"Damn it!" Emily cursed. She was mostly upset that she had let the other person get away. During the last two weeks Aerion football had become more than a mere hobby for Emily. Thanks to the system her performance had improved immensely, allowing her to play earnestly. She knew that she was basically cheating, but it just felt good to be recognised for once.
The game restarted with Elysium Nexus Academy kicking off. Alas, now that Elysium Nexus team was in possession of the orb things only got worse. The passes were bad as it instantly became obvious that the fielded players lacked any actual practice.
Emily was having her own problems as if she saw that Gil was open, the only other decent player on their team she refused to pass to him.
It didn't help that they were all scared of getting hit by the other team. They all got rid of the ball so fast that one might mistake them playing 'hot potato' over Aerion football. Willy was in the unfortunate situation that he got passed the ball, yet Emily had been too far away from him. Having hesitated for too long, the high schooler ended up getting hit before he could pass.
"Wow, look at them go!" exclaimed one of the commentators, his voice filled with excitement. "They're like a well-oiled machine out there, working together seamlessly to create scoring opportunities. And that first goal, oh my goodness! That was a thing of beauty."
The camera zoomed in on Team Heaven Dune's star player, Leng who had just scored the team's first goal. With lightning-fast reflexes, he had dodged several defenders and fired a powerful shot into the ring. The crowd erupted in cheers, and the commentators couldn't contain their excitement.
"Arghh!" Emily yelled. "I can't catch those two. They're too fast and nimble. They get away every time, even with my current speed!'
"Did you see that move? Unbelievable!" exclaimed one of the commentators. "He's got the skills, the speed, and the confidence to take on anyone. And that's not all - look at the rest of the team. They're all working together like a finely tuned orchestra. This is what we call 'teamwork' folks, and it's a joy to watch."
Meanwhile, Team Elysium Nexus struggled to keep up. Despite their best efforts, they found themselves constantly on the defensive, unable to break through Team Heaven Dune's formidable defense. The commentators noted their struggles with sympathy.
"Well, it looks like Team Elysium Nexus is having a tough time here," said one of the commentators. "They're just not able to get anything going against Team Heaven Dune's rock-solid defense. It's not for lack of trying, though - they're giving it their all out there. Maybe they just need a little luck to turn things around."
But luck seemed to be in short supply for Team Elysium Nexus. As the game wore on, Daniel managed to finally score one single point, something he had Emily and Gil to thank for. Unlike in professional Aerion, the highschool didn't use multiple points per touchdown, and just counted them as one for simplicity.
Team Heaven Dune continued to dominant, scoring two more goals with ease. The commentators marveled at their skill and coordination.
"Look at that - another beautiful goal!" exclaimed one of the commentators. "This team is just unstoppable. They're making it look easy out there. And that's not all - they're also playing some amazing defense. They're shutting down every opportunity that Team Elysium Nexus tries to create."
'I should be okay if I use it until the end of the game, right? I know the half time still hasn't been called.' Emily tried to convince herself, unwilling to let her first Aerion match end in a complete catastrophe. It would be one thing if the other team was simply better than theirs, but it just didn't sit well with her that they were sorely losing because of Heaven Dune High's dirty tactics. To be honest, Emily wasn't sure if they could win even if they had all of their regulars, that was what was more annoying Heaven Dune High were good, so why the need to resort to dirty tactics.
[Skill activated Rage]
[All stats have temporarily been doubled]
[-10 Energy points]
[Dexterity 12] (+9)
********
Emily had already been doing well in the game without having to use Rage. This was mostly due to her stats, otherwise, she would have still fallen slightly behind the athletic students, but now with Rage active and the power of the unity suit Emily was at her strongest.
Team Elysium Nexus is fighting hard, but they just can't seem to catch a break. They're going to have to step up their game if they want to stand a chance against Team Heaven Dune's juggernaut offense."
[Strength 16] (+9)
A scrawny player, who had been largely overlooked by Team Heaven Dune's defense, unleashed a powerful shot from an impossible distance. The ball sailed through the air, leaving Team Heaven Dune's bulwarks stunned and helpless they had bacame arrogant and moved away from the marker currently. The commentators erupted in shock and disbelief. "What just happened? Did that kid really just score on Team Heaven Dune?"
Sren had run all the way to the back but even with his speed he was unable to get back in time to catch it.
"Did you see that kick? I don't even think I've seen that in professional Aerion football games." One of the parents commented.
"Well, it's a smaller pitch, but that was definitely an impressive kick." Another added.
As the crowd went wild, the commentators eagerly replayed the footage, analyzing every aspect of the remarkable play. "That was an incredible shot! I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. The way she drilled that Orb with such precision and power... it's like she had a vendetta against the goal ring."
Their discussion turned to the topic of records, and the commentators began to compare the young player's feat to other notable achievements in the sport. "You know, that shot just broke Adam Hulk's record for the longest successful powered shot in Teenagers Aerion history. And look at that, the projector in the sky is already updating the rankings. There's a new name in second place now, and it's none other than our mystery player from Team Elysium Nexus."
As the camera panned out to reveal the updated rankings, the commentators gasped in surprise. "Wait a minute, did that just say 'SNOW WHITE'? AS IN, SNOW WHITE THE LEGEND? I dont think anyone could top her record. But there it is, plain as day – a new number one, and it's not even close_ Emily Harrington....SNOW WHITE."
The image on the projector shifted, displaying a youthful face with striking white hair, accompanied by a brief bio detailing their accomplishments. The commentators couldn't believe their eyes. "Folks, this is historic. We may be witnessing the rise of a new superstar in Teenagers Aerion_ SNOW WHITE. Keep your eyes peeled, because this could be the start of something truly special."