Looking down at his sleeve Akira was pleased that his number had jumped up, he was now the third highest-ranked player in Blue Lock, behind Rin and Aryu, which had him grinning from ear to ear, 'Vamos! ainda trabalho para fazer' he thought his determination to improve, brighter than ever.

"Naturally, there are no fake numbers this time round, these ranks are in the order in which you passed the first stage. You've put forth a suitable showing, each of you is a player who can turn 0 into 1 on the field, to move forward you'll need to figure out and fix your talents to enhance one another. Only strikers who are able to enhance their egos will get the opportunity to move on. Use any means necessary, to win." And with that Ego was gone once more, leaving the two teams alone with each other.

"Wow he's put together a pretty devious game" Bachira mused his hands now clasped behind his head, "We advance by winning and forming a team of five" Nagi asked "Bingo, given the circumstances it sounds like we can take our sweet time picking who we play against, what do you think Isagi?" The dual-coloured teen asked looking to the blue-eyed boy who was deep in thought. "Let's go for Akira" his words were met with little resistance or protest, as they turned to look at the team that sat across the room. Waiting for the right moment when they could propose the match-up.

"This is going to be diversão" The bronzed teen beamed at Aryu who couldn't help but smile at the boy's cuteness. "We should play against ranks four through six that would be fair and glam, beating the losers who just walked in would be much too easy. So sad. Destroying them would be an ugly look" While Akira wanted to protest what his teammate had said Rin beat him to it.

"Shut up, I don't care who we play. I'll win and move on no matter the circumstance, you two don't even need to join in" The younger Itoshi said turning away from the two and making them stand up, "Huh, I admit your whole vibe is absurdly glam. However, you would be a fool if you disregarded my talents" The two spiralled into an argument, while Akira silently watched not bothering with wasting his energy on trying to stop them.

"Glam?" Bachira questioned confused as to what was going on "Short for glamorous" Nagi explained as they turned their attention back to the team across from them. "Don't get it twisted, the only reason we formed a team is because we passed that last stage quickly and ended up here together. You're just stepping stones on my journey, all of you and Blue Lock as well. I can join the U-20's national team if I win this thing, it's the only reason I'm here why I'm succeeding. Everything I do is to get on the national team and surpass my older brother. Crushing him is everything to me, my purpose for playing football."

"Man, talk about an ego, intense" Bachira commented slightly amused that the pair still had yet to stop bickering, "They are a formidable team, though kinda an odd roster. Getting Akira back won't be easy" Nagi was right getting the curly-haired teen back on their side, meant they would first have to beat him and that was a challenge in and of itself. "Of course, even your upbringing is glam, in that case, I suppose you are technically worthy of being my teammate"

"And me?" Akira asked looking at his long-haired teammate who smiled at him before gently cupping his cheeks and bringing him close, to everyone else in the room's dismay. "You and I are the glamest of them all my dear, fear not we were destined to be teammates"

All attention turned to Isagi as he approached the opposition, "You don't care who your opponent is, then play us" He said looking directly at Rin his glare was harsh and unforgiving, the look on his face giving the bronze teen a strong indication that nothing was going to sway him. "Are you talking to moi?" Aryu asked pointing to himself. "Sure I'll beat you" Rin said looking at his challengers as if they were dirt under his shoe.

"apertem os cintos, filhos da puta, porque a merda está prestes a acontecer"

"In the second selection, the pitch has been customised to the number of players, and the goal sizes have also been adjusted. Blue Lock man will serve as your keeper and is equipped with the same skills as before. The winners move on to the next stage and steal a player from the other team. If you lose you go back to the previous stage, minus one. It's three on three, first to five wins. Begin the second selection, third stage rivalry battle."

Akira now had a red and black bib with the number three on it, it felt strange after growing used to the team V one for so long. He stood alongside his new teammates stretching his arms out before the match commenced. Looking across to his opposition, his friends he couldn't help but feel slightly conflicted. But at this moment their friendship did not exist, they were just people standing in his way of advancing and he would be damned if he let them stop him. Even Nagi, Akira would crush him if he had to.

Kick off, Team White's Bachira started with the ball running forward with a pep in his step. "Let's get this started!" the dual-coloured teen yelled as he and his teammates closed in on their opposition. "Akira you mark the one with the dull bangs" Aryu said pointing to Bachira, but the curly-haired teen made no attempt to move. Wanting to observe in the opening stages, to see how much each of his friends had improved before committing himself to the game.

"So these new rankings are based on the order we cleared the first stage. not talent. Training alongside Blue Lock Man helped me level up my skills a lot. Next up is Rin and Akira, Are you ready Isagi?" The dual-coloured teen switched the direction of his shot at the last second and fired the ball to Nagi who stood a few feet out from the goal but unfortunately for them, Aryu decided to cover him off.

"Sorry, not good enough. I'll stop you and look glamorous" The long-haired teen expected the white-haired teen to at least attempt a shot on goal, but was stunned when he passed the ball back. "The timing is right, the distance to. It should be in range, it's yours" The ball fell directly to Isagi who was ready and waiting. "Got it, nice one"

Team Red 0 - 1 Team White

"Yeah!

"Dude, epic! Your shots are on point big-time"

"Props you very efficient"

While the trio celebrated Akira couldn't help but silently observe, feet still firmly fixed to his spot. It was clear the trio had improved greatly from their sessions with Blue Lock Man, and had a good understanding of each other's weapons and how to combine them. Resulting in them having rather good chemistry, but it was nothing to write home about really.

"Alright I think I've seen enough, your game is so mediocre I might actually die of boredom. Let me guess you still think this is a sport when the truth is we are in combat I can't stand players like you. don't you know? this is a battlefield, and at the moment you're turning your back on a soldier with a loaded rifle. If that is lost on you, you'll never be good enough"

Rin's words were harsh and jagged, like a knife but they held a certain air of truth to them. They were celebrating far too early, as there was much of the match yet to be played. And to prove that precise point directly after the restart, without missing a beat, the teal-eyed teen struck the ball not even bothering to move from the halfway line.

Team Red 1 - 1 Team White

"Was that shot legal?"

"Totally was, just nobody could pull it off. Usually"

"Glam, pure and utter beauty. If you gonna play like that at least include me"

"vamos começar essa festa"

Rin walked to retrieve the ball from the opposition net, not paying any mind to the looks he was receiving "How much clearer do I have to make this for you? Friend or foe, doesn't matter, you're all half-baked npc's to me anyway. Let's finish the game off, quickly. What a waste of my time." Akira paid no mind to the argument that the younger Itoshi and Isagi had somehow found themselves in, wanting nothing more than the game to restart.

The game was underway once more, with the white team in possession. Akira, Rin, and Aryu once again stayed put as they waited for their opponents to come to them, Bachira passed the ball towards Nagi who was ready and waiting. But was swiftly denied by Aryu, who headed the ball away with ease and into the path of Akira.

"Behold, I am here. Even though your touch is clearly glam, if you don't get to use it you can't shine." the long-haired teen said his hair fanning ever so entrancingly. "That was one sick jump, I'm impressed and I'm 190cm tall" Nagi said in awe at the display he had just seen.

"Akira passed it to me right in front of the goal" Akira did without complaint, passing the ball forward with deadly accuracy narrowly missing Bachira who attempted a last-minute dive to steal the ball. The curly-haired boy watched, as Isagi attempted to defend the ball from Aryu but to no avail. The taller used his long limbs and easily stole the ball.

Team Red 2 - 1 Team White

"I'm sorry, I never expected him to shoot a goal when he was directly behind me" The blue-eyed teen profusely apologised with gritted teeth, seething that he had been bested by another. "Hey, don't sweat it Glammy long leg is crazy good too. That's why he's worth beating." his yellow-eyed companion said in an attempt to calm him but to no avail.

"Akira's been awfully quiet this match" Nagi's words caught the attention of the other two, he was right the bronzed teen hadn't done much besides a few well-placed passes and low-effort blocking. Otherwise, he was like Rin, observing and biding his time. "Maybe he's waiting for something," Isagi said as they all stared at the golden-eyed teen in question who eyed the white tiro while standing next to Aryu, who twirled a strand of his head around his finger while talking about something glam.

"Aryu" Akira said his eyes never leaving the white trio, "Hum? What is it?" the long-haired teen said looking to the shorter who he had grown rather fond of in his short time of knowing him, seeing him as the only one remotely on the same level of glam as him.

"Next goal is mine, entendi?"