"There's only one match left in the first phase of the New Hero Battle. In other words, this is our final chance to raise our value."
After checking the latest bid rankings, no one showed signs of complacency, despite receiving what once seemed like sky-high valuations. Instead, with Isagi's words, a heavy sense of urgency filled the room.
For players like Raichi, who ranked below 23rd, this final match could determine their entire future. If they can't break into the top 23, they might lose their chance to participate in the U-20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, even those currently sitting just inside the top 23 couldn't afford to relax—countless hungry eyes were locked on their spots, ready to do whatever it takes in the last game to knock them out.
To complicate things further, two notable players weren't included in the Blue Lock rankings due to special circumstances.
One was Itoshi Sae, who hadn't participated in the first phase but was expected to join in phase two—he already held a valuation of 100 million.
The other was Nishioka, who withdrew due to injury. While his return date remained uncertain, his value on the overall ranking still stood at 14 million.
In short, to ensure a stable spot on the team, you likely had to make the top 21. Taking into account the captain's five nomination slots, reaching the top 16 was probably the safest bet.
For those already locked into a spot, this match represented one last shot at increasing their market value.
Every one of these monsters who had made a name for themselves wanted more—they were ambitious and itching to drag down the ones ranked above them.
Clearly, this was exactly what Jinpachi Ego had intended. After experiencing the fear of elimination in Blue Lock, what they needed now was ever-growing ambition and constantly rising goals. And nothing fueled that desire more than the cold, hard numbers of their valuation.
"Let me give you all a little heads-up," Shinichi suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention. "You all know that once phase two begins, you'll be allowed to freely choose your team, right?"
"Yeah—and a new Blue Lock team will be added, making it six teams total," Isagi recalled, triggering the others to remember this rule mentioned by Ego at the start of the New Hero Battle.
"Exactly. And that team selection phase will be heavily influenced by your current bid values. Plus, there'll be some hefty rewards once this whole thing ends," Shinichi added, then looked pointedly at Lorenzo and the others who'd been tuning out, "So don't slack off. You guys will be participating too."
"Huh?" The room instantly erupted into chaos. No matter how many questions were thrown at him, Shinichi refused to say more. Still, even this much was a bombshell—and it had everyone speculating how team selection would tie into their valuations.
"Ughhh! I've had enough! I'm going to train!" Raichi Jingo suddenly shouted and stormed off. "No way in hell I'm letting myself be excluded from the U-20 squad! I'm getting on that list—I'm raising my bid!"
His frustration lit a fire under the others. One after another, players stood up and left in groups, determined to get back to training.
"Ego's really a master at stirring our competitive spirit," Hiori muttered, watching everyone walk off before turning to Shinichi. "So what about you? You know you've got a bunch of guys gunning for your spot."
"I don't believe in last-minute cramming. If you're aiming to be the best in the world, your training should follow a clear, professional plan. Randomly overloading at the last second and risking injury or burning out before the actual game—that's just shortsighted."
Shinichi's tone was calm, but his words carried weight. Thanks to the guidance of a seasoned pro like Kobe, Shinichi had developed a disciplined training regimen. Even though his "Evergreen Physique" protected him from permanent damage, overtraining still caused pain and required recovery time, which could impact the quality of future sessions. If even Shinichi had to consider this, other players had even more reason to be cautious—many pros ruin their careers with hidden injuries from their youth.
"In the pro world, it's about managing multiple variables. Back-to-back matches, grueling schedules, and constant travel for home-and-away games wear players down fast. If you can't regulate your own condition, no matter how skilled you are, your performance will suffer. A lot of surprise upsets happen because of this." Shinichi said it intentionally for Hiori's benefit—he knew Hiori had issues with stamina and needed to start adjusting early.
"Yeah, yeah. Got it. You damn capitalist slave driver, lecturing me even during your rest time." Hiori grumbled, but he still took every word seriously. Then he reached out for a fist bump. "Anyway, good luck against England."
Shinichi returned the bump. "You too—don't let someone overtake your rank next match."
"As if! You know who I am, right?!"
....
[Alright! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to BLUE LOCK TV! Coming up next is the highly anticipated eighth match of the New Hero Battle—England's Manshine City vs. Italy's Ubers!]
[It's worth noting that Italy's Ubers remain undefeated so far, but the players from England's Manshine City are no pushovers either. Talented stars have been emerging one after another.]
[So—will Italy's flawless record remain intact, or can England break through their unshakable defense?]
[Let's find out together!]
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