Tuesday morning arrived with the same crisp Los Angeles sun, but the weight on Alex's shoulders felt heavier. Number 33 was now stitched on his back for good. The first-team facility no longer felt like a dream — it felt like a battlefield where every touch, every run, every decision was being judged.
He arrived at 8:10 a.m., changed quickly, and stepped onto the pitch. The squad was already warming up. Captain Marco "El Rey" Delgado gave him a nod. Some veterans offered small greetings. Others — especially a few of the older attacking mids — gave him longer, measuring looks.
Coach Victor Morales blew the whistle. "Same groups as yesterday. Today we go harder. Technical circuits first, then full tactical 11v11. Rivera — you stay with the attacking mids."
The session began.
Technical Circuits – Sharper, Faster
They started with the same possession grids, but the tempo was noticeably higher than yesterday. Two-touch maximum, immediate pressure, no mercy. Alex received a difficult ball from the side while two senior midfielders closed him down. He killed it instantly with God's First Touch, used a quick roulette to create space, and played a weighted pass into the next grid.
Carlos "El Pulpo" Mendoza, the veteran midfielder who had whistled at him yesterday, was in the opposite grid today. He intercepted the ball and immediately pressed Alex in the next duel. "Let's see if yesterday was luck, kid."
Alex dropped his shoulder, performed a sharp step-over, then triggered Phantom Shadow Dribble. The after-image flickered. Mendoza lunged at nothing. Alex was already gone, slipping the ball through his legs with a no-look pass. A few players clapped. Mendoza stood up, breathing hard, and gave a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Not bad. But don't get cocky. This isn't youth ball."
System notifications appeared silently.
[System Notification]
First-Team Training – Day 2 Bonus
EXP Gained: +610
Dribbling: +2 (now 98)
Passing: +2 (now 98)
Phantom Shadow Dribble Progress: +19% (A+ Grade)
The drills continued without pause. Next came 1v2 defending situations in the box. Alex was asked to create against two defenders at once. He dropped deep, received the ball, and used quick body feints to force one defender out of position before exploding past the second with Phantom Shadow Dribble. He delivered a perfect cut-back that a striker finished.
But not every moment was smooth. In the next round, Diego "The Beast" Torres came in aggressively on a 50/50 challenge. Alex won the ball cleanly, but the veteran made sure their shoulders collided hard. "Welcome to the men's game, kid."
Alex absorbed the hit and kept moving. Inside his head the old fire burned.
I died watching legends on a couch. I'm not here to be intimidated. I'm here to take their places.
Tactical 11v11 – The Real Heat
After a short water break, they moved into full 11v11 on half-pitch. Alex was again in the attacking team. The opposition was stacked with first-team regulars. The pace was relentless.
Early in the game, Alex received the ball in the No. 10 pocket. Three players closed him down. He used a series of quick touches, shifted the ball between both feet, and played a no-look through-ball that split the defence. The striker missed the chance, but the quality of the pass drew comments from the sideline.
Coach Morales shouted, "That's the vision we need!"
But rivalries were growing. In the very next attack, Carlos Mendoza deliberately played a slightly overhit pass to test Alex. The ball bounced awkwardly. Alex controlled it with God's First Touch under pressure, but Mendoza immediately closed him down and won the ball back with a strong but legal shoulder charge.
"Too pretty, kid," Mendoza muttered as he ran past. "This level eats pretty boys alive."
Alex didn't reply. He simply pressed harder. Minutes later he won the ball back high up the pitch, beat two players with Phantom Shadow Dribble, and delivered a perfectly weighted cross that was headed just wide.
The session was brutal, but Alex never dropped his intensity.
During the next water break, he jogged toward the sideline for a bottle. The small "Galaxy Young Stars Club" group was once again in the supervised viewing area. Sophia Ramirez stood there with her son Mateo. She was dressed more casually today — jeans and a simple blouse — but her presence was impossible to ignore. The staff kept everything strictly public and short. Sophia gave Alex a polite, distant smile and a small wave when their eyes met for a second. Her son waved excitedly. Alex returned a quick, professional smile and a thumbs-up to the boy before turning back to the pitch.
No words were exchanged. No private conversation. Just a brief, supervised public sighting — exactly how the club allowed it. But Alex felt the same sharp hunger from yesterday.
She's watching again. Still married. Still the mother of a fan. This has to stay slow and careful. But she's going to be mine. One day.
The 11v11 continued for another 35 minutes. Alex created two more clear chances and nearly scored himself with a curling shot that the keeper saved at full stretch. By the end of the session, his legs were heavy, but his mind was clear.
Coach Morales gathered the squad at the centre circle.
"Decent work today. Tomorrow we go even harder. Rivera — you're showing you belong. We're looking at the weekend squad list later this week. You won't start yet — you're still too young and new — but you'll be on the bench as a substitute. Be ready."
The words hit Alex like fuel.
Not starting yet. But on the bench. First-team debut as a sub is coming. This is exactly how the climb begins.
The players dispersed. Delgado patted him on the back again. "You're doing alright, kid. Keep your head down and keep working."
As Alex walked toward the exit, the media vans were still waiting outside the gates. The headlines were already updating live:
"Rivera Impresses on Day 2 of First-Team Training – Bench Spot Likely for Weekend"
"Mystery Blonde Rumors Continue as Young Star Steps Up"
The training arc was deepening. Rivalries were forming. The media storm was growing. And in the background, a new, long-term target was slowly coming into focus.