my positioning, and I can score if I'm up front!"

Each player began to throw in their argument for why they should be the one leading the team as the next striker. The room became chaotic, filled with bickering voices, each player convinced of their superiority.

Isagi, now sitting down and watching the scene unfold, fell silent. His mind was elsewhere. The words Barou had spat at him during the match replayed in his head, gnawing at his confidence.

"You're weak."

"You're nothing but a stepping stone."

Isagi clenched his fists. The moment he had the chance to score, Barou's presence had completely overwhelmed him. But instead of pushing forward, Isagi had passed the ball to Kunigami. Why? Why hadn't he taken the shot himself? Was it because he was afraid? Or because he thought Kunigami was better suited for the situation?

He needed to figure this out. If he was going to survive Blue Lock, he couldn't afford to keep doubting himself. There had to be a way for him to become more useful to the team, to make a difference like Kira had.

The arguments in the room grew louder until Kuon, ever the tactician, stepped in to regain order. He clapped his hands loudly, silencing the group. "Enough!" he shouted. "Look, I get it. Everyone wants to be the hero. Everyone thinks they can lead this team to victory. But right now, we need two more wins. We need a strategy, not a bunch of headless chickens fighting over who gets to be the striker."

The tension simmered down, but the competitive atmosphere remained thick. The players exchanged glances, unwilling to back down from their ambitions. However, Kuon's words had at least managed to pull them back from the brink of outright chaos.

As the group began to settle, Chigiri, who had been quietly sitting off to the side, spoke up. "What do you think the point of this First Selection is?" His voice was calm but laced with curiosity. "What are we really doing here? What's the purpose of all this?"

His question hung in the air for a moment. The others exchanged uncertain looks, unsure of how to respond.

"I think," Isagi said after a long pause, "that the First Selection is about teaching us to play football from scratch. It's not just about who's the best striker. It's about breaking us down, forcing us to rebuild our foundations."

Chigiri nodded, considering Isagi's words. "It's like we're being thrown into chaos. And in that chaos, we have to figure out who we are as players. But Barou—he crushed that chaos. He became the foundation of Team X, and his teammates followed him."

Isagi's eyes lit up as he connected the dots. "Exactly. Barou was their anchor, their foundation. Without him, Team X would've fallen apart. Just like how Kira became our anchor today. His dribbling, his scoring ability... He was the one who carried us to victory."

The room fell silent as Isagi's words sank in. They had all seen it—the difference a single player could make in a team's performance. The First Selection wasn't just about individual skill; it was about finding that player who could elevate the entire team.

At that moment, the TV screen in the locker room flickered to life. Ego Jinpachi's face appeared, his eyes as sharp and calculating as ever.

"Congratulations, Team Z," Ego's voice echoed through the room. "You managed to scrape by with a win. But let me be clear—this is only the beginning."

The players straightened up, their attention fully on the screen.

Ego continued, "What you're starting to understand is the importance of having a foundation. A team without a solid striker is doomed to fail. Every great football team has an anchor—someone who can disrupt the opposing team's organization and force them to bend to your will."

Ego smirked as he looked directly into the camera. "This is what we call a striker's 'weapon.' Every elite striker carries a unique weapon—something that makes them stand out, something that makes them impossible to stop. It could be speed, dribbling, strength, precision, or even just pure instinct. But without a weapon, you are nothing more than a passerby on the field."

The players listened intently as Ego's words hit home.

"For some of you," Ego continued, "you've already started to discover what your weapon might be. But let me be perfectly clear—you need to polish that weapon until it's sharp enough to cut through the toughest defenses. Only then will you have a chance of surviving Blue Lock."

The screen shifted to show the rankings of the teams after today's match. Team V was in first place, followed by Team Z in second. Teams W, X, and Y trailed behind, with Team Y sitting in last place.

"You've made it to second place, Team Z, but don't get comfortable. You need two more wins to advance to the next stage. And if you think you can do that without finding and honing your weapon, you're mistaken."

The screen flickered off, leaving the room in stunned silence once more.

Kira, who had been quietly absorbing everything Ego said, stood up and addressed the team. "You heard him. It's not just about scoring goals. We each need to find what makes us dangerous. If we don't, we'll lose."

Raichi, still frustrated, clenched his fists. "Fine. But my weapon is going to crush the next team. Just watch."

Isagi, deep in thought, glanced around at his teammates. Each of them had potential, and each of them had something that could make them the best striker. But what was his weapon? What did he have that could disrupt the enemy's formation, that could change the course of a game?

As the rest of Team Z resumed their discussions, Isagi vowed to find the answer. He had to. The path to becoming the best striker in Blue Lock was narrowing, and if he didn't figure out his weapon soon, he knew he wouldn't survive.