(The starting lineup that will decide my fate is about to be announced!!)
As Yoichi Isagi thought this, a massive door in the central hall slowly opened…
"Ah!"
"Huh?"
Gasps rippled through the room as a tall, lean figure stepped inside.
"Hey there. Good work, all you diamonds in the rough."
"This should be our second face-to-face meeting, right?"
"Hello, everyone!"
Everyone was clearly stunned. Bachira murmured blankly, "It's the real Jinpachi Ego…"
Yes—the man who arrived was none other than the commander of Blue Lock: Jinpachi Ego.
"First, I need to redefine something."
"Football is a scoring sport."
"A striker's entire worth is in scoring goals."
"That's why, through the Third Selection—the Adaptive Training—I decided to build a team centered around the egotists with the highest scoring rates."
Ego paused, giving them a moment to absorb his words, then continued:
"Get ready and listen closely!!"
"I'll now announce the eleven players who will face the U-20 Japan Nation National Team!"
He tapped his tablet three times. Three cartoon avatars popped up on the big screen.
"First, our devastating trio up front: Rin Itoshi, Ryusei Shido, and Ryūma Banjō!"
"Rin Itoshi and Ryusei Shido average 2.5 goals per match—the highest among everyone here except Ryūma Banjō."
"Ryūma Banjō averages 3 goals per match."
"This team will use a formation built around you three, maximizing overwhelming offensive power."
Ego adjusted his glasses.
"What I want is a team that can claw back from five goals behind and still win by scoring six."
"We will unleash wave after wave of destructive attacks."
"And the ones leading that charge are you three."
"The next eight players I announce are the bullets that escalate this destruction."
A 3D model floated up from his tablet.
"First, the goalkeeper—
Gin Gagamaru!"
"Huh? Me?" Gagamaru stared, stunned.
"Your reactions to sudden shots and full-body flexibility—these physical qualities align with the goalkeeper position better than anyone."
"You are this team's guardian deity."
Gagamaru nodded, muttering, "So that's the standard. Got it."
Ego tapped twice.
"Next, our two center backs—
The right back with overwhelming height and wingspan: Jyubei Aryu!
And the left back with standout tackling, anticipation, and offensive organization—plus the ability to rapidly draw out a teammate's potential: Kudo Tōya!"
"By the way, he's the only one who's ever formed a Chemical Reaction with Ryusei Shido. In Blue Lock, only he can understand Shido's thinking."
Another tap.
"Next, the lone defensive midfielder linking the back line to the offense—
Tabito Karasu!"
"Your ball-protection ability is unmatched in Blue Lock, and you have the analytical insight to read scoring routes. You are this team's heart."
"Tsk, knew it, idiot," Tabito Karasu chuckled smugly.
"Alright, now for the attack."
Ego tapped twice more.
"First, the two wingers who will rip open the opponent's fortress from the flanks—
Eita Otoya!"
"Mm. Alright," Eita replied expressionlessly.
"Kenyu Yukiya!"
"Yes. It's an honor," Kenyu said with a calm smile.
"One is a shadow right winger who can instantly slip in behind the defense.
The other is a left winger who leaves opponents helpless in one-on-one duels."
"And between them are the final two—the offensive core."
He tapped the center of the screen.
"First, the prodigy who repeatedly scores impossible goals with his unbelievable first touch—
Seishiro Nagi!"
"Understood."
Ego scanned the group.
"And let me repeat:
This team will use a formation centered around Ryūma, Rin Itoshi, and Ryusei Shido, maximizing their offensive power."
"Shido consistently scores unbelievable goals thanks to Kudo Tōya."
"Ryūma can form chemistry with almost anyone—simply put, he isn't picky."
"Originally, Rin Itoshi only needed Ryūma. But their individual abilities are so strong that they rarely coordinate."
"That's why a substitute is needed."
Ego pointed at the final player on the screen.
"In terms of relational data, he is the most outstanding among all players."
"And as Rin Itoshi's shadow, he can continually assert his own value while still achieving coexistence."
"He also has the talent to surpass others and score on his own."
"The perfect partner for Rin Itoshi. That final player is—
Yoichi Isagi!!"
"Yes!" Isagi breathed, overwhelmed.
"This is the Eleven who will face the U-20 Japan Nation National Team—
The Blue Lock Eleven!!"
Isagi froze, then burst into pure joy.
As Ego announced name after name, he had almost given up hope. He never imagined the last spot would be his.
(Yes! I made it!)
(I'm… one of the Blue Lock Eleven!!)
Just as Isagi was celebrating, Shōei Barō glared at him like a bomb ready to explode.
"Damn… you!"
But Ego suddenly sighed.
"Originally, that was the plan…"
Everyone turned toward him in confusion.
"But right after I finalized the list, I got a phone call."
"It was from the president of the Japan Nation Football Association—Hirotoshi Buratsuta.."
"He said that Sae Itoshi is dissatisfied with the U-20 Japan Nation National Team's forward."