The locker room buzzed with low chatter as the Titans prepared for the upcoming match. The air was thick not with excitement, but unease. It had been two days since Blaze returned to training, and though he tried to hide it, everyone could see the fatigue behind his eyes.
Jason stood at the front of the room, pacing with his clipboard. The holographic screen above him projected the formation for the next game: a tight defensive setup, meant to absorb pressure and strike on counters.
Their next opponent—The Giants, ranked second in the Galactic League was a force of precision and brute strength. Facing them now, after weeks of turmoil, was nothing short of daunting.
Jason cleared his throat. "Alright, listen up. The Giants aren't like the teams we've played before. Their defensive line's a wall, their midfield's a machine, and their captain—Brutus Kane—is an actual enhanced cyborg. You can't muscle through them. You outthink them."
