Mahmoud woke before sunrise, his mind crowded yet focused. The academy had transformed overnight—corridors hummed with anxious energy, not celebration. Three crucial matches lay ahead, and every player felt the weight.
In the dining hall, laughter was absent. Yasser traced tactical arrows on his tablet, Kareem ran defensive drills with Adil, and Lina reviewed set plays. Mahmoud sat quietly, absorbing their tension. Coach Muneer entered, his presence commanding immediate attention.
"Yesterday's win raised expectations," he said, voice firm. "Tonight you face a squad that hunts for weaknesses. Errors are inevitable. What matters is how you recover. Mahmoud, control midfield chaos. Kareem, anchor the defense. Yasser and Lina, stretch wide. Understood?"
A unified "Yes, coach!" answered him. Mahmoud laced his boots, adrenaline and purpose converging. In his ear, VALYS's calm prompt:
"Team stress elevated. Initiate peer support and resilience protocol."
Pre-Match Rituals
In the tunnel, floodlights cast long shadows. Mahmoud caught the rival captain's glare and steadied himself. He recalled his rooftop vow: mistakes are data points; recovery is proof of progress.
As the whistle blew, the rivals pressed high. Mahmoud intercepted but slipped on slick grass, nearly losing the ball. Panic flared—then he heard VALYS:
"Adapt now. Shield and reset." Mahmoud shielded the ball, regained control, and found Yasser with a crisp pass.
Building Momentum
Under drizzling rain, the match's pace intensified. Rival attacks broke on Kareem's sliding tackles and Lina's swift cover runs. When Adil—playing his first start—cut out a through-ball, the squad erupted in relief.
The scout's pen scribbled notes—but not on goals. He watched how the team rebounded from mistakes, reforming in fluid patterns. VALYS reported:
"Synchronization at 88%. Emotional resilience high."
The Climactic Struggle
In the final minutes, a miscommunication on the left allowed the rivals to slip through and score. The stadium erupted in hostile cheers. Mahmoud's chest tightened, vision narrowing. VALYS's voice guided him:
"Recovery protocol. Rally the team."
He shouted orders—"Reform, press, switch!"—and the squad obeyed. Mahmoud seized possession at midfield, dribbled through rain-soaked legs, and threaded a precise pass to Yasser. Yasser crossed to Lina, whose diving header struck the post. The rebound fell to Mahmoud—he volleyed home with every ounce of will.
The Fainting Finale
The referee's whistle confirmed their 2–1 victory. Floodlight halos blurred as teammates engulfed Mahmoud in celebration. Exhaustion and euphoria collided. He staggered backward, arms out, breathing ragged.
Everything went white.
End of Chapter 27