???: So that's it?

A boy with black and red hair was keeping up a soccer ball, seemingly uninterested in the conversation he was having with a teen with white and black hair, as they were on a soccer field.

???2: Yup.

???: You can't seriously be thinking about NOT playing in the nationals.

???2: *Sigh* Azure, what's the point if I'm not gonna score.

The boy currently being talked to was a promising soccer star of Japan.

AZURE "STRIKER GENIUS" KAITO!!

Azure: I doubt that we'd score nearly as much without our general.

???: I just doubt you wouldn't just carry without me.

Azure: Come on, you could score just as much.

???: I'll pass to anyone I see can make a Goal. It's just, less of a bother.

Azure: Pfft, you know I'll never get how you can be so lazy with all the talent in the world. You could maybe be the best player in the country if you learned how to be a little greedy.

???: UGH, you sound like my brother!

Azure: Ha, sorry Ryu.

The one the star was talking to was an almost complete novice to the high school soccer scene, having only started practicing two years prior, and having only joined his high school team earlier in the year. A talented player in the Midfielder Position, and the protagonist of the book.

RYU "THE GENERAL" KAIZEN!!

Ryu: Okay one: I'M A MIDFIELDER!! It's not my job to score with the Strikers, and I don't trust anyone else on this team to make plays better than me! And two: I usually just don't see the point in scoring in jumbled paths when there are so many LESS COMPLEX options. You don't make it too difficult!

Azure: Well dude, you should really remember.

Azure grabbed the ball from Ryu, before balancing it on his head.

Azure: I won't always be your teammate. One of these days, you'll probably have to go against me. And I won't be holding back in the slightest.

After bouncing the ball slightly, he kicked it into the goal.

Azure: And if you lose to anyone else before me, you'll never hear the end of it.

Ryu: -_-

Azure: But I'm serious man. If you start playing exactly how you want to, you could become someone I'd be shaken up to face. Moral of the story... Learn to be greedier.

Ryu: *Sigh* Fine. The next game I play, I'll actually score.

Azure: Attaboy!!

He slapped Ryu on the back, slightly paining him.

Ryu: Ow!!

Azure: Anyway, did you get a letter in the mail? From the Japan Football Union I mean.

Ryu: Yeah. It said something about being selected to become a certified athlete or something.

Azure: It sounds interesting. Wanna check it out?

Ryu: Well, if you do, then I'll see what it's about.

TIME SKIP!!

Like they had said, the two had come to the address, wanting to understand exactly what the letter was about. Going in with a shared slight optimism, they saw many other players.

Azure: Ryu, we both realized it right?

Ryu: Yeah, all of these players are Forwards.

The lights dimmed, as they heard a voice.

???: And test, test, test. Congratulations and welcome, diamonds in the rough.

A spotlight he placed on a man that didn't seem too remarkable.

???: You are the 300 18 and under strikers who have been chosen according to my arbitrary and biased decision making. And I am Jinpachi Ego.

JINPACHI "LET HIM COOK" EGO!!

Fang: I don't care what anyone says, this man's methods were valid and effective. At least when it comes to Strikers.

Ego: The man who was hired to ensure Japan's future victory at the World Cup.

The men were curious at this statement.

Ego: It's simple really. In order to outstrip the rest of the world, Japanese Soccer needs just one thing. And that: Is the birth of a Revolutionary Striker. I'll be performing an experiment to turn one of you 300 into the best Striker in the world. Here, at this facility. Blue Lock.

Ryu, hearing this immediately thought of a certain blonde.

Ryu: 'Th-The best Striker huh?'

The man began to explain exactly what the facility was like. Azure seemed to be enticed as well, as a smirk grew on his face.

Azure: 'Okay, I've gotta weigh the options. Be the best in the world at the cost of not being able to see my family for a bit, or just settle for being the Best High School Soccer- HA, FUCK THAT!!!'

Ryu: Well, Nationals be damned.

Right as that was said, a player who also had nationals coming up began to speak. This caused others to speak as well.

And Ego responded accordingly.

Ego: I see. It seems many of you are gravely ill. Lock off. Anyone who wants to leave can go. Are your perspectives truly that limited? You'd rather be the top high schooler in this soccer backwater than the World's Best Striker? I cringe at the thought of the future of Japan's soccer being in most of your hands. There's no denying Japanese Soccer's first rate teamwork. Call it the result of our country's characteristic thoughtfulness. But in all other aspects of this sport we are second rate.

Ryu: 'Well thank fuck I'm not the only one who thinks that!!'

Ego: I want to know something? What is Soccer to all of you? A sport where you try and score goals as a team of 11 members? "Our bonds are important"? "I will play for my teammates"?

HIT THAT MUSIC!!

Azure: 'Nah, not the soccer I grew up on.'

Ego: Wrong. That way of thinking is exactly why Japan lacks football skills. I will show you what it's all about. Football is, at its core, a sport about scoring goals, even at the expense of your teammates. The best player is the one that scores the most goals. If you want to play pretend football, then get lost already.

Ryu: '... He's onto something.'

Ego: Let's use Noel Noa for example. He managed to win the Ballon over D'or over astounding players like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He's talked about as if he's the best striker in the world. And his words "I feel better losing 3-4 after scoring a hat trick, than winning 1-0 with an assist", and one of the best players of the 20th Century, Eric Cantona said this: "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea". Pelé, arguably the best soccer player in history, and the winner of 3 World Cups once said: "The Best Forward? The Best Midfielder? The Best Defender? The Best Goalkeeper? To all those questions, I always answer: That is me".

Ego leaned back, grinning.

Ego: WHADYA THINK?! AWFUL AREN'T THEY?! BUT THEY CAN SAY IT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE BEST! ALL OF THEM ARE REVOLUTIONARY STRIKERS!! Their extraordinary "Egoism" is the one thing Japan's soccer lacks. It's sad but true. You can't possibly become the greatest Striker in the world, without also being the world's biggest Egoist.

Azure: 'He's really not wrong. A coward shouldn't be a Striker.'

Ego: Picture this scene. You've made it all the way to the World Cup Final. 80,000 people in the stands. You're down in the field. The score is 0-0 in the 2nd half of extra time. It's the last play. With a pass from your teammate you're through the defense. You against the Goalkeeper. 6 meters to the right is your teammate. If you pass, your team is guaranteed to score a goal. The championship, the hope of a nation, they're all riding on you. Only an insane Egoist could take that shot without a second's hesitation!!

A door began to open behind Ego.

Ego: If you desire that Rebellious Egoism, then step through this gate. Discard your common sense. When you're on the field, you are the star.

Ryu: 'Okay, this guy's got a way with words. Teamwork is something I can't really let go of easily, but...'

An aura appeared around Ryu.

Ryu: 'Having no choice but to score... It just might be what I need.'

He began to walk forward past everyone else, with Azure right beside him soon after. However immediately someone ran past them, with Ryu seeing a familiar look in his eye. Soon enough everyone began to run in as well.

Ryu: 'I don't know what's gotten into me. Whether it's the promise to score to Azure, or the prospect of being the best.'

Ryu soon broke into a sprint as well.

Ryu: 'But I think for once, I wanna give into my Ego.'

What Jinpachi Ego didn't know, was that he had been the man to light the flame of a certain monster.

A monster that in time would not be able to be overcome by any opponent that wasn't one themselves. And even then...

Good luck.

TIME SKIP!!

Ryu walked through a hall, looking at a uniform.

Ryu: I'm 300 Z. So I'm in this room.

He walked through a door, as he saw players that already were in the uniform. He didn't say much, going to a locker to change and put away his uniform.

???: Hey, I'm sorry for interrupting you but-

Ryu turned around, seeing the boy that ran past him.

???: Have we met before.

Ryu: Huh?

Ryu turned his head sideways, before realizing.

Ryu: Oh yeah, our teams played in a scrimmage a while back. Uhhhh... Yeah I forgot your name.

???: It's Isagi. Yoichi Isagi.

YOICHI "BIG BRAIN" ISAGI!!

Ryu: Ryu Kaizen.

???: Oh hey, do you remember me too?

Ryu looked to hit left, seeing a boy with light blonde hair.

Ryu: ... Have we played before?

???: Wait what?!

Isagi: Are you serious?! That's Ryosuke Kira!

Fang: NO WORDS FOR TOTAL IRRELEVANCE!!

Ego came up on a screen, surprising everyone.

Ego: Well come on. Please, think of the players you're in this room with as both your roommates, as well as your rivals. I have quantified your skills, and ranked each of you according to my arbitrary and biased decision making. Thus the numbers on all your uniforms.

Ryu hearing this was annoyed, looking at his arm.

Ryu: 'I'M THE WORSE?!!! THERE'S NO WAY WHAT'S HIS NAME AND ISAGI ARE HIGHER THAN ME!!!'

Ego: They're not set in stone, but changed based on your performance during training or matches. Oh yeah, the top-

Ryu: 'OKAY GOOD!! Jeez this needs to be fixed IMMEDIATELY.'

Ryu didn't listen much. "U-20", "The weakest would be forever eliminated from being pro" were really the only things he heard.

Ego: Let's play a game of tag, shall we?

A ball fell from the roof.

Ego: You have 100 and 36 seconds. Whoever's struck by the ball is it. Whoever's it the moment time runs out will be locked off. ALSO, no using your hands.

???: What? This isn't how you play soccer.

Ryu: So I guess since I'm dead last, I'm it first.

Ryu walked towards the ball.

Ryu: There are 12 people here, so one's got to go.

As he walked, he saw a boy still sleeping on the ground.

Ryu: Oi, sleeping beauty!! Just a heads up, you might wanna wake up so the next person that's it doesn't just go for you.

???2: Mmm... *Yawn* Alright...

The boy with brown and yellow hair stood up slightly drowsy.

???2: Good morning.

Ryu: Alright, now that he's up...

Immediately everyone began to run, as the clock ran down.

Ryu: 'Now... Which career do I have to end?'

He began to play keep up, looking at his choices. The clock had dwindled to just 30 seconds, as the players ran still.

Ryu: 'Okay...'

Ryu kicked the ball up higher, looking at one person.

Ryu: I think it should be you.

He kicked the ball, as it went shooting towards Kira.

Kira: ME?!!!

He tried moving to the side, but the ball curved, hitting him hard in the back of the head, as he tripped, hitting the wall while doing so.

Ryu: AH SHIT!!! Sorry, didn't actually mean to make you hit the wall too. But still, if we're trying to be the best...

Kira tried to get up, but struggled, as we looked back at Ryu, who looked at him with an almost dark smile.

Ryu: Then the one with a high rank should go, right?

???2: Oh yeah, he gets it!!

Ryu turned to the boy who slept earlier.

???2: What's the point in taking down someone who's weaker?

Ryu: You're not wrong, but at the same time you are.

Kira got up, having a bloody nose, and an angry expression. He kicked the ball towards Ryu, will the lock at 10 seconds. Before it could hit his head, he moved it to the side, while still talking.

Ryu: This rank isn't all that accurate. There's no one here that can beat me.

As a bell rang, everyone's eyes were on Ryu. Isagi was particularly shocked.

Isagi: 'For some reason... Now that he said it, I fully believe him...'

Ryu seemed like a mountain to the rest.

Isagi: 'These rankings are garbage!!'

PROLOGUE END!!

Fang: -_- Before the comment "Why"...

Blame Shu_Mikado .