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Chapter 216: Rivalry [8]

Chapter 216: Rivalry [8]

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[Echelon: 5 points]

[Juggernaut: 5 points]

Another shocking upset in the English Pro Alliance.

Before matchday 20, this was how the English Pro Alliance table looked like.

[English Pro Alliance League Table:]

Echelon – MP: 19; Points: 55 Scarlet Rose – MP: 19; Points: 52 Cyber Squad – MP: 19; Points: 52 Phoenix Rising – MP: 19; Points: 49

This was how the first half of the English Pro Alliance ended. And yet, on the first matchday of the second half of the season, the legendary upset happened.

Early in the season, predictions from pundits and betting sites presented only Scarlet Rose and Phoenix Rising as the true challengers in the title race. Cyber Squad was rated a level below the top 2 clubs, and Echelon another step lower.

But as the season progressed, Warstar fans learned to respect and fear the new club in London, Echelon.

By the end of the first half of the season, the narrative changed completely.

Phoenix Rising was at the bottom of the top 4 rivalry and Echelon was right at the top. The narrative was overturned completely.

The rest of the league was forced to respect the club at the top of the league table, fans were forced to bow before the unstoppable momentum that the top club carried this season.

Echelon was the only club with an unbeaten streak at this point of the season, and yet, on the first day of the matchday, an upset of the season occurred.

Having lost their first leg encounter against Echelon in their own home stadium, Juggernaut planned and prepared a coup before going to Stanford Bridge in London. There, they created history.

They drew against Echelon in their home stadium in a stunning comeback when it seemed like they were on the verge of an embarrassing flawless defeat, setting the Warstar fanbase ablaze.

The reactions across the league was crazy.

That night, after the end of the game, the main Warstar broadcasting TV in England addressed the topic on the Warstar matchday night show.

Three pundits and Warstar analysts sat alongside the show’s host.

"Welcome to another Warstar matchday night show," the host started with a bright smile lighting up her features. "Here with me tonight is Gab, Paul, and Tom".

She smiled at the men. "Tonight, the English Pro Alliance experienced a big thriller and a major upset. Juggernaut managed to stop Echelon’s imperious run".

"They’re still unbeaten". Gab, the blonde-haired pundit chipped in immediately.

Paul chipped in next with a subtle smile. "I’ve always said it, this season, the top 4 rivalry is truly great and all that, but the big surprise is Juggernaut".

"Before any of you interject, just compare their current points tally to last season’s point tally. If the top 4 clubs were not pushing each other in the title race so fiercely, with their points, Juggernaut would be the 3rd-ranked team in the English Pro Alliance table last season".

"They’re having a truly terrific season".

"I’m not shocked that they managed to draw against Echelon".

"If anything, I think they’ve been under the radar too much. They’re having a terrific season, and the fans finally got to see it and acknowledge it tonight".

The show looked at Tom who shrugged, indicating that Paul had a point.

The show looked at her paper before asking next, focused on Tom this time. "Tom, this season have come with a lot of upheavals. So many records have been shattered, so many clubs are having personal best all-time points tallies, do you think this is the best season that the English Pro Alliance have ever seen?"

Tom stirred in his chair as soon as the question was asked. "Well, the answer to your question depends on the context".

"To many fans, no season of the English Pro Alliance would ever beat God Noah’s purple reign with Cyber Squad".

"To some, Dain Ironvalor’s reign with Phoenix Rising already eclipsed the Godfather, and that one of those seasons are the best in the league’s history".

"It’s a matter of perspective, but if you ask me, based on pure entertainment factor and sheer competitive brilliance, all he stats point to the fact that this season is indeed the most entertaining season in the history of the English Pro Alliance".

"So yes, I do think this season is shaping up to become the best season in the history of the English Pro Alliance".

"We can only tell if that’s the case come season end".

"You’re right Tom," the host, Emily smiled. "What a season we’re having".

"The top 4 rivalry, Juggernaut’s quietly brilliant run, what a season we’re having. I don’t know about others, but personally, I won’t forget it".

"Before we leave," she looked at the pundits. "Tomorrow, the 3 other clubs in the top 4 rivalry will take on their opponents, what are your predictions?"

"A clean sweep for all 3 clubs". Gab said, smiling.

Emily looked at the others.

Paul smiled. "I agree with him".

Tom nodded, indicating that he also agreed with them.

"And there we have it folks, the prediction from our analysts is that all Cyber Squad, Phoenix Rising, and Scarlet Rose will enjoy victories tomorrow".

"Time will tell if their prediction is right".

"For now, I have to say goodbye".

"Once again, my name is Emily Forst. Do have a good day".

...

Matchday 20 continued.

Echelon stumbled in their matchday 20 encounter, losing 2 points due to it but like predicted, their rivals did not stumble.

All of Phoenix Rising, Scarlet Rose, and Cyber Squad secured dominant victories against their opponents though none of it was a flawless victory.

What mattered was that they secured maximum 3 points.

And with it, the matchday came to an end, and the English Pro Alliance table was updated again.

[English Pro Alliance League Table:]

Echelon – MP: 20; Points: 56 Scarlet Rose – MP: 20; Points: 55 Cyber Squad – MP: 20; Points: 55 Phoenix Rising – MP: 20; Points: 52

Even after they stumbled, Echelon stayed the club leading the line at the top of the league table.

They were still the club to beat, but it was much tighter now.

Just 1 point separated the top 3 clubs.

What a rivalry it was.

Neutral fans were getting their money’s worth every matchday as they bore witness to the greatest season in the English Pro Alliance’s history.

...

A week later, Matchday 21 rolled into town.

This time, there was no noteworthy blockbuster encounter. And unlike in previous matchdays, all the attention was no longer focused on the games between the top 4 clubs anymore.

This time, fans paid more attention to the underdogs, Juggernaut.

After troubling the top 4 clubs all season, a performance that was cemented by their valiant display against Echelon in London, Juggernaut entered the limelight.

Fans were forced to pay attention to them.

In some circles, it was no longer just the rivalry of the top 4 clubs, but the top 5 clubs even as Phoenix Rising, the 4th-ranked club towered above Juggernaut by 7 seemingly insurmountable points.

On matchday 21, all top 5 clubs performed.

After stumbling against Juggernaut in the previous week, Echelon came back with anger as they thrashed their opponents with a solid 9-1 scoreline.

Once again, there was no flawless victory on the matchday but the top 5 clubs defeated their opponents convincingly.

With it, Echelon went to 59 points, Scarlet Rose and Cyber Squad to 58 points, Phoenix Rising to 55 points, while Juggernaut rose to 48 points.

Fans paid attention to Juggernaut’s placing and points tally now.

While Juggernaut lost though, the 6th-placed team, Steel Dominion stumbled in a derby encounter, losing which made their 6th position in the table a little bit shakier.

...

The next week, the excitement of a new matchday started.

Warstar fans could not wait. Every new matchday brought something new with it, new drama; the anticipation for an upset, the wait for thrilling games and dominating performances made stadium attendances across England to rise to an all-time high in the history of the English Pro Alliance in Warstar games.

This was a new record. Once again, the 12th season of the English Pro Alliance broke a record.

It was a truly record-breaking season.

Matchday 22.

Once again, the top clubs faced their opponents with an iron fist, not giving an inch of space to enable an upset.

And again, Echelon claimed a flawless victory, this time against Cross Guild.

The others didn’t claim flawless victories but they won with varying levels of success, Cyber Squad struggling more than the others because they played against Steel Dominion.

Juggernaut also struggled, playing to a draw against their opponents.

And by losing their 2nd consecutive game in the English Pro Alliance, Steel Dominion lost their spot finally, dropping to 7th position in the league table.

The English Pro Alliance table updated.

[English Pro Alliance League Table:]

1) Echelon – MP: 22; Points: 62

2) Scarlet Rose – MP: 22; Points: 61

3) Cyber Squad – MP: 22; Points: 61

4) Phoenix Rising – MP: 22; Points: 58

5) Juggernaut – MP: 22; Points: 49