Fantasy Football-Chapter 30: Striders FC Vs Dark Elitez part 1

Mystic returned to his seat, holding what looked like a ticket, enough to make both Viper and Alfred stare at him in surprise.

“I can’t believe you placed another bet,” Alfred muttered, trying not to sound too harsh, especially with Viper nearby.

“It’s almost like you’re eager to risk everything, if this goes wrong, you’ll struggle to recover the losses.”

But Mystic only shrugged.

“Don’t worry, Uncle. I promise you, nothing will go wrong this time. The winning return from a normal-rank underground match is 20k, after subtracting the participation fee and the twenty percent cut they take, we’re left with eight thousand alliance credits as profits.”

He leaned back, his tone calm but firm.

“Considering I’m already risking injuries and resources, not betting makes no sense, I believe in this team, they’re still an unknown club, which gave us 4-to-1 odds at the bookies, if we win, that’s another 30k profit on top , as I have put down ten thousand on us, and the return will be forty thousand alliance credit”

Alfred’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as the calculation sank in, Mystic had gambled 10,000 alliance credits, hoping for a return of 40,000.

While Mystic was thinking about the potential 38,000 net profit he considered an “investment,” Alfred only saw the other side, the risk of losing 20,000 alliance credits and exposing the team to injury.

Still, Mystic wasn’t fazed, injuries didn’t worry him as much; he had already browsed through his system’s store.

There were affordable medicine elixirs still effective for players below Bronze rank. Though he wanted his team to win cleanly, but he wasn’t naïve, this was the underworld football stage, he knew enough to always have a backup plan.

If his team won, Mystic would have more than enough money to cover their new salaries by the end of the month and also be able to hand out small bonuses, purchase the necessary healing elixirs, and still pocket a healthy profit.

As he sat lost in thought, hoping Alfred wouldn’t question him again, the voice over the speakers cut through the air:

“After that short break, we’re ready to begin the third match of the night, but before we introduce the teams, I’d like to remind the audience, this will be another unranked football match, featuring one popular side that have played a couple games and a brand-new team.”

The crowd instantly erupted, their cheers louder than Mystic had anticipated, he glanced at Viper, puzzled by the sudden surge of enthusiasm.

Catching the look, Viper explained smoothly, 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

“The underground doesn’t see many new teams, its reputation keeps most away, so when a fresh squad shows up, the crowd gets excited.”

“They want to witness hopeful newcomers crash against the harsh reality of experienced underground players. That’s the real allure.”

Alfred’s brow furrowed with worry at those words, and he turned toward Mystic, ready to speak, but Viper beat him to it.

“You’ve staked big on these boys, like you can already see their victory written in stone, passion is good, it’s what every manager should feel about their team too , however that passion alone won’t win matches here.”

Mystic leaned back, confident.

“Passion isn’t all I have, Viper. I’ve analysed the players in the last match. If that’s the standard of unranked teams here, then believe me—my boys will win.”

“I’m not saying it won’t be rocky, but I believe they’re worthy enough to prove that they can learn from whatever this match throws at them,” Mystic finished, his voice steady with conviction.

Viper held his stare for five long seconds, eyes narrowing as if weighing Mystic’s confidence, before finally breaking it.

Without another word, Viper pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket.

Even Mystic was taken aback when he handed one of his men a thousand alliance credits and told him to bet it all on the Dark Elites before the match began.

That single act brought a genuine smile to Mystic’s face, he had no idea he was witnessing the very first bet placed by the man who, in time, would become utterly obsessed with his club.

–

“Coming out from the right side, we have a team stepping onto this stage for their tenth underground match, they’ve played nine times already, won three, lost six, and tonight they’ll be fighting hard to close that gap by crushing the newly introduced challengers.”

The commentator’s booming voice sent a wave of excitement through the arena.

As the crowd’s cheers swelled louder, impatient now, they wanted the action to start.

“Just so you know, this team has secured back-to-back wins, showing signs of consistency and adaptation to the brutal style of underground football, give it up for the team you all know well—Striders FC!”

The moment the name echoed across the stadium, the fans in the stands began chanting in unison: “Striders! Striders! Striders!”

From the tunnel where the Dark Elites waited, The Dark Elitez players watched as eleven figures emerged from the opposite side of the stadium.

The Striders marched onto the pitch, their jerseys white with bold green designs running across them, each stride firm and confident.

Behind them came five more substitutes who quickly settled onto the dugout benches, completing the squad that would face the Dark Elites.

The crowd erupted into wild cheers for the Striders, but the commentator quickly hushed them.

“If I might have your attention now, let’s move on to the second team stepping onto the pitch, the newcomers to underground football: the Dark Elites.”

The announcement was their cue to move out and the Dark Elites marched out in formation, much like the Striders had, but unlike their opponents, they didn’t wave to the crowd.

The reception was harsh, boos rained down louder than any cheers, it was clear they had no supporters here.

Still, they didn’t let it shake them, their substitutes settled onto the bench while the starting eleven looked around for Mystic, only to realize he was no longer sitting with Viper and Alfred.

Instead, when they turned they realised he had appeared walking towards their dugout to link up with the players at the bench with such calm confidence.

Seeing their coach clapping and shouting encouragement cut through the hostile noise, his presence seems to drown out the jeers, reminding them that this was bigger than the crowd’s opinion, t was about their growth, their fight, and perhaps avoiding whatever gruelling punishment Mystic might set for them the next day if they dared lost.

It didn’t take long for both sides to line up, the Striders had the kick-off.

Phew!!!

A referee’s whistle shrieked from the speakers around the stadium, piercing through the te

nsion, and the Striders’ striker tapped the ball backward to start the match.