When they all woke up, a strange glow caught their eyes. In the middle of the snow lay a shining stone, pulsing with light as if it were alive. They stepped closer, and the moment their hands brushed against it, words appeared inside the glow:
"Please choose one of them."
Three names unfolded before them like burning flames in the air:
The Shadow House The Mortal Arena The Ego League
They looked at each other, the air heavy with silence.
"We have one opportunity," Ayaan said firmly. "We should choose The Ego League."
Just then Aashi's voice broke in, shaky and confused. "What is happening?"
The boys glanced at her, their decision already made. Ayaan gave a small smile. "We don't have time to tell you. Bye… and thanks for your service."
And with that, their hands pressed the glowing words of The Ego League.
The light exploded around them.
When their eyes slowly opened, the brightness of morning poured in through wooden windows. They blinked in confusion, the last memory still echoing in their heads—the glowing stone, the choice, and then silence.
Now, they were lying inside a cozy house. Wooden floors, neat beds, soft curtains swaying with a gentle breeze—it almost felt like a dream.
Aditya sat up first, rubbing his eyes. "Wait… this is… ours?"
They all explored quickly—there was a kitchen stocked with food, a living room with couches, even framed pictures on the walls of them smiling together, as if this house had been theirs forever.
Affan laughed in disbelief. "Bro… we actually have our own house! That's… insane."
For a moment, they were all smiling, amazed. But then Anant frowned. "Wait… we don't have any clue what we have to do here. This can't just be about living in a house."
That's when Anshuman noticed something. On the small table, five smartphones were neatly placed, each glowing. They grabbed their phones—and the screen lit up instantly. It wasn't normal. The screen showed one single notification:
"SCHOOL TIME – GO TO SCHOOL."
The five of them stared at it, then at each other.
"…School?" Ayaan muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
"Well," Affan sighed, "looks like we don't have a choice."
They all got dressed quickly, somehow finding perfectly fitting uniforms in their wardrobes. It felt eerie, like the world had prepared everything for them already.
The walk to school was short. Students in the streets waved and smiled as if they already knew them. The tall building of the school loomed ahead, with banners and buzzing voices of students.
When they entered the class, the teacher asked them to introduce themselves one by one.
Ayaan spoke first, calmly giving his name. Aditya followed, bold and confident. Affan gave a small smile as he introduced himself. Anant was polite, while Anshuman joked a little, making the class laugh.
But something strange was happening. The moment they finished introducing themselves, almost every girl in the classroom had their eyes fixed on them.
Whispers filled the air. Giggles. Murmurs.
"Wow… they're kinda handsome."
"Especially Ayaan… look at him!"
"He's so quiet… mysterious type."
The boys quickly noticed. Aditya smirked. "Well… looks like we're popular already."
Affan chuckled under his breath. "Bro, they're literally flirting with us with their eyes."
Ayaan, though, just looked confused. He didn't speak much, but the girls were drawn even more to that calm silence of his. Some even whispered his name to each other, blushing.
The boys sat down, exchanging glances that said something is definitely strange about this game.
But none of them knew—this was only the beginning of The Ego League.
They all were laughing together, filling the classroom with their voices. Suddenly, one girl walked over and sat down beside Ayaan with a bright smile. Ayaan looked at her for a moment and then said calmly, "This seat is of Affan, can you please move from it?"
The girl blinked, surprised, then gave a small smile and replied softly, "OK…" She stood up and went to sit on the other side of the class. From there, she kept glaring at Ayaan, her eyes fixed on him as if she wasn't willing to give up so easily.
The others noticed her gaze and chuckled quietly, but Ayaan acted as if nothing had happened. Time passed, and soon the bell rang. It was lunch break. The class buzzed with energy as everyone pulled out their tiffins, and the group of friends gathered together, ready to eat and talk.
As the bell rang and everyone pulled out their tiffins, Ayaan and his friends suddenly froze.
"Oh no…" Aditya said, patting his bag, "we forgot our lunch!"
They all looked at each other, a little shocked. Then Affan quickly pulled out his smartphone and noticed something. "Wait, guys… there's some money in here."
Everyone leaned closer and saw it. Ayaan smirked. "Perfect. Let's go to the cafeteria."
They all walked together, the noise of the crowd growing louder as they entered. The cafeteria was full of boys and girls, chatting, shouting, and laughing. But in one corner, they noticed a group of boys bullying someone, pushing him around and laughing at his expense. For a moment, they exchanged looks, but then Ayaan said, "Let's get our food first."
They bought plates filled with food, the aroma making their stomachs rumble. Finding an empty table, they all sat down together. Soon, laughter echoed as they cracked jokes, shared bites, and teased each other. For those few minutes, they forgot about everything else, just enjoying their food and their bond.
The cafeteria went silent for a moment as the star football player, tall and confident, slammed his hand on the table. His teammates stood behind him with smirks, their jerseys and medals flashing as if to remind everyone of their status. The other students around whispered, excited that something big was about to happen.
Ayaan leaned back casually, his eyes cold but calm. Affan chuckled under his breath, and Aditya crossed his arms, glaring at the group. Anshuman smirked like he was enjoying the drama, while Anant simply shook his head.
"You all don't know about us," the football player said again, louder this time, his pride overflowing.
"We don't have time for garbage like this," Aditya replied sharply, his voice cutting through the noise. The whole cafeteria gasped at the insult.
The football player's face turned red with anger. He slammed the tray down and leaned closer.
"Tomorrow. 5 vs 5. On the school ground. And remember… I will crush you all 5–0. No excuses."
The team behind him burst into laughter, as if the victory was already theirs. But Ayaan and his friends didn't flinch.
Ayaan finally spoke, his voice steady:
"We'll see tomorrow."
The tension in the cafeteria was thick, and every student's eyes were now on the newcomers. Whispers spread like wildfire—"They challenged the best player… tomorrow will be crazy!"
The football player stood up with a smirk, "Get ready to embarrass yourselves." He walked off with his team, leaving the whole cafeteria buzzing with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Ayaan and his group exchanged looks. Instead of being worried, they all burst out laughing again, as if nothing had happened. They continued eating their food calmly, unfazed by the storm that was waiting for them the next day.
When they all went into their class, the room was buzzing with whispers and laughter.
Everyone stared at them and shook their heads, saying, "You can't beat them, no one can."
Some even smirked and whispered to each other, "They don't stand a chance."
Then a few louder voices shouted, "Just wait, you'll see tomorrow!"
The tension grew as the words echoed through the classroom.
Everyone packed their bags slowly, still throwing occasional glances, murmuring doubts and predictions.
When the bell rang, they all stood up, some shrugging, some shaking their heads.
One by one, they left the classroom.
The hallways filled with chatter, footsteps, and the rustling of backpacks.
They all went back to their houses, each carrying their own thoughts about what tomorrow might bring.
Night fell, and the streets were quiet.
In their rooms, they thought about the challenge ahead.
Some felt nervous, some excited, but all wondered what the next day would bring.
The city lights flickered outside their windows as everyone prepared themselves, unaware of the surprises tomorrow would hold.
They reached their houses and dropped their bags inside.
Ayaan said, "We shall workout today, get ready."
Affan nodded, "Yeah, we need to be faster and stronger."
Anshuman stretched his arms and added, "It's afternoon, perfect time to train."
Anant looked outside and said, "Hey, look! Two Activas are parked there. We can take them."
Aditya grinned, "Let's go to the stadium and play football. See what we can do."
Ayaan smiled, "Alright, let's see how good we really are."
They all hopped on the bikes, engines roaring as they raced toward the stadium.
The wind hit their faces, and laughter filled the air as they sped along the streets.
When they reached the stadium, they parked the Activas and jumped off.
Affan said, "First, let's warm up. No slacking today."
Anshuman kicked the ball lightly, "Let's see who's improved the most."
Anant dribbled the ball, "I'm not going easy on anyone."
Aditya laughed, "We'll see who's the fastest on the field."
Ayaan took a deep breath, "Time to push ourselves. Let's go."
The afternoon sun shone brightly as they started running, passing, and challenging each other on the field, each trying to outdo the others.
They shouted, laughed, and competed, forgetting everything else for a while, fully immersed in the game and their training.
When the evening came, they rode back to their houses, still laughing and teasing each other.
Affan said, "That was insane! I can't believe some of those moves."
Anshuman chuckled, "Yeah, I think I need a break… maybe just a little."
Anant grabbed some snacks, "Come on, let's eat before we collapse."
Aditya laughed, "Food first, then bragging later."
Ayaan smiled quietly, "Alright, let's eat and rest. Tomorrow is another day."
They all sat together, eating, joking, and laughing about the afternoon's football game.
After the meal, they washed up and got ready for bed.
Lying down, they smiled at each other, still replaying the fun moments.
Slowly, their eyes closed, and they fell asleep, exhausted but happy, ready for whatever the next day would bring.
The next day, they woke up early, yawning and stretching.
Ayaan said, "Time to get ready, shower first."
Affan nodded, "Yeah, let's freshen up and eat something quick."
Anshuman laughed, "Can't be late today, big day ahead."
Anant said, "Shower done, let's go to school."
Aditya added, "I'm ready. Let's see what happens today."
They all got ready quickly, ate breakfast, and headed to school together.
When they entered the classroom, the energy was buzzing.
The teacher announced, "Today, during the next two periods, you will play the match."
Everyone cheered, but some whispered, "How will they even handle them?"
Ayaan looked at his friends, "Let's enjoy this, play smart and fast."
Affan grinned, "We've trained, now it's time to show what we can do."
Anshuman dribbled an imaginary ball, "Let's give them a surprise."
Anant nodded, "We'll see who really has the skills."
Aditya laughed, "Let's make this match fun and intense."
The bell rang, and the class quickly got ready for the match.
Everyone was watching them closely, whispering and guessing what moves they would make.
The excitement in the room grew as the friends prepared themselves, hearts racing with anticipation.
Ayaan looked around, "It's our turn. Let's do this."
The game was about to begin, and all eyes were on them, waiting to see what they would do next.
They wore their football outfits, black and white, and headed to the stadium.
When they entered, they saw the other team dressed in red and white.
The scoreboard showed only 10 minutes left before the match began.
Affan said, "Let's warm up first, get our muscles ready."
Anshuman nodded, "Yeah, can't start without stretching properly."
Ayaan stepped forward, a confident smile on his face.
"Watch this," he said calmly.
He began doing calisthenics with perfect form—push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and handstands, one after another without stopping.
Affan tried to copy him but struggled to keep the rhythm.
Anshuman attempted a handstand but wobbled and fell.
Anant laughed nervously, "Okay… maybe I need more practice."
Aditya tried as well, doing a few push-ups and sit-ups but couldn't match Ayaan's speed or strength.
Ayaan finished his set and stood tall, breathing steadily.
"See?" he said, "This is how we get ready. Now, let's show them what we've got."
The others nodded, slightly embarrassed but motivated, knowing they had to push harder if they wanted to compete.
The tension in the stadium grew as the countdown to the match ticked closer.
The match began with a kickoff to the other team.
The players in red and white rushed forward, their speed shocking Ayaan and his friends.
Affan shouted, "They're fast… way faster than we thought!"
Anshuman muttered, "Wait… this isn't just practice. This is serious!"
Ayaan's eyes narrowed, "Remember, this is the game we signed up for. We have to play seriously."
They shook off the surprise and readied themselves.
The challenger—the guy who had mocked and challenged them earlier—took the ball, dribbling past one, then two defenders with ease.
He aimed carefully and shot.
The ball flew straight into the goal.
Everyone on Ayaan's team froze.
Affan gasped, "What?! That was fast!"
Anshuman shook his head, "I can't believe he scored already."
Anant clenched his fists, "No way… we can't let this happen again."
Aditya muttered, "We need to focus. Now."
Ayaan took a deep breath, "Alright, team. Let's show them what we've got. Time to play our game."
The crowd of classmates watched in awe, waiting to see how Ayaan's team would respond.
The match had just begun, and the tension was electric.
Ayaan's team took the kickoff.
Anshuman sprinted toward the opponent's goal, his legs pumping fast.
Aditya dribbled the ball, then shot it skillfully into the air, passing it perfectly to Anshuman.
But before Anshuman could reach it, the challenger jumped and snatched the ball mid-air.
Everyone on Ayaan's team froze, eyes wide with shock.
Before they could react, the challenger passed the ball to his teammate.
His teammate took the shot and scored another goal.
The stadium erupted with whispers and gasps.
The challenger turned toward Ayaan's team, a smug smile on his face.
"You'll remember my name," he said loudly.
"Borou."
Ayaan's team clenched their fists, their determination growing.
Affan muttered, "We can't let him humiliate us like this."
Anshuman gritted his teeth, "Next time, we're not letting him get the ball."
Aditya nodded, "We need a plan, fast."
Ayaan stepped forward, eyes focused, "Alright team… let's show Borou what we're made of."
The match continued, tension high, as everyone waited to see the next move.
As they got ready for the next kickoff, a thought struck them all at once.
"We don't even know our roles in this match," Affan whispered.
Anshuman added, "And we don't have any strategy to beat them yet…"
Ayaan clenched his fists, taking a deep breath.
"But," he said firmly, "let's play seriously for now. Next time, we'll discuss and plan properly."
Aditya nodded, "Yeah, for now we give it everything we've got."
Anant grinned, "Time to make our shots cinematic, deadly, and smooth."
They positioned themselves carefully, eyes locked on Borou and his team.
The ball was ready for kickoff, tension high, the crowd silent in anticipation.
Ayaan signaled, "Let's move as one. Focus. Make every pass count."
The moment stretched, every heartbeat echoing, as they prepared to strike back.
Then the ball rolled forward, and the match resumed, faster, sharper, every move more intense than before.
Their kicks, passes, and shots began to flow like a deadly, smooth dance, each one aiming to turn the tide against Borou's team.
Anshuman sprinted down the field, eyes sharp, ball at his feet.
He passed it forward, a smooth, lightning-quick motion.
Borou, watching carefully, thought the pass was meant for Affan and moved to intercept.
But as the ball reached Affan, it skipped forward, teasing, unpredictable.
From behind, Ayaan charged like a shadow, full speed, muscles coiled, eyes locked on the ball.
Time seemed to slow as he reached the perfect position.
Between Borou's two defenders, Ayaan unleashed a deadly, cinematic shot.
The ball sliced through the air with precision, spinning, unstoppable, heading straight for the goal.
The defenders lunged, desperate, but Ayaan's shot was too fast, too smooth, too precise.
The stadium seemed to hold its breath as the ball slammed into the net.
GOAL.
Ayaan's team erupted in exhilaration, adrenaline pumping, hearts racing.
Borou's eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face.
"You… how did you…?" he muttered under his breath.
Ayaan just nodded, calm and deadly, "That's how it's done."
The crowd roared, the match had just shifted, cinematic and lethal, every move now charged with deadly intensity.
Borou's team took the kickoff, the ball rolling smoothly toward his teammate.
Just as the teammate prepared to pass between Ayaan's team, Anshuman exploded forward with lightning speed.
In a blur, he intercepted the ball, leaving Borou's teammate stunned.
Without hesitation, Anshuman passed it to Aditya.
Aditya readied himself, body coiled, eyes on the goal, and just as he was about to shoot—
Borou appeared out of nowhere, snatching the ball with impossible speed.
Everyone froze, jaws dropping, hearts racing.
"How… he was so far!" Affan gasped.
Borou didn't stop. He surged forward, a streak of red and white across the field, heading straight for their goal.
Anant and Affan charged, trying to block him, their bodies colliding with his unstoppable momentum.
But Borou was untouchable, sliding past them with deadly grace.
In front of Ayaan, Borou stopped, balanced, and made a smooth, cinematic shot.
The ball flew like a guided missile, slicing between defenders and spinning toward the net.
Time seemed to freeze in Ayaan's eyes as he watched the ball sail perfectly, unstoppable.
The stadium gasped.
The shot hit the goal—GOAL.
Borou's team celebrated, his grin deadly, as Ayaan's team clenched their fists, determination blazing.
This was no ordinary opponent. This was cinematic, precise, and deadly—and Borou had just reminded them why.
The first 45 minutes were over, and half the match had ended.
Ayaan's team walked back to their side, breathing heavily, sweat dripping, hearts racing.
They sat down, catching their breath, eyes serious.
"The score is 1-3," Affan said, frustration in his voice.
"We're losing," Anshuman added, "we need at least four goals, and they can only make two more."
Aditya nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead, "If we want to stop Borou, we have to play smartly, not just fast."
Ayaan leaned forward, determination blazing, "Alright, here's the plan."
He pointed at positions, everyone listening carefully.
"I'll stay in front, keep Borou busy and block his shots."
Anshuman grinned, "I'll go fast on the side, create openings and confuse them."
Aditya said, "I'll be in the middle, ready to shoot when we get the chance."
Affan added, "I'll stay in front of the goal, dribble, and pass when needed."
Anant nodded, "I'll support everyone, pass strategically, and defend when Borou comes at us."
They all looked at each other, nodding, understanding their roles.
"This time," Ayaan said, "we play smart, deadly, and smooth. Let's turn this game around."
The whistle blew, and they ran back onto the field, hearts pounding, ready to challenge Borou with their new strategy.
The match restarted with their kickoff.
Aditya shot the ball sharply toward Anshuman.
Anshuman sprinted toward the goal, eyes locked, ready to strike.
But before he could react, Borou appeared out of nowhere and snatched the ball.
Everyone froze, whispering, "Is he even human?"
Ayaan rushed to stop Borou, tackling him with full force.
Borou slammed to the ground, and the referee blew the whistle—yellow card.
Ayaan's team got a free kick.
As Ayaan tried to stand, a black shadowy hand appeared before him, whispering, "Win… stand."
Ayaan jumped back, heart pounding. "What… what is this?" he stammered.
A voice echoed, calm and deep, "I am your ego."
The shadow disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving Ayaan stunned.
The team refocused, and the match continued.
The ball was at Anshuman's feet.
He passed it quickly to Affan.
Affan controlled the ball, but Borou shot forward again and snatched it effortlessly.
Everyone shouted, "Stop him!"
Borou moved with deadly speed, but in an instant, the ball vanished from his feet.
Behind him, Ayaan appeared like a shadow, eyes burning with focus.
With a swift, cinematic strike, Ayaan shot the ball.
The ball flew perfectly—spinning, unstoppable—straight into the goal.
GOAL.
The crowd erupted, and Ayaan's team shouted in exhilaration, hearts racing.
Borou froze, eyes wide, realizing their counterattack had just turned the tide.
Borou's team froze, staring at Ayaan.
"How… how did you do that?" one of them asked.
Ayaan shrugged, a calm expression on his face.
"I… I don't know," he said slowly, "it just came out of me."
Borou's team regained focus and started moving the ball again.
Borou passed to his teammate, who dribbled between Affan with deadly speed.
Affan narrowed his eyes, "I can see your movement," and in a flash, he snatched the ball away.
He quickly passed it to Ayaan.
Ayaan closed his eyes for a brief moment, thinking of the black shadow—the ego.
Suddenly, he could see the entire field, every movement, every possibility, like a living map.
"This game is getting interesting," he muttered under his breath.
Scanning quickly, he looked for the best option to score.
Aditya was blocked, but there was one small opening.
Effortlessly, Ayaan passed the ball through the gap to Aditya.
Aditya controlled it, coiled his body, and made a massive, cinematic shot.
The ball flew, unstoppable, straight into the goal.
GOAL.
Everyone around shouted, "Ayaan! You didn't even see that Aditya was blocked!"
Ayaan smiled slightly, "I can see the whole movement of the ground."
Borou's team gasped. "How… how is that possible?"
Ayaan's eyes glimmered, "My ego can see."
They shook their heads, muttering, "Impossible…"
Ayaan laughed softly, "Remember, this is a game."
The stadium was electric, tension high, as everyone realized Ayaan's team was now playing on a whole new level.
The score was tied, 3-3.
Borou received the ball and sprinted toward the goal with deadly speed.
Ayaan rushed forward, blocking him perfectly, and in a smooth motion passed the ball to Affan.
Affan leapt and headed the ball with perfect precision—GOAL.
The ball hit the net, spinning gracefully, and the crowd gasped.
During the next kickoff, Borou was ready to pass, eyes focused, but Ayaan moved faster.
He intercepted the ball in mid-air, everyone's mouths dropping open in shock.
Without pausing, Ayaan executed a flawless bicycle kick—GOAL.
The other team was stunned, unable to respond.
Ayaan jogged back, breathing lightly, and said, "You played very well, Borou."
Borou smirked, "I've never lost to anyone."
Ayaan looked at him calmly, "Don't think there's no one better than you."
A dark shadow appeared briefly, whispering to Ayaan, "No one is better than us."
Ayaan nodded to himself, then turned to his team, "Alright, let's go to class. I'm tired."
When they entered, the whole class froze, eyes wide, shocked by their skills.
Every girl was impressed, whispering excitedly.
Five of the girls approached them shyly, "Do you want to go out this evening?"
Ayaan's team smiled, "OK, no problem."
The atmosphere was electric, admiration and excitement buzzing as they all walked toward their desks.
After the evening out with the five girls, they all returned to their houses, laughing and recounting the fun moments.
As they settled in, their smartphones buzzed with a notification.
It read: "There is a football competition in school in 7 days. You five are selected to represent our school."
Ayaan's eyes lit up. "Seven days… we have to train hard."
Affan grinned, "Let's win this competition, no doubts."
Anshuman pumped his fist, "Time to show everyone what we're capable of!"
Aditya nodded, "We've already improved so much. Let's push even further."
Anant smiled, "Challenge accepted. We'll dominate."
They all sat down to eat, excitement buzzing through the air.
When they saw the prize amount, their eyes went wide—1,000 dollars!
"Woah… that's huge!" Affan exclaimed.
They laughed, continued eating, talking strategy and possibilities.
After finishing their food, exhausted but thrilled, they got ready for bed.
One by one, they fell asleep, dreams filled with football, victory, and the challenges waiting in the next seven days.