SSS Alpha Ranking: Limitless Soccer Cultivation After A Century-Chapter 113: The Price Of Protection

Jason never slept that night, he was bothered.

Everyone could tell the moment morning hit.

The academy halls usually hummed with the soft rhythm of students training at sunrise, but today the air felt thick, like even the lights were dimmer. Staff whispered behind closed doors. Administrators walked fast, avoiding eye contact. No one smiled. No one laughed.

Something had shifted.

Something heavy.

And it started with one message.

Jason stood in front of his office desk, staring at the official notice on his tablet...

a glowing red emblem of the National Council.

"DIRECTOR JASON WARD IS HEREBY TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED PENDING INVESTIGATION."

Terms cited:

Professional misconduct.

Interference with corporate contracts.

Obstruction of evaluation.

They didn't even hide it.

Aurion had moved overnight.

He knew this was coming, but knowing didn't soften the blow. His hands shook, just slightly. His heart felt like it was pulling him apart from the inside.

This academy was his life.

These students were his life.

And Blaze… Blaze was the one he'd sworn to protect like his own blood.

But now the walls were closing in.

He took a shallow breath, straightened his coat and walked out.

Almost instantly, whispers erupted.

"He's suspended..."

"Aurion finally pushed it through..."

"I heard he's removed from all decision-making..."

"They're going after Blaze next..."

Jason ignored them all.

His only thought was:

I need to warn Blaze before they reach him.

But he never got the chance.

Because Aurion reached him first.

AURION RETURNS AND THEY DIDN'T COME ALONE

Blaze was in the tactical lab, reviewing drills he could no longer participate in. The monitors reflected in his tired eyes. He clicked through footage at random, trying to keep himself busy, trying to find pieces of himself he'd felt slipping.

He didn't hear the door open.

He didn't hear the heavy steps.

But he felt the air change.

Cold. Controlled. Corporate.

Elias Moreau walked in… and he wasn't alone this time. Two other representatives followed. One woman in a slate-grey suit, eyes flat and assessing. One man holding a silver case stamped with Aurion's emblem.

Blaze's jaw tightened. "I didn't expect to see you again this soon."

Elias's smile twitched. "I'm efficient."

Blaze stood, keeping distance. "What do you want?"

"To finish what we started," Elias said. "Time is short and Aurion is not pleased with the obstacles being placed before us."

The woman lifted a tablet.

"Blaze Fenmore," she said, voice smooth and cold. "You are formally summoned to a compliance review. Failure to attend will trigger penalties for you and the academy."

Blaze felt his heartbeat spike. "Penalties?"

Elias nodded. "Aurion doesn't appreciate defiance."

Blaze took a slow breath. His instincts told him something was very, very wrong.

"What happened?" he asked quietly. "What did you do?"

Elias smirked. "Your Director Ward has been suspended."

The world tilted.

Blaze froze. "Suspended… because of me?"

"Because he overstepped," the woman said. "And unless you cooperate, the Council will consider harsher measures."

Blaze stepped back. "This is blackmail."

"No," Elias said calmly. "This is business."

When Blaze didn't respond, Elias leaned in.

"You can end his suffering. You can protect him. All you need to do is sign."

The silver case clicked open.

Inside lay a sleek holo-contract, glowing bright gold and blue.

Aurion's colors.

Blaze stared at it, throat thick.

Jason suspended.

The academy threatened.

His team terrified.

All because of him.

The pressure crushed him like a weight on his chest.

And then...

The door slammed open.

Thirty feet of pure fury entered the lab.

Lionel.

Scarlet.

Aya.

Grim.

Kenji.

Zara.

Mikhail.

Ryuji.

Diego.

Anastasia.

The entire Titans squad.

Their faces were cold. And united. And furious.

Scarlet's glare could have melted steel. "Step away from him."

Elias barely blinked. "Your presence is irrelevant..."

"You heard her," Lionel said, stepping in front of Blaze. "Move."

The Aurion woman frowned. "You are interfering in legal..."

Grim didn't let her finish. "If he signs anything today, it won't be willingly."

He crossed his arms. "We won't let you isolate him."

Elias sighed like they were inconveniences. "You children are becoming a problem."

Scarlet took one step forward. "Try calling us children again."

Aya placed a hand on Blaze's back, grounding him. "You don't have to face this alone. Not anymore."

Blaze swallowed hard. His vision blurred slightly.

They were protecting him.

All of them.

Every single one of them.

But Elias wasn't impressed.

He turned to Blaze. "Last warning. Sign the contract and end the fallout, or watch the academy crumble around you."

Blaze finally looked up.

And said the words Elias wasn't ready for.

"No."

Elias froze. "What?"

Blaze stepped around Lionel, shoulders squared, voice steady.

"I'm not signing anything. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever."

Aurion's representatives stared at him, stunned.

Blaze's voice sharpened. "And if you come after Jason again, or this academy, or anyone on my team… I'll drag your entire corporation into the dirt myself."

The silence that followed was heavy enough to crack.

Zara whispered under her breath, "Holy hell…"

Scarlet grinned wickedly. "Now that's my captain."

But Elias wasn't smiling anymore. His mask had finally slipped.

"You've made a grave mistake."

Blaze didn't flinch. "Get out."

Elias's jaw tightened. "This isn't over."

"It is for today," Lionel said.

Ryuji opened the door. "Leave before we remove you."

Elias stared at Blaze one last time cold, calculating, dangerous.

Then he nodded to his agents.

They left without another word.

The moment the door shut, Blaze's knees almost buckled.

Zara caught him. "Easy. Breathe."

He sucked in air shakily, chest tight. "I… I didn't think I could say it."

Aya rubbed his arm gently. "You didn't just say it. You declared war."

Blaze closed his eyes.

"I know."

THE AFTERMATH

AND THE DECISION NONE OF THEM SAW COMING

Thirty minutes later, the Titans were gathered in Jason's office.

Jason sat behind his desk, looking drained but also… proud. "I heard what happened. Blaze… that took courage."

Blaze looked down. "Jason… I'm sorry. I'm the reason they're targeting you."

Jason shook his head instantly. "No. They're targeting you because you're powerful. I'm collateral damage. That's my role."

"That's not fair," Blaze whispered.

"Life rarely is," Jason said with a tired smile.

The Titans were silent for a moment.

Then Lionel asked the question hanging over all of them.

"What now?"

Jason exhaled deeply. "Now… things get difficult. With my suspension, Aurion has room to push harder. They'll try to isolate Blaze again. They'll dig into his files. They'll pressure the academy board."

Scarlet cracked her knuckles. "Then we push back harder."

Aya gave a small nod. "We're not letting them take him."

Jason's gaze drifted to Blaze.

"You made a brave choice today. But it will cost you."

Blaze nodded slowly. "I know."

Jason continued. "From this point on, Aurion will escalate. They'll use legal pressure. Political influence. Public campaigns. They'll come after everyone connected to you."

Anastasia asked quietly, "So what do we do?"

Jason turned to Blaze.

"Blaze needs protection. Real protection. From the academy. From the Council. From Aurion."

Ryuji frowned. "Protection how?"

Jason hesitated.

Then Blaze said softly,

"I know how."

Everyone turned to him.

Blaze swallowed, hands trembling slightly, but his voice held steady.

"If Aurion wants me because they think the Titans are holding me back… then the only way to protect all of you is to do what they least expect."

Zara narrowed her eyes. "Blaze. What are you planning?"

Blaze looked up.

"I'm leaving the academy."

The room went silent.

Lionel stared like Blaze had grown another head. "You're what?"

Scarlet whispered, stunned, "No… you can't be serious."

Aya's voice shook. "Blaze..."

But Blaze continued, steadier now.

"Not permanently. Not to join Aurion. I'll leave temporarily, off-record, off-campus. If I'm not under the academy's jurisdiction, Aurion can't force contracts through the Council."

Jason blinked. "You'd remove yourself from the system entirely."

"Yes."

"Giving up protection. Training facilities. Rankings. Competitive rights."

"Yes."

"Risking your future."

"Yes."

Grim exhaled sharply. "Blaze… that's insane."

"I know," Blaze whispered.

"Why?" Ryuji demanded.

Blaze looked at all of them, the team who had chosen him, fought for him, stood in front of him when he couldn't.

And he said the truth:

"Because I'd rather disappear for a while than let Aurion destroy the people I care about."

No one spoke.

Then Lionel stepped forward slowly.

"You're not doing this alone."

Scarlet nodded. "If you're disappearing…"

Aya stepped in. "Then we're disappearing with you."

One by one, every Titan joined in.

Diego.

Zara.

Mikhail.

Kenji.

Anastasia.

Ryuji.

Grim.

Eleven players.

One pack.

Blaze's throat tightened painfully.

"You'll get expelled," he whispered.

Lionel smiled faintly. "Then they can't replace us."

Jason leaned back in his chair, eyes wide.

"You're all out of your minds," he murmured.

Then a slow, tired, proud smile broke through.

"But this… this is the Titans."

Scarlet looked at Blaze. "So. When do we leave?"

Blaze closed his eyes for a long moment.

Then he opened them, steady and clear.

"Tonight."