Thursday morning felt heavier than the previous three.
Alex arrived at the first-team facility at 8:00 a.m. sharp, number 33 jersey already on under his training top. The bruises from Tuesday's shoulder charges and Wednesday's hard tackles were still tender, but he refused to limp or show any discomfort. This was day four of first-team training, and every single session was being watched, judged, and remembered.
The squad was already on the pitch doing light mobility work. Captain Marco "El Rey" Delgado gave him a respectful nod. A few veterans offered short greetings. Carlos "El Pulpo" Mendoza smirked when their eyes met — the rivalry had grown sharper with each passing day. Diego "The Beast" Torres cracked his neck and stared a little longer, the challenge clear.
Coach Victor Morales blew the whistle. "Circle up. Today we go full intensity. Technical circuits, 1v2 defending, then full-pitch 11v11 with high press from both sides. Rivera — you stay with the attacking mids. Show me consistency."
The session began without any warm words.
Technical Circuits – Maximum Pressure
They started with the smallest grids yet — 6x6 zones, one-touch maximum, three defenders pressing at all times. The ball moved at a speed that made youth sessions feel like slow motion. Alex received a difficult bouncing ball while Mendoza and another veteran closed him down from both sides. He killed it instantly with God's First Touch, dropped his shoulder, performed a rapid step-over, and exploded with Phantom Shadow Dribble. The after-image froze Mendoza for a split second. Alex slipped the ball through his legs and played a crisp pass into the next grid.
Mendoza stood up slowly, breathing hard. "Flashy again. Let's see if you can do it when the legs are gone."
The comment fueled Alex. He stayed silent and simply worked harder.
Next came 1v2 defending situations inside the box. Alex was asked to create against two senior defenders at once. Torres came in aggressively on the first challenge, shoulder barging hard. Alex absorbed the hit, used quick body feints to shift the second defender, then burst past both with a double Phantom Shadow Dribble. He delivered a low cut-back that was finished cleanly.
Torres got up, wiping grass from his knee. "You're quick, kid. But quick gets you hurt when someone times it right."
The rivalry was now open and constant. Every duel carried an extra edge.
System notifications flashed in Alex's vision between rotations.
[System Notification]
First-Team Training – Day 4 Bonus
EXP Gained: +810
Dribbling: +2 (now 99)
Passing: +3 (now 99)
Physicality: +2 (now 87)
Phantom Shadow Dribble Progress: +26% (A+ Grade)
1v2 Defending & Full-Pitch 11v11 – The Real Test
After a short water break, they moved into 1v2 defending drills, then straight into full-pitch 11v11 with high-intensity pressing from both teams. Coach Morales wanted to simulate real match chaos.
Early in the 11v11, Alex dropped into the No. 10 pocket and called for the ball. He received it under heavy pressure from three players. He performed a series of quick touches, shifting the ball between both feet, then unleashed Phantom Shadow Dribble twice in succession. The after-images left two defenders completely wrong-footed. He slipped a perfectly weighted through-ball that split the defence and created a clear chance. The striker missed it narrowly, but the quality drew loud shouts from the sideline.
"Vision! That's what we need!" Coach Morales yelled.
But the veterans fought back immediately. In the very next attack, Mendoza deliberately played a slightly overhit pass to test Alex's control under fatigue. The ball bounced awkwardly. Alex brought it down with God's First Touch, but Torres came in with a strong, legal shoulder charge that sent him tumbling. Alex rolled and got up instantly, refusing to stay down.
Mendoza jogged past and muttered, "Still standing? Good. Most kids would be on the ground crying by now."
Alex didn't reply with words. Minutes later he won the ball back high up the pitch, beat Mendoza with a sharp roulette, and delivered a pinpoint cross that was headed just wide. The message was clear: he was not backing down.
The 11v11 continued for another 45 minutes at full intensity. Alex created four clear chances, won several 50/50 duels, and nearly scored himself with a powerful 25-yard strike that the keeper saved at full stretch. His legs were screaming, lungs burning, but the Enhanced Physicality skill kept him moving at the same pace as the senior players.
During the final water break, Alex jogged toward the sideline for a bottle. The "Galaxy Young Stars Club" group was once again in the supervised viewing area behind the glass. Sophia Ramirez stood there with her son Mateo. She was wearing a simple Galaxy hoodie and jeans, her dark wavy hair tied back. Their eyes met for a brief second. She gave a small, polite, distant smile and a nod — nothing more. Her son waved excitedly. Alex returned a quick, professional smile and a thumbs-up to the boy before turning away.
It was still strictly public, supervised by staff, and limited to a few seconds — exactly how the club allowed it. No private conversation. No flirting. Just another brief, realistic sighting that kept the slow burn alive in Alex's mind.
She keeps showing up with her son. Still married. Still the mother of a young fan. This has to stay patient and careful. But every time I see her… the hunger grows. One day.
The session ended with the squad gathered at the centre circle. Coach Morales stood in front of them, arms crossed.
"Listen up. We've watched four days of training. Rivera — you've shown you can compete at this level. You don't look out of place. You create, you fight, you recover. Tomorrow evening we finalise the weekend squad list. You will not start — you're still too young and new to the group. But you will be on the bench as a substitute. Be ready if we need you."
The words landed like a thunderbolt.
Alex kept his face neutral, but inside his chest something exploded with excitement.
Bench spot confirmed. Not starting yet, but I'm one step away from my first senior-team appearance. This is how the real climb begins.
The players dispersed. Delgado patted him on the back. "You earned that bench spot, kid. Keep working."
Mendoza and Torres exchanged glances but said nothing. The rivalries were now fully alive and would only grow sharper.
As Alex walked toward the exit, the media vans outside the gates were packed. Headlines were already updating live:
"Rivera Named on First-Team Bench for Weekend Match – Galaxy's Bold Youth Gamble"
"Mystery Blonde Scandal Continues as 18-Year-Old Star Steps Closer to Debut"
The training arc had reached its peak intensity. The bench was now official. Rivalries were burning. The media storm was raging. And in the background, a new, long-term target continued to appear — slowly, realistically, and under the strict rules of the club.