GNS: A Rising Striker

Chapter 13: Rivalry on the Horizon

Week 4 had finally begun, and Team V stood at the top of Group 2 with 6 points. It was a good feeling, knowing we had the best striker in Nadruk and the best goalkeeper in GGS1. The victories we had earned so far put us in a strong position, but no one was getting comfortable - not yet.

The next challenge was fast approaching: Team Z. A game that would pit me against Dummy, my childhood friend. Except this time, we weren't on the same side, and I had no intention of going easy on him. He wouldn't either. If anything, it made the stakes even higher.

On Monday, we'd meet on the field, but today, I needed to focus on preparing. I hit the training ground early in the morning, hoping to clear my head and get into the right mindset.

The weather in the indoor training facility was as controlled as always, cool and dry - perfect conditions to focus. I started with some light cardio, getting my blood pumping before moving onto ball work. My touch on the ball had improved, but I knew I wasn't at the level I wanted to be. Not yet.

After about an hour of solo drills, I decided to take a break and watch some of Team Z's match tapes. Sitting alone in the quiet room, I clicked on their last game against Team W. I needed to get a feel for how they played. Dummy was as sharp as ever, pulling strings from the midfield like a maestro. His vision for passing hadn't dulled at all. He moved so fluidly through the center, always finding space where none seemed to exist. It reminded me of all the times we played together.

But Dummy wasn't the only threat. Ixgmy, their striker, had caught my eye. He was fast, explosive even. He managed to find the back of the net against Team W with ease, slipping past defenders like they weren't even there. I could tell we'd need to be sharp to contain him.

Later in the day, I met up with Nadruk, Kinagase, and GGS1 in our room. The four of us sat on the floor, a low murmur of conversation filling the space. This was becoming a sort of ritual for us - talking tactics without actually spelling them out. We knew what was at stake, and Monday's game felt like it carried even more weight than usual.

"So, Team Z," Kinagase started, folding his arms. "They've got Dummy running things in the middle, and Ixgmy's been their most dangerous player up front."

GGS1 nodded. "Yeah, Ixgmy's quick. I'll have to be ready to cut him off if he tries any of those low drives into the box."

"And Dummy," Nadruk added, her voice calm but focused. "He's unpredictable. One minute, he's setting up passes, the next he's dribbling into space. We'll have to watch him closely."

I didn't say much, just listened, trying to absorb everything. Facing Dummy was going to be weird. All those years playing together, knowing each other's moves... it was going to be tough not to let that affect my game. But I couldn't afford to think like that. This wasn't some friendly back in the day. This was Project Genesis, and I had a point to prove.

We spent the next half-hour throwing ideas back and forth. We talked about approaches, strategies, the general feel of how we might play, but there was an unspoken agreement not to spell out the specifics. We trusted each other enough to know that when the time came, we'd execute.

As the conversation wound down, Kinagase turned to me. "You're gonna be fine against Dummy. Just play your game. Don't overthink it."

I nodded, though a small part of me still felt the pressure. "Yeah, I know. I just... I don't want to mess it up. We've been good so far, and I want to keep that momentum."

Nadruk gave me a rare smile. "You've got this, Luffy. Besides, we're all out there with you."

Her words gave me a little more confidence. It wasn't just about me. I had a team - one that believed in me, even if I didn't always believe in myself.

The rest of the evening passed quietly. I tried not to dwell too much on Monday's game, but it was hard not to. The pressure of staying at the top of the group was there, but there was also the personal side of it - facing Dummy. I didn't want to lose to him, but more than that, I wanted to prove to myself that I belonged here, that I could make an impact.

As I lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, I knew one thing for sure: this game was going to test me in ways I hadn't been tested before. But I was ready. Or at least, I hoped I was.