Few days ago the first two matches began.
Bastarn Munchen vs. Fc Barcha ended in a tight 3-2 win for Bastard Munchen.
Similarly the PXG vs Ubers' game also ended in a 3-2 win but for PXG.
Neo Egoist Goal Ranking
Rin -- 2 goals
Kaiser -- 1 goal
Bachira -- 1 goal
Shidou -- 1 goal
Hiori -- 1 goal
Noa -- 1 goal
Lavinho -- 1 goal
---
It was now Murano's turn to once again show his worth.
But when it came time to announce the starting lineups, Chris Prince had built his team toward a completely different philosophy than the other masters. Whereas Noel Noa selected his players based on their stats in comparative to others, Chris Prince had spent three weeks developing and designing individualized training to bring out their potential out.
Chigiri had spent those three weeks increasing his speed and discovering his golden-zone, a goal formula that bends the ball in a shooting arc so precise that he named it the 44-Degree Sniper.
Nagi had underwent balancing routines, designed to enable him to trap and control the ball even under direct physical pressure.
Reo's program had been the most intentionally broad. A balanced, all-around overhaul meant to raise every physical stat at once, giving him the athletic baseline that his ability to copy and adapt depended on.
And Murano had spent three weeks getting hit, literally.
Over and over, against simulated dummies calibrated to mimic real physical duels. Shoulder barges, holdoffs, and aggressive contact to fend off players that challenge him physically. Chris didn't care about Murano's shooting or his vision because those were already top notch.
Only after the numbers had actually changed, did Chris calculate their final overall ratings.
Even then, the stats weren't what decided the starting eleven. Instead, Chris ran internal scrimmages, and he wasn't watching for who ran the fastest lap or scored the most. He was watching for something harder to measure.
He looked at how naturally each player's newly rebuilt body folded into real match flow, and how well that fit Manshine City's identity. 'Fast, relentless, and physically dominant above all else.'
By the end of it, four names from Blue Lock had separated themselves from the rest. Murano, Chigiri, Nagi, and Reo proved that they could actually use them under match conditions.
That was enough to earn all four of them a starting place in Manshine City's debut match against Bastard München.
---
Manshine Vs. Bastard Munchen
Team Bastard - Starting Eleven >>
4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Gagamaru.
Left Wing-Back: Yukimiya
Center-Backs: Birkenstock
Center-Backs: Menser
Right Wing-Back: Kurona
Central Defensive Midfielder: Kunigami
Right Midfielder: Isagi
Attacking Midfielder: Ness
Left-Midfielder: Grim
Right Forward: Hiori
Left Forward: Kaiser
VS.
Team Manshine City - Starting Eleven >>
3-4-3
Goalkeeper: Rook
Left-Back: Busby
Right-Back: Young
Center-Back: Daemon
Right Midfielder: Boey
Left Midfielder: Arthur
Left Center-Midfielder: Agi
Right Center-Midfielder: Mikage Reo
Left-Winger: Chigiri
Right-Winger: Seishirou Nagi
Striker: Hayashi Murano
---
"Welcome to Blue Lock TV, where the momentum never stops! Football fans around the world, it's time for the third match to start!"
"Will we see a chain of Michael Kaiser's goals?! Will we see a storm of Hayashi Murano's Exploits?! What will be the power of the english team first seen today?!"
"Dear Viewers all around the world... It's time for Neo Egoist League's third match."
"Germany's Bastard Munchen vs England's Manshine City"
"And now for the other team, Manshine City. May their members start coming in,"
The starters of Manshine walked onto the pitch.
"Murano," the Bastard Munchen team said in unison, like the name itself was a threat.
Hiori and Kurona were the first to approach the Manshine team.
"Ooou look who's here," Kurona smiled.
"Congrats on starting your first game. Didn't expect any less," Hiori added.
Murano responded. "Of course. But You two, on the other hand, I watched your game against Fc Barcha."
Hiori questioned. "And?"
"You scored a single goal," Murano said, nodding at Hiori, "an assist for him." He looked at Kurona.
"It was a close game... If I was in there it would've been a 3-nil"
"Hey! We still won the game, genius."
"Barely tho. 3-2, wasn't it?" Murano mocked them.
"Oh, here we go," Hiori smiled.
"What, jealous you weren't out there to steal the spotlight?" Kurona grinned.
"Oh Please, I don't need to steal anything. Y'know It comes naturally to me." Murano shot back.
"Don't worry," Hiori added. "Your time's coming. It always does."
Their reunion was suddenly interrupted.
"What fuckery is going on?"
Michael Kaiser stepped forward, breaking off from his team.
"A little reunion perhaps?" He laughed.
"So you're the one." Kaiser spread his arms slightly, as if presenting himself. "Hayashi Murano. Blue Lock's Grand Ace striker. I came all this way just to meet you."
"Don't let me down, new hero," he added.
"Oh, zip it," Murano said. "You're the one who shouldn't let me down."
"Shut the fuck up." Kaiser smiled as he stepped closer, becoming serious all of a sudden. "Prove to me I didn't fly all this way for nothing. Murano, you are going to be a proper obstacle in my life, or I swear..."
"Don't worry," Murano interrupted, grinning. "I'll make sure you fall from grace, Michael Kaiser."
Kaiser smiled and said "Well said but, don't act all mighty just because you scored three goals in some friendly match."
"You're one to talk," Murano said. "You're not even the leader of this team. Maybe go listen to your master, Noel Noa. Sounds like he could teach you some manners."
Kaiser's composure didn't shake.
"Don't waste your breath on flies," a voice said from behind him. Ness, smiled and held out a handkerchief without being asked.
"Hmm." Kaiser looked across the pitch, addressing the camera that was behind, "In the theater of me becoming the greatest striker the world has ever seen... Blue Lock is a small production between intermissions." He looked down over the rest of the Manshine squad. "You're all circus animals, really. Just here to add a little flair before the real show begins."
He turned back to Murano.
"And when I finally take the stage myself, Murano here is..."
Kaiser smiled.
"...a foolish clown, who thought he was the protagonist, until now." Kaiser bowed. "Nice to meet you, Blue Lock. Blossom, and fall for my sake."
"Quit it, Kaiser." Noel Noa arrived.
Chris Prince also arrived on the scene, "Oh, look who decided to grace us. If it isn't the so-called Number One."
"Do I need to remind you of the gap between our UEFA points?" Noa asked.
Murano watched the exchange as he returned to his team.
"The rules are simple! First team to score three goals wins! Substitutions are infinite... Sub anyone in or out, as many times as you like!"
"And, of course... the Star Change System! Each Master Striker is permitted to enter the match for just three minutes! And remember, dear viewers ... the master also serves as the Team Coach!"