The morning after the long, intense night with Sophia, Alex Rivera stepped out of his sleek black SUV at the Galaxy first-team training facility. The sun was already high, the grass on the main pitch glistening under the California sky. He wore his fresh training kit — the white and blue with the number 33 boldly printed on the back — and a small, satisfied smile played on his lips. The memory of Sophia's moans and her complete surrender still lingered, but today his focus shifted back to the pitch.
This was the start of the real fight.
He walked into the locker room and immediately felt the shift in atmosphere. The entire first-team squad was already there. Captain Marco "El Rey" Delgado spotted him first and let out a loud whistle.
"Look who it is — the record-breaking homegrown king!" Delgado shouted, grinning ear to ear. The whole room erupted in cheers, claps, and playful insults.
Diego "The Beast" Torres slammed a locker door and laughed. "$450k starting salary? Rising to $650k? Bro, you just made the rest of us look broke. That emergency contract is insane for a 15-year-old!"
Other senior players crowded around, slapping Alex on the back, ruffling his hair, and congratulating him. Even the veterans who had been skeptical of the "academy kid" were now fully on his side.
Coach Victor Morales walked in last, holding a tablet. He stopped in the middle of the room and looked straight at Alex with a proud, fatherly smile.
"Gentlemen, settle down," Morales said, but his tone was warm. "Before we start training, let's address the elephant in the room. Yesterday, Alex Rivera officially signed his new two-year first-team contract. $450,000 base in year one, rising to $650,000 in year two, plus realistic performance bonuses across every competition we're still in. This is a record for any 15-year-old homegrown player in MLS history. And he earned every single dollar of it."
The coach turned the tablet toward the team and displayed the current Western Conference standings.
Western Conference Standings (Current)
Seattle Sounders – 52 pointsLAFC – 50 pointsHouston Dynamo – 48 pointsMinnesota United – 47 pointsReal Salt Lake – 46 pointsLA Galaxy – 46 points (one point above the playoff line)Portland Timbers – 45 points (game in hand)Vancouver Whitecaps – 44 pointsAustin FC – 42 pointsColorado Rapids – 41 pointsFC Dallas – 40 pointsSporting Kansas City – 38 pointsSan Jose Earthquakes – 36 pointsSt. Louis City SC – 34 points
Morales pointed at the sixth-place line. "We are in sixth — one single point above the playoff cut-off. Portland has a game in hand and could push us down with a single win. We are barely surviving. But with Alex's new contract locked in, the club has shown they believe in him. And I believe in all of you. Our goal for the rest of this season is clear: finish in the Top 4. That secures us a better playoff seeding and automatic qualification for next year's CONCACAF Champions Cup. We are going to fight for every point, every trophy still available. Alex, you are now a permanent, fully paid first-team player. Lead the way."
Alex nodded, feeling the weight and the fire at the same time. This is why I was reborn. Not just to play — to dominate. To climb from nothing to everything. Messi and Ronaldo started their legends around this age. I will surpass them.
The team broke into groups for training. Alex was pulled into the main senior group — no more youth sessions. The first drill was high-intensity possession in tight spaces. Alex received the ball, killed it with God's First Touch, performed a quick Phantom Shadow Dribble to create space, and threaded a perfect through-ball that split the defenders.
The assistant coach blew the whistle. "That's the standard now, boys! Rivera is cooking!"
System notifications flashed in Alex's mind (invisible to everyone else):
[System Notification]
Skill: Phantom Shadow Dribble – Grade upgraded from A+ to S-
+2 to Dribbling stat
Overall Rating increased from 82 → 84
[System Notification]
Mission: "Climb to Top 4" – Progress: 6th → Target: Top 4 by season end
Reward: Major skill point package + 1 Legendary skill unlock upon completion
Training continued for two full hours — passing sequences, shooting drills, set-piece practice (Alex spent extra time on free-kicks, replicating that iconic Roberto Carlos whip), and finally a full 11v11 scrimmage. Alex dominated the scrimmage, scoring twice and assisting three more, turning the session into a masterclass.
Coach Morales pulled him aside at the end. "You're not a kid anymore, Alex. You're our difference-maker. The contract proves the club trusts you. Now go prove it on the pitch every single week. We need to climb this table."
As training ended, the players gathered again. Delgado put an arm around Alex's shoulder. "Top 4 is the target. We're counting on you. And with that new paycheck, you better buy the team dinner soon!"
The whole squad laughed. Alex smiled, but inside his mind was already focused on the coming matches.
The push to Top 4 had officially begun.