Blue Lock: I, Kira Ryosuke, Begin with Thunder Breathing

Although Team Y lost a total of two matches, the pressure Kira Ryosuke put on Niko Ikki was something even the V-Team's Big Three couldn't compare to.

"Kira Ryosuke, I will definitely get my revenge."

On the other side of Building 5, in Team X's training grounds, Barou Shoei was still practicing. As Team X's top scorer, he was allowed to remain here.

He felt no attachment to his departing teammates, so he didn't see them off. To Barou Shoei, these people were just useless trash without talent. It was precisely because these people were useless that Team X hadn't won a single match.

All teammates were merely his foils and servants; this was Barou Shoei's philosophy.

"Kira Ryosuke, I will crush you and make you my servant!"

Barou Shoei clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth as he spoke, as if an endless rage was spreading.

Unbeknownst to him, Kira Ryosuke had already become a public enemy in the hearts of many.

Soon, night fell.

After dinner and a long chat with Reiko, Kira Ryosuke once again came to the training grounds.

Successfully advancing as the top of his group was the first step he had completed.

There was still a long road ahead.

According to the original story, the next phase would involve a period of physical training and a simple solo shooting assessment—after which would be the true second selection round, the Steal-a-Person Battle.

Initially, three people would form a team and then compete against another team of the same size. If they won, they could choose one person from the opposing team to join their own. The first team to assemble five players would advance, while anyone left alone would be directly eliminated.

This was not only a test of football skills but also further stimulated the competitive spirit between individuals.

Teammates from the previous round could very well become enemies in this one, highlighting the cruelty of the competition.

"I'll have to pick teammates then... I wonder who to choose. I'll decide when the time comes," Kira Ryosuke muttered to himself before opening the system menu.

Including the Combat Points earned from the previous matches and his training tonight, Kira Ryosuke now had 230 Combat Points. His proficiency in Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder and Rice Spirit had both reached 100%, making him eligible for an upgrade.

His dribbling skills and control over curved shots could definitely improve further.

[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 his skills upgraded and proficiency reset, Kira Ryosuke could continue practicing.

"They're still training after the first round is over! My legs are getting weak."

"That's why Kira is so strong!"

"We can't let you train secretly."

Just then, the others from Team Z also walked into the training ground.

Although they were all exhausted after today's battle, seeing Kira Ryosuke training again inspired them, and they joined him in the training ground.

"Then let's train together."

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

"But let's be clear, the world's number one striker will definitely be me! You guys can fight for second place!"

The next morning.

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

"Congratulations, all you raw stones, you have passed the first selection."

Ego Jinpachi adjusted his glasses.

"However, the second selection will take some time. The matches in the other buildings are not yet finished."

"What? We have to wait for them?!" Raichi Jingo said with some dissatisfaction.

"It's annoying. During this waiting period for the second selection, you will obediently undergo physical enhancement training. You are not allowed to use the ball during training hours. Those who violate the rules or cannot keep up with the training will be considered withdrawn."

"Are you kidding me?! Why do we have to wait for the other floors to finish?!" Raichi Jingo pointed at the screen, his dissatisfaction with Ego Jinpachi seemingly reaching its peak.

"You only won from the lowest-ranked Building 5, don't get cocky, trash!" Ego Jinpachi said mercilessly.

"There's no need to continue with such a low-level lie," Kunigami Rensuke said from the side at that moment.

"Oh?" Ego Jinpachi's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"If you want us to do physical training, you don't need to use such a cheap lie. We know very well that there are no higher floors. All buildings are Building 5, all teams are V, W, X, Y, Z, and rankings mean nothing."

Kunigami Rensuke's expression was serious. Kira Ryosuke had told everyone that rankings were meaningless.

However, even if Kira Ryosuke hadn't said it, many people could have guessed it.

"How did you arrive at that conclusion?"

Ego Jinpachi asked with some curiosity.

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

As Kunigami Rensuke finished speaking, everyone's gaze fell upon Kira Ryosuke.

To them, Kira Ryosuke's strength was incomparably great. Both Nagi Seishiro and Barou Shoei were unexpectedly powerful.

But even so, they were nowhere near comparable to Kira Ryosuke.

Therefore, they all believed it was impossible for anyone in Blue Lock to surpass Kira Ryosuke by more than two hundred people.

"So that's how you reached that conclusion."

Ego Jinpachi smiled, but in the next moment, his expression became very solemn.

"That's right. Since you already know, there's no need for me to hide it. Rankings are indeed meaningless. What I'm going to do next is arrange high-intensity physical training for you to completely crush your insignificant self-confidence—even without rankings, you are all still trash. There's no difference. You will train obediently until I say stop!"

"Alright, bring it on!"

Faced with Ego Jinpachi's threatening words, the members of Team Z became even more enthusiastic.

"Very good, then let's begin. Let's see if you can keep up."

After Ego Jinpachi finished speaking, the screen went dark.

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

Kira Ryosuke thought to himself at this moment.

During these ten days, I can't touch a ball. That means the proficiency of skills like Rice Spirit and Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder, which require soccer practice, will be difficult to improve normally. I can only rely on the Combat Space to increase them. However, I can still train my physique during this time. It's a good opportunity to improve myself thoroughly.

"All members of Team Z, please proceed to the gym for physical testing and training."

Just then, a cold broadcast voice echoed through the room. The members could only follow the instructions, heading to the designated location to begin a series of physical training.

High-speed long-distance running, flexibility training, jumping training... The intensity of these exercises was extremely high. This training was not just a test of physical strength, but also an ordeal for willpower. Falling behind meant elimination. Under extreme fatigue, ordinary people might even lose their appetite, and even though this was the time they most needed to eat and replenish energy, they might vomit it all out quickly.

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

Almost every day, each of them had undergone extremely high-intensity training with Kira Ryosuke and had basically adapted to this training method. Compared to that, the physical training arranged by Ego Jinpachi was nothing significant.

Even Isagi Yoichi, whose physical condition was generally at the bottom, could basically keep up.

Soon, ten days passed in the blink of an eye. The members finally received the notification that the physical training had ended.

"All personnel, gather in the main hall."

It was only six in the morning when Ego Jinpachi's voice sounded over the broadcast.

"Damn it, it's finally over,"

Raichi Jingo shouted excitedly.

Although all members of Team Z could basically handle this high-intensity training, what they craved most now was to get on the field and compete.

Kira Ryosuke also opened his system interface at this time.

[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, Kira Ryosuke's skill proficiency had all improved considerably. Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder and Thunder Breathing had both reached 100%, and he would soon be able to upgrade them further.

During this period, he could only earn 20 Combat Points per day through training and prioritize exchanging them for training time in the Combat Space to practice his skills. When matches were scheduled again, he could directly upgrade his skills.

"Everyone, get ready to move out."

Kira Ryosuke closed the system interface and then led all the members of Team Z out of the room, heading towards the target hall.

It was a spacious pentagonal hall. The large doors embedded in the five walls were open, and players from five different buildings gathered here.

A total of 125 players had managed to advance to this point. More than half of them had already left Blue Lock. The faces of those who remained did not show much joy; instead, they were mostly exhausted. Ten consecutive days of physical strengthening training had pushed them to the brink of collapse.

And this was Ego Jinpachi's objective.

Only Kira Ryosuke's Team Z still looked relatively spirited.

"Hey, it's just like Kira said."

Isagi Yoichi's gaze swept over the people around him. Just as Kira Ryosuke had said earlier, there were no higher floors or rankings. Everyone came from 'Building 5', and everyone had a ranking above 200.

"Oh dear, my precious stones, you must have worked hard during this physical strengthening training."

The central big screen lit up, and Ego Jinpachi's gaunt figure appeared before everyone.

"Those currently here are the 125 survivors of the first selection from the five buildings. Of course, some of you have already noticed that there is no one from the higher floors among you..."

As Ego Jinpachi spoke, his gaze seemed to linger on Kira Ryosuke for a moment. He then delivered a speech about forwards and egoists. After a few minutes, he finally got to the main topic.

"You will now proceed to the second selection. The second selection has a total of 5 stages, and it's a promotion system where you can only advance to the next round after passing the current stage."

"Once you pass the second selection, you will have the chance to train with the world-class players I've chosen."

"If you're mentally prepared, head to that door alone. The first stage is a battle of one. Once you enter, there's no turning back."

Everyone's gaze followed Ego Jinpachi's lead, falling upon a pitch-black door, like a hell waiting for them to walk into a trap.

Second Selection, the words were clearly printed on the door.

Chapter 64: However, I Refuse!

The big screen immediately went dark, and the crowd began to murmur. Just then, one person moved first.

He had a stern face and a tall, lean build, but his muscles were very defined.

He placed the soccer ball beside him at his feet, then kicked it. A perfect high-arcing shot flew across the hall.

"What a beautiful kick."

Isagi Yoichi, standing nearby, couldn't help but praise.

Just then, the same person kicked the ball again. This time, it was a low-arcing shot--

The two balls, kicked consecutively, met precisely in mid-air.

"What?!"

"No way..."

"Incredible skill."