Monday morning hit West Haven High like a tidal wave.News spread instantly. Before the first bell rang, students were already gathered in clusters, replaying Jaden's touchdown on their phones, shouting reactions, and hyping up every move he made.
But one thing stood out even more than the win:
His nickname.
IRONHEART.
It was everywhere.
Written on lockers.Chanted in the cafeteria.Printed on fan posters someone designed overnight.
Jaden Alexander Brooks had become the school's newest living legend.
Walking Through School
When Jaden stepped through the front entrance, the hallway fell into a strange hush, the kind usually reserved for celebrities, superheroes, or someone who had done something unbelievable.
Whispers rose around him.
"That's him.""That's Ironheart.""Bro, he took that hit and bounced up like nothing happened.""He looked like he had armor under his skin."
Jaden felt every set of eyes on him, but he kept walking.
His senses, sharpened by the serum, picked up everything: whispers at the edge of hearing, footsteps behind him, the pulse of excitement in the air. Instead of feeding his ego, it focused him.
Attention is pressure.Pressure is fuel.Fuel builds greatness.
He repeated those words as he reached his locker.
Coach Daniels' Office
Before lunch, he was called in.
Coach Daniels sat behind his desk, arms folded, wearing a look that was not anger or surprise, but something closer to deep study.
"Close the door, Brooks."
Jaden obeyed.
Coach leaned forward."I have seen a lot of players. Some are cocky, some are nervous, some are so talented they collapse under their own weight."
He paused.
"You are none of those."
Jaden remained silent.
"What you did on Friday was not normal, son." Coach's voice lowered. "It was controlled. Precise. Like someone who has been running varsity for years."
"I have been working hard," Jaden said evenly.
Coach exhaled, half impressed, half uncertain."That is the problem. You are too calm about it. But I will not complain."
He stood and circled the desk.
"As of today, you are QB1."
The words hit Jaden's chest like electricity. Heavy, powerful, unmistakable.
"I will not let you down, Coach."
"I know," Daniels said quietly."That is what worries me."
Practice Reaction
When Jaden jogged onto the field after school, players turned. For the first time, the looks in their eyes were not doubt, not curiosity.
It was respect.Maybe even awe.
"IRONHEART!" someone shouted."Let the man cook!"
Even Darius, the hardest hitting linebacker on the roster, punched Jaden on the shoulder with a grin.
"QB1. I knew it."
But Jaden was not here to enjoy the attention.
He lined up behind center.
"Let's work," he said, voice steady, focus sharp.
The first snap came fast. Defenders charged, ready to test him again.
Jaden read the blitz at once.
He shifted the protection.Checked into a quick slant.Released the ball before the defense even finished reacting.
Perfect.
The offense exploded with cheers.
"Bro, he is seeing the whole field at once!""He is not Ironheart, he is Ironmind!""He is him! He is actually him!"
The Myth Grows
By the end of the week, the legend of Ironheart had taken over:
Online:A fan page with five hundred followers appeared overnight.
At school:Students asked for pictures.Girls stared longer than usual.Guys tried copying his calm walk.
To the coaches:Ironheart meant poise under pressure.
To the students:It meant the kid who could not be broken.
To rival schools:It meant danger.
But to Jaden…
Ironheart meant expectation.A target.A promise he had to rise above.
Nightfall: The Tablet Awakens
At home that night, Jaden lay in bed staring at the serum device inside the black case. It glowed faintly like a sleeping heartbeat.
Suddenly, the screen lit up.
Stability achieved.Next level available.
He bolted upright.
Upgrade Path: Coordination Level One to Level TwoFine motor control, footwork, release speed, balance.A foundational progression.
Below it:
Requirement: Complete one hundred perfect throws in training.
Jaden smiled.
The serum did not give him shortcuts.It gave him challenges.
He got up, grabbed a football, and stepped into the cold night air.
The stars watched.The quiet wrapped around him.
Jaden planted his feet, breathed deep, and began to throw into the darkness. Each pass sharp, controlled, flawless.
The world was giving him a nickname.
But he was building the legend behind it.