The first-team training pitch smelled of fresh-cut grass and ambition.
Alex arrived at 8:15 a.m., number 33 jersey already on under his training top. The facility felt bigger, sharper, more serious than the youth side. No more casual vibes. This was where contracts were earned or lost, where minutes in the senior team were fought for every single day.
Coach Victor Morales blew the whistle sharp and loud. "Circle up!"
The squad gathered. Captain Marco "El Rey" Delgado gave Alex a nod of acknowledgment. A few veterans looked at him with neutral expressions. Some with mild curiosity. One or two with the quiet challenge that said prove you belong here, kid.
"Today we start with technical circuits, then tactical 11v11," Morales announced. "Rivera — you're in the attacking midfield group. Work hard, stay humble, and listen."
The session began.
Technical Circuits – First 45 Minutes
They started with tight-space possession. Four small grids, high intensity, two-touch maximum. The ball moved faster than anything Alex had experienced in youth training. Every pass had weight and purpose. Alex received the ball under immediate pressure from two senior midfielders. He used God's First Touch to kill the ball dead, then a quick Phantom Shadow Dribble to create half a yard of space. He slipped a crisp pass into the next grid.
A veteran midfielder, Carlos "El Pulpo" Mendoza, whistled. "Not bad for a kid."
But the drills got harder. Next came 1v1 duels in the box. Alex faced Diego "The Beast" Torres, a 28-year-old first-team regular known for his physicality and nasty tackles. Torres came in hard. Alex dropped his shoulder, used a step-over, then exploded with Phantom Shadow Dribble. The after-image froze Torres for a split second. Alex was gone. He finished with a low shot into the bottom corner.
Torres stood up, breathing hard, and gave Alex a respectful but competitive glare. "You've got tricks, kid. Don't get comfortable."
System notifications flashed silently in Alex's vision.
[System Notification]
Professional First-Team Training Bonus
EXP Gained: +520
Dribbling: +2 (now 96)
Passing: +1 (now 96)
Phantom Shadow Dribble Progress: +22% (A+ Grade)
Tactical 11v11 – The Real Test
After a short water break, they moved into full 11v11 on half-pitch. Coach Morales split the squad. Alex was placed in the attacking team alongside two senior strikers and Delgado. The opposition was stacked with experienced defenders.
The game started fast.
Alex dropped into the No. 10 pocket, calling for the ball. He received it, scanned, and played a quick one-two with Delgado. As soon as the ball returned, two defenders closed him down. Alex performed a series of quick body feints, shifting his shoulders left then right, before triggering Phantom Shadow Dribble twice in succession. The after-images left both defenders reacting to ghosts. He burst into the box and squared the ball for a striker who tapped it home.
The coach's voice cut through: "Good movement, Rivera!"
But the senior team was unforgiving. On the very next attack, the opposition won the ball high and launched a counter. Alex tracked back 40 yards at full sprint, made a perfectly timed sliding tackle on a winger, won the ball cleanly, and immediately restarted the play. His lungs burned, but the Enhanced Physicality skill kept him sharp.
During a short break, Alex noticed the viewing area again. The small group from the "Galaxy Young Stars Club" was still there — including Sophia Ramirez and her son Mateo. They were standing politely behind the glass, watching the session. Sophia's eyes met Alex's for a brief second when he jogged past the fence for a water bottle. She gave a small, polite smile and a nod of acknowledgment — nothing more, nothing less. A supervised, public moment. Her son waved excitedly. Alex returned a quick smile and a thumbs-up to the boy before jogging back to position.
She's here again. Still watching. Still married. Still off-limits for now. But the spark is there. I'll take my time. This one needs patience.
The 11v11 continued. Alex created two more chances with precise through-balls and almost scored himself with a curling 25-yard effort that the keeper tipped over. By the end of the session, sweat poured down his back, but he felt alive.
Coach Morales gathered everyone at the end.
"Solid session. Rivera — you didn't look out of place. Keep this level and we'll talk about squad selection for the weekend match later in the week."
The players dispersed. Delgado patted Alex on the back. "You survived day one, kid. Most academy boys look lost out here. You didn't."
As Alex walked toward the exit, the media vans were still camped outside the gates. Headlines were already updating live:
"15-Year-Old Ace Rivera Begins First-Team Training – Galaxy's Bold Gamble"
"Mystery Blonde Scandal Grows as Rivera Steps Up to Senior Squad"
The training arc had truly begun. Day one was done. The real battles — on the pitch and off it — were only starting.