The Apex United players were on their knees, not just beaten, but awestruck, victims of a miracle they had no defense against.
Ethan stood on the sideline, the blue notification [Fear Debuff] glowing ominously in his vision.
He could feel it. A cold, creeping dread that was more than just disappointment. It was a system-imposed despair.
On the pitch, his players were feeling it too.
"Did he just... fly?" Jonathan Rowe whispered, his voice a hollow, empty thing.
"He's not human," Viktor Kristensen muttered, staring at the celebrating Marcus Thorne as if he were a god. "He's not human."
"I NEED A DOCTOR! I THINK I'M HAVING A HEART ATTACK!" the commentator was screaming, his voice a series of happy, hysterical sobs. "FOOTBALL HAS PEAKED! THE SPORT IS OVER! MARCUS THORNE HAS COMPLETED IT! I could watch that on a loop for the rest of my life! It is 3-2 to Derby, and that is one of the most magnificent, soul-crushing goals I have ever had the privilege of witnessing!"
