73 Chapter 73: Let's Start!

Soon, the final whistle of the match sounded, and several members of the Red Team were lying on the ground, gasping for breath.

It was another 5-0 victory, and it seemed that the White Team, had won the match with an absolute advantage.

But anyone who watched the match knew that the level of excitement and tension in this game surpassed anything seen before.

"I've lost."

"Oh no... we lost... it's all my fault..."

"I'm so frustrated, I really wanted to win."

Whether it was Jyubei or Aoshi with their terrifying physical abilities, they were already drenched in sweat. Even Meguru had reached the point of his legs cramping.

A few meters away, Rin gritted his teeth and pounded the ground.

This was his second defeat.

Various emotions of unwillingness, hatred, and anger brewed in his heart. The intense emotions and high-intensity match made his face flush red, with veins bulging on his forehead.

"The match is over, and it was a very exciting one."

Kira walked slowly towards the four members of the Red Team. His words were not meant to console them. Although the point difference seemed significant, it was only due to the smaller field and special rules.

The combination of Rin and the others possessed a terrifying strength.

If Rin and Meguru worked together to create opportunities, while Jyubei and Aoshi launched fierce attacks targeting the weakest points of the defense, they might have been able to give Kira more trouble.

However, there were no "IF" and regardless of team cooperation or individual skills, there was still a significant gap between the two teams.

"I should choose my teammates for the next round as well."

Kira spoke slowly, without much hesitation. He already had an answer in his heart.

"Meguru, let's go to the next round together."

He chose Meguru not only because they had a good relationship as former teammates, but also because he was practically the only choice.

Among the four members of the Red Team, Meguru had the most normal personality, and he could also play a role in connecting the entire team.

Although Rin possessed top-notch overall abilities, his personality and playing style were more likely to disrupt the team's rhythm.

Moreover, Kira knew who they would face in the next round a team of five players composed of top athletes from around the world.

This team was put together by Ego, and there was no consideration given to the possibility of anyone in the Blue lock winning. Even the team Rin was originally in, as depicted in the original work, was easily crushed by their opponents his goal was to show the players in the Blue lock just how significant the gap was between them and the world's top players.

But for Kira, this was just the next challenge.

"Kira, I will definitely kill you. And then, I will definitely kill you. From now on, you are my archenemy, and I will erase you."

Just as Kira and the others were preparing to leave the field and move to the next area, Rin looked up, his eyes filled with uncontrollable anger, focusing on Kira's face as if he wanted to devour him alive.

In his heart, Kira had become someone who must be completely crushed, just like Sae.

"Well, then come and give it a try."

Kira didn't linger for a moment. After leaving these words behind, he directly exited the field and entered the passage to the next area.

At the same time, the system prompt appeared once again.

[Congratulations! You have earned 150 points.]

The number of points obtained this time is almost double that of the previous match.

Although Rin and the others lost, they will surely come back to fight again.

The same must be true for Yoichi and Reo.

"I didn't expect that as a loser, I would directly advance."

Meguru said with a smile, then turned his head to look at Kira.

"But I still have to thank you, Kira. I feel like you saved me."

"Choosing you didn't require any consideration at all."

"I'm not talking about you choosing me, but on the field because I yearned to catch up to your footsteps, at that moment, it felt like I finally played the football I wanted."

Meguru lowered his head, and the smile on his face became even more evident.

"Thank you, Kira. I think playing football together in the future will be even more enjoyable."

After speaking, Meguru reached out his hand, ready to fist bump Kira and the latter extended his hand as well.

"It's not a fist bump, it's a knife hand. Watch out!"

"I knew it from the beginning. Block!"

....

Kira and the others had already arrived in front of the final gate. The words "Second Round Selection Exit" appeared prominently on the door.

They pushed open the door, revealing a pentagonal black room and five large screens.

"Congratulations on passing the second round of selection, the raw talent."

The projection of Ego appeared on the screen.

"Perhaps you all noticed to some extent that both Meguru and Rin entered a highly focused state at a certain point in time. That is the FLOW state, an essential element for becoming top players."

"It was indeed a very subtle feeling. I couldn't help but enter that state, where all I could think of was attacking," Meguru said, bowing his head and looking at his hands, recalling that feeling.

"This is the formula for creating miracles, and you have now stepped into it. However, you have only touched the threshold, and there is still a long way to go before truly mastering it."

Ego's gaze fell on Kira. In his eyes, only Kira had the ability to freely enter the FLOW state. In a sense, Kira's Total Concentration Breathing belonged to his FLOW.

"Well, your second round of selection is now over," Ego said, extending three fingers.

"Next is the third round of selection. As I mentioned before, you will have the opportunity to compete against world-class players starting twenty-four hours from now, you will participate in a 5v5 match against the world players personally selected by me. Get ready to experience the world, you frogs at the bottom of the well!"

....

The Three-Person Team Area.

At this moment, most of the teams had gathered here, and many of them were hesitant to casually choose opponents. Without sufficient information, nobody wanted to engage in an uncertain battle.

Yoichi and Hyoma's team had returned to this area once again. They had just defeated their opponents in the Two-Person Team Area and had recruited Zantetsu from Team V as their teammate, making their way back to the Three-Person Team Area.

"I wonder how Kira and Rin are doing... If everything goes as expected, they should have already met in the next area. I wonder if they'll have a match between them," Yoichi muttered to himself. In his eyes, Rin was on the same level as Kira, and both of them possessed a strength that far exceeded his imagination.

Just at that moment, the doors of the match lobby opened once again.

A resentful expression on his face, Rin returned to the Three-Person Team Area with Jyubei and Aoshi. The previously bustling lobby instantly fell into silence.

Rin's gaze didn't linger on anyone for a moment. In his eyes, these people were nothing more than insignificant dust.

Having already competed once today, Rin couldn't immediately participate in a second match. He didn't stay in the lobby, instead heading straight to the dormitory. For him, returning to this area was a great shame, being with these worthless and trashy individuals.

Unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable!

Rin clenched his teeth so hard that they almost bled. At the same time, flames burned in his gaze, as if he wanted to devour everyone around him.

He sought revenge. He wanted Kira, who had brought him shame, to pay the price.

After Rin and the others left the lobby, it gradually regained its sound.

"Hey, hey, isn't that Rin? Did he... lose?"

"The existence that can defeat Rin... does it really exist within the Blue lock?"

People started discussing, and almost everyone found it difficult to believe this fact.

Someone has defeated Rin.

In their eyes, Rin was already an unreachable pinnacle. Even those who hadn't heard of Rin, after witnessing his skills in the lobby, would be amazed.

And yet, this level of existence actually lost the match?

Only Yoichi and his group knew very well that the only person capable of sending Rin back here could be one person: Kira Ryosuke.

Previously, Yoichi's team suffered a devastating defeat against Rin. Initially, he believed that Kira was on the same level as Rin, but it seemed he was gravely mistaken.

Kira was an even more formidable presence.

"Meguru should have been taken away by Kira and the others. I can't afford to slow down my pace either!"

There seemed to be a hint of excitement in Yoichi's gaze as a fiery determination ignited within his heart.

.....

A few hours later, Kira and his teammates had arrived in their dormitory.

Currently, their team was the only one in the Five-Person Team Area. If a team lost a match, they would have to wait for two more days due to the rule of teammate reduction and the limitation of one match per day.

Compared to the rooms in the previous areas, this five-person room was much more luxurious, with various equipment and furniture, giving it a five-star hotel-like feeling.

On the screen inside the room, their next opponents were projected.

Five superstars!

"Leonardo Luna, the scion of the Spanish powerhouse club. Adam Blake, the goal-scoring king of the English league. Pablo Cavasoz, who can deliver top-class free kicks. And the heavy tank, Dada Silva?!"

Ikki exclaimed in surprise. Although his thick bangs covered his eyes, everyone could sense the astonishment in his gaze.

"Are all these guys really strong?"

Nagi asked with some confusion. Although he possessed remarkable football talent, he wasn't well-versed in things like football stars and leagues.

"All of these players are world-class! Top-notch!"

Ikki's voice trembled with excitement, unable to contain his emotions. He never expected that one day he would be able to compete against such top-level players.

"To be able to invite these people, Blue lock is truly amazing."

Rensuke couldn't help but sigh.

"To face opponents of this level, it's a mix of fear and excitement... By the way, who's the person in the middle with the monk-like hairstyle?"

Meguru asked, holding his head.

"That's Julian Loki, a rising star who recently made a name for himself in the French league!"

"Kira, what do you think? Facing opponents of this level, what are your thoughts?"

Meguru turned his head and looked at Kira, and everyone's gaze involuntarily fell on Kira.

"I don't have any particular feelings about it. We just need to give it our all."

Kira calmly answered.

"Now that we've rested enough, it's time to prepare for training!"

Soon, Kira led the team to the training field in the Five-Person Team Area.

While others were training, Kira opened the system interface.

[Host: Kira Ryosuke]

[Competitiveness Points: 260]

[Current Skills:]

[Thunder Breath - Total Concentration Breathing LV3 Proficiency: 100%(Upgrade: 150 Points)]

[Thunder Breath - Thunderclap Flash LV3 Proficiency: 80.6% ]

[Thunder Breath - Rice Spirit LV3 Proficiency: 60.3%]

[Thunder Breath - Thunder Swarm LV2 Proficiency: 100% (Upgrade: 100 Points)]