Luis let out a whoop, arms in the air. "We actually did it! We beat Apex XI!"
Danny stumbled toward Alex, grinning, face streaked with dirt and sweat. "You… you made it look too easy, man!"
Alex allowed himself a faint smile, knees bending as he clutched the ball. His voice was calm but carried through the chaos like a command:
"Look at yourselves. This... this is what happens when you trust each other, when you refuse to break. This is ours. Every second, every pass, every tackle... it all mattered."
The team surged forward, pulling Alex into a group hug. Laughter, cheers, and shouted congratulations collided with the fading boos from the stands. For once, the roar of admiration drowned out everything else.
Phones flashed, fans high-fived strangers, and the stadium buzzed with disbelief and joy.
Alex's team had not only survived... they had triumphed in style, against the odds, and against the arrogance of Apex XI.
