The roar of the crowd swelled as both teams stepped onto the lush green field. The late afternoon sun bathed the pitch in a golden glow, the shadows of the players stretching long and sharp. Azure Legends, in their modest blue jerseys, looked small compared to the Thunder Hawks in their bold crimson kits.

The announcer's voice rang through the stadium speakers:

"On the left, the defending champions of the school league—Thunder Hawks!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. Banners waved, horns blared, and the Hawks basked in the attention. Their captain, Damian, raised his fist to the stands, soaking in the adoration.

"And on the right, the challengers, Azure Legends!"

The reaction was mixed. A few loyal classmates cheered, but most of the stadium drowned them out with laughter and jeers.

"Losers!"

"They won't last ten minutes!"

"Go back to the workshop, mechanics!"

On the sidelines, Maya folded her arms, biting her lip nervously. Elijah sat beside her, calm but observant. Samantha, a few seats down, clenched her fists, her eyes locked on the hooded figure among the blue jerseys.

Kael… what are you going to do out there?

The referee blew the whistle. The ball rolled.

---

First Half: Hawks' Dominance

Thunder Hawks wasted no time showing their superiority. From the kick-off, Damian darted forward, his feet blurring over the grass. He flicked the ball to his teammate, who sliced through Azure's midfield like it was paper.

"Thunder Hawks on the attack already!" the commentator's voice boomed. "This could be an early one!"

Azure's defenders scrambled. Bryan shouted orders, his voice cracking. "Mark him! Close the gap!"

But it was too late. A Hawks forward drilled a shot from the edge of the box.

Thud!

The ball smacked against the crossbar and bounced out, a narrow escape.

The crowd gasped, then roared with laughter.

"Did you see that? Already breaking them!"

"Azure's defense is a joke!"

Kael stood near midfield, hands in his hoodie pocket as if unfazed. He didn't even flinch at the shot. His teammates glanced at him, frustrated.

"Hey, aren't you gonna move?" one of them hissed.

Kael just tilted his head. "When you're ready, pass me the ball."

The boy gritted his teeth and looked away.

---

Thunder Hawks pressed hard, dominating possession. Their passes were slick, their footwork sharp. Azure Legends looked like they were drowning in the tide of red.

"Move! Cover left!" Bryan shouted, sliding desperately to intercept a pass. Sweat already soaked his jersey.

Another shot came. Their keeper dived, fingertips barely pushing it wide.

The crowd erupted again. "Thunder Hawks! Thunder Hawks!"

On the sideline, Maya groaned. "This is bad. This is really, really bad."

Elijah adjusted his glasses, eyes narrowing. "Let's just… wait."

---

Kael's First Touch

Finally, midway through the half, Azure managed to break free. A desperate clearance found its way toward midfield, bouncing awkwardly.

Kael stepped forward. The ball rose, and with a calmness that contrasted the chaos, he lifted his foot and killed it with a soft touch.

The stadium fell oddly quiet for a second. His control was effortless. Natural.

With one glance up, he slid a pass across the pitch, threading it between two Hawks players and landing it perfectly at Bryan's feet.

"What the—" Bryan's eyes widened. He wasn't expecting it.

The commentator's voice cracked with surprise. "Incredible ball control from the new player! Did you see that precision?"

The crowd murmured. A few clapped, though many remained skeptical.

"Lucky touch!" someone shouted.

But Samantha, watching closely, smiled faintly. That wasn't luck. That was Kael.

---

The Hawks Respond

Angered by Azure's brief moment of life, Thunder Hawks kicked into higher gear. Damian demanded the ball, weaving through defenders with arrogant flair. He mocked them with stepovers, nutmegged one boy, and blasted a shot inches wide.

Every miss felt like a warning. Azure was holding on by threads.

"Is this even fair?" Maya muttered, watching Damian strut. "They're just playing with them."

Samantha hugged her knees, eyes flicking back to Kael, who still hadn't made a real move. Why aren't you doing anything?

---

Azure's Spark

Then, in the 35th minute, it happened.

An interception from Bryan sent the ball rolling toward Kael again. Two Hawks players closed in on him fast, smirking.

"He's done for."

But Kael didn't panic. He shifted his body slightly, let the ball roll, and with one quick flick of his heel, it slipped between the two Hawks. Gasps echoed.

Kael darted forward, calm but swift, reclaiming the ball on the other side as the defenders stumbled.

The stadium erupted.

"What was that move?!" the commentator nearly shouted. "The new player just danced past Thunder Hawks' midfield like it was nothing!"

Kael continued his run, sliding a pass toward the striker. The boy, shocked at the delivery, swung late and sent it wide.

The chance was wasted—but the stadium buzzed differently now.

"Who is that guy?"

"Did you see that?"

"No way he's from Azure Legends…"

The Hawks glanced at Kael, their arrogance shaken just a bit.

Damian snarled. "Don't let him get the ball again."

---

End of First Half

The whistle blew for halftime. Scoreline: 0–0.

The Hawks were visibly frustrated, while Azure Legends were exhausted but strangely hopeful. They had survived, and more importantly—they had Kael.

In the stands, Maya let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I can't believe it's still goalless."

Elijah smirked faintly. "Told you. Just wait."

Samantha's heart pounded. She whispered under her breath, "You're holding back, aren't you, Kael?"

On the pitch, Kael simply adjusted his hood, his expression unreadable.

---

Second Half: Tension Rises

The second half began with the Hawks throwing everything forward. Their coach barked orders from the sideline: "Overload the wings! Break them down!"

Azure bent but didn't break. Kael tracked back now, intercepting with clean, precise tackles. Every time the ball touched his foot, the crowd leaned forward, waiting.

In the 60th minute, a Hawks striker finally broke through. One-on-one with the keeper—this was it.

The striker swung.

Thwack!

But Kael appeared out of nowhere, sliding in with perfect timing to block the shot.

The crowd exploded. Half in cheers, half in disbelief.

"Kael Hemsworth with a world-class tackle! Where did he even come from?!" the commentator shouted.

Azure's players swarmed Kael, slapping his back. Even Bryan couldn't hide his relief. "Nice one, man. Really nice."

Kael only shrugged. "Pass me the ball next time."

---

Suspense Builds

Minutes ticked by. Hawks pushed harder, furious now, but cracks were forming. Azure Legends had grown in confidence, feeding off Kael's calm presence.

Every touch of his boot seemed intentional, almost surgical. Even when the Hawks tried to double-team him, he found ways to slip free.

The crowd that once mocked now leaned forward in awe.

"Who is this kid?"

"Azure Legends might actually…"

"No, impossible."

By the 75th minute, it was still 0–0.

The referee's whistle blew for a foul near midfield. Azure Legends had a free kick. Bryan stood over the ball, glancing at Kael. Their eyes met.

Kael gave the slightest nod.

"Alright,"

Bryan muttered. "Let's see what you've got."

The stadium buzzed louder. The free kick was theirs. Could Azure Legends shock everyone?

The whistle blew—

---

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