It was time for the final match. After Mr Rex's short speech, the two teams came to the field from opposite sides. They had changed outfits too. Team Vine now wore gold jerseys and black shorts while the Cobras were attired in peach jerseys and dark blue shorts. One was a team with 5 points already gotten from their first match (and even if they lost the five points would still remain) while the other had none!
The two captains walked to each other.
"Bro, be careful you don't lose," Tyrion said to Phoenix in arrogance.
"You should pray I'm merciful." Phoenix sneered.
"Scoring that goal was your luck," Tyrion said with a smiling face.
"We'll see if it was, shortie."
"You're only a few inches taller than I am. Who're you calling a shortie?" said Tyrion unhappily.
"Did I refer to you? There are many shorties around." Phoenix scoffed before they flipped the coin.
Team Vine got the head which made Tyrion laugh. "Be sure to call me father when we win."
"Don't worry about that. It's not apparent who'll say that yet. If it turns out to be you... hehe, you won't just call me father, you'll become my mate's footstool." Phoenix said with arms folded.
Hearing this, Tyrion's eyes widened. "Oh, your mate's here?" he looked around and then back at Phoenix. "Where is she? I will definitely make her see how much of a loser you are. She'll ditch you, man."
"You've earned a raise, Tyrion. When you lose, I will have you do a toe stand for 5 hours. If you succeed, I will let you off but if you don't..."
"Wow! A weakling dares to threaten me. I so look forward to the result of the match." Tyrion chuckled.
"Like I earlier said, pray I'll be merciful." Phoenix looked at him like he was dead meat while the latter shook his head in pity, clearly holding himself back from laughing.
'Is there even a need for this match?' he thought. Team Vine should just be given the five points since they're gonna win anyway. Since the match can't be skipped, then, of course, his team will thrash those weak Cobras, especially this smug Phoenix. He wasn't even that handsome or strong, to begin with. With his display on the field plus a few smooth words, he's sure he can get Phoenix's mate to ditch him. After all which she-wolf wants a weakling for a husband?
Phoenix shook hands with the smug Tyrion before they parted and joined their teammates. Soon the referee blew the whistle and the game started with a Vine player kicking the ball to his teammates.
...
30 mins into the game and Team Cobra had shockingly not scored even 1 goal while the other team had scored 20 goals, 13 of which were scored by Team Vine's captain. From the previous performance of these two teams, the majority of those betting chose Team Vine because their captain was a scoring machine. The two teams had met in this final match and it was clear that it was impossible for Team Cobra to win against them.
The first half of the game was over after 15 minutes. Team Vine was in the lead with scores of 30 goals while the other party managed to score one by chance. Phoenix was tripped several times during the first match and whenever the ball was in his possession, he couldn't pass it on successfully to the next team member. Many were glad they chose Team Vine in the bet or it'll be an embarrassing loss for them. This captain of Team Cobra was a total disgrace. There were 10 minutes of rest time allotted to the two teams. Tyrion walked over to Phoenix.
"You guys are so pathetic. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!"
"You shouldn't be worried about that. Our team is doing great." Phoenix replied with a smug face.
"Still so conceited. You guys are far behind by so much. I bet even your ancestors are ready to jump out of their graves and rip your head off."
"Shortie, if you don't have anything useful to say, please get lost." Phoenix pointed ahead of him. "Go back to your teammates, Tyrion."
"Just admit defeat. You're all gonna be thrashed by me in the second half if you don't surrender." Tyrion made a funny face at him before joining his teammates who were drinking water. He took a bottle from the carton and finished its content in one go. Then he picked another one.
Seeing this, Phoenix scoffed and faced his teammates.
"Captain. I just don't understand." Kelvin said to Phoenix as he handed him a plastic water bottle.
"What don't you understand?" Phoenix asked.
"You did even worse in this first half than the last game. And you had the chance to pass the ball to me, you weren't even tripped by the other team's player at the time, but still, you didn't."
"Well, don't worry. Didn't we make up for it in the second half of our last match? Come on. You can show your prowess in the other half of this match."
"Captain, it's clear that you're not serious. You just wanna drag us down. You're not fit to be captain." Kelvin spat.
"Oh?" Phoenix raised an eyebrow. "It's now you realize? I pleaded for someone to take this armband. I didn't want it but what did you say? Rules were rules. I'm already recognized as Team Cobra's captain."
"You don't deserve it, Phoenix. Hand it over to someone better." Fabian, another player said.
"So you want me to give up this armband? It's easy. If anyone can tell me my middle name, I'll easily hand it over."
"You... Just say you don't wanna hand it over, Phoenix." Kelvin said with gritted teeth.
"Took you this long to realize." Phoenix picked his nose.
"The second half will soon start. It's best we use this chance to really rest." Phoenix said as he removed the lid of the plastic water bottle and drank. When he was done, he gave the empty bottle to Kelvin. "I'm going to pee. You guys wait for me." Phoenix said before walking away from the field.
"We're so unlucky. I'm gonna beat that guy when the match is done." Kelvin swore after he returned from disposing the can.
"Hey, brother Kelvin," Stephen called.
"What?" Kelvin asked in annoyance.
"Don't entertain the thought of beating him. In fact, none of you should. When he comes back, let's beg him to be serious." Stephen suggested.
"Can you listen to yourself, Stephen?" Kelvin walked to where the plump youth sat on the designated bench. His injury had healed already.
"You are healed. Great! Now be my substitute. I have no desire to play and then lose this damn match." Kelvin made Stephen stand up. "Fattie, go and join your beloved captain." Kelvin sat on the bench while Stephen shook his head.
"What if we win?" Stephen asked. "And why are you putting all the blame on the captain? If you're so good, why didn't you score a goal in the first half? You're afraid of that scoring machine!"
"You know what? I quit. I'm no longer a player. I can't be a part of the embarrassing defeat that awaits this team. Good luck licking a loser's boots." Kelvin took off the jersey and threw it at Stephen.
"Bro, it hasn't gotten to that." the youth tried to run after him.
"I should have done this since the first match," Kelvin said as he walked out of the field, heading to the costume center.
The players in Team Vine found it amusing.
"Ha! It's not even time for the second half but they've already lost one player. Oh, look! two more players have left. That's three. Wow! Two more have left. Hahaha! Heaven's on our side. You guys should just surrender already. " Tyrion laughed.
The 4 players who had joined Kelvin in leaving the team were Fabian Norrill, Quinn Adamson, Benson Vanderwood and Ralf Dartnell.
Stephen stopped going after the players who left and returned to sit on the bench with a sigh. Now their team had 11 left with no substitutes. The other team had all members intact. He sighed again.
Phoenix soon returned and Stephen told him the situation of things.
"Captain... Should we just surrender as Tyrion said?" Stephen asked.
"Nope. Even if we'll lose, we'll do so with pride. Those 5 who left have nothing to do with Team Cobra. Cheer up!" he patted the anxious youth's back. "Alright, folks. Let's have a little discussion." Phoenix clapped his hands twice and the other team members came to him. They didn't have much hope for this match but they wanted to do things to the finish. They were not willing to surrender.
Tyrion seeing them all gathered, forming a circle, shook his head. "I wonder what's there to discuss in hushed tones. If I were you..."
"Shut it!" Phoenix warned and went back to discussing with his team.
Soon, the break was over. It was now time for the second half of this final match. The referee blew his whistle and the game started. Surprisingly, within the first 2 minutes, a goal had already been scored by Team Cobra. Stephen was the one who scored it. However, there was nothing to be elated about coz they were still behind by 28 goals.
In the fourth minute, Tyrion scored a goal and showed a middle finger at Phoenix who simply scoffed. In the 7th minute, Phoenix kicked the ball into the net at an impossible angle once again.
"Hmph! That was your luck." Tyrion said while Phoenix chuckled.
"It's too early to judge, shortie." the latter replied as the goalkeeper kicked the ball towards them.
*****
It was the 30th minute. The audience was stunned. Phoenix had helped Team Cobra be in the lead by scoring 30 goals. Those who tried to trip him several times failed miserably and even got wounded in the process but it wasn't serious that they would need a substitute hence they continued. From the fifth minute till the 31st minute, Team Vine had been unable to score any other goal as Phoenix always got possession of the ball at the last point.
Tyrion had been tripped 15 times by Phoenix and 5 times by Dane Yawner, another Cobra player.
He wished to rip Phoenix apart so badly. He was barely able to run around now.
In the 35th minute, he was about to score a goal only for Phoenix to kick the ball towards his teammates! Tyrion couldn't help but curse out loud. Phoenix gave him a thumbs down.
"Either surrender or allow me to discipline and cast the arrogance out of you," Phoenix said before leaving him.
"Bastard!" Tyrion cussed through gritted teeth. He was unable to accept the reality before him!
How come this pushover who was a total disgrace of a captain was now the one thrashing them on the field? He was the scoring machine. He was the best at this game. How can he be beaten repeatedly like this? No, he has to win this and teach that annoying guy the lesson of his life!
However, in the 40th minute, his team hadn't been able to score a single goal. They were now behind the very team that they laughed at.
"I have to take out that Phoenix." Tyrion thought.
Sadly, as much as he tried, he couldn't do a thing to Phoenix. Instead, he got tricked by another Cobra player 3 good times!
In the 44th minute, a member of Team Vine had a great chance of scoring a goal but Phoenix suddenly jumped in mid-air and kicked the ball into the goal post erupting in cheers from the crowd. Two Alphas (9th ranked Alpha king Hain Mawrey and 19th ranked Alpha king Camfield Willerton) rose and awarded Team Cobra 5 points each! They were truly impressed by their skill on the field especially that of their captain whom everyone once looked down on. Now Team Cobra emerged as the winner of the game with an unexpected 15 points! Those packs whose selected warriors formed Cobra were jubilating. They got 15 points instead of the 5 points that they hoped for. They just needed 35 more to go!
Tyrion knelt on the field pounding the ground in fury. He just couldn't believe this. He'd lost to the pathetic Phoenix! So hateful!
Phoenix walked over to Tyrion after the referee had blown the whistle signifying the end of the match. The final scores were 31-57!
"You... Are you here to mock me?" Tyrion asked after standing, wearing a sullen countenance.
"No. I want to speak to you when we're done changing. Meet me under the oak tree close to the enrollment hall." the latter replied.
"And what if I don't?"
"You don't have that option, shortie." Phoenix went to join his teammates who raised him up in ecstasy.
Kelvin and co. who had left the team in a fit of rage now wore faces of regret. Their pack members criticised them for leaving. 15 points could have been theirs freely as long as they sat on the bench. But no, they left because they felt the captain was a piece of trash. Now he beat the so-called scoring machine and his team!
The 5 men ran towards the joyful 11 members of Cobra who had left the field amidst the cheers from the crowd. Those who lost weren't all that sad. They felt this was a great eye-opener and knew the meaning of never judging a book by its cover.
"Hey, guys." Kelvin waved with a nervous smile as the 11 men were on their way to the costume center.
"Who are you?" Stephen asked in an irked tone.
"Come on man. How can you say you don't recognize us." Fabian said with a nervous laugh.
"You want me to accept you guys back so your packs can get free 15 points, right?" Phoenix asked after the other members put him down.
"This..." Fabian and the other 4 didn't know what to say.
"Don't worry. I can let you back in so you'll get the points but on one condition." Phoenix said.
"Captain..." Stephen called out in a distressed tone. Phoenix was really gonna let these losers get points that they didn't work for? They even ditched the team. This Kelvin was the one who provoked the others to quit.
"Don't worry, Stephen. Sometimes, you gotta be lenient. We are all weak occasionally and may not do the right thing since none of us is perfect. I also believe that they will do anything to make up for their mistakes. Am I right?" Phoenix asked, facing the five edgy men.
"Yeah, right," they replied in unison, nodding their heads.
"So you want to know that one requirement?" he asked again.
"Please state it," urged Kelvin.
"What's my middle name?" Phoenix questioned. "Whoever can guess it right will be let back into the team. But if you can't, just scram. By the count of 5. 1... 2... 3... 4 and 5. Time's up. Let's go change, brothers. These losers aren't worthy to come close to us." Phoenix said before walking onward into the building. The others made comical faces at the 5 men as they walked in.
Four of them blamed Kelvin bitterly.
"You are adults. I left. Did I compel you to follow me?" Kelvin barked and raised Fabin by the throat but he got punched in the jaw by Quinn. Soon they all got into an intense fight, alerting two officials who quickly came to separate them.
"You have broken the rules and caused serious injury outside of the game. No partiality will be applied here. Your packs will receive minus 10 points. You must pay it back before any other points can be counted for your packs. But if you feel it's too unjust, you are free to leave this venue." said the stern-looking female official who was short and dressed in a blue suit.
"This... Can't we pay a fine?" Fabian asked in a pleading tone.
"Of course. You are to pay 15 million each at the penalty hall." said the male official who looked younger than the female.
"15 million?" Quinn cried out in astonishment.
How much did their packs receive each month from the werewolf association? So they only had the first option. Get 10 points and return to square one as the penalty?
"Phoenix, I swear to rip you to shreds when I get the chance," Kelvin swore in his heart, his hands tightly curled into fists.
Meanwhile, in the costume building, Phoenix had changed back to the clothes he wore before the match after taking a shower.
"Alright. We're only united for this game. It might not be this way for the other activities. Thank you everyone for your hard work and loyalty." said Phoenix.
"Thank you too for becoming serious in the end," said Stephen as he shook hands with him.
"Thank you for believing in me, Stephen. If you guys don't make it, you are free to come to Bloodstar."Phoenix offered.
"Um... we'll do our best. If you guys do win, I'll see if I can come over. But if it's otherwise, no need." Stephen replied.
"Don't worry. Just have it in mind that you'll join Bloodstar soon. Alright, I'm off. I bet my mate must be dying to give me that french kiss. Stephen, look at my lips. They are okay, right? They are very tempting too, right?" Phoenix asked.
"Eh... You can ask Sergeant." Stephen escaped and Sergeant who heard his name walked over to Phoenix.
"Did you want to see me?"
"Um... I wanted to ask how my lips look. Do they look super tempting?"
"Phoenix, did your mate promise a reward if you win that's why you became serious?" Sergeant couldn't help asking with arms folded.
This got the others' attention.
"Eh.... that's part of the reason. You see, I got fed up with that airhead captain of Vine."
"That's why you tripped him all those times?" Stephen asked.
"You guys are deviating from the question I asked."
"No need to ask. Man, you look super cool. Even straight men will turn gay for you. So please go ahead." Sergeant pushed Phoenix away.
"I don't swing that way," Phoenix said as Sergeant walked back into the building.
"I know. Your mate is a beautiful woman." Stephen said from inside the building. Phoenix turned around to leave.
He headed back to the field and shortly after the other 10 came to join him.
Mr Rex was standing on the platform once again.
"Alright! That was an amazing performance. Let's applaud everyone who participated."
The spectators clapped.]
"It is time for the second activity to begin. Elite warriors will be dealing with arrows. If you wish to be replaced. Do so within 2 minutes." Mr Rex said while facing the 11 men on the field.
Stephen and 7other men including Phoenix left the field and headed to where their pack members sat at. Rolandro rose and headed to the field after patting Phoenix on the back with a nod and a small smile. He was impressed by Phoenix's shocking stunts on the field. The match must have sapped his energy. Being a captain wasn't a joking matter and he did well at last even earning them 15 points.
Phoenix sat beside his mate. "So are you satisfied, Lavie? Did I do well?" he asked.
"Yeah. You did." she brought him closer and initiated the french kiss.
"You guys. Seriously!" Mel sighed. This was the deal between the couple. But must they do it here in the sight of multitudes of werewolves?
Phoenix used his left hand to indicate that the Bloodstar members should focus on the match and not be bothered by him kissing his own mate. Zyair shook his head with a sigh and focused on the match along with the others.
Phoenix had also cast a spell so others apart from the Blood star warriors would think they were looking at those on the field.
After several minutes passed, the two parted.
"Lavana, I can't get enough of those lips."
"Be content, mate," Lavana said to him after pecking his left cheek.
"Alright. I will be. I gotta go meet someone."
"Who?" Lavana asked in curiosity.
"A secret. I'll be back soon and then I'll tell you."
"Okay." she nodded. He pecked her forehead before leaving. He'd already taken down the spell so others saw him rise and leave.
"Lavana. Don't you guys have any shame? So many people...."
"Don't worry. No one apart from you guys knows," she said with confidence.
"Really?" Mel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Affirmative," she replied with a smile.
Mel sighed. "It'd better be."
"I've never seen Rolandro with an arrow before," said Lavana.
"He's the best with arrows. There is a room in the training hall meant only for arrow shooting but not all warriors can enter." Mel revealed.
"Oh. I see." she nodded in understanding.
The selected warriors had been handed a bow of their choice and quivers which they wore either around their backs or around their waist at either the left or right side.