Blue lock: the true egoist

[Jude's POV]

It was hard for me to hide my excitement... 

For the past week Ego didn't allow us to touch a single ball, and although it helped grow my physical stats more than I would've expected, it was still extremely frustrating. 

I had so many things I needed to test out. 

'Both the [Flow State] and [Shadow Walk] are new special weapons I didn't get to try yet.'

I should be able to easily pick up on the [Flow State], since it's an evolved version of a special weapon I already mastered. But [Shadow walk] was an entirely new territory to me. 

"Hey... Aren't they all just as tired as us?" Miyata commented as he observed the various other players coming from the four other gates. 

"Ego... This fucker lied about everything..." Yanagi cursed.

One look around was enough to notice that everyone's stratum was the 5th. And Ego was quick to confirm that as he made his much awaited appearance. He began by confirming everyone's suspicions, and explained how he tricked everyone in order to create a sense of hunger. 

That hunger would be necessary for every big player, but I couldn't focus on his words.

All I was waiting for was for the Second Selection to finally begin.

..

And it did. 

The first selection allowed us to go from 0 to 1. But now it was time to from one 1 to 100.

"Best of luck." 

With those last words from ego, the Second Selection began. 

The first stage was an individual test. The one I was the most curious about. 

'Does everyone have the same stage? Or is it tailor made?' I wondered. The gate to the Second Selection was right in front of me. 

It was hard for me to resist the urge to just run up there, yet I stood still. 

The reason was simple. I wanted to experience firsthand what it was like to be faced with the strongest of the Blue Lock. The number one — Itoshi Rin. 

He was the first to move, he was one of the only people who were clearly unphased by Ego's speech. 

I already knew what was going to happen, yet I couldn't hide my awe. 

Rin took out two balls from the basket, then placed them down in front of him, parallel to each other. Without even taking a step back, he swung his body and shot the first ball high in the air with a tall, gentle curve.

It was a perfectly executed kick. 

While everyone was focusing on the ball in the air, Rin had already taken back his lead foot and armed his second shot. This time it was a low curved shot. 

Seeing the two balls hit each other perfectly mid air was no surprise to me. But being able to use those two different types of kicks so perfectly and so effortlessly was all the proof I needed to know that he was well above me. 

I still had a long way to go, even if Karasu and Otoya were some of the best players of Blue Lock, they couldn't compare to Rin. 

'Isagi was really brave, or idiotic.'

Choosing that man as a rival back when he didn't even have half of his level was impressive. But also pretty floofish.

Albeit it did work out for him. Maybe that's something I should learn from.

"I hope I will see you guys again." I said with a small wave before leaving my ex teammates behind. 

I spent the past months with them, but I wasn't willing to get too attached — especially knowing that most likely only Akira would be able to get to the third selection. 

All I had in mind was the goal I set for myself. 

... 

My dream was finally taking shape. 

"The first step is done." 

In Spain, I learned the basics of football. At the time, my only wish was to be able to play and move around. Something my previously sick body wouldn't allow. 

Then I moved to Japan. I wasn't able to make many friends still, being antisocial wasn't easy to fix. But I grew way stronger, that's all I needed and wanted.

Yet even then I was far from reaching the level of other geniuses who far surpassed common sense. I put aside my whole life to dedicate it to football, but that wasn't enough.

The trigger I needed was blue lock — The first selection. 

I was able to turn 0 to 1. I reached the necessary level to be able to catch up to the original cast and compete alongside them. 

But such a half-assed ambition won't be enough. I needed a new goal. A new reason to wake up in the morning and push myself beyond my limits. 

I need to find my own path. The path which will lead me to the top of the world. 

..

..

//////////////

All the answers to my questions were all waiting for me behind this single door. 

I looked ahead as the automatic door made way for me. 

The dazzling light coming from the other side of the now open door was bright enough to illuminate the dark corridor in which I stood. 

As if a whole new realm came to life in front of me. 

"Ego truly knows how to be theatrical."

With a few slow and confident steps I reached the middle of the special training room. 

The walls were made of repetitive white blocks. I basically stood in the middle of a monochromatic Rubik's cube. The only difference was the healthy green grass under my feet. 

Without giving me any more time to admire the architecture of the training ground, a relatively slow but precise pass was sent my way. I trapped it mid-air with the inside of my foot before turning around to see the holographic keeper appear. 

"It's still hard to believe..." I muttered to myself. 

I stood there for a few seconds admiring the work put into the Blue Lock project.

"They've really outdone themselves with this one."

Seeing the area around me shrink to a dangerous level I finally moved and sent the ball flying in the cage. 

[Main quest: Score 100 goals! 

Difficulty: C

Clear 100 goals in under 90 minutes! 

Reward: 10 random pro points and 5 pro points]

'It's time to see how much I've improved.'

.. 

.. 

[IMAGE] 

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