Proyect: Bland King - Ayanokouji Kiyotaka en Blue Lock

Ayanokouji: (The only conclusion I can reach, is that Rin has entered into what Ego always kept mentioning to me prior, the flow.)

***Flashback to Project: Bland King***

Ayanokouji rested on the ground after non-stop motion for the entire day.

Ego's face filled the screen in front of Ayanokouji.

Ego: The training in Blue Lock might not compare to the likes of the White Room, but it should be enough to make even you sweat a bit.

Ayanokouji: I guess.

Ego: So what have you learned?

Ayanokouji: What do you mean 'what have I learned?' You've only been giving me 'match-winning' goal highlights from soccer legends. I can't replicate those scenarios just by seeing a video.

Ego: I didn't send you them to replicate those moves.

Ayanokouji: Then why?

Ego: I sent them so you could study their ego.

Ayanokouji: I don't follow.

Ego sighed.

Ego: Of course you don't. A person with no passion for anything would never understand. And there's no guarantee you'll ever grasp that passion for yourself.

Ayanokouji: But without that passion, I'll only remain as good as the person I'm mimicking. I'll have no room to grow.

Ego: Oh look, the dull masterpiece finally got a question right. The point remains, when you find your passion, you'll find the ego that resides inside of you. And when you find that ego.... then and only then will you usher into a higher plane of existence altogether. It's the gateway to enter your own flow.

***Flashback ended***

Ayanokouji: (In any case, Rin's abilities have completely changed. His entire playstyle, which was generic prior, now is immensely unorthodox. It's impossible to predict.)

Shido: How ya feeling? That brother loving ass messed you up pretty bad.

Ayanokouji: The way we are, I don't see a way out of this that results in a win.

Shido: Talk about being a downer.

Ayanokouji: But there's no point in sulking over the cards we're dealt with. We'll just have to make due and win this game right now.

In the middle of the field, Ayanokouji sent a pass over to Shido who took the ball up.

Shido: We're going for the kill. Die from my explosions, bro-con!

Rin: KILL...

His grunts and heaves and sweat changed his appearance from a stoic player to a starving beast. This was the real Itoshi Rin.

Shido: (Damn, this bastard became a monster. We're gonna have our work cut out for ourselves.)

Rin: Kill... die...

As quickly as Shido ran up the field, Rin immediately pressured him and instantly snatched the ball from between his legs and ran right past him.

Rin: KILLL...

In this state, the only people on the field was himself and the 4 people on Team White. Bachira, Aryu, and Tokimitsu ceased to exist. The only message vibrating in his mind, was his mantra: kill or be killed.

Ayanokouji: (He's not even looking over at his teammates or taking in his surroundings. He plans to take on the rest of us by himself.)

Ayanokouji rushed over to Rin and tried to defend him. Rin combined multiple fast-paced dribbling sequences that he had never seen before and in seconds, Rin dashed right past Ayanokouji's tight defense. While he ran past Ayanokouji, he stuck his tongue out as a mockery.

Ayanokouji: (He's too good. This situation is effectively hopeless.)

He attempted to rush back to defend Rin once again but before he could reach him, Rin, released his shot towards the goal.

Ayanokouji: (I wonder if Rin will take Shido or myself into the next stage. I'm not sure...)

Shido and Ayanokouji looked on as Rin's long range shot swirled into the air and towards the left side of the goal. Igarashi tried running to block the shot but he knew he wasn't fast enough to cover it in time. Rin would score and there was nothing they could do to-

Raichi: EVERYONE FUCKING SNAP OUT OF IT! WE CAN STILL WIN THIS GAME!

In a move that both teams didn't see coming, Raichi used his reserved stamina and speed and leapt off the ground to clear Rin's shot. He sacrificed his head as he took the full force of the shot to his face, busting his nose. The ball hit the crossbar and soared into the air.

Ayanokouji: (Raichi...)

Raichi: YOU TWO ARE STRIKERS! KEEP ATTACKING UNTIL YOU BURN THROUGH YOUR ENTIRE BODY! WIN, YOU FUCKING IDIOTS! LOOSE BALL!

Ayanokouji: (...Thank you.)

Raichi collapsed on the ground but got up just as quickly, using his body to shield the goal.

Ayanokouji dashed forward to retrieve the loose ball, but he was too late. Rin, once again, took it into his possession.

Rin: You're complacent, trash loser.... you've already lost.... you'll never defeat me... you're fucking nothing.... I'll kill you off, you piece of dog shit.

Ayanokouji: (I have nothing left to use, no weaknesses to exploit, and no advantages to rest on. How can I stop him?)

And in that moment, he met Shido's eyes in the distance.

Ayanokouji: (That pervert. It's all because of him. Everything in this second selection has been because of him. I wouldn't have cared that much about losing this game if it wasn't for him. It's not like it's an elimination match. I can always fight an easier opponent, win, and get through all the same. And yet... this whole situation is annoying me to no end. Ever since we finished our first match, I wanted answers as to why, why I was becoming more and more invested in something that I only needed to get by rather than excel. And finally, I know. It's because of you, Shido. The excitement I've experienced winning with you... is something I don't ever want taken from me...)

His surroundings disappeared, and in Ayanokouji's eyes, the only three players on the field was himself, Rin, and Shido.

Ayanokouji: (I will defeat you, Itoshi Rin. I'll kill you so I can hold onto this excitement I've experienced. I'll become the best so I can keep playing with the player that showed me what it means to truly be alive. That... is what my ego is telling me.)

Just as Rin attempted to dribble through once again, he was stopped in his tracks by the lifeform that was... Kiyotaka.

His eyes were completely clear and blood continued to go down his eyes like tears. Drool came down from his mouth. He was completely locked in.

In the observatory room, Ego's eyes looked astonished. Even he couldn't have predicted this.

Kiyotaka was now in the flow.

...

...

...

Rin and Kiyotaka soon waged war against each other.

Rin used his fast-paced dribbling techniques and positioning like before but they were stopped completely in their tracks by Kiyotaka's quick close-range positioning and acceleration.

Rin noticed this change in Kiyotaka but didn't care, since he didn't think it would do much to stop him.

At the same time, Kiyotaka's eyes, now fully focused and hardwired into soccer, were completing his final analysis on Itoshi Rin.

No matter how far the gap Rin created with his dribbling was, Kiyotaka closed in with a fiery vengeance on his mind. He wanted to steal the ball, more like he needed to. It raged on like this for an eternity.

Shido, seeing the display in front of him, had tears coming down his cheek. It was like he saw...

Shido: God...

Bachira: (Those two monsters. Both of their egoisms just exploded. I don't even know who'll win.)

Rin tapped the ball to his right and positioned himself to shoot, but faked the shot and pulled back and dashed forward in an attempt to nutmeg Kiyotaka.

But before this move could be fully replicated, Kiyotaka's eyes finally caught up with Rin's genius, and bestowed upon him his winning card: a completed analysis. His eyes latched onto Shido's in the distance as if telling him he already won.

Meeting the god's stare, Shido became entranced and started running up the field at full force to the bewilderment of Tokimitsu and Aryu.

Kiyotaka, in one swift motion, stole the ball right from Rin's feet and dashed right by him.

Kiyotaka: Out of my way, corpse.

Shido felt the heat of a nuclear bomb explode, the very same one that remained dormant in Ayanokouji's eyes just a day prior to their match with Rin.

Kiyotaka had now gotten past Rin, and Tokimitsu and Bachira charged forward to stop him while Aryu ran to cut off Shido.

Bachira's monster reformed himself from his shadow to say one sentence to Bachira.

Monster: Let him through. A God shouldn't have to waste his precious seconds on deformities like us.

Kiyotaka, utilizing Bachira's ability in cohesion with Chigiri's acceleration, and Rin's evolved positioning and movement, skipped right through both Tokimitsu and Bachira, as if they weren't even there.

All that was on Kiyotaka's mind, was the goal.

Rin, in his desperation, did his best to run back to defend Kiyotaka's super drive. Near the penalty area, Shido didn't even seem to care for Aryu's presence. He was also feeling something he never experienced before. All he wanted to do in that instance was score as well.

Kiyotaka, now at the right corner side, saw Rin suddenly appear and extend his right leg to block his pass.

But it was useless because Kiyotaka's now instantaneous analysis was invincible. He completely replicated Rin's entire shooting form and evolved it with his own ball placement, creating a mesh that would make even legend playmakers' passes look like child's play.

It swerved almost out of bounds and back in as it completely bypass Aryu's large frame. Rin looked back helplessly as Shido soared into the air, breaking his own limits to receive Kiyotaka's best pass of his career.

And just like the pass going to the striker needs to be S-class to produce a super goal, so does the striker who's receiving such a legendary pass. And Shido was in a state that equaled that of Kiyotaka.

Shido, with the tip of his right foot, hit the ball straight in the center, sending it crashing right into the goal and right past the hologram keeper, winning the game.

***Team White [5] - Team Red [4]***

Raichi and Igarashi screamed triumphantly at the goal and ran with all their might over to the other side of the field where Kiyotaka and Shido were.

Shido fell on the ground harshly since he elevated more than 3 feet off the ground but he got up relatively alright and was about to scream himself from the amount of dopamine he received from such a goal like that.

But he was completely taken off guard when Kiyotaka leapt right into his hands and chest, to which he caught him.

Shido was about to make a joke but the intention left his mind when he heard Kiyotaka let out a roar of dominance that penetrated the very gates of heaven and hell. His victory scream sent goosebumps down Raichi, Igarashi, Shido, Aryu, Tokimitsu, Bachira, and even the defeated Rin.

Shido: (It's incredible. Absolutely fucking incredible. I came... I just came....)

Kiyotaka's roar, that didn't sound human, echoed through the entirety of Blue Lock, revealing his new reborn self.

He entered the match the perfect human, and left the match a newborn god...

Welcome... Blue Lock's newest egoist, Kiyotaka.

...

...

...

After the rush of dopamine and excitement crashed and slowly left Kiyotaka's body, he came back to his senses.

He saw Raichi, Igarashi, and Shido huddling together with himself celebrating their win.

As for the other team, Aryu, and Tokimitsu looked disappointed. Bachira looked completely entranced by the egoism reflecting on Kiyotaka. And Rin looked absolutely devastated. He was covered in sweat and looked down at his feet in defeat on the ground.

Kiyotaka: That's enough celebrating.

Igarashi: Huh?

Raichi: Eh?

Shido started laughing like crazy.

Shido: But you're the one who did most of the screaming, hahahaha!!!!

Kiyotaka covered Shido's mouth.

Kiyotaka: It was just a lapse of judgement, nothing more.

Shido just smiled under Kiyotaka's hand.

Kiyotaka: We need to pick the player we want for the next stage.

Igarashi: Isn't it an easy choice? We have to pick Rin.

Kiyotaka: What are you talking about, Igarashi? I don't see Rin here.

Igarashi: Um... is this a joke? He's down on the ground right there. Our team will be unstoppable with a guy like th-

Kiyotaka: You're pointing at a corpse, Igarashi. Why do you want to bring a corpse into my team? That good-for-nothing bastard won't help our team in the least because he's dead. Losing means death, after all.

This sent shivers down Igarashi's spine and he retracted back in fear. Rin looked up at Kiyotaka in sheer anger and frustration.

Shido: Then who do ya want, Kiyo? I'm good with whatever you pick.

Raichi: Can't we take Mr. Dribbler? He'll be a great support for your at-

Kiyotaka: No, I can't take him. He already belongs to another. Isagi will be back to claim him. I've already chosen our final player.

He walked over to Aryu who was tidying his long hair.

Kiyotaka: Your long limbs and fast reactions will be pretty useful for defense. I'll have you in the back with Igarashi and Raichi. Because you're not good enough to sniff the attack. Come with us, slender man.

Aryu looked up at Kiyotaka and saw him absolutely shining.

Aryu: So... much glam.

He took his hand and got up. The fifth and final member of Kiyotaka's team was Aryu.

With the team of five set, Kiyotaka, Aryu, Shido, Igarashi, and Raichi entered the open door leading to Stage 5.

The team walked through the dark hallway talking with one another.

Raichi: Welcome to the team. Listen to me, and maybe you'll learn a thing or two about defending.

Aryu: Ew... why did you have to have someone with no shine on them at all, Ayanokouji.

Kiyotaka: Oh, you don't need to be so formal with me. You can call me by my first name. Everyone can.

Shido: Eh, but that's not fair. Only I have the authority!

Kiyotaka: You gave yourself that authority. I just let you call me 'Kiyo' because I could care less.

The five bickered amongst themselves until they saw light by the end of the hallway to which they went through the sliding door and into an open white room with screens all over the place. They had arrived at the 5v5 area or properly known as stage 5.

Ego appeared on the screen in front of them.

Ego: Congratulations, diamonds in the rough, you are the first team to clear the second selection.

Igarashi: Yeah!

Ego: You will have the next 24 hours to yourselves to do with what you wish.

Kiyotaka: I have a question.

Ego: Hm? That's surprising. Ok, Kiyotaka, what is your question?

Kiyotaka: Was what Shido, Rin, and I experienced called 'flow'?

Ego: Ah, yes. Exactly right. Throughout the course of the match, the three of you unlocked your own forms of egoism and evolved, ultimately becoming fully consumed with soccer. I didn't expect it to happen by this stage, but it definitely is a pretty good development.

Kiyotaka: I see...

Shido: Thanks to that brother loving ass, I got to see Kiyo's true self. I wanna keep seeing it over and over again now. I don't care if I get addicted.

Kiyotaka: I do.

Ego: Now, back on track. Tomorrow, you will have the opportunity to go against five of the best players around the world today that I hand-picked. This will help you understand exactly what the pro level is and what kind of standard you diamonds in the rough have to work on in order to reach it. That's all for now. Don't get carried away with this little victory of yours, however. The real test is only starting.

And with that, Ego logged off and a timer of 24 hours was placed on all of the screens.