Blue lock: the true egoist

[3rd POV]

"You fucking bastard, you used me as a bait!?" Yukimiya didn't seem very pleased. 

"Aren't you going to compliment my goal?" Jude asked with a smug smile.

"I don't like being used like that, but it was impressive. You never had any intention to pass the ball to us, right?" Otoya remarked, as carefree as ever. 

"Isn't that what Blue Lock is all about?" 

.. 

.. 

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On the other side of the field, the atmosphere was beyond grim.

"If we don't score now, it's over." Miyata spoke up. His shoulders stiffening from the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. 

He knew that even if he scored two goals he most likely won't be chosen. 

When placed in front of Hiori and Karasu who both had excellent weapons, he was easily forgotten and outshined. 

He needs to win or else he will be abandoned. 

As soon as he touched the ball, his mind went quiet. He was a calm person in his day to day life, but this time it was different. In games the responsibility and physical strain would stop him from being able to think as rationally. 

But now it was different. 

He didn't understand it much, but he knew it was his key to advance to the next level. 

"The same way they created a three-way chemical reaction, we need to find a way to do the same." Miyata's mind raced. 

It was his first time experiencing the flow.

Under normal circumstances, he would be able to change the ending of a game just by attaining that level of focus. But this time it was different. 

He was surrounded by monsters way beyond his level. People he never thought he could compete with.

Jude rushed at him without sparing any effort. Unlike before, it was disorderly. 

It wasn't a plan to defend or win with his team, but instead to steal the ball and score for himself. He was getting closer at such a fast speed that Miyata had no choice but to pass to Karasu by habit. 

Yet, once again, there was no defense. 

Instead of the usual well-planned and meticulous cage, he was met with a raging Yukimiya who was already fully immersed, one step inside the flow. 

In those last few minutes, Jude paved the way and almost everyone had at least one foot inside the flow.

Yukimiya used his body strength to push Karasu to commit even the slightest mistake. A slight mistake was all he needed.

"It's suffocating." Karasu exclaimed with a wry smile. 

He attempted to create some distance by using his arm and keeping the ball close to him, but this time it was Otoya's turn to suddenly appear. 

"Rule number one: A ninja always strikes when you least expect it." 

Otoya appeared behind him, this time he wasn't trying to block his path and support Yukimiya like he usually did. Instead, he only moved for himself. 

A purely egoistic yet rational playstyle.

..

Thanks to Karasu's quick reaction he was able to narrowly escape the tackle — only for Otoya to bring forward his rear leg and swipe away the ball, making it fly upwards. 

"Rule number two: A ninja should always have a hidden weapon." Otoya joked as he hurriedly stood up to run after the loose ball. 

Stealing the ball was a success, but he wasn't able to do it as cleanly as he planned. Now he had to find a way to get the ball no matter what. 

This was the current state of Team White. 

A unique kind of chemical reaction you could only find in Blue Lock. All three egoists were competing against each other to score the last goal. 

They were no longer moving as a team, but rather moving on their own and for the sake of their own goal. 

Highly talented individuals pushing each other to reach new heights.

With that thought in mind, Jude used his more imposing physique to jump up and get the loose ball for himself. Otoya was not too far away, but he lacked the strength to contest the ball. 

So instead he once again used his special weapon, lurking in the shadows while awaiting the first opportunity that presents itself. 

He was patiently lurking near his prey like a starving hyena.

If Jude made a single mistake Otoya would be the first to jump on the occasion. 

"Get out of the way!" Jude yelled out as he blitzed past Miyata. 

Even in the flow, Miyata's physical abilities were still far too lacking. 

"So this is my limit..."

He attempted to catch up to Jude, but even then the distance between them only grew. His strongest weapon so far was crushed as soon as it came to life.

Once again Jude was going at full throttle, all he needed to do was get in the range to launch another power shot. 

The adrenaline failed to hide the soreness in his muscles as Jude pushed his limits for the hundredth time of the day. 

Seeing Jude's seemingly unstoppable run, Karasu hurriedly ran back to stop him. 

"Aren't you getting too ahead of yourself!" 

Every player was now running alongside Jude. With both Karasu and Hiori standing directly in his way, he had no intention to stop. 

Jude attempted one last attack.

First, he slowed down allowing everyone to get close enough for him to find an opportunity amidst the chaos. 

Yet it only got worse. 

"Ugh." 

Not only did Karasu and Hiori keep their distance, knowing the dangers of Jude's acceleration and long shot, but even his teammates were in on it. 

Instead of going to the best place to receive a pass, Jude noticed that they were hovering around him like hungry hyenas. 

This time he was the one in the cage. One made from allies and foes alike.

.. 

The first to break this stalemate was surprisingly neither Hiori nor Karasu, but instead Yukimiya. 

As soon as he saw that Jude was about to go for a run he launched at him and attempted to steal the ball from him, not even bothering to disguise his intent from his new teammate.

"Don't hold it against me, I'm only paying you back." 

The following happened very quickly. Jude, taken aback by his own teammate's tackle, barely dodged it. After all, who would've guessed he would be shameless enough to straight up tackle Jude and even be the first one to do so. Karasu took that opportunity to take away the ball.

With both Jude and Yukimiya about to launch themselves at him, Karasu had no choice but to pass the ball to Hiori. 

"Send it to Miyata!!" He yelled out.

And thus, the opportunity presented itself. 

Otoya ran up at the perfect moment to intercept the pass, he predicted Karasu's next move and was able to move there faster than anyone. 

Even Hiori didn't see it coming. 

Miyata was the only one who predicted that outcome, and yet the slight moment of hesitation he had at first, made him get there too late to help them.

Otoya already took the ball and was arming his shot. 

In a last desperate attempt, Miyata threw his leg in the way, but was only able to hit Otoya's leg as the ball was already on its way to the goal. 

Otoya fell down from the impact and landed on his face with a small smile on his face, whilst Miyata laid down next to him after his tackle, his expression much more grim as he saw the ball hit the back of the net and bounce down on the ground. 

.. 

"3rd Stage: 3vs3 Rivalry Battle. Team White wins with a 5-3 score!!" Ego announced. 

Evolve and live, or stagnate and die. 

This was the simple philosophy of Blue Lock. 

Only those who grasp it will be able to move further. 

. 

.. 

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Author: Spam the power stones! Let's try to make it to the top 200 this week!! 

Also give out your guesses on who will be chosen. The only hint I will give is that it'll lead to some very interesting interactions later on.