Chapter 8 – Monster No. 1
Inside Blue Lock's underground compound, all eleven members of Team Z stood assembled.
Start Comprehensive Testing!
From stamina to reflexes to shooting speed—every stat was under the microscope.
Endurance Test: Treadmill
"Hello! Hello! Hello?!"
Isagi Yoichi and Igarashi Gurimu slumped beside the treadmill, gasping, eyes wide with disbelief.
That guy's still going?
Yūshin Seiichi had been running for nearly 90 minutes—without breaking stride.
"Is that guy even human…?" Igarashi muttered.
"Hey, you two are pathetic!" Jingo Raichi barked from behind. "Do you even want to be the world's best striker?"
"Look at him!" Gagamaru Gin nodded toward Seiichi. "That's another level entirely."
Isagi Yoichi didn't answer. His eyes stayed glued to Seiichi, who hadn't slowed for a second.
Just how big is the gap between us?
2 Hours.
Seiichi finally slowed and stepped off, wiping his face with a towel.
"Oh, I'm sooo exhausted," he teased, glancing at Isagi Yoichi. "Still think I'm durable enough, Isagi~?"
Before Isagi Yoichi could respond—
"Seiichi! You're amazing!" Igarashi blurted. "I can't even run half that long!"
Seiichi placed both hands on his hips, puffing out his chest.
"Hehe, of course! This is what it takes to become the world's best midfielder."
Isagi Yoichi blinked.
"Midfielder?! Not striker?!"
"Nope. Never was."
Seiichi brushed his bangs back and chuckled.
"Let someone else chase the striker spotlight. I'll control the game from the center."
A flash of memory passed—he and Zeya beneath the setting sun.
"You be the best striker. I'll be the best midfielder."
That promise still burned inside him.
Vertical Jump: 75 cm
"Oops. Not even my strong suit," Seiichi yawned.
"Say that again, you freak!" Kunigami Rensuke barked.
"Are we even playing the same sport…?" someone whispered.
100m Dash: 10.58 seconds
"No way!!"
"Why is he good at everything?!"
"At least I'm not alone, Isagi…"
Isagi Yoichi didn't respond. He was stunned.
In every test, Yūshin Seiichi came out on top.
Only Kunigami Rensuke came remotely close in raw strength.
Cafeteria
Seiichi sat with a tray of food, glancing around.
Still no sign of Zeya.
Blue Lock was divided into five blocks. Each had its own cafeteria.
We're not in the same region.
Which was fine.
We'll meet again in the second stage—after we've evolved.
As if Zeya would get eliminated…
He smirked.
In raw strength, Zeya might even be better than me.
"SEIICHIIIII!!"
Asahi Naruhaya jabbed a fork into Seiichi's tray.
"Back off, glutton!" Seiichi shielded his plate, licking each skewer.
"Ewwww!" Igarashi cried.
"Seiichi! You're disgusting!" he added—then turned to find Naruhaya had already robbed his food too.
"YOU EVEN TOOK THE PICKLED RADISH?!"
Night Training – Corridor
"Yo, Isagi!" Bachira Meguru bounced a ball off Isagi Yoichi's back.
"I saw Seiichi sneak out to train again. Let's follow him!"
Practice Grounds – Team Z
Isagi Yoichi and Bachira entered the dome—and found Seiichi taking free kicks from deep range.
So precise…
Bang!
A perfect banana shot curled into the top corner.
Isagi Yoichi's jaw dropped.
"That was… perfect…"
"Yo. You guys watching?"
Seiichi looked up, grabbing a water bottle.
"Zeya used to drag me into late-night training. I never stopped the habit."
"You're a monster!" Bachira laughed.
"Monster?" Isagi Yoichi blinked.
"Yeah. The monster inside me told me: Seiichi's different. He's like… the monster itself."
Seiichi chuckled.
"Heh. I'll take that. In fact… let's rank it."
"Monster No. 1: Me. No. 2: Bachira. No. 3: Isagi."
He made a goofy "yeah" pose with his hands.
This guy is so weird… Isagi Yoichi thought, half-smiling.
But he felt something click inside him.
They all had "monsters." Selfish, hungry, ego-driven versions of themselves.
But Seiichi… had already devoured his.
Rank Update
"All players return to your rooms. Rankings are being updated."
Seiichi checked his sleeve:
021.
Not bad. Ego actually put some respect on it this time.
"275!" Igarashi cheered. "I'm not dead last anymore!"
He looked over at Seiichi's sleeve.
"TWENTY-FIRST?!"
Isagi Yoichi's heart sank.
There's a 253-person gap between us…
"Hey, do the math," Seiichi said. "300 to start. One eliminated. 275 left. 25 teams."
"Wait… I'm still last?!" Igarashi yelled.
"Bingo."
The screen lit up again.
Ego Jinpachi appeared.
"Rankings determine treatment. The higher you are, the better your meals, rooms, and training."
"Special note: Yūshin Seiichi will remain in Team Z for now."
No one objected.
Because no one could.
Stage One: Begins
With the rankings set, the first stage of Blue Lock was about to begin.
The monsters were awake.
The field was ready.
And only one ego would survive.