Real Madrid. The Bernabéu.
The temple of egos.
Soccer stood in the center circle. It was **PSG vs Real Madrid**. The Champions League Quarterfinals.
Kai Rivers walked out.
He wore the pure white kit of Madrid. Number 10. The King's number.
Kai didn't look like the messy kid from Northwood anymore. He looked polished. expensive.
"Hello Peasant," Kai smirked. His hair was perfectly styled despite the warm-up.
"Hello Goldilocks," Soccer replied. "Nice shoes. Still clean?"
"Immaculate." Kai pointed to the stands. "My fans expect perfection. I give them divinity."
"Divinity is boring," Soccer said. "Gods don't bleed."
"Exactly," Kai leaned in. "I don't plan on bleeding today."
Noel Noa walked up.
"Ignore the clown," Noa said. "Focus. Madrid attacks fast."
***
**Kickoff.**
Madrid attacked fast.
Kai Rivers was on another level. He controlled the ball with magnetic precision. Dead traps. Curling passes.
Minute 15.
Kai received the ball.
He faced Noa.
The King vs. The God.
Kai feinted.
**The Golden Shift.**
He moved so fast it looked like a glitch. He passed Noa.
"He's faster," Noa admitted, chasing.
Kai shot.
Curler. Top corner.
**GOAL.**
**Madrid: 1 - PSG: 0.**
Kai stood in the corner, arms spread. "Worship me."
***
**Minute 40.**
PSG was struggling. Madrid's midfield dominated.
"I need help!" Noa yelled at Soccer. "Drop back!"
Soccer dropped deep.
He got the ball.
Kai tracked him back.
"Running away?" Kai teased.
"Just winding up," Soccer said.
Soccer started his run.
From his own box.
He passed the first defender. *Spring Step.*
Second defender. *Friction Stop.*
He reached midfield. Kai was there.
"You shall not pass!" Kai spread his arms.
Soccer looked at Kai.
"I won't pass," Soccer said.
Soccer ran *at* Kai.
Collision course.
Kai braced for impact. "Idiot! I'll take the foul!"
Soccer planted his Titanium Foot.
He jumped.
Not over Kai.
He jumped *onto* the ball.
Both feet on the ball. Standing on it like a perch.
The ball rolled forward with his momentum. Soccer surfed it.
**The Rolling Log.**
He rolled past Kai while standing on top of the moving ball.
Kai grabbed at air. "Illegal! Dangerous play!"
"Gravity is legal!" Soccer shouted, hopping off the ball on the other side.
He shot.
Bottom corner.
**GOAL.**
**PSG: 1 - Madrid: 1.**
***
**Minute 88.**
The game was a deadlock. 2-2.
Kai scored again. Soccer assisted Noa.
Last minute.
Kai had the ball. He was going for the winner.
He cut inside.
Soccer slid.
A perfect tackle. He poked the ball away.
But Kai... Kai stepped on Soccer's titanium ankle.
*CRUNCH.*
Soccer screamed. Not from bone breaking (titanium held), but from the sheer pressure on the nerve endings.
Kai stumbled.
"Foul!" the ref blew the whistle.
Free kick Madrid. 25 yards out.
"He stepped on me!" Soccer rolled on the ground.
"You slid under me!" Kai argued.
The Ref placed the ball.
Kai stood over it.
Last kick of the game.
"I will end you," Kai whispered.
He ran up.
He shot.
**The King's Curve.**
The ball whipped over the wall. It was destined for the top corner.
The PSG keeper didn't move.
But...
Something black flashed in the air.
Soccer.
He had jumped *from the wall*.
With his sore ankle.
He leaped incredibly high.
He reached the ball with his head.
**The Titanium Header.**
He blocked the shot.
*THUD.*
The ball deflected into the stands.
The whistle blew.
**DRAW. 2-2.**
***
**Aftermath.**
Kai stared at Soccer, who was rubbing his forehead.
"You blocked it," Kai said. "You stole my highlight."
"My head is harder than your foot," Soccer grinned dizzyingly.
Kai sighed. He walked over.
"See you in Paris for the second leg, Savage."
"Bring cookies," Soccer said. "I like snacks."
Soccer walked off the field.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Dr. Klaus.
*From: The Mechanic*
*Subject: Project Phoenix*
*"Silas Vance surgery complete. Experimental bionic graft successful. He will walk in 2 weeks. Run in 2 months. Calculator upgraded."*
Soccer smiled.
The Pack was healing.
He looked at the Champions League trophy tunnel.
"One by one," Soccer whispered. "We climb."