FROM: TEIERI ANRI BLUE LOCK
BLUE LOCK PROJECT
NOTICE OF RESUMED ACTIVITIES
ON MONTH X AND DAY Y AT 13:00, ALL MUST GATHER AT "BLUE LOCK".
BLUE LOCK
PHASE TWO
The Blue lock players arrived at the arena only to be met with unfamiliar faces.
Barou was the first to ask, "What the heck are you guys doing here?"
"We're here simply because Ego called us." Oliver Aiku grinned.
The rest of the former U-20 members stood behind him.
"He said he wanted us to be members of his new project."
Murano walked towards Aiku.
He then tapped Aiku on the shoulders. "Well then, Welcome to blue lock. We'll need every bit of strength, especially in the defense."
"We appreciate it," Darai said excitedly, arms crossed. "But your skills are the real deal."
Haru Hayate added. "Yes, with a striker like you on our side instead of against us? We might actually have a shot at going the distance."
"A shot?" Kento Chou questioned. "Bro, I watched him solo half our backline and score a bicycle kick like it was a training drill. We should be talking about winning the World Cup."
"Careful," Hiori cut in, warning them.
"Too late for that," Barou said from behind them.
Aiku stared intently at Murano for a moment. "I mean it, though," he said. "I've played against a lot of strikers. None of them made me feel like the game was already over before it started. If we've got someone like that leading the line for Japan..." He shook his head. "Yeah. We've got a real chance."
Murano laughed, "Careful with all this glazing."
The U-20 players let out their frustrations as they mingled with the Blue Lockers.
"Rin!" Murano called out.
"What do you want?"
"Haven't forgotten about our bet, have you?" Murano laughed coldly inward. "You were one shot away from your hat-trick before I took the ball right off your foot."
Rin was pissed. "I remember. You didn't have to bring it up."
"I'm just saying," Murano said, gesturing a finger to his head, "a bet's a bet. You know that you owe me right?"
Ego interrupted...
"Hello there, you diamonds in the rough. Did you all enjoy the holiday?"
"As you might know, I now hold the power to decide every member of the Japan's U-20 team. And since I figured that even the losers might have their uses, I've decided that the new U-20 will be formed from the members I've gathered here."
"Tsk..." Sendou stepped forward, visibly furious. "Losers? Seriously? That's what you think of us?"
"Tough words, Ego," Aiku added.
Ego continued...
"There's 100 days left before the U-20 World Cup Starts. If you guys were to take part as you are... Let's see, maybe without Murano... Victory is simply Impossible. So I came up with a method to allow all of you to evolve at a rapid pace."
Ego introduced the next phase of Blue Lock.
"I have decided to throw you guys at the hottest hellfire that exits. In Phase Two, you all will be thrown in the peak of the world: Europe's Top Five Leagues."
"Among these five countries, each of you is going to choose which environment you want to sharpen yourselves in."
Ego went on to explain his judgement regarding each league.
Germany's Bastard München's Core Philosophy: Logic, Rationality, and Efficiency
England's Manshine City's Core Philosophy: Speed, Brutal Physicality, and Individual Athleticism.
Italy's Ubers' Core Philosophy: Tactical Mastery, Defense, and Robust Team Organization
France's Paris X Gen (PXG)'s Core Philosophy: Financial Power, Young Talent, and Individual Stardom
Spain's FC Barcha's Core Philosophy: Technique, Creativity, and Freedom
"It's time to bet your future in choosing an environment to fight."
Murano crossed his arms and looked over the five banners hanging above Ego's head, each one glowing with its own philosophy.
Logic, Speed, Tactics, Money, and Technique.
He already knew what he lacked better than anyone.
Before the system shut down, his Physical was an A+ grade, but "A+" wasn't enough compared to what waited for him out there in actual Professional matches.
He wondered if he could repeatedly use his body to win Physical and Aerial Duels to survive the kind of physical war the biggest leagues in the world would throw at him.
He realized this fact when he first faced the World Five back in the Second Selections.
The Japanese Football valued Technique, and Work-rate.
But It valued less of the Physicality aspect, the intelligent and functional use of your body to win space, control the ball, shield off opponents, and sustain performance under physical pressure.
He thought about it for a second.
'I can always refine my technique. My vision and instincts are already top notch.' His eyes landed on the England banner. Manshine City.
"Brutal physicality huh..."
"Where do you plan on going?" Hiori asked, catching the look on his face.
"Yeah," Murano replied, "I'm thinking about England."
The room went quiet for a second. They were stunned and wanted to hear Murano's reasoning. So they naturally gathered around Murano, Hiori and Kurona.
"You sure?" Hiori asked. "Out of everyone here, I figured you'd want Spain. With your technique and vision, that's basically Spain's whole identity."
"That's exactly why I'm not going," Murano said. "I've got the technique already. I want to test my physicality in extreme intense duels. If I want to be the best, I can't just be skilled. I need to be unbreakable."
Karasu's eyes narrowed slightly, nodding in approval. "Wow, Murano. Choosing the environment that exposes your weakness instead of feeding your strength."
"That's the whole point, isn't it?" Murano replied. "You don't get better by doing what you're already good at."
"It seems we still have a lot to learn from you, Murano."
THE DAY BEFORE THE MESSAGE FROM ANRI
Murano awoke from an uneasy dream.
Three weeks had passed since his body had attempted to integrate the skills of the World Five to that of his own. And now, on the final night, his body had decided to finish the job all at once.
He wasn't aware of his body's metamorphosis until he stood up from the bed and looked at himself in the narrow mirror on the wardrobe door.
Final System Evaluation
Athletic Physique (evolved)
Godly Reflex Arc (evolved from Godspeed)
Scavenger Eye (evolved from Predator Eye and Xavi's Exceptional Vision)
Finesse Shot (S)
Chronoception
Ambidexterity
Explosive Long-Range (A)
Gareth Bale Acrobatics (A+)
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*Overall Grades at Shutdown
Physical: A+
Mental: S
Technique: S-
Kick/Finishing: S-
Overall: S-
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Classification: NEXT GENERATION CONFIRMED
The user has reached the ceiling of what this system was designed to facilitate.
Further development requires no external framework.
The player's football intelligence, physical capability, and ego have reached a level of self-sustainability.
This system has served its purpose.
SHUTTING DOWN...