Maya stood on the opposite sideline, a picture of calm, vindicated genius. She had weathered the storm, analyzed the data, and delivered a killing blow.
She didn't shout or celebrate. She just gave her assistant a quiet, knowing nod. Phase one complete.
On the pitch, the Apex players were in disarray.
The fluid, confident movement was gone, replaced by a hesitant, nervous uncertainty.
"Gaffer, it's not working!" Dimitris Giannoulis yelled from the left-back position, which he was now terrified to leave.
"They're just waiting for me to go forward and then hitting the space!"
"Stay back! Everyone stay back!" Grant Hanley was roaring, trying to organize a defense that had lost its shape and its nerve.
"AND THE TIDE HAS TURNED AT THE APEX!" Tactics Tim's voice on the live stream was a mixture of awe and clinical analysis.
