GNS: A Rising Striker

Chapter 11: Stepping Up

The atmosphere in the indoor arena is tense as we prepare for Matchweek 3. No crowds, no noise except for the thuds of the ball and the occasional shout from players. It's just us and the game. We have to face Team X today, and the table tells us everything—this match will decide if we move up or fall behind.

Team V is currently third, with X and Y sitting above us. There's no room for mistakes. To make matters worse, Z has just won their match against W, so they’re right behind us, waiting to take our spot. A win here could put us on top. A loss? We’re dropping down the table.

From the very first whistle, you could tell this game would be a battle. We start pressing hard, chasing every loose ball. Dark and Kinagase are already working to establish control in midfield, constantly shouting instructions.

"Watch out for Shadow!" Dark calls out, and I glance over my shoulder to track their main striker, who’s moving into our half.

Fifteen minutes in, Kinagase gets possession in midfield, and everything seems to slow down for a moment. He has that kind of composure that just calms the chaos. I spot Nadruk making her run down the line, fast and decisive.

"Nadruk, on your left!" I shout.

Kinagase’s head doesn’t even turn. He already knows where she is. He lofts a perfectly weighted pass over the heads of the defenders. Nadruk controls it effortlessly, the ball sticking to her feet like glue. Team X’s defenders, Sadmag and Zelotic, rush in to block her path, but Nadruk isn’t fazed. She stops suddenly, pulls off a slick roulette, and they’re left spinning. She’s free in front of goal, and with one powerful strike, she puts it past their keeper.

1-0.

"That’s how it’s done!" Kinagase shouts, slapping my back as we jog back to our positions.

Nadruk barely reacts. She’s all business, no celebration. Somethings different about her. She's not just attacking, she's destroying. You can just see it in her eyes. She’s not done.

But Team X isn’t backing down either. Just ten minutes later, they find an opening. Zetsken slips a pass through our midfield like butter. I’m too far on the wing to help, but I can see what’s coming. Shadow’s darting toward our box, fast and deadly.

"Watch him, Mihix!" I yell.

Mihix steps up, but Shadow’s too quick. He slips through the gap and finishes coolly, sending the ball past GGS1. 1-1. My hands clench into fists. We’ve let them back into the game too easily.

"Focus, focus!" GGS1 barks from the goal as he retrieves the ball. "We’re not losing this."

From the wing, I can feel the intensity ratchet up. I’ve been trying to find my rhythm, but everything is moving too fast, the game slipping through my fingers. Kinagase and Dark are managing the midfield well, but I feel like a passenger sometimes, just watching.

Then my chance comes. We’re pushing up again, trying to break their defensive line. The ball lands at my feet near the edge of the pitch, and I see Nadruk sprinting into the box. No time to think, I just react. I whip in a cross with as much precision as I can muster. The ball sails past their defenders and right onto Nadruk’s head. She leaps up like she’s been launched, her timing perfect. With a powerful header, she smashes it into the back of the net.

2-1. My first assist of the match.

I jog back, feeling a surge of adrenaline. Maybe I’m finally getting into the game. I’ve been struggling to keep up with players like Kinagase and Nadruk, but this moment feels right. It feels like I belong here.

"Great ball, Luffy!" Dark calls out, nodding at me as we reset.

But the game doesn’t slow down. Before halftime, Team X strikes again. Trov picks up the ball just outside our box and slips it to Malevolent, their forward, who’s been lurking near our goal all game. He takes one touch and blasts it past GGS1.

2-2. We’re back to square one, and it’s frustrating as hell.

"Stay tight, Mihix!" I hear GGS1 yelling from behind. "Don’t give them space!"

As the second half kicks off, we know we need to dig deep. Team X is relentless, but so are we. Around the 50th minute, Mint intercepts a loose pass and drives forward, linking up with Kinagase. He takes a touch, looks up, and unleashes a rocket from outside the box. The ball flies past their keeper, straight into the top corner.

3-2.

The roar from our team is immediate. We’ve got the lead again, but the game is far from over. Team X responds like a wounded animal, pushing us harder, attacking our defense relentlessly.

Seventy-five minutes in, and they pull level again. Gavin whips in a cross from the wing, and Malevolent rises above our defenders, heading it past GGS1. It’s 3-3, and I feel the pressure mounting. My legs are heavy, but there’s no time to slow down. This game is turning into a test of endurance as much as skill.

"Keep pushing, we’ve got this!" I shout, trying to rally the team.

The clock ticks down, and it feels like both teams are running on fumes. Then, in the 85th minute, Dark pulls off a brilliant through ball, splitting their defense wide open. Nadruk, once again, is already anticipating the play. She sprints past the defenders, takes a perfect touch, and buries it in the net. Hat-trick.

4-3.

We hold our ground for the remaining minutes, fighting off their desperate attacks. When the final whistle blows, I feel the weight of the match lift off my shoulders. We’ve done it. We’ve beaten Team X and secured our place at the top of the group.

In the locker room, I’m exhausted but elated. Nadruk, Kinagase, and Dark carried us today, no question. But I did my part too. That assist - it’s something to hold onto. I’m finally starting to contribute.

Still, watching Nadruk out there, tearing through defenders like they’re nothing, I can’t help but feel like I’m miles behind. She’s a beast, plain and simple. She doesn’t just score goals, she destroys teams. And Kinagase, controlling the midfield with his pinpoint passes - it’s like watching chess masters at work.

As I sit there, my mind keeps going over the match. I did okay today, but "okay" isn’t enough. If I want to keep up with players like them, I have to find another gear. One assist isn’t enough.

For now, we’ve won. But I can already feel the hunger for more building up inside me. There’s no time to rest. I need to push myself harder, find a way to be more than just a support player. I need to stand out.