Capítulo 9: Chapter 9 : Hierarchy
Three Days Later
Isagi, Raichi, and Naruhaya were back on the treadmills. Raichi, ever the competitor, had challenged Isagi to another endurance contest, confident he could last longer this time. But the result was even more devastating for him. Isagi shattered his previous time, improving by an astounding 40 minutes.
Everyone stuck to the schedule diligently, following the rigorous regimen laid out for them. Meals became a small reprieve, where camaraderie started forming. Kira, having grown closer to Isagi, often joined him at the table. Even Igaguri, always seeking attention, tagged along, eager to chat with one of the rising stars of Team Z.
Unlike the bland, minimal portions given to others, Isagi's meals were designed to match his growing physical demands. He realized, however, that to fully capitalize on his body's healing and recovery, he needed to eat beyond his hunger.
Isagi didn't stop there. Every night, he spent at least three hours on additional training. Rising early, he would leave the dorms to squeeze in extra practice before the schedule began.
One such morning, he ran into Bachira.
"Yo! Solo training? How about we train together?"
Bachira called out with his trademark grin.
Isagi nodded, curious to see what Bachira had in mind, and followed him to the pitch.
"Hey, Isagi. Were you a defender in your past life or something? You're great at pressing and tackling"
Bachira remarked, genuinely impressed.
Isagi smirked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Maybe I was. Who knows, right? But your dribbling is insane—it's almost impossible to stop you."
Bachira's grin widened.
"You know, I came to Blue Lock to find a monster I could play with... and I think I've found one."
Before Isagi could respond, Bachira performed a flawless rainbow flick, leaving Isagi momentarily stunned as he zipped past him.
Despite his experience playing in high-level leagues, Isagi had to admit—Bachira's dribbling was on another level. His control was so precise it bordered on perfection. Even the best players he'd faced before made occasional mistakes when dribbling, but Bachira's touch was flawless, his every move calculated and fluid.
Still, Isagi managed to stop him a couple of times, though it wasn't enough. Each time Bachira broke past his defense, Isagi felt his desire to improve intensify.
Their session ended as Bachira's musings about "monsters" did, and the two walked back to the dorms.
When they arrived, the speakers buzzed to life, announcing the latest updates to their ranks based on their data from the past three days.
Igaguri, already waiting for them, practically shoved his results in their faces, grinning like he'd won something.
Team Z Rankings:
265 - Kira Ryosuke
266 - Isagi Yoichi
267 - Meguru Bachira
268 - Rensuke Kunigami
269 - Hyoma Chigiri
270 - Jingo Raichi
271 - Gin Gagamaru
272 - Asahi Naruhaya
273 - Yudai Imamura
274 - Okuhito Iemon
275 - Gurimu Igarashi
Isagi stared at the rankings, a smile tugging at his lips. He had climbed to second place, dethroning Bachira. It wasn't surprising to most, given his explosive growth over the past few days, but seeing it happen still sent ripples through the team. His rapid improvement was unnerving, even to his closest allies.
The screen flickered, and Ego's sharp features appeared, silencing any murmurs of celebration.
"Congratulations, bottom-feeders"
Ego began, his tone as cutting as ever.
"You are the weakest, the lowest of the Blue Lock Project. But that just means you have the most room to grow. Your goal is simple—climb to the top or vanish into obscurity. Only by refining your skills will you earn the right to live the life of a true striker."
His voice carried an unsettling weight, commanding absolute attention.
Ego went on to explain the details of the First Selection. It was their first taste of what it meant to be a team of forwards, playing with and against each other. His speech, filled with cold, unrelenting logic, sent chills down Isagi's spine. For the first time, he truly felt the pressure his teammates had been under.
'This man... He's terrifying. He'd make a phenomenal commander for an army.'
As Ego's image vanished from the screen, Isagi clenched his fists. The stakes had risen yet again, and failure was not an option.
Creating football from scratch with all forwards on the pitch was destined to be chaotic. Isagi couldn't imagine the disorder, especially with their first match against Team X, Barou's team. He needed to avoid such a mess at all costs.
As the team gathered to discuss their strategy, the room quickly descended into chaos. Everyone voiced their desire to play forward, arguing over who was the best fit.
"So, since everyone wants to play forward, which is impossible, how are we going to decide who takes the midfield, defense, and goalkeeper positions?"
Kira spoke up, trying to bring order to the growing quarrel.
"Rock-paper-scissors?"
Igaguri proposed, grinning like he'd just solved all their problems.
A few nodded in agreement, but Isagi's expression darkened.
"What? No!"
He interjected sharply.
"You guys might be okay leaving your positions to chance, but I'm not. We don't need luck—we need our strengths to guide us to the right positions."
The room fell silent for a moment as Isagi's voice cut through the noise.
"So, what's your brilliant idea?"
Kunigami asked, arms crossed as he stared Isagi down.
"We use the ranking system"
Isagi replied, sitting on the ground and taking a sip of water.
"But even with that, we need to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses first. Once we know our weapons, we'll decide on a formation that showcases them."
Half the room seemed to agree, while the others—particularly the lower-ranked players—looked uneasy. Igaguri groaned dramatically, but nobody paid him any attention.
"This should've happened already"
Isagi muttered, glancing at Chigiri, who nodded in understanding.
"Creating football from zero isn't just about positioning—it's about building a team around our unique weapons. A proper hierarchy."
One by one, the players began explaining their weapons. Even Igaguri begrudgingly joined in, though his contribution was met with a few raised eyebrows. When it was Bachira's turn, his dribbling and unpredictable playstyle left the room impressed.
All eyes eventually turned to Kira and Isagi.
"My weapon?"
Kira began, pausing briefly.
"Dribbling, long shots, and acceleration."
After finishing, he glanced at Isagi, who took a moment before responding.
"My weapon is my dribbling, vision, perfect shooting accuracy, and endurance."
Raichi frowned, clearly skeptical of Isagi's bold claim about his shooting accuracy. But recalling Isagi's endurance during training, even he couldn't dismiss it outright.
"So how are we deciding who plays where?"
Raichi asked, his patience wearing thin.
"The rankings will decide"
Isagi answered firmly.
"Your rank reflects your effort and results. I'm ranked second, but I've worked to get here, and anyone else can do the same. Higher-ranked players get to choose their positions first.
"But let me make one thing clear: if anyone's dreaming of being a solo top scorer without contributing to the team, you're better off stepping out now. This isn't about showing off—it's about combining our strengths to win. Otherwise, you'll just slow us down, and I'm not interested in babysitting anyone on the field."
His words hung heavy in the air, silencing any objections.
"Now, about the formation"
Isagi continued, turning to Gagamaru.
"Would you take the goalkeeper position? I know you're a striker, but I've seen how versatile you are. You've got the reflexes to hold down the goal."
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[A/N]: Since my college will be starting, There will be 2-3 Chapters Per Week
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder