Blue Lock: Beyond Greatness

"Shinichi, are you messing with me?!" The first to react was Hiori, who looked at Shinichi with a face full of shock. However, Shinichi completely ignored Hiori's displeased gaze.

"Kanzaki Shinichi, you really are full of surprises." Perhaps in a good mood, Ego even managed a slight smirk and gave a rare compliment. "Indeed, this aligns perfectly with the definition of luck. The only difference is that your inevitability completely crushed others' inevitabilities, leaving no room for chance to occur."

"Look, Seishirou Nagi, do you still think this was just a coincidental outcome? Being toyed with by fate signifies that you're merely a second-rate player. If you believe you've done everything you could, then hold your head high and accept the final result. Afterward, reflect deeply and start anew."

"Luck only favors those who put in the most effort toward achieving the final result."

"Well, that's enough chit-chat for now." Ego's smirk gradually disappeared as the screen on the field went dark, leaving only the one in front of Shinichi and his group still flickering.

"In this round of selection, you've learned the principles of developing chemistry with your teammates. Next comes the third phase of selection."

"As I mentioned earlier, it will be an intensive training camp alongside some of the world's top players. Starting 24 hours from now, you'll face 5v5 matches against elite players selected from across the globe."

The screen displayed a group photo, showing the opponents Shinichi and his group would face in the next match.

From England's [Manshine City], the top striker and a perfect hero rivaling Noel Noa in fame—Chris Prince.

From Spain's [FC Barcha], the league's top scorer, Brazil's pride, a genius known for his dazzling dribbling skills, the dancing maestro—Lavinho.

From Italy's [Ubers], the "Traveler of Victory," a champion-maker who leads every transferred team to the title, the "Crown Distributor"—Snuffy.

From France's [P.X.G.], the speedster forward currently captivating football fans worldwide, the next-generation superstar prodigy known for his lightning pace—Julian Loki.

And finally, someone who needs no extra introduction. A title alone speaks volumes: the absolute ace of Germany's [Bastard München], the current world's number one striker—

Noel Noa!

"To all you frogs trapped in this prison-like well… it's time to witness the world!"

...

"This lineup is even more absurd than I imagined. So this is where all the budget went," even Shinichi couldn't help but twitch his lips at the extravagance of it all. "What are we playing here, an All-Star game?"

"They're really all world-class players," Hiori remarked from the side, hugging a pillow and taking a deep breath. "This is insane. I thought he'd just select a few players from the big five leagues or some youth academy talents, but he's serious. He even brought Noel Noa."

Hiori unconsciously pressed his hand to his chest, trying to calm his racing heartbeat fueled by excitement. "This is also the perfect stage to prove my worth. It's…"

"The first step for Kanzaki Shinichi to step into the global stage. To ensure that this crucial prologue doesn't become a blemish in the legendary journey of Shinichi, even if it costs me my life…"

As Hiori kept psyching himself up, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists, Shinichi suddenly stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't overthink it, Hiori. You're so tense you can't even control your breathing right now. How are you supposed to help me like this?"

"That's right, just give it your all," Kurona added, crossing his arms and nodding in agreement. Shinichi glanced around at the three in the dorm room and reassured them.

"Relax. You just need to do what you're supposed to. Leave the rest to me."

"If there's only one thing you need to do, it's this—believe in me."

"…Tch, you're too cool for your own good, you know that?"

...

As night fell, Rin returned to his room after completing his post-training maintenance.

Meanwhile, Shinichi, gradually sinking into sleep, found his consciousness drifting deeper and deeper until he arrived at a familiar domain.

...

[Second Phase Selection Completed. Evaluation finalized: S-. You have received the following rewards.]

[You may select three rewards. Duplicate traits or skills will automatically fuse.]

[Special traits detected. You may consume one selection option to convert certain traits, which have a high chance of advancing to the next level.]

[Available Traits]

[1] Sharpshooter (Blue → Purple): Whether it's archery or football, your precision in shooting leaves others in awe. As a Sharpshooter, your accuracy in any sport requiring aim will experience a significant boost (locked in).

Due to your achievements and others' evaluations, the Sharpshooter trait has undergone a transformation. You may consume one selection option to upgrade it.

[2] Genius (Gold): A genius in name and reality, all your attributes far exceed the average. Your ability to learn and comprehend surpasses ordinary levels.

[3] Cursed Talent (Gold): Extraordinary talent often invites unparalleled challenges. Even if shattered into fragments, your brilliance will shine brightest in its final moments.

Your risk of injuries increases as you achieve greater feats and legends. Simultaneously, all your attributes will greatly improve with the rising injury risks. (Convertible)

[Available Skills]

[1] Eagle's Eye (Purple): A powerful vision ability that allows you to alter your perspective in your mind, enabling you to observe the entire field.

...

"Is it because the second-phase matches were fewer in number? My evaluation dropped slightly. But this trait conversion...?" Shinichi frowned. This time, two traits could be converted, but why did Sharpshooter have an additional note?

"Because it's tied to my achievements and others' evaluations? In other words, compared to other traits, Sharpshooter has gained a performance-based bonus, removing the usual high chance of advancement and guaranteeing a 100% successful upgrade. Meanwhile, Cursed Talent follows the regular conversion process."

After roughly sorting out his thoughts, Shinichi decided to first experiment by selecting Cursed Talent for conversion.

For him at this stage, choosing one or two traits wasn't particularly critical.

After all, once his attributes reached 100 points, each additional point required a whopping 10 regular attribute points.

One or two purple traits weren't something he needed to prioritize anymore.

For now, understanding the system's mechanics to maximize long-term gains was the optimal approach.

A radiant golden orb floated out of the interface in front of Shinichi.

As the magic circle emitted a dazzling light, the orb gradually dissipated.

Then, crimson light began seeping from the magic circle before suddenly exploding, enveloping the entire space in a brilliant red glow.

...

[Your reward Cursed Talent has been successfully converted. During the conversion process, Cursed Talent advanced. The reward Cursed Talent has been consumed, and you have gained a new reward.]

...

[1] Evergreen Legend (Red): Injuries, except for limb loss, will no longer affect your condition or attributes. All injuries will fully heal within 7 natural days. Your attributes will gradually increase based on your age, achievements, and fame.

Additionally, your lifespan will be significantly extended, and the deterioration of your physical functions will slow dramatically.

-------------------

Want to read 20 advance chapters ahead?

Go to my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass