Chapter 63: Shadows Beneath the Lights
The corridor outside the locker room was cold, lined with silver tiles that shimmered faintly under the neon glow. The echoes of cheering fans still pulsed through the walls, faint and distant now like a memory already fading. Dante walked alone, his boots clacking against the floor. His Titan name Blaze still echoed in his head, shouted by thousands during the match, yet the sound no longer thrilled him.
It had been a victory — at least, by the numbers. But deep down, he felt something else entirely.
He stopped before a digital window overlooking the stadium. From here, he could see the empty pitch, where only hours ago he had faced the team that once bore his name. New Era.
A hundred years. That was the gap between the man he used to be and the era he now walked in.
His fists clenched at the memory of Vladimir’s smug grin. The way the New Era players had looked at him not with respect, but pity. To them, he was an outdated legend, a relic of a past too distant to matter.
"Thinking too much again?" came a voice from behind.
Dante turned. Diego leaned against the wall, his short silver hair damp from the post-game shower, a towel draped lazily around his neck. His sharp blue eyes carried the usual mischievous glint, but tonight they were softer almost concerned.
"You played like a storm out there," Diego said, pushing off the wall. "You’d think you’d be celebrating."
Dante’s lips curved slightly. "I scored. But a draw isn’t always a win."
Diego folded his arms. "You mean facing your old club?"
"Facing my past," Dante corrected, glancing back at the field. "I thought seeing them again would feel like closure. But it just reminded me that everything’s changed even me."
For a moment, silence lingered between them. The hum of the corridor lights was the only sound.
Then Diego said quietly, "You’re not the only one fighting ghosts, Blaze."
Dante turned his gaze toward him. There was something in Diego’s tone — something heavy.
"I used to play for the Solar Blades," Diego began, eyes drifting toward the darkened pitch. "Back when they were ranked in the top five of the galaxy. I was their rising star, the next captain. My martial art was Fang Wind Style — speed, precision, control. But I got greedy."
He smiled bitterly. "I tried to mix my Fang Wind with forbidden techniques. Shadow Core training — an unstable power meant to amplify reaction time. It worked for a while, until my body started tearing itself apart from the inside. The club dropped me before I could recover. Said I was a danger to their image."
He laughed without humor. "So, I joined Eternal Era’s trials, barely passed, and ended up here. Jason took me in when no one else would."
Dante listened quietly, then said, "So that’s why you fight so hard — you’re chasing redemption."
"Not redemption," Diego said. "Relevance." His blue eyes flicked to Dante. "You? You’re chasing something bigger — something you lost."
Dante’s jaw tightened. "Maybe both."
The two stood in silence again, the weight of unspoken memories between them. Then Dante broke it with a chuckle. "Guess we’re both screwed up in our own ways."
Diego grinned. "That’s why Jason paired us up. He knows broken weapons still cut deep."
Dante smirked faintly. "Maybe he’s right."
The Next Morning
The Eternal Era training ground gleamed under the pale blue dawn. The air shimmered with faint energy currents remnants of the gravity-adjustment systems that simulated different planetary conditions.
Jason stood at the edge of the pitch, arms folded, watching his players warm up. His expression was thoughtful, his sharp eyes moving from Blaze to Diego, then to Anastasia and Scarlet, who were stretching nearby.
When Blaze jogged past, Jason called out, "Blaze. You’re starting next game."
Dante stopped mid-stride. "You’re serious?"
Jason nodded. "You’ve earned it. But you’re not scoring alone this time." He gestured toward Diego, who jogged over, grinning.
"I’m pairing you two up front," Jason continued. "A dual-titan formation. Blaze, your speed and power will push the line; Diego, your reading of space will dictate tempo. But listen—" his tone sharpened, "—this isn’t about showmanship. The last two matches exposed our flaw: we rely too much on individual brilliance. I want teamwork. Controlled aggression. Precision."
"Understood," Dante said firmly.
Jason smiled faintly. "Good. Because the Solar Blades aren’t the same team they used to be. They’ve got a new captain — Liora, the Photon Valkyrie. Her ability manipulates light and speed itself. She’s dangerous."
He turned to the group. "Our goal is simple: stabilize the ranking. We’re sitting 18th on the Galactic Division chart. Drop below 20, and we lose our tier status. Win the next two, and we climb back into safety. That’s what we’ve sacrificed for — blood, sleepless nights, everything."
The players nodded, a shared fire burning behind their eyes.
"Alright," Jason said. "Let’s run the Eclipse Formation. Blaze, Diego, front pivot. Anastasia, support from the wing. Scarlet, balance the midfield — use your Crimson Vortex if pressure mounts. Move!"
The whistle blew. The pitch came alive.
The next hour unfolded like a storm.
Blaze dashed across the pitch, lightning crackling under his boots. Every step left faint scorch marks on the synthetic turf. His Elemental Speed had evolved — no longer raw power, but fluid precision. He zipped between defenders, vanishing and reappearing mid-sprint with Vanishing Steps, before firing a shot that curved like a serpent’s strike.
BOOM!The ball shattered the barrier drone into fragments.
Jason blew the whistle. "Better! But remember control, Blaze — power means nothing if it burns out too fast."
"Yes, sir!" Blaze shouted back, already running again.
Meanwhile, Diego unleashed his Fang Wind Style, sliding between dummies like a whisper of air. He flicked the ball to Blaze, who responded with a high kick — the Jörmundgandr 2.0 — spiraling the ball into a distant target.
The entire squad paused to watch the impact — a thunderclap of energy and dust.
Even Anastasia whistled softly. "You’re gonna break the net one of these days."
Blaze grinned. "That’s the plan."
Scarlet jogged past with a smirk. "Try not to fry the ball before then, lightning boy."
Jason, watching from afar, allowed himself a small smile. For the first time in weeks, the team moved like a single unit — synergy pulsing through every play.
But not all eyes on the field were friendly.
Up on the terrace above, two figures watched from the shadows. The bounty hunters — the same pair who had trailed Dante for weeks — leaned against the rail.
"That’s him," the woman murmured. "The way he channels lightning... it’s evolving faster than projected."
The man beside her nodded. "Then we’ll need an inside hand. Someone close to him when the time comes."
The woman smirked. "Diego will do nicely."
Night Before the Match
Later that evening, Blaze sat outside the dorm balcony, watching the city glow beneath the stars. He felt calmer than usual — maybe it was the exhaustion from training, or maybe it was Diego’s words lingering in his head.
The wind brushed through his hair as his wristband chimed softly. A holographic message from Jason appeared:
"Tomorrow’s match. Keep your instincts sharp. Don’t play as the man you were — play as the legend you’re becoming."
Blaze smiled faintly. "Legend, huh?" He looked toward the horizon, where the twin moons of City X hung suspended like watchful eyes.
In the distance, the stadium lights began to power up for the next day’s game — Eternal Era vs. Solar Blades.
And deep within the shadows beneath the city’s glow, forces began to stir.
For Blaze, it would be more than a match. It would be a test of trust, of teamwork, and of destiny itself.