CHAPTER 7 — FIRST RIVALRY GAME
The streets of West Haven buzzed like electricity. Friday night was coming, and the entire town had marked their calendars. It was not just any game. It was the first real rivalry of the season: West Haven High versus Crestfield Academy. The kind of game where legends are born, and reputations are either cemented or crushed.
Jaden Alexander Brooks, a six foot two powerhouse with hazel eyes gleaming under the stadium lights, jogged onto the field with his helmet tucked under his arm. Ironheart, as the crowd now chanted, had become more than a nickname. It was a symbol.
But tonight, the nickname would be tested.
Pre Game Tension
The locker room smelled of sweat, chalk, and anticipation. Players stretched, adjusted their gear, and murmured nervous jokes. Jaden stood calm, the serum humming faintly through his system. Thirteen point five percent now, giving him subtle boosts in reflexes, coordination, and mental awareness.
Malik, the star receiver, nudged him."Bro, you feeling the heat? Crestfield's defense is savage. Linebacker Cole Jackson hits like a truck."
Jaden smiled slightly."Good. Let him try. Just trust me. Watch the gaps."
Even the coach noticed his poise.Daniels leaned close."Do not just play. Control the tempo. Read them. Outsmart them."
Jaden nodded. Inside, a quiet storm of anticipation and focus built like a pressure cooker.
Kickoff Chaos
The whistle blew. The crowd erupted.
Crestfield's defense came out swinging. Aggressive, loud, and fast. Blitz after blitz. The quarterback spy cornered Jaden's first play.
But the serum did its work.
He saw the hole before it opened.He sidestepped a crushing linebacker.Delivered a quick strike to Malik, who dodged a diving corner.
Touchdown.
The crowd went wild."IRONHEART! IRONHEART!"Even the opposing fans could not hide their shock.
The Rival's Counter
Crestfield was not fazed. Their quarterback, a cocky senior named Tyler Monroe, was lightning fast and ruthless. By the second quarter, West Haven was tied. Monroe's passes were precise, and their defense seemed to anticipate every move Jaden made.
Jaden felt it. The first real pressure. This was not practice. This was not a drill. This was war.
On third down, Crestfield linebacker Cole Jackson broke through the line and slammed into Jaden. Hard.
But Jaden stood. Slightly shaken, yes, but he did not falter.The nickname was not just for show. He was Ironheart.
He recalculated instantly. Footwork. Reads. Release angle.
Next snap, a thirty five yard spiral right into Malik's hands. Perfect.The defense stumbled.The crowd erupted again.
Halftime Adjustments
Locker room. Sweat dripped. Muscles burned. But Jaden did not sit.
He studied the plays. He saw what the defense was doing. Patterns. Weaknesses. Tells.
The serum buzzed in his brain, sharpening instincts and mental calculations.
Coach Daniels watched him."Kid, you are seeing things no quarterback your age should see. That is not skill alone."
Jaden's lips curved slightly."Maybe it is more than that, Coach."
Fourth Quarter Madness
Score tied twenty eight to twenty eight. Two minutes left. Crestfield had the ball. Blitzing everywhere. No room to move.
Jaden knew what he had to do. Tempo. Precision. Timing.
Snap.He read the defensive alignment.Rolled left.Faked a throw.Blitz hit. He sidestepped.Launched a perfect deep ball to Malik.
Caught at the sideline. First down. Crowd on its feet.
Clock ticking down. Final play.
The stadium held its breath.
Jaden dropped back. Scanned the field. He saw Monroe's defense overcommitting. A small gap.
He let it fly.
The ball arced perfectly, a spiraling masterpiece. Malik soared above defenders. Touchdown. Game winner.
The stands exploded. Fans chanted:"IRONHEART! IRONHEART! IRONHEART!"Echoing off every corner of the stadium.
Aftermath
Crestfield players shook their heads in disbelief. Monroe approached Jaden."You are… different," he muttered.
Jaden smiled faintly."Just focused."
Back in the locker room, teammates lifted him high. Malik whispered, grinning ear to ear."Man, Ironheart is not just a nickname. You are a legend already."
Jaden looked out at the emptying stands. The serum pulsed faintly in his veins. Thirteen point eight percent now. Stronger. Sharper. Smarter.
And deep inside, he knew the real rivalries. The ones that mattered. They were only beginning.