Chapitre 34: [34] The Essence of Competition
"This can't be… My upper-body techniques failed?" Karasu stared at his hands in disbelief.
He knew without a doubt that Shinichi hadn't done anything extraordinary to evade him—it was purely his own error.
"That monster… can even do something like this?" Eita growled as he pushed himself off the ground, his frustration evident.
Having injured himself trying to mimic Shinichi's movements, he understood more clearly than anyone else what had happened.
"Just by watching his movements, I unconsciously tried to perform actions beyond my physical capabilities… Damn it, it's like he's blatantly showing off how much stronger he is than me. That bastard."
"Shinichi! How did you do it?" Hiori came running over, his voice filled with excitement. "I thought you were about to mess up. How did you manage that in such a situation?"
"I just pushed my abilities to their limits and took what was theirs," Shinichi replied calmly, lowering his gaze to his hand, which now felt like it fully embodied this newfound strength.
"But… it's not invincible." Shinichi clenched his fist.
'For example, basketball relies more heavily on post play and turning techniques. In those aspects, Shogo Haizaki surpasses me, which allowed him to steal my turning ability.'
'But just now, I forced myself to ignore Haizaki's movements and focused solely on my own abilities. By relying on muscle memory, I unlocked my turning again.'
'In other words, anyone capable of neutralizing the influence of my movements can resist my Devour. If someone is willing to destroy their current self entirely and rebuild based on the situation, they can break free from my impact.'
'Ha. Noel Noa's inhuman precision and Isagi's endless adaptability—my new ability naturally won't work on my two greatest rivals. No matter. I'll continue to grow stronger. This is just the first step.'
"Hiori, let's finish this. Time to end this farce."
The match resumed, but with Karasu and Eita's weapons stolen and their confidence shattered, they posed no real threat to Shinichi's team.
Only Aryu continued to fight on, but his efforts were largely ineffective.
The final score: 2:13
"Ha… What a crushing defeat," Karasu muttered, collapsing onto the ground as the final whistle blew.
In the dying minutes, he had begun to regain some of his rhythm, but it was too late to make a difference.
"With a cheat ability like that, who could ever beat him? Right, Eita?"
Eita didn't respond, silently walking off the field.
Aryu followed close behind, flipping his hair dramatically. "What a hideous match. The stylish me needs to further enhance my coolness."
"Karasu, you're not planning to just give up, are you?" Eita turned back, his face full of defiance as he shouted at Karasu, who was still lying on the ground. "I refuse to let it end like this. I'll make sure to even the score next time!"
"Tch… who'd be satisfied with this, idiot?" Karasu muttered, closing his eyes for a brief moment. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he leapt to his feet. "I'm so frustrated I could die. I never want to go through such a humiliating match again."
"Next time, we will win!"
They didn't bother declaring war on Shinichi and his team.
Defeated players had no right to make bold statements.
Quietly retreating from the field was the rightful conclusion for losers.
But… the story of revenge was only just beginning!
...
"Building 5, all matches have concluded. The results of the first selection will now be announced."
A clear female voice echoed from the speakers in the corner of the field, announcing the final results.
"Five teams participated in the group round-robin matches. The final standings are as follows:
First place: Team X, 11 players.
Second place: Team V, 11 players.
Additionally, three top scorers from the eliminated teams will advance. These 25 players have passed the first selection of Blue Lock's Building 5."
On the electronic screen, simple sketches of the three top scorers from the eliminated teams lit up. Shinichi glanced at them instinctively.
One is definitely Nishioka, that's obvious… one I don't recognize… and the other one…
Shinichi tilted his head, trying to recall.
'Isn't that the kid who kept whining about how I destroyed him? The so-called multi-talented prodigy?'
"Hey, Shinichi! Let's go, time to celebrate!" Hiori called out loudly from a distance. Shinichi turned his head, shrugging off the thought of the unfamiliar player.
"Coming," he replied, leaving it behind like a forgotten detail.
...
"Hey, don't just toss things around!"
"Whoa, is this the steak Shinichi exchanged his points for? So much of it! One for everyone? Long live King Shinichi!"
"Ah, someone spilled the drinks again! Seriously, you guys are way too relaxed all of a sudden!"
The locker room was a noisy mess.
Annoyed, Shinichi raised his voice, addressing the group. "Hiori and I will go grab more drinks. While I'm gone, clean this place up. Blue Lock has plenty more rounds of selection to go. At least try to look like you've trained under me—I don't want to see all of you gone in the next round."
"Yes!" everyone responded reflexively, standing up straight at the sound of Shinichi's voice.
One of them accidentally knocked over another bottle of drink in their haste. Shaking his head, Shinichi sighed. "Let's go, Hiori."
...
Sobs.
"Damn it… my dream… it's all over…"
"I can't believe it. If I had scored just two more goals, it would've been me staying behind…"
"Why the hell did I even come to this godforsaken Blue Lock?! Damn it, damn it! Ugh…"
On their way back, Shinichi and Hiori stumbled upon a group of eliminated players, their despair echoing through the corridor.
The two quietly hid behind a wall, watching unseen. Shinichi's expression remained indifferent, but there was a flicker of something uneasy in Hiori's eyes.
"This is the fate of losers," Shinichi said calmly, breaking the silence. "In competitive sports, dreams are nothing more than a pretty illusion."
"The harsh reality is that out of millions, only a tiny fraction of the absolute best make it. Only those who win get to move forward, and those who climb to the top…"
"…are always the victors."
"Hiori, this is the essence of competition. Every victory you achieve comes at the cost of destroying someone else. It's a game of survival of the fittest. So, get stronger—strong enough to never lose."
"Shinichi…" Hiori looked up, meeting Shinichi's eyes. He was startled by how cold and detached they seemed, as if they bore no trace of hesitation.
"I'm serious, Hiori," Shinichi continued. "If you fall behind, I won't hesitate to abandon you. On the path to victory, I refuse to be held back by something as foolish as friendship."
"…You really don't hold back, do you?" After a brief silence, Hiori let out a small laugh and lightly punched Shinichi in the chest. "I'm the same. I want to change the world with my own hands. So, if you don't meet my expectations, don't expect me to pass you the ball."
Seeing the growing determination and fierce resolve in Hiori's eyes, Shinichi nodded in satisfaction. "Exactly. That's how it should be."
Turning his gaze back to the defeated players leaving in despair, Shinichi clenched his fists tightly, steeling his resolve.
I will never become one of them. I will reach the summit, and the one who becomes a legend—
"—is me!"
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