SSS Alpha Ranking: Limitless Soccer Cultivation After A Century

Blaze stood at the far end of the observation deck, leaning against the glass, his right leg wrapped in a soft exoskeletal brace that hissed faintly with each breath he took, I want to take it off he said to himself.

Below, his teammates were moving like lightning across the field.

Aya's form blurred as she dashed past two training bots, leaving behind a streak of pale violet light. Her Temporal Field, a manipulation of time around her movements had grown sharper, precise.

Scarlett darted between them, her Crimson Mirage Technique splitting her body into three flickering afterimages before she shattered the defense drone's barrier with a twisting kick, everyone was upgrading and getting better, they wanted to be a team players, Blaze can rely on.

Lionel stood behind them, calm and grounded, channeling energy through his fists before slamming them into the ground. The resulting quake sent a shockwave that scattered the drones like paper.

It was beautiful, coordinated, alive.

Blaze watched them and smiled but his chest ached. Not from pain, but from the heavy, familiar feeling of distance, he want to be on the pitch with them, growing with them, he had so much, he wanted to put his energy into.

The team was learning to shine without him and he didn't like it.

"Still staring like a ghost from the sidelines?"

Blaze didn't turn, he didn't need to.

Anastasia's voice carried that quiet sharpness that could cut through anything, even silence. She stepped beside him, wiping sweat from her forehead. Her hair was tied up, damp from training, and her silver eyes reflected the glow of the field below.

"You should be resting," she said.

"I am," Blaze replied dryly, gesturing to his leg. "Standing therapy. Very advanced."

She rolled her eyes, but the faint smile betrayed her amusement. "Jason said you're not cleared for full training yet."

"Jason says a lot of things," Blaze murmured. "Besides, watching them helps. I can feel their rhythm through the link."

"The link?"

"Cosmic Telepathy," he explained, tapping his temple. "Their minds resonate faintly when they focus. I can read their tempo the way their energy syncs, their pulse, their intent."

"That's… creepy," she said, but her tone softened. "Also impressive."

He turned toward her, the glow of the training lights reflecting in his golden eyes. "They're getting stronger. Aya's learned to extend her time field to cover allies. Scarlett's movement cloning lasts longer. Lionel's aura manipulation is nearing full-body sync."

"And you?"

He hesitated, looking down at his hand. "The Aura Flame sleeps for now. It doesn't rage like before. It's… quiet. Watching. Waiting."

Anastasia crossed her arms. "Then let it rest. Even fire needs to breathe."

When Jason entered the dome minutes later, the team froze instantly, as though his presence commanded gravity itself.

"Enough," he called out, his voice firm but proud. "Good session. Aya, your timing still wavers under pressure. Scarlett, your mirage vanishes too soon after physical contact. Lionel stop relying on raw strength. Read your opponent's flow." I believe each and everyone of you can become 10 * better than you presently are, that is why I push you so much and I believe that is why Dante also give his all.

Each of them nodded, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

Then Jason turned his gaze toward the glass deck, where Blaze and Anastasia stood.

"You too, Blaze. How long do you plan to brood up there like a retired legend?"

Blaze blinked, caught off guard. "Until I'm cleared, apparently."

Jason snorted. "You think legends wait for permission?"

The rest of the team laughed lightly even Anastasia smiled.

Jason's gaze softened, but his tone held the weight of command. "Come down. No contact drills. Just rhythm exercises. You've got ten minutes."

Blaze didn't need to be told twice, you could see the joy in his expression, he was ready to train again.

The dome's air was thick with energy when Blaze stepped onto the field.

The others gathered instinctively around him, their faces showing both excitement and a quiet awe. Even now, even broken, Blaze carried a gravity that drew them in.

Jason tossed him a sphere of pulsing light the aura stabilizer orb used for calibration drills. "Control your breathing. Sync your speed and telepathy before activating the flame."

Blaze nodded, planting his right foot firmly, his brace locking into combat mode.

He inhaled deeply, then let his focus flow.

The familiar rush hit him instantly the Elemental Speed surged, his veins glowing faintly blue as the world slowed around him.

Then came the Cosmic Telepathy, connecting him subtly to his teammates. He could feel Aya's anticipation, Scarlett's excitement, Lionel's quiet confidence and Anastasia's watchful calm, like a silver thread grounding him.

"Now," Jason said quietly, "let it whisper."

The Aura Flame stirred.

A faint ember bloomed around Blaze's hands, swirling with restrained intensity. His control was far steadier than before no more violent bursts or uncontrolled rage.

The energy wrapped around the stabilizer orb, heat bending the air as Blaze balanced the three forces perfectly.

Then, as he exhaled, he compressed the flame, sealing it into the orb until it glowed bright orange before dimming to silver.

Silence.

Jason grinned. "Good. You're finally learning not to fight it." we could do better with you out there.

Blaze smiled faintly, shoulders relaxing. "Feels more like it's learning me."

The team burst into applause. Even Aya, who rarely complimented anyone, clapped once. "Not bad, fire boy."

Scarlett smirked. "Still a long way from making me sweat."

Lionel crossed his arms, a rare grin tugging his lips. "Welcome back, Captain."

Blaze looked around, heart swelling with pride. For the first time in weeks, he didn't feel broken.

He felt… whole.

That evening, the rain returned a constant companion of his life, soft and rhythmic. Blaze sat beneath the half-open dome, a towel draped over his shoulders, staring at the field lights.

Anastasia appeared again, her steps quiet. "You're going to catch a cold."

He smirked. "You say that every time."

"That's because you never listen."

He glanced at her. "You always come back anyway."

Her lips curved. "Someone has to make sure our self-destructive striker doesn't explode."

The two stood there in silence for a while.

Blaze finally asked, "Why did you save me that day? Really."

Anastasia hesitated. "You're our teammate."

"That's not the reason," he said gently. "You didn't think. You moved. Like something inside you just… reacted."

Her silver eyes flickered. "Maybe I didn't want to see someone burn alone."

He stared at her for a long time, then looked back at the rain. "You're too kind for this world."

"You're wrong," she said quietly. "I'm just kind to the ones who fight for it."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the distance between them vanished. The rain, the light, the silence everything else faded.

Then Anastasia's wrist communicator buzzed, breaking the moment.

She sighed and stepped back. "Jason wants us in the strategy room. Urgent."

"About the next match?" Blaze asked.

Her expression darkened. "No. Something bigger."

When they entered the strategy room, the rest of the team was already there. Jason stood before the holo-table, the air thick with tension.

Projected on the display was a team logo black and violet flames surrounding a shattered crown.

The Obsidian Reavers.

Scarlett whistled low. "You've got to be kidding."

Aya frowned. "They're ranked fourth in the Galactic Premier Ladder, right? The ones with hybrid augmentation?"

Jason nodded. "Half-organic, half-cybernetic players. Martial-augmented to extreme limits. Their striker, Raze, is said to channel plasma through his limbs. He's already killed a player mid-match last season."

Lionel's fists clenched. "And we're supposed to face them?"

Jason's gaze hardened. "We were invited to the Galactic Invitational, a side tournament for the top evolving teams. The Reavers are our first opponents."

Silence blanketed the room.

Then Blaze spoke quietly, his hand tightening into a fist. "So this is the next battlefield."

Jason looked at him, eyes sharp. "You're not cleared yet, Blaze. Not for combat matches."

"I don't need clearance," Blaze said softly. "I need control. And I have it."

Jason studied him, saw the fire in his eyes, the steady rhythm in his aura, and sighed. "You'll start on the bench. If things go south… I'll unleash you."

A faint smirk crossed Blaze's lips. "Fair deal."

Later that night, Blaze remained on the empty field, his aura faintly glowing around him.

He could feel the dormant energy within the flame that once nearly destroyed him, now calm and obedient, waiting for command.

He thought of his mother, of her voice urging him to rise again.

He thought of his team of Aya's determination, Scarlett's defiance, Lionel's resolve, Anastasia's light.

And he thought of the Reavers merciless, inhuman, waiting on the other side of the stars.

The wind shifted, carrying the scent of rain and ozone.

Blaze whispered into the dark, "Then let the fire wake."

And the faint glow beneath his skin flared once bright, fierce, alive.