Mech-man: The Mission of Fate

Chapter 26

"Our first competition is Hyperball!" Professor Reynolds announced in his microphone. "Please can the four team come forward." Max, Aria, Jaxon and Lucas stepped forward, so did Blake and his gang. Beside them were the students from other houses. Max recognised the boy from Sharks.

Seeing that all teams are ready, Professor Reynolds leaned towards the microphone and shouted, "I see that everyone has arrived. The first match is Lions against Sharks and Eagles against Snakes. Please be ready one pitches one and two. Good luck!" The words hinted the challenge of the competition.

Fweet! A whistle sliced through the air into Max's ear. The match had formally started. Max rushed towards the bouncy hyperball in the middle of the pitch. As if a mirror, the Sharks team did the same. According to Hyperball rules, the player had to stay inside the Box until the whistle is blown. Max felt gusts of cool air rush by as he came closer to the hyperball, when the ball was in reach of his foot, another foot snatched it away. It was a member of the Sharks team. This caused a cheer to go up in the tiny crowd nearby. The Sharks had an advantage at once, but before it could be used, a figure stole the ball away as quick a lightning. It was Lucas, despite that they had rarely played football in the orphanage, Lucas dribbled the ball up field with his foot as if the ball was glued to his feet.

"Lucas!" Max heard Aria shout, "Here, pass!" Max saw that the hyperball was passed to Aria safely who successfully dribbled it and entered the Box. The Lions had the first opportunity to shot.

"Aria! Aria! Aria!" A chant began, like the one Max had experienced. This time it was Aria who stood in front of the goal post. A red haired boy from Sharks stood nervously in front of the goal post. Clearly, he had no confidence that he might save the shot. Aria slowly lifted her hand, took a step back and launched the ball with a curved swing. All the movements were perfect.

Thump! The ball sailed through the air like a piercing bullet. Unfortunately, the piercing bullet missed it's target. The hyperball hit the top right corner of the goal post and bounced of harmlessly. Aria sighed followed by the goal keeper's relief. Max and Lucas rushed up, "It's normal to miss!" Lucas explained.

"I would have to use a thousand shots to make in a corner shot. It was closer than I'll ever get!" Max congratulated, "If that went in, then it would be legendary!"

"We'll definitely have loads more chances!" Jaxon came up and assured, leaving his goal post.

Fweet! After Aria's shot, the hyperball was handed to the Sharks to start. The referee, Professor Reynolds, blew the whistle, letting everyone know that another challenging round had started. In the Sharks team, a second year student took a risk, he lift his foot a booted the hyperball up field. Max's gaze followed the ball and chased after it. He jump up, calculating that he might be able to header it away. The hyperball passed his head, stroking his hair as it was stopped by player. Max turned around, finding out that it was a short but extremely agile student from Sharks team. He used his inside foot t stop the ball in mid-air and dribbled it inside the Box, cleanly passing Lucas who tried to stop him. He slowly picked the hyperball up, facing Jaxon, then let of the ball in few connected movements. Time seemed to stop, the chanting also seemed to stop as the hyperball zipped towards the low left corner of the goal post. Max felt tension build up in the air, he saw Jaxon reach out to the ball, his fingertips extending like never before. But a swish from the net inside the goal post informed that the Sharks that succeeded to score the first point.

Max bit his tong, he wasn't angry but worried. Every single player in the Sharks team had much more experience than Max or Lucas. Then he suddenly thought of all the times he did any other sports before, a temporary advantage is nothing. In hyperball, the game ends at either one and a half hours or ten points.

"Not my fault." Jaxon said shrugging, showing that he couldn't have done anything better. "Anyways, one point in the lead is nothing."

"True!" Max thought, "One point in the lead is nothing, it doesn't prove that they are better than us."

"Max! Max! Max!..." Chanting from his teammates had begun. The match against has reached it end, one hour flew past like a flash. Max stood resolute in the box, the weight of the entire match resting on his shoulders, the score now read 'nine to five'. Despite having an disadvantage at the start, the Lions chased up and exceeded the Sharks. The point Max hoped to gain was the most key point of the game. If he scores, victory will be in sight. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, everyone's heartbeat seemed to increase as Max took a step back. The confidence the Sharks had when they had the advantage had long vanished, all that has remain was the slim hope that they could have a tie. Max, more determined than ever, took his winning shot. In the midst of the chanting and the deafening cheers, Max's focus sharpened. The ball left his fingertips, sailing through the air with a precision that mirrored the determination etched on his face. The hyperball flashed before everyone's eyes, the whole crowd held their breath, curious but also terrified of the result. And then, with an eruption of cheers, the ball found its mark. The scoreboard flickered, 'ten to five.' The Lion's fist victory in the competitions had been claimed.