----
Bastard München (Germany 🇩🇪)
Yoichi Isagi
Rensuke Kunigami
Megumu/Gin Gagamaru
Kenyu Yukimiya
Ranze Kurona
Yo Hiori
Jingo Raichi
Jin Kiyora
Gurimu Igarashi
----
Ubers (Italy 🇮🇹)
Shoei Barou
Ikki Niko
Jyubei Aryu
Oliver Aiku
Shuto Sendo
Gen Fukaky
Yukio Ishikari
Kyohei Shiguma
Shingen Tanaka
----
Paris X Gen / PXG (France 🇫🇷)
Ryusei Shidou
Tabito Karasu
Zantetsu Tsurugi
Kento Cho
Aoshi Tokimitsu
Nijiro Nanase
Akira Endoji
Haruhiko Yuzu
Rin Itoshi
----
Manshine City (England)
Hayashi Murano
Seishiro Nagi
Reo Mikage
Hyoma Chigiri
Junichi Wanima
Kazuma Niou
Reiji Hiiragi
Hajime Nishioka ("Aomori's Messi")
Kairu Saramadara
Taiga Tsunzaki
----
FC Barcha (Spain 🇪🇸)
Meguru Bachira
Eita Otoya
Aiki Himizu
Shizuka Haiji
Tetsu Sokura
Haru Hayate
Miroku Darai
Teru Kitsunezato
---
The time to decide finally ended. On the large screen, players and the countries they chose were on full display.
Whether it was the best choice for Murano, he didn't know. But what he did know was that he was determined to make sure that this choice would work out well in the end.
Murano found Hiori leaning against the wall
"Yo, you've already decided?" Murano asked.
"Yeah, settled on Germany," Hiori said simply.
"Munich values reasoning and logic," Hiori continued. "I've spent enough time being the guy who sets up goals. I want to see what it would look like when I adopt a logic-and-rationality approach to scoring goals.
"That's fair," Murano said. "Guess this is it, then."
"Guess so." Hiori responded. "You are set on England, right?"
"Yep."
"Of course you are. Spain would've made too much sense for you."
"You know this means we're not going to see each other for a while," Hiori said.
"Right... I'm already getting tired of you," Murano sighed.
"Hahaha!" Hiori's laughter faded into something more serious. "I mean it, though. Whatever happens in there, don't get comfortable. Don't let being the best in Blue Lock make your growth stagnant in a place that doesn't care who you used to be."
Murano didn't answer right away. It wasn't the kind of thing Hiori usually said out loud.
"Same goes for you," Murano said. "Germany's not gonna care about you either. You'll have to prove that your vision and skill means something to guys who are on a whole 'nother level."
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Hiori extended a hand. "So whenever we cross paths again, be it an NEL match, or the World Cup roster, whatever it ends up being..."
"... we better both be someone worth playing against," Murano finished, taking his hand.
"That's the deal," Hiori said.
Murano gave one last nod and walked off.
---
"Well then, the ten of you who chose England. Please move on to the next room."
Nishioka pumped his fist. "Let's go! Aomori's Messi to the world!"
"Didn't we agree you'd retire that nickname," Murano laughed coldly as he walked past him.
"In your dreams," Nishioka said.
---
A holographic platform popped up, projecting Ego Jinpachi above them.
"Hello there, folks who chose England. Welcome to the home of football. Filled with sheer physical dominance and speed. The team that's currently the strongest in England is Manshine City. You will play with the members of the team's U-20 category and train with them."
"Manshine City? As in the actual Manshine City?" Reo was amazed.
"What is that? Are they any good?" Nagi asked.
"Yes! they're one of the best football clubs in the world" Reo said, running a hand through his hair.
"The environment of the Big Five European Leagues... will be recreated right here in BLUE LOCK!!" Ego's voice yelled. "Players your age, who currently play for the absolute strongest teams in the world's top five leagues, are coming to crush your naive little dreams. So, you aren't just competing against each other anymore. You are stepping onto the global stage. For that exact purpose... I HAVE INVITED THEM."
"Players from Europe's Top 5?" Nishioka said excitedly. "So, this is the real deal!"
"Your next goal will be to win in this environment. And the one who will be guiding you all won't be me, but instead, the ace strikers who reign over each of these top teams. Allow me to introduce you: the absolute ace of Manshine City, and the one who holds the title of the second-best player in the world, Chris Prince."
"Second best... in the world?"
"Wait, hold on." Tsunzaki raised a hand. "If he's second in the world, why would he agree to coach us?"
Ego's projection responded. "That's between him and me. Just know he's not doing it out of the kindness of his heart, so consider yourselves lucky he agreed to come at all."
"First, you will train under the master. Then if you show your value, you will be mixed with the eleven members brought from the original team. The eleven starters will play in matches. The opponents will, of course, be teams in the other strata. And a league will be formed with those five teams."
"So it's not just us versus Manshine's original team," Reo said slowly, working it out loud. "If we make it to the the starting line then It's us versus the other four teams too."
"Exactly," Ego said. "Now you're catching on."
"First to score three goals wins, but once per match, each team will be allowed to sub in their master striker for three minutes."
Chigiri finally spoke, "Three minutes. That's all it'll take for someone like that to end a game."
"And don't forget that this is also the final selection for the team that's going to the U-20 World Cup. Depending on how the matches go, after each of them is over, the rankings could completely change."
"Welcome," Ego said, spreading his arms wide, "to the Neo Egoist League."
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then Saramadara broke the silence. "...We're so screwed."
"Good," Murano said, already walking toward the door. "Let's play the best football of our lives."