For the past six years the Snake dorm had dominated both the spring and autumn cup, taking first place in both consecutively, year after year with no end in sight. The pig dorm for example, had their spirits completely broken, and now put forth a team almost only as a formality, while others had fuel thrown on their competitive fires. Out of the twelve previous cups, the Dragon dorm had made it to the finals against the Snake dorm in eight; five autumn cups and three spring cups. Georges de La Tremoille who entered the Ethereal Soul Sect six years ago –the same time as Bing Feng– was the Snake dorm's star player, a striker, the same position Dave had inherited for the Dragon dorm because Bing Feng signed him up. Bing Feng on the other hand was a goalkeeper, meaning he was the one who had let all those winning goals slip past him, and that in combination with George's repulsive personality was the foundation of his bitter grudge.
"Phhhooooo…" wheezed Dave as he stood baking in the sun in the middle of a football field. He had just limply kicked the ball nearly backwards, much to the confusion of his teammates who half thought he was a walking calamity, and the other half wondered if there was something to his genius that Bing Feng always went on about, since they felt compelled to bring up magic in order to explain how the ball went where it did.
"This is a disaster. We can forget about the Snakes, we're not even gonna make it to the finals with this guy…" a member of the team, Dong Yao, uttered in exasperation.
"Huhhhh… Yeah, Bing Feng, huhhh… why'd you have to sign me up for the team." Dave added, still hard of breath, not even trying to defend himself.
Unfortunately, once the tournament bracket had been set, it was set in stone and no roster changes would be allowed. So one thing was certain, and that was unless they outright forfeited the tournament, they would step on the field with Dave as their striker.
"It's useless, useless-useless-useless. It's not even football, it's soccer, that European crap."
The teammates who heard that shot him dirty looks.
"Seriously? Is that a thing here too? I heard people outside America get their panties in a bunch when you call it soccer."
"Hey, soccer is something entirely different. They have a weird conical ball that they touch with their hands and they run around tackling each other like demented ogres. Football is a much more refined sport."
"Oh… so it's like the opposite here."
"Opposite of what? We're playing football, not soccer. I don't see how there's any relation."
"Ok so I don't know if you forgot, but I am an otherworlder. Cut me some slack."
"I'll cut you something…" Dong Yao mumbled.
"Hey! I heard that. If you want to be mad at someone it should be Bing Feng, that oaf. He's the one who signed me up and he didn't even ask me first. I never asked for any of this!"
"Wahahahah! Brother Dave, I have faith your talent will shine like the morning dew resting on a hyacinth's petals during sunrise in due time!"
"Talent this, talent that. I could learn all the rules in no time if someone would give me a book on it. The problem is my body, it's a wreck. I cultivated my physique with hot cheetos and mountain dew and multi-day gaming marathons."
Bing Feng: "Oh! Impressive…"
"No, it's not impressive! If you knew what that was you would sneer at me."
The rest of the team had Bing Feng covered as they sneered at Dave constantly.
"Guys, let's face it," another of the players decided to speak up. "It's over. We probably would have lost to the Snake dorm anyway. They still have the same roster as the past six years and Georges alone is an absolute demon on the field, we just can't handle that guy. Even if we could replace Dave now, is there anyone who you think could make up for that difference?"
The other players sighed, hung their heads, kicked the grass, for they had no good answer. Even Bing Feng remained silent for once.
Dave was the only one whose mood had improved, seeing that the blame had been lifted off his back.
"And we had horrible luck in the draw. This year we're up against them in the first round. Even if we pulled off a miracle and beat them there, it's still guaranteed they would make their way back up through the losers bracket and we would face them again in the finals."
"So that's how it is. We actually got lucky in the last tournaments because we were on opposite sides of the bracket so we could avoid the Snake dorm all the way until the finals."
"That means we're going to lose twice instead of only once. That's going to make our record even worse…"
"I wish the heavens would give Georges a cold."
"How would that put a stop to that demon? I hope the heavens injure him so badly he dies."
"That's too harsh. It would be better if he died in an accident, like falling off a cliff."
As if their lamentations were heard by the heavens it stirred dark clouds not only in their minds but also in the heavens, signaling imminent showers of rain. Dave on the other hand was feeling quite pleased. He didn't care about the tournament at all to begin with and rain would surely put an end to the training for the day he thought. Bing Feng had remained silent listening to each complaint and curse uttered that stirred something in him until he was about to blow his lid.
"What nonsense!!! I would see Georges sliced to pieces as well as any of us. But! How would that be revenge for the myriad humiliating losses he wrought upon us. How could we be satisfied by retribution that was dealt not by our own feet. The gods should bless him! Let the world see that we kill a supreme talent! Not that we step on a diseased and dying rat! If the snake has two heads this year, I say we seize the opportunity and cut them both off!!! AAAHH!!"
The mood lifted gradually as Bing Feng's inspirational rant went on. Dave was thinking about what he could say to make them depressed again when he was made the center of attention by a closing remark;
"Wahahaha! Brother Dave will secure our victory!"
"I'll trust in your words Bing Feng." Even Dong Yao had been convinced. "Let brother Dave lead us to victory against the Snakes!"
"What the hell guys! Didn't you see me play just now? Don't let that mad monk put ideas like that in your heads! I'm totally useless, you have to believe me!"
They wouldn't hear any of it. "Dave! Dave! Dave!" The whole team chanted, their youthful spirit fully reignited to the point where they lifted him up in the air and carried him in circles around the field as if victory was already theirs.
"Yahooo!~"
Putting an end to his complaints that fell on deaf ears, Dave turned towards the voice and from his vantage point spotted a jade beauty of the highest grade, so did the others, who let go and he fell on his ass.