As the players burst through the towering doors, a wave of exhilaration washed over them. With an electric energy in the air, they hurriedly climbed aboard the sleek, modern buses lined up outside, each one emblazoned with the emblem of the Blue Lock. The engines rumbled to life, signaling the start of their journey, while the anticipation of what awaited them inside the hallowed training grounds filled their minds with excitement and determination.
Marz was aboard a bus to the stark, imposing Blue Lock facility, a hub of ambition and rivalry for aspiring strikers. Upon arrival, anticipation buzzed in the air as players were handed their uniforms, each bearing a distinct letter and number. Marz's uniform sported the letter 'Z' and the number '289,' a designation that indicated his place within the team hierarchy.
Once inside, Marz navigated through the labyrinthine halls to reach his assigned room. As he looked around, he recognized a few fellow hopefuls: Kira, with his precise demeanor, and a blue-haired player he had encountered earlier, Isagi Yoichi. Nearby, a boy lay sprawled on the floor, eyes closed, seemingly at peace while everyone else was alert. Marz couldn't help but think, "Looks like this place is full of weirdos," a thought that both amused and perplexed him.
After making his way to the lockers and changing into his new uniform, Marz retreated to a quiet corner to observe. Despite the camaraderie around him, he preferred his own company for the moment. He caught snippets of a conversation between Igarashi, Kira, and Isagi, but the details faded into background noise as he focused on his own thoughts.
Before long, Ego appeared on a large screen, a presence that commanded attention. He outlined the mechanics of their upcoming challenges, and Marz's ears perked up when he learned that, astonishingly, 288 players were ranked above him. Initially, this figure seemed unfathomable, yet rather than feeling disheartened, Marz couldn't suppress an eager grin, fueled by the prospect of competing against such formidable opponents.
Ego then introduced a game of "Tag" with a strict time limit of 136 seconds—the stakes were higher than he expected. The player left in the "it" position when time ran out would be barred from playing for Japan's national team and expelled from Blue Lock altogether. Ego explained, "Tag is not just a simple game; it's an exercise professional players utilize to warm up while also revealing the inherent selfishness of a striker."
At Ego's command, the game commenced, and in a surprising twist, Igarashi, the lowest-ranked player, became "it." However, before Igarashi could take advantage of this, Marz swiftly seized the ball and started juggling it, drawing curious glances from the other players. Kira and Isagi exchanged bewildered looks, questioning his sanity until the boy who had been sleeping finally roused, yawning widely.
With a bright smile, Bachira approached Marz. "Hello, my name is Bachira, and it looks like you're having fun. I'd like to join in," he said enthusiastically. Marz, still focused and juggling the ball with ease, nodded and passed it to Bachira. The two began to juggle together, their laughter creating an infectious energy that spread throughout the room.
As the seconds ticked away, Marz felt a surge of inspiration. With a deft touch, he lifted the ball higher, executing a skillful chip before launching a precise shot toward Kira. The ball struck Kira squarely in the face, sending him tumbling to the ground in disbelief. For a brief moment, Kira lay there, processing what had just happened, and as he scrambled to get up, the timer finally hit zero, echoing the frenetic atmosphere in the room. Their chaotic introduction to competition had set the stage for the challenges that lay ahead in Blue Lock.