"Now then… let's begin."
Ego's voice echoed through the room.
"You have 136 seconds."
"You will play a game of Tag."
"The one who is 'it' when time runs out…"
"…will be eliminated from Blue Lock."
"…and permanently banned from the Japan national team."
Silence.
A chilling silence.
"Heh… starting with a test already? Nice," a sharp-toothed player grinned.
But the rest—
Were frozen.
The pressure crushed down on them.
This wasn't a game anymore.
This was survival.
A matter of life… or death.
The screen lit up.
IT: ISAGI YOICHI
A ball dropped at the center of the room.
Everyone moved at once.
Strategies. Positioning. Instincts.
The sleeping player didn't even budge.
The orange-haired one quietly stepped back toward the corner.
Isagi's heart pounded.
What do I do…?
Do I just kick it at someone and hope they don't dodge?!
Time was ticking.
His thoughts raced.
Then—
His eyes locked onto the sleeping player.
…That's it.
If I hit him, I'm safe.
No more running.
No more pressure.
Isagi sprinted.
Closing in—
Just before kicking—
He stopped.
His foot trapped the ball.
…WRONG.
If I do that…
I won't improve.
His expression sharpened.
Determination burned in his eyes.
"…If I'm going to risk everything…"
"…then I'll go for the strongest."
Behind him—
The "sleeping" player suddenly sprang up.
A wide, radiant smile on his face.
"Hahaha… I like you."
"I'm Meguru Bachira."
"Let's have some fun!"
In an instant—
He stole the ball.
"…Huh?"
Isagi froze.
Everything happened too fast.
Across the room—
Kise stood still.
Arms crossed.
Watching.
Waiting.
There's no point.
It's obvious who's getting eliminated.
Everyone here… is irrelevant.
Except me.
Bachira danced forward.
One step—
Two—
He slipped past two players effortlessly.
Elegant.
Unpredictable.
"Hehe… let's see if you really have a monster."
He bit his tongue, eyes glowing with excitement.
Then—
He passed.
To empty space.
No one was there.
The ball dropped—
And just before it hit the ground—
Isagi appeared.
He didn't question it.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't think.
His body moved on instinct.
Target locked.
Kise.
His mouth hung open in total focus.
He swung his leg—
His best shot yet.
The ball tore through the air.
I have to aim for number one!
I have to crush him!
Kise's eyes widened slightly.
In that instant—
He moved.
A perfect chest trap.
A glance at the clock.
20 seconds.
Then—
Without letting the ball touch the ground—
He struck.
All within a single second.
…This bastard really aimed at me?
A grin spread across his face.
Twisted.
Excited.
This is getting fun.
Isagi stood frozen.
Like a statue.
…What… was that?
Is he even human?
The ball slammed into his face—
And ricocheted away.
Straight toward the orange-haired player.
"…Damn it."
Kunigami stepped forward.
Timing it perfectly—
The moment the ball touched the ground—
He fired.
A missile.
Fast.
Explosive.
Unstoppable.
His target—
Kise.
So that's a monster…
Then I'll take him down with everything I've got!
Kise's expression darkened.
…These idiots are targeting me?
A smile.
Angry.
Excited.
Just as he prepared to move—
Something latched onto him.
"What—?"
Bachira.
Clinging to his back like a koala.
"Hehehe… don't forget about me!"
No time to dodge.
The ball slammed into Kise's stomach.
Impact.
Before it could fall—
He reacted.
Knee.
Pop.
The ball rose.
Head height.
And—
CRACK.
A full-force header.
The ball shot across the room.
Toward—
Kira.
He stood there.
Frozen.
Certain the result was already decided.
Then—
THUD.
Direct hit.
His nose.
Blood splattered.
The timer hit zero.
Kira didn't move.
He couldn't.
He stood there—
Like a broken statue.
…He survived that?
Kunigami clenched his teeth.
So this… is a genius?
Isagi stared in disbelief.
…That's Ryota Kise?
A player with long red hair watched quietly.
"…So he really is talented."
Bachira tightened his grip, still hanging onto Kise.
"Hehehe! You're a monster too!"
"What's your name? Let's play together from now on, okay?!"
Kise turned his head, annoyed.
"Like hell it is!"
"Get off me, you freak!"
"I don't have any 'monster'!"
Bachira just laughed.
The screen lit up again.
Ego.
"…Ryota Kise."
A faint smile.
He really is talented.
Perhaps… he'll be the key to the next stage of Blue Lock.
"Kira Ryosuke."
"You are eliminated."
"From this moment on, you are banned from Japanese football."
"No—! This is insane!"
Kira snapped.
"This has nothing to do with football!"
Ego adjusted his glasses.
"You're wrong."
"This test measured everything."
"Control."
"Tactics."
"Awareness inside the penalty area."
"The average time a player has on the ball in a match…"
"And how you use it."
"You…"
"…were inferior."
"To Isagi."
"To Bachira."
"To Kunigami."
"And to Kise."
"Each of them displayed qualities required of a striker."
Kira bit his lip.
Hard.
Too hard.
Blood dripped down his chin.
His face twisted in rage.
His eyes burned with hatred—
Locked onto Kise.
Kise just smiled.
Carefree.
"Bye-bye."
"When you watch the national team…"
"Cheer for my goal."
Innocent.
Mocking.
Isagi clenched his fist.
This is wrong…
So wrong…
Then why—
Why do I feel so good?
"…That feeling."
Ego spoke.
"The feeling of surviving."
"Engrave it into your souls."
"That… is victory."
"Never stop chasing it."
"Because if you can't score goals…"
"You don't deserve to live as a striker."
"The players in this room…"
"…are your team for the next stage."
"Your comrades."
"And your rivals."
The screen went dark.
Silence.
Then—
A collective breath.
They survived.
The first test of Blue Lock.
To be continued.
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