But I Refuse!

Although Team Y had lost two matches in total, the pressure Kira Ryosuke brought to bear on Niko Ikki was something even Team V's three aces could not match.

"Kira Ryosuke, I'll definitely get my revenge."

On the other side of Building Five, Barou Shoei was still practicing on Team X's training field. As Team X's top scorer, he was also allowed to remain there.

He had no feelings for his departing teammates, so he did not go to see them off. To Barou Shoei, these people were merely talentless trash. It was precisely because they were useless that Team X had not won a single match.

All his teammates were nothing more than his foils and servants. That was Barou Shoei's creed.

"Kira Ryosuke, I'll crush you for sure and make you my servant!"

Barou Shoei clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth, as if an endless fury were spreading through him.

Before he knew it, Kira Ryosuke had already become the public enemy in many people's hearts.

Night soon fell.

After dinner and a long chat with Reiko, Kira Ryosuke returned to the training field.

Advancing as the group's first-place finisher counted as completing the first step for him.

There was still a long road ahead.

According to the original story, what came next would be a period of physical training, followed by an easy solo shooting assessment—and after that would come the true second selection, the Steal-a-Person Battle.

At the beginning, three people would form a team and compete against another team of the same size. If they won, they could choose one person from the opposing team to join them. The first five-person teams to form would all advance, while those left alone would be eliminated directly.

This was not merely a test of soccer skills. It would also further stimulate the competitive instincts between people.

Teammates from the previous round could very well become enemies in this one. That made the cruelty of the competition even more apparent.

"We'll have to choose teammates then... I wonder who to pick. I'll think about it when the time comes."

Kira Ryosuke muttered to himself before opening the system menu.

Including the Combat Points he had earned from the earlier matches and those gained through his evening training, Kira Ryosuke now had 230 Combat Points. His Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder and Rice Spirit had both reached one hundred percent proficiency, so he could upgrade them now.

His dribbling technique and control over curved shots would definitely improve further as well.

[Upgrade successful! Combat. Thunder Breathing. Second Form: Rice Spirit has reached LV3. Proficiency reset.]

[Upgrade successful! Combat. Thunder Breathing. Third Form: Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder has reached LV2. Proficiency reset.]

With the skills upgraded and their proficiency reset, Kira Ryosuke could continue practicing.

"You've already finished the first round of matches and you're still training?! My legs are getting weak."

"That's why Kira is so amazing!"

"We can't let you train secretly by yourself."

Just then, the other members of Team Z also entered the training area.

Although they were all extremely exhausted after today's match, seeing Kira Ryosuke training had infected them with his drive, so they returned to the training field together.

"Then let's train together."

"We have to advance together in the next round too!"

"But let me make this clear first: the world's number-one striker will definitely be me! Work hard to fight for second place!"

The next morning.

The large screen lit up again, and Ego Jinpachi's face appeared.

"Congratulations, you raw gems. You have passed the first selection."

Ego Jinpachi pushed up his glasses.

"But you'll have to wait a while for the second selection. The matches in the other buildings aren't over yet."

"What? We still have to wait for them?!"

Raichi Jingo said unhappily.

"How annoying. During the wait for the second selection, you'll obediently undergo physical enhancement training. You may not use a ball during training. Anyone who violates the rules or cannot keep up with the training will be considered to have withdrawn."

"You've got to be kidding! Why do we have to wait for the other buildings to finish?!"

Raichi Jingo pointed at the screen, his dissatisfaction with Ego Jinpachi apparently having reached its peak.

"You only advanced from the lowest-ranked Building Five. Don't get carried away, you pieces of trash!"

Ego Jinpachi showed no mercy.

"There's no need to keep up this low-level lie."

At that moment, Kunigami Rensuke spoke up as well.

"Oh?"

Ego Jinpachi's brows lifted slightly.

"If you want us to undergo physical training, you don't need to use such a low-level lie. We know very well that there are no higher-ranked buildings. Every building is Building Five, every team is Team V, W, X, Y, or Z, and the rankings are meaningless."

Kunigami Rensuke wore a serious expression. Kira Ryosuke had already told everyone about this, and the supposed rankings had no meaning.

Even without Kira Ryosuke telling them, quite a few of them should have been able to figure it out.

"How did you arrive at that conclusion?"

Ego Jinpachi asked curiously.

"Because I don't believe there could be more than two hundred people stronger than Kira."

As soon as Kunigami Rensuke finished speaking, everyone's eyes shifted toward Kira Ryosuke.

To them, Kira Ryosuke's strength was incomparably powerful. Whether it was Nagi Seishiro or Barou Shoei, both of them were extraordinarily strong.

But even so, they were completely incomparable to Kira Ryosuke.

Thus, all of them believed it was impossible for Blue Lock to contain more than two hundred people who surpassed Kira Ryosuke.

"So that's how you came to your conclusion."

Ego Jinpachi smiled, but in the next instant, his expression became extremely solemn.

"That's right. Since you've already figured it out, there's no need for me to hide it. The rankings are indeed meaningless. What I'm going to do next is arrange high-intensity physical training to completely shatter your insignificant confidence. Even without rankings, you're still nothing but a bunch of pieces of trash. That fact hasn't changed. You'll obediently train until I tell you to stop!"

"Great! Bring it on!"

Faced with Ego Jinpachi's threatening words, the members of Team Z instead became excited.

"Very good. Then let's begin. Let's see whether you can keep up."

After Ego Jinpachi finished speaking, the screen went dark.

If I remember correctly, the physical training should last ten days.

Kira Ryosuke thought to himself.

I can't touch a ball during these ten days, so under normal circumstances, it'll be difficult to train the proficiency of Rice Spirit and Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder, which require soccer practice. I'll have to rely on the Combat Space to improve them. Still, I can train my physical abilities normally. I might as well use this period to improve myself properly.

"Please, all members of Team Z, proceed to the gym for physical assessment training."

At that moment, a cold announcement rang through the room. The others could only follow the instructions and head to the designated location, where they began a series of physical training exercises.

High-speed long-distance running, flexibility training, jumping power training... The intensity of these exercises was extremely high. They were not merely a test of stamina, but also a torment of willpower. Anyone who fell behind would be eliminated. Under such extreme fatigue, ordinary people might even lose their appetites for a time. Despite this being the moment when they most needed food to replenish their energy, they might quickly vomit it back up.

However, this level of training did not put that much pressure on the members of Team Z anymore.

Almost every one of them trained alongside Kira Ryosuke at an extremely high intensity every day, so they had basically adapted to this training style. Compared to that, the physical training arranged by Ego Jinpachi was nothing particularly remarkable.

Even Isagi Yoichi, whose physical abilities were practically at the bottom, was able to hold on.

The ten days soon passed in the blink of an eye, and the group finally received notice that the physical training had ended.

"All personnel, assemble in the hall."

It was only six in the morning when Ego Jinpachi's voice rang through the broadcast.

"Damn it, it's finally over."

Raichi Jingo shouted excitedly.

Although all the members of Team Z could basically handle this high-intensity training, what they wanted most now was to take the field and play.

At that moment, Kira Ryosuke also opened his System Interface.

[Host: Kira Ryosuke]

[Current Combat Points: 50]

[Combat. Thunder Breathing. Total Concentration LV3. Proficiency 100%. Upgrade: 150 Combat Points]

[Combat. Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash LV3. Proficiency 73.7%]

[Combat. Thunder Breathing Second Form: Rice Spirit LV3. Proficiency 50.3%]

[Combat. Thunder Breathing Third Form: Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder LV2. Proficiency 100%. Upgrade: 100 Combat Points]

After this period of training, all of Kira Ryosuke's skills had gained a considerable amount of proficiency. Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder and Thunder Breathing had both reached one hundred percent, and they could soon be upgraded further.

During this period, he could only gain twenty Combat Points each day through training. He then prioritized exchanging them for training time in the Combat Space to practice his skills. Once matches were scheduled again, he would be able to upgrade the skills directly.

"Everyone, get ready to leave."

Kira Ryosuke closed the System Interface, then led all the members of Team Z out of the room and toward the destination hall.

It was a spacious pentagonal hall. The doors set into its five walls opened, and players from five different buildings gathered there.

Only 125 players had advanced this far. More than half of them had already left Blue Lock. Those who remained did not look particularly happy either. They looked more exhausted than anything else. Ten consecutive days of physical enhancement training had pushed them almost to the point of collapse.

And that was Ego Jinpachi's goal.

Only Team Z, led by Kira Ryosuke, still looked relatively spirited.

"Hey, it really is just like Kira said."

Isagi Yoichi's gaze swept over the people around them. Just as Kira Ryosuke had said, there were no higher-ranked buildings or rankings. Everyone had come from "Building Five," and every one of them had a ranking number above 200.

"Well, well, raw gems. Thank you for enduring this physical enhancement training."

The central screen lit up, and Ego Jinpachi's lean figure appeared before them.

"Those gathered here are the 125 players who passed the first selection from the five buildings. Of course, some of you have already noticed that there is no one from a higher-ranked building among you..."

As Ego Jinpachi said this, his gaze seemed to linger on Kira Ryosuke for a moment. He then delivered a speech about strikers and egoists. Only after several minutes did he finally return to the main topic.

"You're about to enter the second selection. The second selection has five stages. It uses an advancement system in which you can proceed to the next stage only after passing the current one."

"If you pass the second selection, you'll have the chance to train together with the world-class players I've selected."

"Those who are mentally prepared should proceed alone through that door. The first stage is an individual battle. Once you enter, there is no turning back."

Following Ego Jinpachi's guidance, everyone looked toward a pitch-black door. It seemed like a hell waiting for them to throw themselves into its jaws.

The words "Second Selection" were emblazoned across the door.

Chapter Sixty-Four: But I Refuse!

The large screen immediately went dark. Everyone began discussing it among themselves, but at that moment, one person moved first.

He had a cold expression and a tall, slender build, but his muscular lines were extremely distinct.

He placed the soccer ball beside him beneath his foot, then kicked it. A perfect high-trajectory curved shot swept through the air above the hall.

"What a beautiful strike."

Isagi Yoichi could not help praising it.

At that moment, the man kicked the ball again. This time, it was a low-trajectory curved shot—

The two balls he had shot in succession collided with astonishing precision in midair.

"What?!"

"Seriously...?"

"That's incredible technique."