The dawn was pale over Project Athena. The morning air carried a strange mix of cold and tension as the 307 remaining players assembled on Field 2. The whistle blew sharply, echoing across the grounds, and the candidates instinctively straightened their postures.
This morning, the rules of division were clear. The remaining candidates were organized into blocs according to their current ranking:
Class S — The Mantle: Top 10 players, the ones who had impressed everyone with consistency, anticipation, and leadership.
Class A — Strong Players: Ranks 11–70, reliable and capable of shaping matches but not untouchable.
Class B — Solid: Ranks 71–180, consistent but sometimes hesitant under pressure.
Class C — Grey Zone: Ranks 181–270, unstable, capable of flashes of brilliance but often unsure.
Class D — Edge: Ranks 271–307, at risk, almost on the door of elimination.
Ethan Kovač stepped forward. His gaze swept across the field.
— Today begins the Bloc Challenge.
He paused, letting his words sink in.
— Each bloc will form teams of 11 players plus a substitute. Teams must cover all positions. You will play against another team of equal size and structure. Performance, adaptation, and communication will determine your survival.
The remaining players murmured among themselves. Anxiety mixed with determination.
Team Formation
Aïna's mind raced. She was ranked 73, in Class B. She would not be forming a team with the Mantle — at least not yet — but her placement could still shape the outcome.
Who will I be paired with? How do I survive this match?
The staff distributed tablets listing the available players. Every team had to choose one goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, and forwards from each bloc, balancing strengths. Aïna quickly scanned her options:
Goalkeeper: A strong A-level candidate with solid reflexes.
Defenders: She, along with two other B-level defenders and one C-level, could form a line capable of communication without words.
Midfielders: Two S-level midfielders were assigned to her team for tactical dominance, though she feared they might overshadow her.
Forwards: One S-level striker and two A-level wingers.
The staff organized 28 teams total from the 307 players. Teams would face each other, with eliminations following immediately based on tactical execution, individual errors, and cohesion under pressure.
First Match — Observation and Chaos
The whistle blew. The chaos was immediate. Balls flew unpredictably as players adjusted to unfamiliar teammates. Aïna felt the pressure mounting in her chest, but she knew one thing:
I need to become the voice for this team.
She moved into her position as right-back, scanning constantly. S-level teammates like Nyasha and Lucia seemed calm, but their presence intimidated many others.
Problem #1: One C-level midfielder kept moving randomly.
Problem #2: A D-level forward panicked and lost possession twice.
Aïna thought fast.
Shift right. Cover her zone. Anticipate the pass to the edge. Don't shout — just move.
Her movements became instruction without words. Sora mirrored her silently, a perfect shadow, understanding instinctively.
Aïna intercepted a dangerous pass. Her heart pounded.
If I hesitate, we lose. If I panic, we break.
Hana, an S-level midfielder from another bloc, controlled the ball flawlessly, then nudged it toward Aïna's zone. She had two seconds to decide: tackle or redirect.
Aïna positioned herself. The ball grazed her boot. She spun, passed to a teammate, and suddenly the flow stabilized. Her teammates followed her lead without a single word.
This is leadership without sound, she thought. This is survival.
Inside Aïna's Head
Her thoughts were rapid-fire:
Cover left flank — check.
Watch the S-striker — anticipate the run.
Communicate silently with Sora — yes, she's following.
D-level forward — must protect her confidence, she's fragile.
Mental note: edge players are at risk, adjust positioning.
The game became a dance of anticipation and adaptation. Every glance, every movement, every micro-adjustment mattered. One wrong step, one hesitation — elimination.
Scoring and Eliminations
By the 20th minute, chaos intensified. Teams clashed with a brutal mix of skill and nerves.
Nyasha's team dominated possession but didn't eliminate errors.
Aïna's team, though lower-ranked, survived by silent cohesion.
A buzzer sounded. Staff quickly flagged violations:
Edge D-player abandoned her position, eliminated.
Grey Zone C-player failed to anticipate a pass, eliminated.
Aïna exhaled. They survived the first half.
We're still in it, she thought. We adapt, we survive, we stay alive.
Lunchtime — Debrief Without Words
After the match, the exhausted players returned to the cafeteria. No cheers, no congratulations — only silent, tense nods.
Aïna ate slowly, her mind replaying every movement, every pass.
Sora whispered to her:
— That was incredible. You… guided us.
Aïna smiled faintly.
— We guided each other.
Around her, other players whispered about strategies, but no one fully understood the Mantle or how to reach it.
Tomorrow, the table will change. The blocks will shuffle. The ranks will shift. And we must survive again.
Evening Reflections
In her dorm, Aïna lay on her bed. The Silence Test had shown her a new truth:
Leadership is not just shouting commands.
Communication can happen without words.
Survival depends on observation, anticipation, and decision-making under pressure.
She stared at the ceiling.
I will reach the Mantle. I will survive the Edge. I will not be erased.
The last message flashed on the room screen:
Phase 1 — Day 4: Performance updates pending at dawn
Aïna closed her eyes. Her legs ached. Her heart burned. But she had found her voice in silence.