The whistle blew through the long hall, followed by chaos unlike anything I'd ever seen.
Player 275—the one with the ball—started running frantically, yelling, "Stay away from me!!"
Everyone else ran.
Jumping, running, falling, screaming… it all happened in seconds.
As for me… I just stood there.
My body was tense, but my mind was completely blank.
Then the system appeared before my eyes:
---
🔵 [Main Mission Begins]
Name: Survival is the Beginning
Run for 40 seconds without touching the ball
Reward: Activate your primary talent, "Hawk-Eye - Level 1"
---
I swallowed hard.
So…
This world isn't just the Blue Lock I know…
It's much more dangerous.
Suddenly, a powerful shoulder slammed into me from behind.
Player 117 was yelling as he ran:
"Get out of the way, you idiot!"
I fell to the ground.
As I tried to get up, I saw the ball coming towards me. Player 275 was running at an incredible speed, yelling:
"You're next!!"
My mind went blank.
But the system… didn't.
---
🔵 [WARNING]
Danger is two steps away.
---
I caught my breath and jumped aside just a second before the player's ball hit the ground where I was standing.
My heart pounded.
I ran… I ran with all my might.
Time started ticking before my eyes:
00:40
00:39
00:38
Suddenly, Issage appeared beside me, running in the same direction.
"Are you okay?"
"I think…"
I didn't finish the word before I felt the air split open beside me.
The ball flew right past my head.
Isagi yelled:
"Watch out!!"
I looked behind me… Player 261 was laughing as he kicked the ball hard:
"Get out of my way!"
I would have fallen if Isagi hadn't grabbed my arm.
"Come on! Stay on the left, they're focusing more on the center!"
We ran together.
For the first time… I felt like I wasn't alone in this crazy place.
And time was ticking away:
00:20
00:19
00:18
The system was shaking:
---
🔵 [Progress: 60%]
---
The dread was starting to fade.
I started to see the players' movements with strange clarity…
It was like the world was moving in slow motion.
One of them ducked.
Another jumped.
A third prepared to kick.
Their steps…
Their breathing…
The angles of their bodies…
Everything was being painted in front of me.
Is this… the beginning of your talent?
Issage suddenly turned to me:
"You… weren't like this a minute ago. What's happening to you?"
I couldn't answer.
My mind was preoccupied with one thing:
Escape.
Suddenly, a player in front of me fell after being hit by the ball.
He shouted:
"Nooo! You're out?!"
I felt terrified.
This test… isn't a game.
00:05
00:04
00:03
Then… silence fell inside me.
---
🔵 [Mission Completed]
Your main talent has been activated!
"Hawk-Eye - Level 1"
Abilities: See player movements before they happen (by 0.5 seconds).
---
Time froze for a moment.
Then everything suddenly resumed.
I looked to the right… Someone is going to fall.
To the left… The ball is going to hit the ground.
Backstage…
Player 275 changes direction.
I started to see everything… just before it happened.
This was…
The first time I felt like I had something like a gift.
The final whistle blew.
Players collapsed to the ground, some crying, some screaming.
Ego announced:
"Player 275 – who failed to touch anyone in time – is eliminated."
The hall shook with shock.
Even I… wasn't prepared for this.
Out of everyone, Isagi looked at me and said, breathing heavily:
"You were amazing at the end… Do you have some special ability to see?"
I smiled faintly.
I couldn't say the truth.
But I felt… that this person would be important in my journey.
Ego continued:
"Now… make your way to your dorms. Survivors of Block 5 – from today onward, you are… Team Z."
That's how my story began. With a system I still don't understand…
And with the true hero of the story… Isagi