The roar that thundered through the stadium that day didn't sound like fans, it sounded like war. Every seat in the Celestial Arena shimmered under the metallic lights of the Titan Cup. Flags of different worlds waved in the air, flames and lightning projecting into holographic banners.

The Polar Blades, a team born from the planetary furnace of Helion stood in rigid formation on their half. Each player glowed faintly with a golden aura that bent the light around them. They were tall, perfectly synchronized, their eyes reflecting a cold, burning discipline.

Jason stood at the touchline with his usual calm, though the veins on his temple pulsed. Behind him, the Titan Squad—his boys—lined up in navy-black armor trimmed with silver flame markings. Blaze stood at the front, his body still wrapped in faint residual energy from his morning meditation. His Aura Flames flickered low but steady, burning blue at the edges, He felt like a new better man.

"Alright, listen up," Jason said, voice like thunder over the coms in their helmets. "Polar Blades are known for draining aura, they pull life out of the field itself, you fight fire with fire, but don't let your energy go wild. Keep the Trinity Core tight, Aya, pace control. Anastasia, right containment. Blaze, you lead the rhythm."

"Got it," Aya said, rolling her shoulders. A purple Qi mist shimmered around her legs, Anastasia's voice came next, calm but sharp. "I'll hold the wings. Blaze, don't overstrain your leg. "He didn't answer immediately, just flexed his right foot in the turf. The dull ache was there, a reminder of what he almost lost. "Don't worry," Blaze muttered. "I won't break before I win."

The whistle blew.

The Polar Blades struck first.

Their captain, Helion Kael, launched forward like a solar flare his boots igniting streaks of molten light across the turf. Aya caught the movement instantly, spinning into a Qi Flow Dance, deflecting the first surge. But the recoil nearly pushed her backward; the man's strength was unreal.

Scarlett intercepted from the flank, her Crimson Pulse exploding from her chest like a heartbeat made of light. She twisted, redirecting Kael's attack path, letting Lionel step up with a precision tackle that sent sparks flying.

"Good!" Jason barked. "Anchor line stable!"

Lionel grunted, straightening his back. His aura dense, earthen, and unmoving stabilized the entire team's flow, but Polar Blades were too fast, their midfielders performed Solar Chain Steps, flickering from one position to another like living reflections. Each step drew heat from the field, and soon, the Titans' stamina started dropping.

Aya's eyes narrowed. "They're burning the atmosphere itself…!"

Anastasia slid in front of Blaze as a flare streaked toward him. Her right-wing shield, a glowing arc of angelic wind, intercepted it—but the impact drove her back two steps. "Blaze—move!"

He didn't hesitate. He spun, aura flames surging, right leg pulling energy from his core."Serpent Fang!"

The ball sliced through the air like a living beast, curving around two defenders before bursting into blue fire toward the net.

But Kael stepped in, raising a single palm glowing with molten gold. "Solar Grasp."

The energy collided midair, blue serpent flame against golden sunflare—and the explosion rocked the arena. The holographic barriers flickered as smoke filled the pitch.

When it cleared, the scoreline still read 0–0, what a match, one of the fans said, i am glad, i did not miss it.

Minutes passed, and both sides fought like rival martial sects. Every tackle was a clash of styles, Qi against Qi, aura against aura, Aya's rhythm weaving clashed against Polar Blades' searing tempo. Scarlett darted between the lines, red trails marking her footwork as she parried energy waves with her body, Lionel held the back like a wall of steel, reading every incoming flare, Anastasia's wind technique, Heavenly Wing Art, now shimmered with faint pink sparks whenever she passed near Blaze, their resonance deepening.

"Formation switch—Trinity Core, now!" Jason's command echoed.

Aya moved to the center, Scarlett shifted wide left, Anastasia pushed right, and Blaze took point, Their auras intertwined—a tri-color spiral burning on the field.

"Let's burn brighter," Blaze whispered.

He launched forward, the Jörmungandr forming around his right leg massive blue spectral coils glowing as if alive. Aya's energy synchronized, guiding the timing; Anastasia's wind wrapped the shot, sharpening it, making it more effective and dangerous.

The combined technique, Trinity Fang tore through the defense and struck the goal like lightning.

Goal. 1–0. Titans lead.

The crowd erupted, Jason exhaled sharply. "Perfect. That's how you....."

He didn't finish.

Kael smiled.

The Polar Blades' captain simply raised two fingers. His team shifted instantly into Solar Phase, finally their secret weapon and they would take advantage.

Golden aura flared around them, and suddenly every Titan player felt their own Qi recoil, burning against their skin, Aya gasped, clutching her chest. "They're absorbing the field Qi!"

Lionel dropped to one knee, Scarlett's vision blurred, Even Blaze's aura flames dimmed dangerously.

Kael charged, his blade of light cleaving the air, sending a shockwave toward the goal, Lionel blocked it but was thrown aside like paper. Another shot followed, Solar energy streaking into the top corner.

Goal. 1–1.

The stadium thundered again.

Jason's jaw tightened. "They've switched to parasitic absorption mode…!"

Before the team could stabilize, Solar Blades attacked again, Kael and his striker partner performing a dual technique: Helios Mirage Strike.

Blaze sprinted back to defend. His right leg screamed, his aura in chaos, but he still moved, he was not really to give up yet.

He clashed head-on with Kael midair, their energies exploding in concentric waves. Blaze felt something inside his leg tear but he forced his aura flames outward. Blue fire wrapped around his body, forming a burning serpent's jaw that bit through Kael's golden aura.

But Kael twisted in the air, redirected the rebound his partner finished the counter.

Goal. 2–1. Solar Blades lead.

The Titans' bench went silent, everyone on and off the pitch could feel the weight of this tournament now, it was different from the normal league.

Jason stood motionless, one hand covering his mouth. His mind raced through counter-formations, but none could outmatch the Solar Blades' absorption rate.

Anastasia ran to Blaze, gripping his arm. "You're overusing your right leg again, stop before it tears apart!"

He pulled free, shaking his head. "If I stop now, what's the point of everything we've built?" "Blaze..." "I'm not losing to them."

The blue in his aura flickered red for an instant, unstable, raw emotion merging with the Aura Flames. His breathing came heavy, but his focus sharpened.

Aya glanced at him from midfield, sensing it too. "Jason… his aura pattern is changing. He's pushing past safe limits. "Jason's expression darkened. "Let him. Sometimes the only way forward is through the fire."

The whistle blew for the half-time approaching sequence, one minute left on the clock.

Solar Blades pushed forward again, Aya and Scarlett intercepted, combining Pulse Rhythm and Qi Flow Dance, but Kael burst through their line, golden light slicing air.

Then Blaze appeared out of nowhere, aura flames surging into a blazing dragon's roar, he stole the ball midair with a reverse aerial spin, then planted his right foot, every ounce of pain channeling into pure power.

"Jörmungandr—Final Coil!"

The ball curved in an impossible arc, wrapping like a blue serpent around three defenders before striking the goal.

The impact shattered the barrier field around the net, an explosion of blue fire and wind shaking the arena.

The crowd went berserk.

But as Blaze landed, his right knee buckled. He fell, clutching it, teeth gritted but refusing to cry out.

Aya ran to him. Anastasia knelt beside him, her eyes wide with fear. "You idiot… you did it again…"

Blaze laughed weakly, sweat dripping down his neck. "Yeah… but it went in."

Jason raised a hand. "Sub him off! That's an order!"

As Blaze was helped toward the sideline, the scoreboard still blazed: 2–2.The half ended there—with the Titans surviving by fire and will.

In the locker room, silence reigned.

Steam rose from wet towels, lights dimmed to recovery mode. The players sat, exhausted, their auras flickering faintly like dying candles.

Jason looked around the room, meeting each pair of eyes. "This," he said quietly, "is why we fight. Not because we're stronger. But because we refuse to break."

Aya nodded silently. Lionel clenched his fist. Scarlett exhaled in relief.

Anastasia turned to Blaze, bandaged leg elevated on the bench. "You risked everything again. "He met her gaze, half-smile returning. "What else is new?"

She shook her head, then reached out, gently resting a hand on his bandaged knee, her aura flared, a cool, pink luminescence—and Blaze's flames steadied, reacting to her touch.

For a moment, the noise outside vanished. There was only heartbeat and warmth.

Then Jason clapped his hands once. "We're not done. Second half begins in fifteen. Rest up. The Titans are far from finished."

Outside, thunder rolled across the sky like the roar of gods, the second half and destiny, waited.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.