Later that night Liam's heart pounded as he stared at the message from Lucas. He had seen Lucas's name pop up on his phone screen, but the words felt like a punch to his gut. He hadn't heard from Lucas in years. Not since the NOTA days. Back when they used to compete head-to-head in the top-tier tournaments, both gunning for the title, both determined to prove who was better.
Liam had always considered himself the better player, but Lucas… Lucas was a different breed. He didn't play with emotion. He played to win, and he'd do whatever it took to get under his opponent's skin.
The last time they crossed paths was a bitter rivalry. Lucas had taken the title of the NOTA Grand Finals, snatching victory from Liam's grasp with a cheap strategy that Liam would never admit had worked. It was a win that had burned Liam's pride. He never talked about it, but everyone who'd seen the match knew it had left him frustrated, embarrassed.
And now, out of nowhere, Lucas was back. But this time, it wasn't just about some petty past tournament. It was about Vanguard. And he was talking about facing Liam again this time in the big leagues.
Liam ran his hand through his hair and reread the message.
Lucas: "Hey, I saw your game earlier. Not bad. You've got potential. But let's see if you can handle a real challenge. Tomorrow, 9 PM. I'll be ready. You know I'll be bringing my A-game, right? Can't wait to show you how far you've fallen."
Liam's fingers gripped the phone tighter as anger began to bubble up. That smug tone. That cocky attitude. The same Lucas he remembered, always trying to provoke him, always trying to make him feel less than what he was. He was doing it again, just like in NOTA.
"You've got this." Matt's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He hadn't realized Matt had been standing there, watching him. "Don't let him get to you. You're better now. You've got the mindset. Don't let some washed-up rivalry mess with your head."
Liam shook his head. "It's not that simple. He always knows how to get under my skin. He knows my weaknesses."
Matt raised an eyebrow. "Weaknesses? What are you talking about?"
Liam clenched his fists. He had to keep it together. Lucas was just some guy from the past. He didn't matter. But the anger that was bubbling up from his past he couldn't shake it. He couldn't deny it. Lucas had a way of bringing out the worst in him, just like he had back in NOTA.
Liam's thoughts drifted back to those tournaments. Back when he used to be reckless, driven more by pride than strategy. He remembered how his overconfidence used to get the best of him. How he would rush into situations just to prove a point, just to show everyone that he was the best. He couldn't admit it to anyone, but he knew deep down that those moments had cost him more than a few victories.
Lucas knew all about that ego. He knew how to manipulate it, how to make Liam feel like he had something to prove.
Liam snapped back to the present, trying to shake off the feeling of frustration that was creeping up on him. He took a deep breath and responded to Lucas's message.
Liam: "I'm in. Let's see what you've got."
The message sent, but Liam immediately regretted it. Part of him wanted to back out, to tell Lucas that he didn't need to prove anything anymore. But another part of him the part that had always hated losing, that still burned from those old days needed to prove to Lucas, to himself, that he wasn't the same reckless player he used to be.
Matt gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "It's good that you're taking this head-on, but don't let it cloud your focus. Focus on your team, on the bigger picture. Tomorrow's just one match."
Liam nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He had been practicing with Matt, improving his skills, becoming more patient, more thoughtful with his gameplay. But now, with Lucas in the picture, it felt like all of that was on the line.
The next morning, Liam found himself pacing in his room, thinking about the upcoming challenge. The thought of facing Lucas again triggered something inside him a mixture of anxiety, pride, and anger. His hands clenched into fists. He could still remember the taunting words Lucas had thrown at him in NOTA tournaments. Lucas had always been the type to poke at Liam's weaknesses, to make him doubt himself.
But Liam wasn't the same player anymore. He had grown. He had learned from the mistakes of his past, the mistakes he'd made because he was too proud to slow down and think.
Still, the scars of that old rivalry were deep. Lucas had always gotten under Liam's skin in a way no one else had. And Liam hated it. He hated the fact that after all this time, Lucas could still make him feel like he was playing catch-up.
As the clock neared 9 PM, Liam sat down in front of his computer, preparing for the match. The tension in the air was thick. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he loaded into the game. His team was already on voice chat, but Liam's mind was elsewhere. His thoughts kept drifting back to Lucas, to the history between them, and to the challenge that lay ahead.
"Liam?" Matt's voice came through his headset, snapping him back to the present. "You good?"
Liam took a deep breath. "Yeah. Just… thinking."
"Focus up, man. You've got this. Just play your game."
Liam nodded, trying to shake off the nerves. He clicked on Sora and took a moment to steady his breath. The match was about to begin. But deep down, Liam knew this wasn't just about winning. It wasn't just about proving that he was the better player.
It was about facing the ghosts of his past.
The match began, and Liam's eyes immediately zeroed in on the game. He was determined to keep his cool, to focus on his gameplay. But then, as if on cue, Lucas's voice came through the chat, cutting through the silence like a knife.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the 'prodigy' himself. You really think you can handle this now, Liam? You're not the same player you were. You're still chasing shadows."
Liam's hands tightened on his keyboard. He could feel the familiar anger rising inside him. Lucas was already in his head, just like he always had been. The same cocky tone, the same insults. The same feeling of being belittled.
Matt's voice came in again, this time more urgently. "Liam, don't let him get to you. Focus. You've got the skills. Don't get caught up in his mind games."
But it was too late. The trigger had been pulled.
Liam's fingers moved faster than he realized, instinct taking over as he positioned Sora to control the flow of the game. But the back-and-forth with Lucas was already getting to him. He could feel his heart racing, his mind clouded with thoughts of the past.
The match progressed, and Liam made mistakes. He miscalculated a shot. He rushed an angle. He played recklessly.
But Lucas's trash talk didn't stop.
"Is that really the best you've got, Liam? You should've stayed in your lane back in NOTA. Look at you now… nothing more than a wannabe pro."
Liam's hands shook. He couldn't help it. The words, the memories, the frustration it all boiled over. He pushed forward, forcing a shot where he shouldn't have, and just like that he was eliminated.
The rage that had built up inside him erupted. He slammed his hand on the desk, his breath shallow, his mind swirling.
Matt's voice cut through, steady and calm. "Liam, focus. You can't let him control your game. You've come so far. Don't throw it all away now."
But it was too late. Liam knew he had made a critical mistake. And that mistake had cost him.
Lucas was right he had fallen. The question was, how would he come back from it?