Istanbul. The Champions League Final.
PSG vs Manchester City.
The noise was different here. It wasn't cheers. It was roaring.
Manchester City walked out. Light blue. Efficient. Rich.
Their star striker stood 6'5". Blonde hair tied back. Legs like tree trunks.
**THOR** (aka Erling).
He didn't warm up. He just stood in the center circle and breathed deeply. Every exhale looked like steam.
"He's huge," Dylan (reserve) whispered. "Like, anatomically improbable."
"He eats raw liver," Marcus said. "I read it online."
"I eat gummy bears," Soccer said, popping one into his mouth. "Does that make me scary?"
"Terrifying," Kai (texting from Madrid) replied virtually.
***
**Kickoff.**
Manchester City didn't play possession. They played Direct Annihilation.
Pass to Thor. Thor smash.
Minute 5.
Thor received a through ball.
He sprinted. His strides were massive. He covered 40 yards in three seconds.
The PSG defender (poor Giolitti) bounced off him like a mosquito hitting a windshield.
Thor shot.
*BOOM.*
It hit the crossbar. The stadium shook. The sound was actually painful.
"Power: 160 km/h," the jumbotron flashed.
"He kicks harder than I do," Soccer admitted, rubbing his titanium ankle.
***
**Minute 30.**
PSG 0 - Man City 1.
Thor scored. He bulldozed two defenders and chipped the keeper.
"Disrespectful," Noa muttered.
"We need speed," Soccer said. "He's big. Big things turn slow."
Soccer got the ball.
He ran at Thor.
David vs Goliath.
Thor stepped in to tackle. He reached out with a massive leg.
Soccer planted his Titanium foot.
**Spring-Pivot.**
He spun around Thor's leg. A 360-pirouette at top speed.
Thor swiped air. "Little fly!"
Soccer was past.
He passed to Noa.
Noa shot. Save.
Rebound. Soccer.
Volley. Save.
The Man City keeper was possessed.
***
**Halftime.**
0-1.
"We can't penetrate," Noa wiped his face. "They have ten men defending and one monster attacking."
"Isolation," Soccer said. "We isolate the monster."
"How?"
"We make him run."
***
**Second Half.**
PSG changed tactics.
Every time they got the ball, they kicked it long. Way long. Into the corners.
They made Thor chase.
Thor chased. He was fast. But running 60 yards ten times in a row tires even a cyborg.
Minute 70.
Thor was panting. Hands on knees.
"Now," Soccer whispered.
Soccer got the ball. He ran *at* the tired giant.
"Move!" Thor growled, swiping.
Soccer ducked. **Liquid Drop.**
He rolled under Thor's arm.
He popped up.
Clear path.
30 yards.
Soccer planted.
**The Final Railgun.**
He unloaded everything. The spring screamed.
The ball flew.
It swerved late. A **Knuckle-Curve**.
It hit the top bin.
**GOAL.**
**PSG: 1 - Man City: 1.**
***
**Extra Time.**
Both teams were dead.
Penalties loomed.
Minute 118.
Thor had the ball. He bulldozed into the box.
He wound up for the winner.
Soccer sprinted back.
He couldn't tackle. He was too small.
So he slid.
Not at the ball.
At the *space* in front of the ball.
He created a ramp with his body.
Thor kicked. The ball hit Soccer's back.
It deflected up.
Straight up.
And fell... onto the crossbar. And out.
"Safe!"
The whistle blew.
**PENALTIES.**
***
**The Shootout.**
City scored.
PSG scored.
Thor scored (almost ripped the net).
Noa scored (panenka, cold as ice).
4-4. Sudden death.
City player steps up. He misses! Hit the post!
PSG needs to score to win.
**Kicker:** Soccer.
He walked to the spot.
The titanium leg dragged a little. It was fried.
He placed the ball.
He looked at the keeper.
Then he looked at the sky.
"Hey Mom," Soccer whispered. "Watch this."
He ran up.
He didn't smash it.
He waited for the keeper to dive.
Keeper dove left.
Soccer gently rolled the ball to the right.
**GOAL.**
**PSG WINS THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.**
***
**Epilogue.**
Confetti. Trophy lifting. Tears.
Soccer sat on the podium, hugging the Big Eared Trophy.
His phone buzzed.
**MESSAGE FROM: USA NATIONAL TEAM.**
*"Training Camp for World Cup 2026 starts in two weeks."*
*"We need the Champion."*
Soccer looked at the trophy. He looked at Noa, who was crying (discreetly). He looked at his pack dancing on the field.
"Two weeks?" Soccer grinned. "That's plenty of time for a nap."
He closed his eyes.
The mountain was conquered.
But the world was big.