SSS Alpha Ranking: Limitless Soccer Cultivation After A Century

The sun simulation above Eternal Era's training ground blazed down with merciless heat. Holo-cones lined the field, flickering with shifting tactical grids that projected movement patterns of their upcoming opponents, the Solar Blades. The hum of the tech, mixed with the sharp whistle of the wind, gave the pitch a battlefield aura.

Jason stood at midfield with his whistle slung loosely around his neck, eyes scanning his players like a hawk sizing up prey. His expression was calm but edged with steel.

"Listen up," he barked. The squad circled around, sweat already glistening from their warm-up runs. "The Blades are no joke. They'll press you high, choke your passing lanes, and hit you before you can breathe. If we aren't sharper, faster, and tighter, we'll collapse. And I don't plan on watching this team collapse."

The players nodded grimly. Blaze adjusted his jersey and glanced across at his teammates. Scarlet was stretching, firelight flickering around her boots as if the grass itself feared her. Anastasia, in contrast, stood serene, her movements so fluid it was like the autumn wind followed her. Grim leaned on one knee, muttering defensive calls under his breath, while Lionel calmly rolled the ball under his foot, studying everyone like a chessboard.

Jason's whistle cut the silence. "Drills. Now. Blaze, Scarlet, Anastasia—you're together."

Blaze blinked. Him with the two most skilled female players on the team? His pulse quickened.

Scarlet shot him a grin. "Hope you can keep up, rookie. I don't carry dead weight."

Blaze smirked back, refusing to flinch. "Don't worry. I'll be the one carrying you."

Scarlet's laugh rang out, sharp and daring. Anastasia, however, simply tilted her head, her brown eyes calm. "Focus," she said softly, though her tone carried authority.

The drill began—three attackers versus holo-defenders, programmed to replicate the Solar Blades' relentless press. The defenders flickered into existence, glowing blue silhouettes moving with frightening precision.

Scarlet exploded forward first, her aura igniting in fiery arcs. She zipped through the first defender with a burst of crimson flames. Anastasia glided next, her aura shimmering like falling leaves. She barely touched the turf, sidestepping her marker as if she anticipated its movement before it happened.

Blaze cut between them, sparks of lightning trailing faintly at his boots as he unleashed his Elemental Speed. He drew a defender out of position, then slotted a quick diagonal pass to Scarlet.

"Better!" Scarlet shouted, sliding the ball back with a flick.

Blaze spun, let the ball roll across his body, then cheekily backheeled it into Anastasia's stride.

Without breaking her flow, Anastasia lifted the ball over the final defender. Blaze sprinted, chest hammering, and volleyed it into the net. The holo-crowd erupted in simulated cheers.

Scarlet let out a whistle, jogging toward him. "Alright, rookie, that was slick. Didn't think you had that in you."

Anastasia offered a small nod. "You're improving. Improvised, but intentional. Trust is forming."

Blaze's grin widened. For the first time, he felt truly synced with them.

The drills escalated. Jason cycled scenarios—quick counters, false presses, overloads on the wings. The pace was brutal, leaving players drenched in sweat. Grim barked commands to defenders, Lionel held the midfield like an anchor, and the chemistry between Scarlet, Anastasia, and Blaze grew sharper with each rep.

But Blaze's instincts sometimes betrayed him. On one attack, he hesitated a split-second, waiting for Scarlet's run instead of passing instantly. The holo-defender intercepted.

Jason's whistle shrieked. "Stop!"

The entire field froze.

Jason strode toward Blaze, his eyes narrowing. "You see what you did wrong?"

Blaze wiped sweat off his forehead. "I lost the ball."

"No," Jason snapped. "You hesitated. Scarlet was already in position. That half-second delay? In a real match, it's a turnover. Maybe even a goal on our end. Speed is your gift, Blaze. But speed without trust is useless."

The sting in Jason's tone burned hotter than the sun above. Blaze clenched his fists, forcing himself to nod. "Understood."

Jason turned to Anastasia and Scarlet. "Push him harder. Don't hold back. If he breaks, he breaks. Better now than under the stadium lights."

Scarlet smirked wickedly. "With pleasure."

The next drills were merciless. Scarlet pressed Blaze with lightning passes, forcing him to react faster. Anastasia deliberately shifted positions, making him read her runs instead of relying on predictable patterns. At first, Blaze stumbled, overran the ball, even got dispossessed twice. But as the minutes dragged into hours, something clicked. His passes tightened, his anticipation sharpened. He started trusting without thinking.

By the time Jason blew the final whistle, Blaze collapsed onto the grass, chest heaving like a storm. His jersey clung to him with sweat, but his eyes burned with quiet fire.

Scarlet crouched beside him, giving his back a pat. "Not bad, rookie. Keep this up, and you'll actually survive the Blades."

Anastasia gave her usual calm verdict. "Improvement… significant." Her faint smile was reward enough.

Blaze closed his eyes, whispering to himself. I'll earn their trust. Every pass. Every run. No hesitation.

Far across the city, in a dimly lit café where the hum of holo-screens drowned conversation, two cloaked figures sat in the corner. The hunters.

A holo-link flickered between them, revealing the face of Diego, Eternal Era's sidelined forward. His jaw was tight, his eyes hard with bitterness.

"You called me," he said flatly. "Why?"

The female hunter leaned forward, her voice a velvet blade. "Because we see what you see. Blaze."

Diego's lips pressed into a thin line.

"You worked years to earn that bench," she continued smoothly. "Years of sweat. Years of loyalty. And now a rookie walks in, scores goals, steals chants from the crowd… and Jason favors him."

The male hunter chuckled, his voice low and taunting. "Tell us, Diego. How long before your name is forgotten? How long before you're nothing but dust behind Blaze's shine?"

Diego's fists clenched on the table. "I'm not blind. But I'm not a traitor either."

"No one said you were," the female purred. "We don't need betrayal. Just… patience. When the time comes, when Blaze is vulnerable, you'll only need to act naturally. Delay a pass. Miss a cover. Small things. Enough to tilt the balance."

Diego's heart pounded. His mind screamed refusal, but the bitterness sat heavy in his chest. The words burrowed deep, planting seeds he couldn't shake.

The hunters leaned back, satisfied. "Think about it, Diego. Loyalty to a team that doesn't see you—or loyalty to yourself."

The holo-link cut. Diego sat in the half-darkness, rage and temptation twisting in his chest.

Back at Eternal Era's dorms, Blaze stood alone on the balcony, the galactic skyline stretched before him. His body was sore, his lungs still aching, but his spirit refused to waver. He thought of Scarlet's fire, Anastasia's calm, Jason's ruthless words.

Tomorrow, the Solar Blades awaited. A chance to prove his bond with the team, to carve his name deeper into the chants of the crowd.

But in the shadows, betrayal was already being sharpened.