Chapter 220: Joint Trial Training Ends, The Draft Begins!
"Three hundred million, huh..."
When they heard Isagi's words, everyone felt a bit dazed. For most of them, a valuation of 300 million yen was already an impossibly distant number — enough to buy fifteen Raichi. Yet even a player with such a high valuation was still clearly suppressed by top players like Noa. And Shinichi... had he really already reached that level?
"As for levels beyond that… I don't even know if there are more. Honestly, I've only ever seen players stronger than the Eleven like Noa and the others — and they're basically the absolute peak on this planet. Even among the best of the best, they're top-tier, so I suspect there's at least one more 'tier' in between. Let's call it the sub-elite level."
As if unsure of how to phrase it, Isagi slowed down and began to speak carefully and deliberately: "If players like Kaiser can only barely go toe-to-toe with Noa, just barely graze the edges of the world-class standard, then this in-between tier is where you'll find players who can actually challenge stars like Noa. Like the difference between an All-Star and a Superstar in the NBA — players in this tier are capable of being the core of a top-tier team, and on a good day, might even lead a team to a championship. But when it comes to sheer ceiling... they're still a bit below players like Noa. This would be considered the 'mid-level' of world-class."
At that moment, Hiori suddenly interjected, "Based on what I saw during the trial matches, I think some of the newly added national team members have probably already reached this level."
Coming from Hiori, who had been tagging along with Shinichi and helping in various trial matches, his comment was taken seriously.
And just like that, the mood got heavier. As if the Noas of the world weren't already overwhelming enough, now they had even more tough opponents to deal with.
Worse yet, these new players would also begin to occupy key tactical roles — and it was clear what Jinpachi Ego's message was: evolve under pressure or get replaced. In Blue Lock, standing still was the same as falling behind — and falling behind meant being eliminated.
I think Shinichi was probably already playing at this level during the U-20 match, thought Isagi quietly to himself while Hiori spoke, though he chose not to say it aloud without concrete proof.
"Finally, there's Noa and the others," Isagi continued. "Undeniably, they represent the pinnacle of individual player skill in the world. They are the absolute cores of top-tier teams. Their salaries? Probably north of 60 million."
"Huh? Sixty million?" Kunigami asked in confusion, thrown off by the sudden drop in numbers.
"They're talking euros or dollars, obviously," said Chigiri, rolling his eyes.
BEEP—!
A loud whistle interrupted the conversation — the first trial match had officially ended. The final score was an astonishing 43:41. Both teams had slowed down a bit in the second half — endlessly sprinting back and forth across a football pitch (not a basketball court) had drained their stamina.
That was also part of the reason players like Isagi weren't interested in watching the remaining matches — the action just wasn't sharp or exciting anymore, and the coaches had clearly shifted into "coasting mode" after the initial excitement wore off.
"There should still be three more matches left. Originally, the schedule had four matches, with each player getting to play twice across every two matches. But since the score in the first match was so high and there were so many substitutions, I think quite a few players will end up playing three times," one player remarked as they looked at the final score.
Everyone around him couldn't help but sigh — truth be told, even after all their evolutions, none of them could guarantee they'd score this many goals in a single match if they went up against the old Blue Lock team that hadn't entered New Hero Battle yet.
And yet, here they were — they had actually pulled it off. And this was even with both teams pacing themselves to save stamina in the second half.
The destructive potential of these top forwards once they found chemistry... was simply terrifying.
"These are the kinds of players we'll have to beat from now on..."
The thought surfaced in everyone's mind at once. But instead of fear at facing such seemingly unreachable heights, their eyes gleamed with an unshakable fire — a burning will that would never be extinguished.
This was precisely the type of egotistical warriors Jinpachi Ego had devoted so much effort to forging — players who would fight to the death for the title of World's No. 1.
"Alright, I've decided! My next goal is to change the currency of my transfer value — first to Yen, then to euros!" Bachira was the first to leap up, shouting enthusiastically. Zantetsu pushed up his glasses, adding, "Then I'll switch mine to US dollars."
"Uh... Zantetsu, are you just saying that because you think dollars sound smarter?"
"Uh... how'd you know?"
"Because dollars are worth less than euros..."
There was nothing glamorous about the scene — just a group of scrappy young players sprawled crookedly across the stands, brimming with dreams.
But in the end, they would all become enemies, chasing their own visions, fighting one another. In the end, only one could sit atop the throne.
Under that crushing pressure, some of the boys clenched their knees, some balled their fists until their knuckles cracked.
But even knowing how harsh the road ahead would be, none of them would quit — because this was the dream they were willing to dedicate their entire lives to. Even if they were shattered to pieces along the way, not a single one would regret it.
...
And just like that, time passed as the boys' passion burned on.
The remaining three trial matches wrapped up swiftly and uneventfully.
In those later games, the coaches had tacitly agreed to take a step back, handing initiative to the regular players — meaning there wasn't much worth shui-ing—ahem, writing home about.
And now — the final day had arrived.
The gathering of heroes. The starting point of New Hero Battle Stage Two—
The Draft Meeting, officially begins!
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