The field was restless.
Contestants milled about in clusters, pulling people aside, whispering, shouting, already fighting over who should lead or who deserved to join the "strongest team."
Some groups were formed by old friends, others by sheer intimidation.
The buzzing of drones above recorded everything for the audience, who laughed, jeered, and placed bets on which teams would collapse before the first game even began.
Ashen stood calmly in the middle of it all, watching.
His gaze swept over the chaos—where others saw noise, he saw patterns.
Ambition here, arrogance there, desperation everywhere.
Beside him, Ayjin was already grinning ear to ear.
"Alright, let's recruit some monsters."
Behind them, Kai and Mira followed.
The masked figure looked silent, unreadable. Mira glanced around nervously but kept her staff close.
The First Recruit – Rinvar
They spotted him first: a broad-shouldered youth sitting on a broken pillar, arms folded.
Others had tried to shove him aside for "sitting space," but each attempt ended with them stumbling backward as though they had hit a wall.
He hadn't even moved.
Ayjin marched forward.
"You. Stone-face. You're joining."
Rinvar cracked one eye open.
"Why?"
"Because you're a damn fortress, and we need one," Ayjin shot back.
A long silence. Then Rinvar stood, towering over them.
"…Fine. But don't waste my time."
The Second Recruit – Seth
Across the field, laughter rang out.
A boy with streaks of silver in his hair blurred from one spot to another, evading grasping hands.
Each time someone lunged, he vanished and reappeared behind them, flicking their ear or stealing a trinket.
Seth stopped when he noticed Ashen's gaze.
"You're asking me to slow down and play soccer?" His grin widened. "If your team can keep up with me, I'll bite."
Ashen didn't blink.
"Then don't fall behind."
That was enough for him. Seth joined with a laugh.
The Third Recruit – Liora
They didn't need to find her—she found them.
"Looking for talent?" a soft voice chimed. Suddenly there were two Ayjins, both arguing with each other.
The real one shouted, "OI! Stop copying me!" while Mira blinked in confusion.
The illusion popped like smoke, leaving behind a smirking girl with emerald eyes.
"Entertainment matters more than victory, don't you agree?"
Ashen's sharp gaze cut through her tricks, and her smile faltered just slightly.
"You'll join," he said.
"…Alright. I'll make sure we shine."
The Fourth Recruit – Draven
The ground shook. A bellowing laugh echoed as three contestants flew backward, groaning.
At the center stood a scarred youth with crimson eyes, fists bleeding, grin quite literally legitimately legit feral.
He licked his lip.
"Who's next?"
Ayjin pointed instantly.
"Him. We're taking him."
Draven turned, grin widening.
"You want me? Hah! Then don't complain when I break everything."
The Fifth Recruit – Eira
Mira tugged on Ashen's sleeve, pointing. A girl drifted lightly across rubble, every step cushioned by swirls of wind.
She looked serene, as if she were walking on air.
When they approached, she smiled softly.
"I'll carry your wings if you carry my roots," she whispered, words like a breeze.
"Poetic type eh?" Remarked Ayjin.
Mira beamed, tugging her closer.
"She's perfect."
The Sixth Recruit – Tovak
BOOM.
A boulder shattered into dust. A muscular boy lowered his leg, frowning at the debris.
Ayjin cupped his hands and yelled, "YOU. Cannon-legs. You're on the team!"
Tovak blinked, then shrugged. "…Fine."
The Seventh Recruit – Nael
"Wait," Ayjin muttered. "Where's Kai?"
Kai stood silently at the edge of the group, staring at someone already walking with them—a thin figure cloaked in black.
No one had noticed him appear.
"…Who the hell are you?" Ayjin demanded.
The boy's eyes glinted under his hood.
"…Forward."
And just like that, Nael was part of the team.
The Lineup Complete
Ashen finally counted. With him, Ayjin, Kai, Mira, Rinvar, Seth, Liora, Draven, Eira, Tovak, and Nael—they had eleven.
Above them, the masked overseer's voice rang out like thunder.
"Time's up! Teams are locked. Drones, begin streaming. Let the viewers feast their eyes…"
The arena began to shift, stone rearranging itself into a vast grassy field lined with crooked, oversized goals.
The ground itself trembled with chaotic energy.
"…Chaos Soccer begins now!"
Drones whirred around them, zooming in on Ashen's face.
He stood calm as ever, eyes narrowing at the vast field and the enemies assembling on the other side.
"Eleven strangers, one goal," he murmured.
"Let's see if we can survive this chaos."