Episode 3: Rivals & Temptation
The early morning air was sharp, the floodlights still glowing over the pristine pitch. Jaden stood among the other players, his breath visible in the cold as Coach Vance paced in front of them like a drill sergeant.
"Welcome to your first full day in Iron Stride," Vance growled. "For some of you, it'll also be your last."
A few guys chuckled. Vance's eyes snapped toward them.
"You think I'm joking? This program isn't for weak-willed little shits who want to 'try their best.' This is survival. Every session, every match, every goddamn moment here is a test."
Jaden clenched his fists. He was ready.
Vance's gaze swept over them. "Today is The Gauntlet—a 2v2 elimination drill. Lose your match? You're on my shit list. Win? You live to fight another day."
Jaden felt a presence beside him. Leo.
"You better not fuck this up," Leo muttered.
Jaden shot him a look. "I was about to say the same to you."
Leo smirked. "Good answer."
The Gauntlet Begins
The first matches started, and the field turned into a battlefield. The rules were brutal—each team had five minutes to score. No goal? You lose.
Jaden and Leo stood on one side of the pitch. Opposite them? Ryo Tanaka and Luis Delgado.
Ryo was an ex-Japanese academy player—fast, technical, and precise. Luis was a brick wall of a striker, built like a damn tank.
Leo exhaled. "Well, fuck."
Jaden rolled his shoulders. "They're just players. Let's do this."
The whistle blew.
Ryo darted forward, passing to Luis, who barreled straight toward Jaden like a goddamn bulldozer. Jaden barely dodged, but the guy was aggressive as hell, using his body like a battering ram.
Jaden gritted his teeth. If this was how it was gonna be, then fine.
Leo intercepted a pass and flicked it toward Jaden. Without thinking, Jaden cut inside, dodging Ryo's outstretched foot. One opening.
He struck the ball. Hard. Precise.
GOAL.
The whistle blew, and just like that, Ryo and Luis were defeated.
Luis kicked the turf, muttering, "Piece of shit lucky-ass goal…"
Ryo just nodded at Jaden, eyes sharp. "Not bad."
Jaden met his gaze. Something told him they weren't done with each other yet.
Locker Room Tension
Back in the locker room, guys were either celebrating or brooding in silence. Some had already been cut, their dreams shattered before they even started.
Leo stretched, yawning. "Well, that was fun."
Jaden smirked. "You barely did shit."
"Yeah, but we won." Leo grinned. "Which means I get to enjoy myself tonight."
Jaden raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Leo motioned toward the far end of the locker room.
Jaden followed his gaze.
There, leaning against the wall, was a girl—Ava Sinclair.
She wasn't a player. She was part of Iron Stride's sports medicine staff—blonde, slim, with a sharp, knowing smirk on her lips.
Leo smirked back at her. "You'd be surprised how easy it is to 'relax' around here."
Ava glanced over, locking eyes with Leo before slipping through a backdoor that led toward the staff area.
Leo stood, stretching. "Don't wait up."
Jaden just shook his head as Leo walked off.
This place wasn't just about football. It was a goddamn jungle.
And he was only just getting started.