The Blue Lock facility seemed far from a portal to aspirations. To Kyomu Jashin, it resembled the intake valve of a colossal industrial machine.
It was a location specifically created for the purpose of taking raw material—human ego—and transforming it into a singular, functional product.
In his view, it is a process that is both highly inefficient and quite disorganised. However, it was a process that was ready for improvement.
He stood in the expansive, softly illuminated atrium, the main hall where the selected hundred had assembled. The air felt tangible, heavy with a volatile blend of arrogance, desperation, and raw ambition. The scent captivated him, evoking a sense of intellectual stimulation, reminiscent of the fresh ozone that fills the air just before a storm breaks.
He chose not to stand alongside the others. He rested against a distant wall, enveloped in the shadows created by the imposing, massive form of the building surrounding him. From this location, he enjoyed an ideal view. Observation marked the initial stage of every experiment. Classification.
His gaze, steady and analytical, moved across the herd.
He noticed Bachira Meguru, a boy whose movements resembled a fluid and unpredictable dance, engaged in conversation with a visibly tense Isagi Yoichi.
Subject B-01: Creativity that emerges from solitude. There is a possibility of instability. Subject to unforeseen factors.
Subject I-01: Exceptional analytical ability. The baseline physical and technical statistics are average. Balances with quick processing speed. The main threat he faces lies in the potential for adaptation.
His gaze shifted to Rin Itoshi, who stood by himself, an aura of icy hostility surrounding him like a palpable shroud.
Subject R-01: A technique that is pure and refined, transformed into a weapon through profound psychological trauma. A finely tuned device. He is consistently driven by a desire for destruction. An effective and straightforward instrument when aimed appropriately.
A lively and exuberant group drew his focus. Barou Shouei, Kunigami Rensuke, and Chigiri Hyoma.
Subject Ba-01: The drive for primal dominance. An uncomplicated ego, readily swayed by praise or irritation.
Subject K-01: A strict moral and physical structure. It has a high breaking point; however, it experiences a catastrophic failure once that point is reached.
Subject C-01 functions within a framework of an assumed time constraint. Fear serves as a strong driving force, yet it simultaneously represents a significant vulnerability.*
Then there was Nagi Seishiro, a tall boy with a laid-back demeanour, being pulled along by the lively Reo Mikage.
Subject N-01: A Lazy Genius. A unique natural resource that possesses a significantly underdeveloped potential. The most delicate specimen within the enclosure.
Subject M-01: The Facilitator. His sense of self is completely reliant on Subject N-01, shaped by external factors. Cut off that link, and they both lose their value.*
He carefully organised everything and put it all away. An extensive primary dataset.
They were all incredibly… loud. Their desires, fears, and ambitions echoed loudly in the silence, forming a dissonant noise that he found unpleasant.
Suddenly, the surroundings faded into darkness, and a massive screen lit up at the front of the chamber.
The screen was dominated by Ego Jinpachi's face, enlarged to an almost divine scale. The speech commenced. The experience was a profound demonstration of psychological manipulation at its finest. The shattering of aspirations. The final demand. The ultimate, all-encompassing objective.
The herd responded precisely as anticipated. Surprise. Indignation. Fear can be a powerful emotion that often grips us unexpectedly. It can arise from various situations, leaving us feeling vulnerable and anxious.
Understanding fear is essential, as it can influence our decisions and actions in profound ways. By exploring its depths, we can learn to navigate through it and find a path towards courage and resilience.
A wave of united, bold self-assertion. It was incredibly clear. The ego was exerting pressure to transform into diamonds. An effective, albeit harsh, approach.
Kyomu listened intently, his expression remaining steady and unchanged. He found Ego's philosophy to be intriguing, yet it had shortcomings due to its sentimental nature. The idea that a "great striker" might rescue Japanese football was a charming thought.
Kyomu held the conviction that football required rescue from its own antiquated notions of teamwork and honour.
The most effective route to triumph was not found in the development of a single flawless striker, but rather in the methodical breakdown of the opponent's desire to compete.
As Ego finished speaking and the screens lit up with the first test—the 100-player battle royale—a surge of frantic energy filled the room. Players hurriedly gathered, creating makeshift teams, their voices blending into a frantic chorus.
Kyomu remained still.
He observed Isagi Yoichi, the most intriguing variable, face rejection from one team after another.
He noticed the precise instant when the boy's analytical mind sprang into action, his eyes sweeping across the pitch not in fear, but with an urgent, thoughtful intensity. Currently undergoing adaptation.
At that moment, a voice emerged, tinged with a curiosity that seemed to intrude upon his thoughts, speaking softly beside him.
"You are taking your time."
Kyomu slightly turned his head. Itoshi Rin stood with his arms crossed, his gaze cutting through the air like a finely honed scalpel. The quiet that hung in the air between them felt like a solid presence.
"There is no benefit in being the first mouse to rush into the maze," Kyomu said, his voice soft yet clear, slicing through the surrounding sounds. "Often, the initial data is the most contaminated."
Rin narrowed her eyes. "You are the one. The one that Sae mentioned to me. The term 'virus'."
"A label created from the frustration of a mind unable to grasp contradiction," Kyomu remarked, shifting his attention back to the players in disarray. Isagi had at last discovered a team alongside Bachira and the energetic one with spiky hair. "He perceives the world in terms of opposites. There are good passes, and there are bad passes. Valuable strikers and those who do not measure up. I function within a range that he is unable to see."
"You speak far too much," Rin said sharply, his icy presence growing stronger. "On the pitch, I will shatter that air of superiority you carry."
Kyomu permitted a subtle, nearly imperceptible smile to grace his lips once more. "You will make an attempt, Subject R-01."
"You will serve as an important data point in examining how a 'destroyer' manages when his own foundation crumbles to dust."
Just as Rin was about to respond, an unfamiliar presence revealed itself. It was not a player. A change swept through the atmosphere of the room. The main screen, previously dark, suddenly flickered back to life, illuminating the surroundings once more.
Ego Jinpachi's face appeared once more, yet he was not speaking to the audience. His enlarged eyes were intently fixed on a particular spot in the shadows.
"Kyomu Jashin," Ego's voice resonated powerfully, filling the chamber with its commanding presence.
All eyes in the atrium turned to look. Countless eyes scanned the shadows, ultimately resting on the solitary, motionless figure propped against the wall. A soft murmur spread quietly among the herd.
Who?
"You have been watching for quite some time," Ego remarked, his voice lacking any sense of authority, instead carrying a tone of detached acknowledgement. "The baseline data has been established. The initial challenge lies below you. Please proceed to Chamber B-5. A new initial assessment has been created.
A surge of bewildered murmurs broke out. Who was this person? What was the reason behind him receiving special treatment?
Kyomu nodded slowly, just once. He had anticipated this outcome. Ego would not squander his distinctive toxin on the ordinary masses right away. He would prefer a first test that is controlled and isolated. A process of calibration.
He pushed himself away from the wall and started to walk, not towards the chaotic frenzy of the 100-player match, but instead towards a subtle, unmarked door located at the side of the atrium. The flock of lambs moved aside as he approached, some glancing at him with curiosity, others eyeing him with suspicion, and a few displaying outright hostility.
He averted his gaze from them. His thoughts were already drifting to the next room, eagerly considering the details of his first solo experiment. When the unmarked door quietly opened, he took a final, lingering glance at the chaos he was about to leave behind.
For a brief moment, his eyes connected with Isagi Yoichi's, bridging the distance between them. He observed the bewilderment, the thoughtful consideration, and the gradual understanding unfolding in the boy's eyes.
As Kyomu stepped through the doorway, he found himself in a corridor that was immaculate and white, prompting a moment of reflection.
"Do you sense it, too? A predator's presence. Allow that fear to drive your transformation, Subject I-01. The eventual dissection will become significantly more meaningful."
As he stepped through, the door closed firmly behind him, effectively silencing the sounds of the herd outside. Once again, silence enveloped him. The true work was just about to start.