"Shinichi... is a coach?"
The group looked at the composed Shinichi with expressions full of surprise and doubt. It was clear he had anticipated this.
Quickly, Ego followed up with an explanation: "That's right. For each environment, I have invited 11 rising stars—players of your age group from the strongest teams in the league. In addition, each environment will feature one world-class player as a coach to guide you."
"As for the coaches, I'm sure you're all familiar with them." Ego snapped his fingers, and five full-length images of the coaches appeared beside him. "The ones who will be coaching you are the five world-class forwards you faced at the end of Blue Lock's second selection: Noa, Chris, Snuffy, Lavinho, and Loki."
"Noel Noa… will be our coach!" Isagi's eyes widened unconsciously, and his heart began pounding wildly.
It was as if an idol he had always admired had suddenly stepped into his reality.
"Talk about going all-out," Chigiri remarked as he gazed at the five stars displayed above. Then, turning his head toward Shinichi, he added, "But... does this mean you've reached their level?"
Shinichi remained silent, while Ego continued, "Since I've mentioned it, I'll elaborate on the coaching rules. In this new phase, you will train under the guidance of these coaches. You must earn their recognition by winning matches as part of mixed teams, which include the invited players, and aim to secure a spot in the main 11-player lineup. Then, the five teams will compete against each other."
"I see..." Karasu muttered, nodding thoughtfully. "Recruiting 11 top-tier players from other teams isn't just about simulating a competitive environment. It's also a way to maintain the same sense of urgency as in Blue Lock—that feeling that if you don't give it your all, you'll lose your chance to compete."
"Exactly, that's one of the reasons. Next up are the match rules. The matches are similar to Blue Lock's second selection and follow a point-snatching system: the first team to reach three points wins. This is designed to maximize the speed and drama of the games. Then there's the unlimited substitution rule, allowing for any number of substitutions at any time. Lastly—"
"In each match, every team has the opportunity to let their coach play for three minutes. This is what we call the star substitution rule. That sums up the rules for these entertaining matches."
...
A heavy silence settled over the field as everyone digested Ego's words.
After what he judged to be a sufficient 30 seconds of contemplation, Ego spoke again: "Very well. Now it's time for you to choose which environment you'll enter. Popularity, skill, even money—if you want to truly become professionals, you'll need to consider all of these factors. I won't waste time with unnecessary words; I'll send you detailed explanations for each league environment. For now, I'll just give you a brief overview."
"England's league emphasizes physicality and is suitable for players looking to improve their physical strength or those whose strengths lie in leveraging their physical advantages."
"Spain's league focuses on technique and is ideal for players who either have dazzling skills or want to refine their technical abilities."
"Italy's league prioritizes teamwork, making it a good fit for players who struggle to integrate their individual skills into a team dynamic, or who excel at organization and coordination."
"France's league emphasizes development, providing rising stars the perfect stage to showcase their talents. If you have potential but don't yet know how to transform into a star player, this is the place for you."
"And finally, Germany's league values efficiency and is best for players who are rational and highly driven to win."
After Ego finished speaking, Yukimiya immediately raised his hand. After receiving a nod of approval, he asked, "What about the Blue Lock league environment? You didn't mention it. How do we join that one?"
"Good question. In fact, because Blue Lock itself isn't a top-tier league and there's no need to replicate the Japanese League, the Blue Lock environment holds a unique status."
"In this new phase, the various league environments will compete in groups. However, there will actually be two rounds of competition. In the first round, teams from the five major league environments will face off against one another."
Ego adjusted his glasses and glanced at Shinichi before continuing, "During the first round, the Blue Lock League will not be open. Those selected for the Blue Lock environment will be free to choose whichever league they wish to join and train within."
"In the second round of matches, the restrictions on the mentor players will be lifted, and the matches will revert to official game rules, culminating in a true top-level battle. At that point, a three-day 'transfer market' will open, allowing you to join any team in the other leagues. Only then can you decide whether to join the Blue Lock League and compete against the top-tier teams led by these mentors."
"So what's the benefit of joining the Blue Lock League?" Rin asked coldly, not sparing Shinichi any dignity. "Wouldn't it be better to train under top-tier players? Why should I choose to join his team?"
"Good question. That brings us to the next concept."
It was as if Ego had been waiting for someone to raise this question. A slight grin appeared on his face as he eagerly summoned a leaderboard.
At that moment, the leaderboard displayed only six names, each accompanied by an odd number.
At the bottom was Isagi; one spot above him was Shidou; above that was Rin; in third place was Sae; in second place, a mysterious name, Kaiser; and at the very top, Shinichi.
"For professional players, the world is like a game of musical chairs. There are only so many teams in the top five leagues, but an endless stream of players clamoring to join them. The competition is fierce, with new talent pouring in every year. The only way to secure a spot is by taking someone else's place."
"You're aware that since entering Blue Lock, all of your actions have been recorded and displayed publicly, right? That's how your market value is determined—by the scouts, coaches, and team owners from top leagues who have been watching your matches and offering contracts based on their evaluations."
"After watching your games so far, including those of standout players like Sae, only five of you have received offers. In other words, from the perspective of these professional talent evaluators, everyone else is utterly worthless."
!!
Ego's "tough love" approach was in full swing again. As harsh as his words were, they had an undeniable effect.
The room filled with unyielding determination, a fiery refusal to be dismissed, as the remaining players bristled with resolve.
Seeing their reaction, Ego's lips curled into a peculiar smile. He continued, "As the one entrusted with full authority over the next U20 squad, my original idea was to give the eleven highest-valued players starting positions in the U20 lineup. That was my initial thought."
"But I scrapped that plan. Instead, I decided on a different approach. The highest-valued player within the Blue Lock League environment will become the U20 captain. This captain will have absolute authority over five roster spots. That means they could add a friend who's never played football before or kick out anyone they want, with no restrictions."
"No way, that's way too much power!" Raichi's composure broke first. He stared at the numbers next to Shinichi's name, eyes wide in disbelief. "One…Ten… five hundred million?!! That's insane! He hasn't even played in a top-tier league match! Who could possibly compete with that?"
"Well, that's up to all of you. After all, you're all the same age. This challenge is as fair as it gets, isn't it?" Ego replied with a mischievous grin.
Meanwhile, Rin frowned at his own 10 million valuation and the 100 million next to his brother Sae's name. After a moment's thought, he asked, "But hold on. If that's the case, what incentive is there for everyone else? The gap is just too big."
"No, there's absolutely no other benefit," Ego flatly countered Rin's comment. "Competing against each other—that's the same for all the leagues. The reason you think there's no appeal is simply that, in your eyes, Shinichi doesn't offer the same level of support as the other five mentors. It's just like how Asian leagues may hold no attraction for certain players."
"But that's Shinichi's responsibility. Figuring out how to make his league more competitive, how to draw in participants—that's on him. It's also why I've given the ultimate winner of the Blue Lock League such significant authority."
"Only someone who can lead their team to greater heights deserves to be the captain. If they fail to attract enough talent to even fill an 11-player roster, the embarrassment falls squarely on them, proving they're not yet fit for the role."
"That said, not everyone may shine within their original team. Some might opt to join a less competitive squad for a shot at standing out. Others might want to break away from the shadow of the five mentors. And then there are…" Ego's gaze shifted meaningfully to Rin and Barou.
"...those who aim to unseat Shinichi and take that position for themselves. After all, market value isn't something that only goes up—it can drop as well. If, in the first phase, you manage to defeat Shinichi head-on and push your own value higher than his, then why not step into the Blue Lock League yourself and become a mentor on par with the world's top players?"
"And this will be the reality you face as professional players: every decision you make must consider yourself, your team, and the consequences of your actions. This marks the start of the new phase of Blue Lock, the global competition of the new generation—The New Heroic Battle!"
"Whether you join a weaker team for personal gain, or a stronger team for glory, and whatever results those decisions bring—that's what you'll have to weigh as true professionals. It's why I've created this environment with open transfers."
"As a side note, from this point forward, all your actions related to matches will be broadcasted to the world. So, show your best side. Attract those offers from clubs. Become a player with value."
"Alright, you have thirty minutes to decide which environment to join. Then, accept the outcome of your choice and prove to the global audience that your decision was the right one."
With a snap, Ego's image disappeared.
Everyone immediately grabbed their phones.
The small polling app they'd previously used updated itself into a new application called BLUE LOCK TV.
Inside, they could see live footage of themselves and an endless stream of comments being refreshed in real time.
"This guy is absolutely nuts," muttered Isagi, eyes wide. Meanwhile, Igarashi leaped in front of the camera, exclaiming, "Hey! Can everyone see me? It's your reliable monk, coming at you live!"
"Cut the nonsense. If you're going to be a tool, at least behave yourself," Shinichi shot him a glare before unhesitatingly selecting the Italian league. "Let's move. No time to waste."
"Yeah, yeah," Igarashi replied, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But seriously, I feel like heading to France might suit me better."
"That joke was lame," Niko flatly commented before quickly selecting Italy.
The three of them then left the hall without even bothering to bring along his former teammates like Hiori, Kurona, or Zantetsu.
"This is your own life. I won't interfere with your decisions," Shinichi said calmly as he walked out, not looking back.
...
"That guy… always trying to act cool," Hiori muttered with a hint of frustration, turning to Kurona. "Let's pick Italy too and catch up to him."
"…"
Unexpectedly, both Zantetsu and Kurona remained silent, avoiding each other's gaze. Kurona was the first to break the silence. "I'm going to England. It's not my ideal environment, but I want to strengthen my body in that setting."
With clenched fists and a tinge of reluctance, Kurona bit his lip and spoke slowly but resolutely: "I know it'll be hard for me to get playing time there, but the physical growth will be unmatched. If I don't fix this weakness, I'll never keep up with Shinichi. I'll just end up like I did in the U20 match—getting subbed out in shame halfway through…"
"Same here. I'm choosing the French league," Zantetsu said earnestly, meeting Hyou's gaze. "I don't fully understand the differences between the leagues, but since the French league has Loki, I think training alongside him might teach me how to support Shinichi—not just with words. I want to give it my all… and do whatever it takes."
"You guys…" Hiori found himself at a loss for words. As they spoke, he began reflecting on his own choices. 'Is blindly following Shinichi really the best path for me? The time I spent with Sae, even though it was brief, helped me grow tremendously. Maybe I should think carefully about my next move too. Should I just enjoy watching him grow and change the world, or should I stand alongside him, changing the world together…'
Just as he was thinking, the notification sound from his phone chimed. All three of them instinctively pulled out their phones, only to see a group message from Shinichi:
"Second-round match, see you in the Blue Lock League."
"This guy..." Upon seeing the message, Hiori couldn't help but laugh, all hesitation evaporating from his mind. "Alright, I'll choose the German league too. Forget all those other leagues just focused on winning—I think Shinichi's philosophy resonates with me. Embracing that mindset might help me get closer to him. Besides, I'd love to see how the world's number one forward plays."
With that, the three of them placed their hands together. "See you in the second round!"
...
"Man, so fired up. Doesn't it feel like they don't fit the usual Blue Lock vibe at all?" Karasu quipped as he watched the three make their respective vows before heading down different paths.
He turned toward Otoya with a teasing smile. "I'm thinking of heading to France. It's supposed to be the league for rising stars. Care to join me?"
Otoya sidestepped the hand Karasu tried to place on his shoulder, looking utterly annoyed. "No thanks. I'm going to Spain—it just feels more vibrant there."
"These guys are really just going on vibes, huh? Still..." Isagi watched as everyone made their decisions, setting his own plan firmly in his heart.
"Beating Shinichi is my ultimate goal, but for now... the place that ignites my passion, the place that fuels my love for the game, can only be—"
"The German league, home to the best in the world!"
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