8: The Zero-Yard Stop
392 Words
Blake changed his entire approach.
He abandoned finesse.
This time, he relied on raw elite talent.
The snap came quicker.
Blake dropped back only one step, eyes locked directly on Leo, no longer hiding his intentions.
He was going to force a perfect deep ball.
The kind of pass that only national-level prodigies could execute.
The kind no dirt-field kid could ever defend.
“Cover this,” Blake muttered, launching.
The ball rocketed higher and farther than any pass all game.
It arced toward the far corner of the end zone, a pinpoint fade route designed to beat even the fastest defenders.
Blake’s body relaxed the second he released it.
That was a guaranteed touchdown.
But Leo’s new Route Instinct fell to life.
[Route Instinct Lv.2 activated.]
[Ball trajectory fully mapped.]
[Optimal intercept path generated.]
Leo didn’t just run.
He glided.
His feet ate up the uneven dirt without hesitation, every step perfectly calibrated.
He closed the impossible gap before the ball could descend.
He jumped again, body fully extended at the peak of his leap.
This time, he didn’t deflect.
He caught it.
Both hands locked firmly around the leather ball midair.
Interception.
The entire stadium exploded into chaos.
The crowd jumped to their feet, screaming at the top of their lungs.
The stream of comments flooded nonstop, thousands of messages rolling in seconds.
NO WAY!
HE INTERCEPTED BLAKE CARTER?!
THIS IS INSANE!
Blake Carter froze on the spot, staring in complete disbelief.
His perfect fade route — intercepted.
By a benchwarmer.
By a slum kid.
Leo landed clean, secured the ball, and turned up field.
Norte Elite players rushed to tackle him, desperate to salvage their pride.
But Leo’s newly upgraded speed was too much.
He junked one, burned another, and sprinted all the way back across midfield before finally being dragged down.
A massive return.
Santo Antonio took over in elite territory.
Thirty seconds left.
The game was no longer enough.
They could win.
The underdogs could actually win.
[Special Mission: Crush Elite Arrogance — Nearly Completed.]
[Final game-winning play opportunity pending.]
[Cosmic rule resonance flickering stronger.]
Leo stood up, dusting red dirt off his jersey.
He glanced at Blake.
The elite prodigy’s arrogant gaze was gone.
In its place was pure, bitter shock.
Blake had never been shut down like this in his entire career.
No one had.
- Writer
