Julian's body screamed.
Every muscle throbbed. His head pounded like a war drum. Even his heartbeat felt wrong—off-beat, skipping, slamming.
And then—
…
[Quest Complete]
Become a Sensation
In the upcoming practice matches, score goals.
For each goal: +10 Attributes.
Reward: +10 Attribute points per goal
[ Accept Reward? ]
[Yes] [No]
…
[Quest Complete]
Win
Win the Friendly match
Reward : Item System Active
[ Accept Reward? ]
[Yes] [No]
…
Before Julian could move a muscle—
ASHI's voice rang in his head, low and distorted.
[Forcibly Accepting Rewards...]
[Item System Activated.]
[Injecting: Injury Reducer. Stamina Improver. Healing Serum.]
He barely understood the words.
It was like listening through water—muffled, far away. His limbs felt like molten iron. His lungs burned from the run, and the air stung like fire ants in his throat.
And then—
Cold.
A strange, creeping cold surged through him. Not freezing. But crisp. Controlled. Restorative.
His chest lightened. His vision sharpened. The fog in his skull lifted. The steam rising from his back faded.
And slowly… he heard it.
"THAT WAS A MIRACLE!" Leo's voice roared from behind—just before the older boy tackled him from the back, both arms wrapping around Julian's shoulders like a victorious brother.
Julian staggered, blinked—and then muttered,
"…I'm about to collapse."
And he did.
Flat on the grass.
Flat on his back.
The sky above wide and dark and endless, glowing faintly with city haze and stadium lights.
He exhaled.
Not pain. Not exhaustion. Just… release.
Footsteps thundered closer.
One by one, his teammates came—Riku, Felix, Aaron, Cael, even Tariq sprinting from the sidelines. Some grinning, some laughing, some shaking their heads in disbelief.
"You maniac," Felix said, laughing breathlessly. "You demon."
"That's going viral on ZTube for sure," Aaron added, wiping his sweat-drenched forehead. "Top ten solo goals in high school history, guaranteed."
Cael plopped down beside Julian with zero grace and stretched his arms wide.
"Bro. You cooked 'em like breakfast. I think Marcus is still frozen in place."
Julian didn't answer.
He just stared upward—sky, stars, breath steady.
The pain hadn't vanished completely. The serum dulled it. The reducer stabilized it. But deep in his bones, the ache remained. A whisper.
A reminder.
You did something today.
And it cost you something real.
But when he turned his head just a little.
And saw his teammates standing around him, grinning, hyped, alive.
When he saw Coach Owens crack a rare, crooked smile and nod from the sidelines.
Julian knew.
It was worth every second.
Even if it was just a friendly match…
They'd gone toe to toe with a playoff-tier team.
They had bled for it.
And they had won.
Lincoln High—once dismissed as an afterthought—was beginning to roar.
…
The final whistle echoed across the field like a sigh of the night itself.
Coach Owens didn't say anything at first.
No speeches. No yelling. No lecture.
He just smiled.
"Good game," he said quietly. "Cool down properly."
And that was it.
They moved like survivors, not victors—exhausted but fulfilled—as they made their way to the edge of the field for stretches. Legs trembling. Arms sore. But hearts light.
Julian dropped onto the grass beside Riku and Cael. Sweat still clung to his back. His pulse hadn't fully settled.
They stretched in silence—until Cael broke it, of course.
"Okay. Seriously. You're a magician, right?" Cael asked, grinning wide. "Because I swear to god, I saw two of you in that final run."
Julian didn't blink. He just gave Cael a deadpan stare.
"Fatigue. Illusions. You guys were just too tired to track properly."
Riku squinted. Leo leaned in suspiciously.
"You sure you're not a warlock?" Leo asked. "That last shot… Marcus didn't just miss it. He froze. Like he saw a demon."
Julian shrugged, rolling his neck.
"Maybe he did."
They kept stretching, laughing softly, teasing each other like brothers after a street fight.
And then—
A new voice.
"Hey. That was a damn good play. You're Julian, right?"
Julian looked up.
Coach Callahan. Brighton's head coach. Built like a soldier, younger than Owens, but radiating the same field-worn grit.
"Yes, Coach," Julian said, rising to his feet.
Callahan smirked. "You ever think about transferring?"
The world paused for half a second.
Riku choked on air. Leo's eyes went wide. Even Cael blinked.
"Hey! Don't you steal my striker, you bald bastard!" Owens barked, stomping over from behind.
Callahan held up both hands, laughing.
"Joking! Just joking," he said. "Let's meet again. Playoffs, yeah?"
Julian smiled.
"I'll be there."
Cooling down finished. Muscles relaxed. Water chugged. They took turns showering and changing in the away locker room—slow, aching, proud.
And then one by one, they boarded the bus.
Julian was the last to approach—until a shadow blocked the stairs.
Marcus Hale.
Still in his kit. Sweat-slicked. Steam rising faintly from his skin under the stadium lights.
"Let's meet again, Julian," Marcus said, eyes locked. "Playoffs. And next time... I won't freeze. I'll stop you."
Julian didn't hesitate.
"Then I'll just have to make you freeze all over again."
They clasped hands.
A keeper's grip. A striker's answer.
Two monsters.
And then Julian climbed the bus steps—
—without a limp.
…
The bus rolled into the night, its engine humming a quiet lullaby.
Outside, the city lights blurred past like fireflies.
Inside, most of the team had slumped into sleep. Heads leaning against windows, legs sprawled, soft snores rising like waves.
Julian sat alone by the window, watching the dark world pass. His chest still rose and fell heavily. His limbs pulsed with faint aches. But it wasn't pain this time.
It was victory.
[ASHI, explain the reward.]
Julian kept his eyes on the glass, speaking inwardly.
The voice echoed in his head like a bell in a dream.
[Yes, Host. The Item System is now active.]
[It includes usable consumables (such as what you just received), and equipment like cleats, accessories, and support gear that enhance your performance.]
[Some will be crafted by the system. Others can be found. Acquired. Even fused.]
Julian's mind flickered—back to his old life.
Artifacts. Armaments. Treasures.
The system was giving him something dangerous. Something alive.
[I scored three goals over the friendlies. That's +30, right?]
[Correct. Three goals = +30 attributes.]
[Additionally, for your assist in Match 2, the system awards you +5.]
Julian felt something click inside his chest.
A warmth.
A pulse.
Like a forge lighting up.
[Allocate points,] he whispered.
A glowing panel spread in his mind.
…
User: Julian Ashford
Age: 17
State: Avarage Human
Title: None
…
CORE ATTRIBUTES
► Strength : 16
► Agility : 18
► Stamina : 21
► Technique : 21
► Perception : 23
► Instinct : 23
► Charisma : 6
Total Stat : 128 (142)
…
Item
None
….
Skill
➤ [Battlefield Mind Lv.1]
Type: Passive
Rank: Mystic
You react like a warrior. Movement predictions, pressure reading, and timing enhanced.
➤ [ Martial Memory Lv.1 ]
Type: Passive + Active
Rank: Mystic
Martial techniques will adapt into this world as your body grows.
Passive Effect: +2 to all attributes
Active Effect: For 5 seconds, use any martial technique from your past life without consuming mana.
➤ [Rule The Pitch Lv.1]
Type: Passive + Active
Rank: Mystic
A Soul Cultivation born on the field
Passive Effect: Removes all disease from Julian's body. A
ctive Effect Rotate soul energy to temporarily boost to All attribute by +1 to +20. Overuse may damage the body.
➤ [Scan Lv.1]
Type: Active
Rank: Rare
You can scan a person to view their attribute totals. Further levels reveal greater detail.
…
Julian leaned his head back against the cold glass. His breath slowed.
Outside, the road bent toward the future.
Inside, his path sharpened. A little clearer. A little darker. A little brighter.
And he whispered to himself, not with hope—but with certainty.
"This is just the beginning."