Chương 7: Bluelock II
{Japan Football Union}
*MC, Ryosuke's POV*
Jinpaichi Ego continued to speak.
"I'll put it in the simplest terms."
"Japan only requires one thing to become the strongest powerhouse in football."
I listened to what Jinpaichi Ego was about to say, as did Yoichi Isagi beside me.
Jinpaichi continued, "And that is to create a revolutionary striker!"
"From you 300 players gathered here today..."
"I will forge the best striker in the world through a certain project."
Everyone in the room was confused by what Jinpaichi Ego had just announced, but I was clearly thrilled.
"Look here, for this purpose, we have built this facility..."
"Called 'Bluelock'."
With that, a screen with the Bluelock logo appeared behind Jinpaichi Ego, displaying some images.
"Starting today, all of you will live in this building and follow my personally designed training regime to the letter."
"You will not be able to go back home, and if you agree to participate and you lose here in Bluelock, consider your football careers as you know them, over."
The participants were shocked as Jinpaichi Ego continued.
"But I will say this, if you manage to survive in Bluelock and defeat the other 299 players around you..."
The participants waited in anticipation as Jinpaichi Ego continued.
"You, the last player standing... Will have become the best striker in the world."
"That's all for the details. Nice to meet all of you."
Everyone was shocked by this revelation.
Meanwhile, I felt adrenaline coursing through my body.
The best striker... In the world...
I thought, excitement flooding my senses. Jinpaichi Ego's terms seemed harsh, but to me, originally Jack Moore, occupying this body while erasing the real Ryosuke Kira into existence, fairness and unfairness had always coexisted. For me, Jinpaichi Ego's terms were a mere challenge, and that challenge was the path to becoming the best striker in the world!
Meanwhile, Yoichi beside me seemed shocked, his eyes widened in disbelief. I turned to him and asked, "Hey, Isagi. Are you okay?"
After all, I was shocked too, and everyone in the room was shocked.
Yoichi snapped out of his thoughts and nodded, responding, "Yeah, I'm just a bit shocked."
Then, someone in the crowd voiced their disagreement with Jinpaichi Ego's ideals.
"Most of us here are participating in nationals, and our teams are our main priority. There's no way I can accept such terms. I will not abandon my team!"
Many participants nodded and echoed their disagreement.
"That's right! We're also participating in nationals!"
"Why do we have to live together?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Yoichi Isagi also appeared to disagree, his thoughts conflicted.
However, Jinpaichi Ego responded calmly but with words that shocked the players.
"I... see."
"All of you are messed up in the head, huh."
"Get lost, then."
"If you're thinking of leaving, go right ahead."
Yoichi and the others were taken aback as Jinpaichi Ego continued.
"Your teams, what are they now? You'd choose your teams over becoming the best striker in the world? You'd rather be a high school champion in this country?"
"Huh?"
Everyone felt solemn, while I smiled faintly, my eyes filled with the light of ambition.
Jinpaichi Ego continued, "When I look at all of you, I cringe at the thought of Japan's football future."
Beside me, Yoichi Isagi was dazed.
Jinpaichi Ego continued, "You get it? Japan is the best country when it comes to organizational skills in football, which people attribute to our innate national character."
"But before you get any ideas, in everything else... We're second rate."
Jinpaichi Ego stated a series of words as an image of the Japan Football Team appeared on the screen behind him. He followed with a question.
"I want to know something... What is football to all of you?"
Yoichi Isagi sweated, lost in thought.
"A sport where you can try to score goals in teams of 11 members?"
"'Our bonds are important'? 'I will play for my team'?"
"Well, that's wrong. That way of thinking is exactly why Japan lacks football skills."
"I will show you what it's about..."
"Football is, at its core, a sport about scoring goals even at the expense of your teammates."
"The best player is the one who scores the most goals... If you want to play pretend football instead, then get lost already."
Yoichi sweated beside me as he looked at Jinpaichi Ego with mixed thoughts.
{One stubborn participant retorted Jinpaichi Ego, using Honda and Kagawa as admirable examples of players. However, Jinpaichi Ego just scratched his head.}
"Honda? Kagawa? Hmm..."
"You mean the squad that has yet to win a single World Cup?"
"I don't care about those players! Aren't I talking about becoming the best team in the world?"
"Come on."
{The participants, including Ryosuke, were quite shocked by how proud Jinpaichi Ego was.}
I had researched Japanese players yesterday, and they're really good at excelling in teamwork... But...
{Jinpaichi Ego then continued after a taunting smile.}
"Let's talk about Noel Noa, for example."
"He managed to win the Ballon D'Or over outstanding players like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He's talked about as if he's the best striker."
"And in his words, 'I feel better losing 3-4 after a hat-trick than winning by only 1-0 with an assist.' And one of the best football players of the 20th century, Eric Cantona, said this, 'When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because sardines will be thrown into the sea.'"
"Pelé, arguably the best player in history and a three-time World Cup winner, once said, 'The best forward? The best midfielder? The best defender? The best goalkeeper? To all those questions, I always answer, that is me.'"
{Everyone looked at Jinpaichi Ego, who had a crazy expression as he shouted with a smirk,}
"What do you think!? Awful, aren't they!? But they can say it because they're the best! All of them are revolutionary strikers!!!"
"The extraordinary 'Egoism.'"
"One of the things Japan's football lacks."
"You will not become the greatest strikers in the world unless you have the ego to match."
"My purpose here is to create such a player in Japan."
{Everything that Jinpaichi Ego was saying was new to the participants' ears because until now, no one had told them this ideology.}
"From the ashes of 299 players... One who will rise in history!!"
{Meanwhile, Ryosuke felt the excitement coursing through his body.}
This is it... This is... The essence of life, the fate of the losers, and the destiny of the winners.
The brutal ideology of football!
{Ryosuke thought to himself as Jinpaichi Ego continued.}
"Alright, diamonds in the rough. Let me ask you one last question... Imagine this... You are in the World Cup... Playing in front of 80,000 spectators in the stadium... You are on that very field... The score? 0-0. It's stoppage time in the second half... The very last play."
"A teammate has managed to pass the ball to you..."
"It's a one-on-one with the goalkeeper... There's a teammate six meters to your right. If you pass it to him, he'll probably score that goal. The hopes of all Japan are on your shoulders... You are at a turning point in the World Cup finals... Without hesitation, you shoot."
"If you desire that 'egoism'... Then step through the gate..."
{The wall behind Jinpaichi Ego slid open as he continued to speak.}
"I'll repeat it once more... Loud and clear... Football is a sport to develop all of you into strikers. Think of literally everyone else on the field as supporting you. Throw away your common sense. When you're on the field, you are the star."
"Your greatest joy is scoring points and nothing else. You live for the excitement of that very moment. Now that's... a 'striker,' don't you think?"
{That final sentence from Jinpaichi Ego was the nail in the coffin as the participants rushed to the gate without hesitation.}
I smiled as I also ran towards the gate. This is my chance to become better, after all.
{Ryosuke thought as he sprinted through the gate.}
— Chương tiếp theo sắp ra mắt — Viết đánh giá
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực