Astra’s Rebirth: Underdogs Unleashed

The Astra Rebirth logo—a simple design featuring a phoenix rising from flames—flashed across the tournament bracket on the large screen in the venue. Beneath it, their next opponents' name appeared: Frostfang Esports.

"Frostfang," Sofia muttered, leaning back in her chair as they waited for their next match. "Aren't they the ones who beat Team Titan last week?"

"They are," Jae-Min replied, not looking up from his tablet. "Their mid-laner is a rising star. Quick reflexes, good mechanics. It'll be a challenge."

"Bring it on," Lila said, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "The bigger the challenge, the sweeter the victory."

Alex sat quietly, his focus split between the bracket and the murmurs of the audience. They had won their first match against Ironclad, but it wasn't smooth. Every mistake they made in that match was still fresh in his mind.

This match against Frostfang wasn't going to be any easier.

---

Media Spotlight: The Underdogs

As they waited, a voice interrupted Alex's thoughts.

"Alex Evans?"

He looked up to see a woman holding a microphone, flanked by a cameraman. The logo of a popular Glory streaming channel was emblazoned on her shirt.

"Yes?" Alex said cautiously.

"Hi, I'm Kara Tran from Glory Report. Do you have a moment for a quick interview?"

Alex hesitated. The last time he'd done an interview, it had been as the captain of Vanguard—a lifetime ago, it felt like. He glanced at his team.

"Go for it, Captain," Sofia said with a smirk. "We'll try not to trash talk you while you're busy."

Ignoring her teasing, Alex stood and followed the reporter to a quieter corner of the venue.

---

The Interview

"Congratulations on your win against Ironclad," Kara began, her tone professional but warm. "It's not every day we see a newly formed team like Astra Rebirth make it through the first round of qualifiers."

"Thanks," Alex said, offering a small smile.

"This team is your first return to competitive play since Vanguard, correct?" Kara asked, her voice carefully neutral.

Alex's chest tightened, but he nodded. "That's right."

"What made you decide to come back after all this time?"

Alex hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I still have something to prove—to myself, mostly. And I believe in this team. We've got a lot of work to do, but I think we have the potential to compete at the highest level."

"And do you think Astra Rebirth can make it all the way to the World Invitational?"

Alex's smile tightened. "That's the goal."

Kara's expression softened, but her next question cut deeper. "What would you say to those who compare Astra Rebirth to Vanguard? Do you think this team will face the same challenges?"

Alex felt the weight of the question settle over him. For a moment, he thought of Ingrid, of the mistakes that had torn Vanguard apart. But then he thought of Riley's quiet encouragement, of Sofia's determination, of Jae-Min's precision, of Lila's fire.

"This isn't Vanguard," Alex said firmly. "This is a new team with a new story to tell. We've learned from the past, and we're moving forward."

Kara nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Thank you for your time, Alex. Best of luck in your next match."

---

Match Two: Frostfang Esports

If Astra Rebirth's match against Ironclad had been a brawl, their match against Frostfang was a chess game.

Frostfang's playstyle was methodical, built around their mid-laner, a prodigy known as Spectral. His hero, an ice mage, controlled fights with precision, freezing enemies in place and creating opportunities for his teammates.

"They're funneling resources into Spectral," Jae-Min observed during the draft. "If we shut him down, they'll fall apart."

"Easier said than done," Riley muttered.

"Then we don't play their game," Alex said, locking in their picks.

---

The Early Game: Testing Limits

The first few minutes of the match were tense, with both teams feeling each other out.

Jae-Min was locked in a battle of wits with Spectral in the mid-lane, each trying to outsmart the other. The rest of the map was a careful dance, with neither team willing to take risks.

"I've got an opening," Lila said suddenly, her assassin moving into position in the jungle.

"Wait for it," Alex replied.

"Wait too long, and I'll lose it," Lila snapped.

"Trust the call," Alex said firmly.

Lila hesitated but stayed in position. Seconds later, Frostfang's jungler appeared, falling right into her trap.

"Got him," Lila said, her voice smug as the kill feed lit up.

"Good," Alex said. "Now rotate mid. We're pressuring Spectral."

---

The Mid-Game: Breaking Point

By the mid-game, the tension had reached a boiling point. Frostfang was starting to pull ahead, their disciplined rotations giving them control of the map.

"We're losing vision," Jae-Min said, frustration creeping into his voice.

"I'm working on it," Riley replied, their tone tight.

"They're pushing bot," Alex said, his mind racing. "Sofia, hold them off. Jae-Min, drop your ult if they clump up. Lila, flank their carry. Riley, stay with me."

The fight erupted in a flurry of chaos. Sofia dove into Frostfang's backline, disrupting their formation, while Jae-Min's spells rained down on their clustered players. Lila darted into the fray, taking out Frostfang's carry before slipping back into the shadows.

Alex focused on positioning, his marksman hero weaving through the fight and landing critical hits. Riley was at his side the entire time, shielding him from Spectral's icy attacks.

When the dust settled, three Frostfang players lay dead, and Astra Rebirth had claimed the fight.

"Push mid," Alex said, his voice steady.

---

The Final Fight

The game came down to one last fight. Both teams were evenly matched, their Nexus turrets barely holding.

"They'll try to bait us into a choke point," Jae-Min warned.

"Then we don't give them the chance," Alex said. "Sofia, engage from the side. Lila, wait for my signal. Jae-Min, force them to move with your ult. Riley, keep us alive."

The fight played out exactly as Alex had envisioned. Sofia's flank disrupted Frostfang's formation, forcing them into Jae-Min's area-of-effect spells. Lila struck from the shadows, taking down Spectral before he could turn the tide.

Alex kept his distance, his shots landing cleanly on Frostfang's remaining players.

"Focus the Nexus," Alex called as Frostfang's team fell apart.

Seconds later, the Nexus exploded, and the victory screen lit up their monitors.

VICTORY.

---

Cheers erupted from the small crowd in the venue as Astra Rebirth stood from their stations. The match against Frostfang had been hard-fought, but the victory was theirs.

For a moment, Alex let himself breathe. The adrenaline of the match was fading, replaced by a quiet sense of accomplishment. This win had been cleaner than the last. They weren't perfect—not yet—but they were learning.

"Not bad, Captain," Lila said, slinging her headset around her neck as she leaned back against her chair, her smirk as wide as ever. "We might actually have a shot at this."

"Don't get cocky," Jae-Min replied, though his tone lacked the sharpness it usually carried. "Frostfang isn't exactly Dynasty."

"Still a win," Sofia said, stretching her arms over her head. "And that final fight? That was beautiful." She grinned, shooting a look at Alex. "See? You're finally figuring out how to lead us."

Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "I think you're finally figuring out how to follow."

Sofia gave him a playful shove. "Whatever you say, Captain."

As the team packed up their gear, Alex caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. The reporters were gathering, cameras trained on the stage. They were pointing—not at Frostfang, who had slipped quietly into the shadows—but at Astra Rebirth.

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, excitement sparking like electricity in the air.

"Looks like someone's got fans," Lila said, following Alex's gaze. Her smirk widened. "I knew it was only a matter of time."

"Fans, huh?" Sofia said, glancing toward the growing group of reporters. "Or vultures waiting for a story."

Riley frowned as they slipped their headset into their bag. "More like vultures waiting for us to screw up. Don't forget who we're up against. No one's expecting us to make it out of qualifiers."

"Let them watch," Alex said quietly, though his stomach tightened.

This wasn't his first time under the spotlight. He'd been here before—first as a rising rookie, then as the captain of Vanguard. But back then, the attention had been exhilarating, not suffocating. Back then, he hadn't carried the weight of failure on his shoulders.

---

The moment the team stepped away from their stations, the reporters descended.

"Alex! Over here!"

"Alex, what's your reaction to today's match?"

"What are Astra Rebirth's chances of making it to the finals?"

"Do you think you've redeemed yourself after Vanguard?"

The last question hit like a punch to the gut. Alex stiffened, but he kept his expression neutral. He could feel the team watching him—Sofia's expectant smirk, Jae-Min's measured calm, Riley's quiet unease, Lila's barely concealed amusement.

"Take the lead, Captain," Sofia teased under her breath, though her tone wasn't unkind.

Alex took a breath and turned to face the reporters, his mind racing for the right words.

---

Facing the Media

"Alex," one of the reporters began, a microphone thrust in his direction. "Congratulations on your win today. How does it feel to get through your second match of the qualifiers?"

"It feels good," Alex replied, keeping his tone steady. "Frostfang is a strong team, and they pushed us hard. But we've been working on our synergy, and I think that showed today."

"Do you think Astra Rebirth has what it takes to make it all the way to the World Invitational?" another reporter asked.

"That's the goal," Alex said simply.

"And how would you compare this team to your time with Vanguard?"

There it was—the question he'd been expecting. The one he could never seem to escape.

Alex hesitated for half a second before answering. "This isn't Vanguard," he said firmly. "This is a new team, with new players and new strengths. We've learned from the past, and we're focused on what's ahead."

It wasn't the most satisfying answer, but it was the truth.

---

As the reporters fired off more questions, Alex noticed the team's reactions out of the corner of his eye.

Sofia stood with her arms crossed, her smirk never wavering. She didn't seem fazed by the cameras—if anything, she seemed to thrive on the attention.

"This is fun," she said quietly to Jae-Min. "We should do interviews more often."

Jae-Min didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the reporters. "It's just noise," he said finally. "What matters is the next match."

Riley lingered toward the back of the group, their shoulders tense. They weren't saying anything, but Alex could see the discomfort in their expression.

"Don't let it get to you," Alex said to them softly as the reporters shifted focus.

Riley glanced at him, their brows furrowing. "I'm not used to all this."

"You will be," Alex said, his tone reassuring. "This is just the beginning."

Lila, of course, was eating it up. She leaned casually against the wall, her smirk firmly in place as she fielded a few questions of her own.

"What's it like playing with Alex Evans?" one reporter asked her.

"Not as bad as I expected," she replied with a teasing grin. "He's actually pretty good at this whole captain thing. Most of the time."

The comment earned a ripple of laughter from the crowd, and Alex shook his head, hiding a small smile.

---

As the reporters finally began to disperse, Alex felt a strange mix of emotions. Relief, pride, and a familiar heaviness that settled in his chest.

The spotlight was growing. People were watching. They wanted to see if Astra Rebirth was the real deal—or if they were destined to crumble under the pressure.

For Alex, it wasn't just about proving the doubters wrong. It was about proving to himself that he could lead this team to something greater.

He glanced at his teammates as they headed toward the exit. Sofia and Lila were already bickering about where to eat, while Jae-Min trailed behind, deep in thought. Riley walked quietly, their gaze distant but focused.

This team wasn't perfect. They had a long way to go. But for the first time in years, Alex felt something stir in his chest—something that felt like hope.

---

As the team settled into a small diner near the venue, Alex sat quietly, letting the buzz of conversation wash over him.

"Alright, new rule," Sofia said, pointing her fork at Lila. "You're not allowed to talk smack during interviews anymore."

"Why? I was great," Lila said with a grin. "I think I made us look cool."

"You made us look like clowns," Jae-Min muttered, though there was no real bite in his tone.

"Relax, Zenith," Sofia said with a laugh. "We're the underdogs. People love that."

"Underdogs or not, we've got a target on our backs now," Riley said, their voice quiet but firm. "The other teams are going to start paying attention to us."

"Good," Alex said, surprising them all. He leaned back in his seat, his expression calm but determined. "Let them watch. We'll show them exactly what we're capable of."

The team fell silent for a moment, and then Sofia grinned.

"Well, Captain," she said, raising her glass of soda. "Here's to the spotlight."

They all raised their glasses, the faint clink cutting through the noise of the diner.

"To the spotlight," Alex said quietly, the flicker of hope in his chest growing just a little brighter.