[12] The Prototype Kingdom and the Strongest Duo!

"The results of the physical tests have been compiled. Please return to your rooms to check the latest rankings."

A pleasant female voice echoed through every corner of the building, announcing the update. Shinichi raised his hand, but the number on his arm remained unchanged.

The entire X-Team couldn't believe what they were seeing.

According to Ego's earlier explanation, Blue Lock consisted of five buildings ranked from B to Z, with the rankings decreasing as you moved down.

But Shinichi hadn't been promoted to the highest-ranking B-Building?

They found this absurd and scoffed at the idea.

While they didn't have a clear grasp of the overall skill level of all participants, they were certain of one thing: if they themselves were placed in the lowest-ranked Building 5, the X-Team wouldn't complain much.

But Shinichi?

If he was truly considered part of the lowest tier, then every sports program they had ever participated in would be a walk in the park.

They weren't naïve—just inexperienced.

"This guy's full of crap, trying to manipulate us like those teachers who always say we're the worst class they've ever taught," thought every member of the X-Team in unison.

Meanwhile, in Z-Team's building, the situation was entirely different.

After working together to eliminate Igarashi, Isagi and Kira exchanged a glance.

"As expected, Shinichi must've moved up to a higher-tier building!" said Kira confidently.

Isagi's perspective had shifted drastically.

While everyone here had their own strengths, after experiencing Shinichi's complete domination, Isagi no longer found anyone else particularly intimidating.

Now, he could view the group much more objectively.

"That's right. Shinichi is probably enjoying himself in Building 1 at the top, while you guys, with your terrible ball skills, are stuck at the bottom and enduring the worst treatment," taunted Ego.

"In Blue Lock, the higher-ranked players live in luxury dormitories with the best meals and training conditions. Here, the stronger you are, the more you get. Those with superior skills are the kings."

"If you want a better life, you'll have to keep winning and climb the ranks as high as possible," Ego said, showing no mercy to Isagi's team.

He had no intention of wasting words; after all, both sides knew what tricks the other had in mind.

There was no point in insulting anyone's intelligence.

However, when it came to Isagi's team, who had already been thoroughly manipulated, Ego amped up the provocation.

He hammered in the idea that victory was the only way to achieve everything, igniting their hunger and fueling their determination to climb higher at all costs.

Unbeknownst to Shinichi, the praise from Isagi and Kira had already made him the ultimate target of everyone in Z-Team.

"And now, the first round of Blue Lock selection begins!"

"The first round involves a round-robin competition among the 55 players of your Building 5, divided into five teams."

"Based on the final results, only the top two teams will advance to the second selection round: the 'Survival Match.'"

...

"I've been wanting to say this for a while—aren't all players in Blue Lock forwards (FW)? How is this even going to work?"

"It's bound to be a total mess, right?"

"Does this mean there are people who can't play as forwards? Then what's the point of training here?"

At this moment, complaints echoed from nearly every room. But in two specific rooms, the occupants fell silent, their gazes instinctively drawn to a single person in their midst.

Kanzaki Shinichi and Rin Itoshi!

These two had dominated their respective teams during the initial game of tag, completely subduing their teammates.

Even without saying a word, the others would naturally yield the position of center forward (CF) to them.

"Football, at its core, is a battle to see which team can score more goals," Ego began.

"The positions you hold so dearly, the tactics you revere—they are nothing more than constructs."

"They're ideas born from people optimizing the game over time, seeking methods to make winning easier. That's all they are."

"So, having all 11 players on the pitch as forwards is only natural. In fact, that's what football originally was—a game where everyone played as a forward."

"And now, you will return to football's roots. You will create football from scratch in your minds."

"Forget everything you think you know. Erase it all. Implant a new concept into your brains. What we need now isn't a team of 11 players working together but a single, solitary—"

"Hero!"

"Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar—just one player like them can continuously change a team, a nation, even the world. That is what football is all about!"

"Oh, and by the way, in this round of selection, only the top two teams with the most victory points will remain. All other teams will be expelled from Blue Lock, just like those eliminated in the first round, losing their chance to join the national team."

"However, in the eliminated teams, the top scorer of each team will be allowed to stay. If there's a tie for top scorer, it will be decided by the 'fair play points' system, with the player who incurred fewer penalties advancing."

"So, what will you choose? Will you aim to score for yourself, or will you help your team secure victory? In this first round of selection, the destiny of forwards will be put to the test."

"This is the battle to create football from zero!"

"The first match will begin in 2 hours: Team X versus Team Z."

The television screen on the wall went dark. Shinichi let out a casual yawn, much to everyone's surprise, and announced that he would play as a defender.

"Shinichi... you're not playing forward?"

Hiori's tone seemed off, but Shinichi didn't give it much thought. "I told you, I don't care. Even if you guys score 11 goals across the first three games, I'm confident I can score 12 in the last match."

"I'll adjust my play style based on my mood and how interesting the match is. You guys just focus on showcasing your abilities. Oh, by the way..."

Shinichi turned his head with a devilish smirk. "Remember what I said before? The victor decides everything. So, for those of you thinking you can skate by unnoticed, watch yourselves. I couldn't care less about the national team spot. If I leave here, I'll just start fresh in one of the top five leagues."

"I have that confidence. But what about you? If you lose your chance to join the national team completely, what does your future look like? So, don't play so terribly that it makes my eyes bleed and pisses me off."

...

Beep—!

"And to think, we're even being pushed back into our own half… by this kind of 'ragtag team'?"

Although only 10 minutes of the match had passed, and Team X had already taken three shots on the opposing goal, their luck had been abysmal—all three had hit the posts.

Under normal circumstances, shots that were on target but slightly off wouldn't draw much criticism from a coach.

However, not a single member of Team X dared to speak up in defense, nor did any of the opposing players—who were being implicitly insulted—bother to respond with trash talk.

"Jeez, at least one of you could try to stand up to me. You're all so boring," Shinichi muttered, exasperated.

He was genuinely at a loss for words with this group that lacked even a shred of "personality."

No wonder none of them left much of an impression in his memory—none of them even made it to the second round.

Were they going to get eliminated without even managing to progress from zero to one?

"Let's end this quickly. Wasting time here is worse than going back to take a nap," Shinichi sighed, shaking his head as he charged forward.

At that moment, another figure sprang forward, swiftly following in his wake.

"Shinichi, I will be the strength that helps you ascend to the top!" Hiori declared earnestly, his gaze locked firmly on Shinichi as he conveyed his unwavering determination.

"Knock it off, man. I'm a pure, unshakable straight guy. Steel bars aren't as straight as I am. Don't make it weird, alright? It's kinda gross," Shinichi retorted, shuddering at Hiori's fiery resolve, which almost caused him to fumble the ball.

But the unwavering determination in Hiori's eyes was no joke.

Shinichi sighed and added, "Besides, I don't care about being number one."

"I know that, Shinichi. Your goals lie beyond the level of this era. It's exactly because of that that I am willing to burn everything I have for this cause," Hiori replied resolutely.

As he spoke, he skillfully cut across Shinichi's dribbling path, shaking off a defender in the process. "So, whenever you need me, I will give everything for you!"

"Are all you sports anime types like this? Why does everything you say sound so weird?" Shinichi muttered, though a small flicker of joy sparked within him.

The thought of gaining the first citizen of his "kingdom" was oddly satisfying.

He suddenly flicked the ball backward with his heel, sending it in Hiori's direction, while spinning away from an onrushing defender.

"But getting citizenship in my kingdom isn't that easy," Shinichi said, pointing a single finger at Hiori. "You'll need to submit your 'application materials' if you want to join."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Hiori responded, his sky-blue eyes transforming into a swirl of chaotic lines—the telltale sign of entering the Flow state.

His vision expanded, taking in every detail on the field.

And thus, in that moment, the strongest duo in Blue Lock was born!