A storm of light and noise filled the Dark Clawd Stadium, home to Night Phantom.
The arena pulsed beneath a violet haze torches flickering, banners waving, a sea of black and silver jerseys thundering in rhythm to the club's chant:
"Phan-tom! Phan-tom Phan-tom!"
The cameras panned across the packed stands, then down to the pitch, where both sides lined up in sharp formation.
Later the three center referee came together before the whistl is blown to indicate the start of the match. The roar exploded.
From the first touch, the tempo screamed intensity. Gunnar Krüger, Night Phantom's captain, won possession instantly, spraying it left toward Kazuki Arai, who cut in with his trademark precision.
Northin Way, wearing their silver away strip, responded with iron composure. Johnsen Torbjørn anchored midfield, commanding like a general eyes darting, voice echoing instructions in calm authority.
By the 4th minute, Guillermo Vázquez and Conzalo Jesús began pressing high, forcing keeper Gruber Mayer to clear hurriedly.
The match was physical from the start shoulder charges, quick recoveries, sliding tackles drawing gasps from the fans.
Adrien Pierre orchestrated play for Night Phantom with elegant rhythm. His through passes cut clean lines across midfield, linking Harry West and Mohammed Omar on the flanks.
Northin Way countered with structure Durand sitting deep, Torbjørn dictating flow, and Matias bombing forward on the left, trading crosses with Murphy on the right.
At the 8th minute, Bruno Marqies floated in a teasing ball toward Jesús, whose header grazed just above the bar. The away supporters gasped, hands on heads.
Night Phantom replied instantly.
Krüger intercepted a pass in midfield and unleashed a long diagonal to Arai.
Arai controlled it with velvet touch, skipped past Levin, and delivered a sharp cross cleared desperately by Goossens.
The stadium rattled with applause for the effort.
The rhythm quickened. Night Phantom began pinning Northin Way inside their own half.
Richter Hoffman and Krüger held the spine like iron walls, snuffing out every counterattack before it bloomed.
At the 15th minute, Harry West split the midfield with a clever ball through to Osas the lone striker up front.
Osas, powerful and poised, trapped it with his chest, spun past Goossens, and fired
Blocked!
Valentin punched the ball wide, the crowd erupting into a collective sigh.
"That is a close one! Osas nearly finds the opener!" the commentator shouted over the electric crowd.
Night Phantom weren't done,rather just starting.
Adrien Pierre collected a loose ball in midfield and glanced forward. He spotted Arai sprinting down the left once more.
A precise, weighted pass.
Arai caught it in stride, lifting his head and whipped a curling cross into the box.
Osas surged between Goossens and Levin, his movement lightning-quick.
He met the cross with a thundering header.
The ball slammed into the underside of the crossbar bounced once and over the line!
GOAL! Night Phantom 1 – 0 Northin Way FC (19') — Momodu Osas
The Dark Clawd Stadium exploded. Flares lit the terraces. The fans' chant turned into an avalanche of sound.
Osas sprinted toward the corner flag, arms spread like wings.
His teammates engulfed him, Gunnar Krüger first, pounding his chest in celebration.
On the opposite side, Torbjørn stood motionless for a second, jaw clenched. Then he clapped his hands sharply, shouting at his men to reset.
"Heads up! It's early! We can still turn this around!"
But the first blow had been struck.
Night Phantom fast, fearless, ruthless had drawn first blood.
Shark sat on the edge of his couch, eyes fixed on the glowing screen. A faint smile crept across his face as he watched the heated clash between Night Phantom and Northin Way FC.
The cheers of the crowd echoed faintly through his speakers, but his attention was elsewhere drawn not just to the match, but to the chaotic brilliance of one player in particular.
His grin widened. "Impressive…" he murmured under his breath.
Just then, a subtle sound barely a whisper came from the direction of his room door. Instinctively, he turned sharply, his smile fading.
The door stood ajar, the hallway empty, silent. Yet, unknown to him, Axel had been there watching.
The figure lingered a moment longer in the corridor, eyes cold and thoughtful, before turning away and walking down the dim passage without a sound.
---
The scene shifted to a large, sunlit office where Vincent Greenwood stood across from Laura. A gentle warmth hung in the air, contrasting the earlier tension.
"Thank you," Vincent said quietly, adjusting his cuffs. "For helping me talk with Shark. You've done more than I expected."
Laura chuckled softly, her voice carrying a teasing tone. "So that means you owe me now, Father."
Vincent laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "You remind me of your mother."
Laura's smile softened. "What was she like?" she asked suddenly. "I mean I never got to know her… she died giving birth to me."
For a moment, silence filled the room. Vincent's expression gentled, a trace of memory flickering in his eyes. "She was caring," he said finally, "and beautiful—just like you."
Before Laura could reply, the office door opened quietly. Chloe stepped in, nodding respectfully to Vincent. Without a word, he turned to follow her, leaving Laura standing amidst the quiet hum of the office.
As they walked down the corridor, Chloe's tone turned serious. "I've watched the match again," she said.
"And I noticed something… strange. Around Axel. It's like,like a shadow surrounds him when he plays. His movements, his decisions they grow more violent, more unpredictable."
Vincent stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing slightly. After a pause, he said in a low, calculating voice, "Then while he's still sane… we'll maintain him and utilize him to our taste."
The scene shifts, Northin Way FC tried to regroup, but the Phantoms smelled fear.
Captain Gunnar Krüger, a mountain in midfield, dictated tempo with calculated control his boots thudding like war drums as he commanded his men forward.
Arai and Omar attacked from both flanks, stretching the visitors' defensive shape to its breaking point.
Every clearance by Goossens and Levin came right back like a boomerang, Pierre recycling possession, Hoffman snapping into every challenge.
In the 24th minute, Bruno Marqies attempted to break through with a long-range pass toward Vázquez, but Schneider Brunner intercepted and instantly triggered a counter.
Krüger took possession, driving forward through the middle, shrugging off Durand's challenge."If you want to dominate Night Phantom roar then you have to give it your all Northin Way FC"
The crowd rose, anticipation thick as smoke.