---
I didn't cry.
Not when they benched me for the tenth match in a row.
Not when the coach told me I "lacked vision."
Not even when my girlfriend, Sneha, sent that final message:
> "You'll never make it, Piyush. I can't waste my life on a failed dreamer."
I didn't cry.
I just sat there.
Alone.
At the edge of the empty practice ground, under the broken floodlight that buzzed like it pitied me.
Eighteen years old.
Once the top prospect of Pune Youth Academy.
Now... forgotten.
They chose Aryan over me. The golden boy. Perfect hair. Daddy's connections. Zero heart.
Me? I bled for this game.
I lived it.
I died for it.
And tonight…
I was going to quit it.
---
My duffel bag lay beside me. I hadn't even untied my boots. The silence felt like a funeral. Mine.
One final kick.
Just one.
I placed a ball at the halfway line.
Ran up.
Swung hard—
Thud!
It flew, curved, smashed the upper post, and bounced back to land at my feet.
I stared at it, breathless.
Even the game didn't want to let me go.
And then…
Everything changed.
---
[DING!]
> [System Activation: Legendary Football System Installed]
[Welcome, Piyush Chavan. You have been chosen.]
[Quest Unlocked: Become the Greatest of All Time]
[Penalty: If you fail… your career will be permanently erased.]
I froze.
"What the hell…?"
Words floated in the air. Glowing. Digital. Like a video game overlay — but real. In front of my eyes.
I blinked. They stayed.
[System Tutorial Available. Begin? (Yes/No)]
My heart slammed against my chest.
Either I'd lost my mind…
Or this was destiny punching through the world to grab me by the collar.
I whispered, "…Yes."
---
[TUTORIAL BEGINNING…]
> Skill Trees: Locked.
Match Scan: Locked.
Live Simulation: Locked.
Stat Panel: UNLOCKED
A blue screen appeared:
---
⚽ Player Stats: Piyush Chavan
Position: CF / CAM
Level: 1
Stamina: 38
Speed: 42
Dribbling: 45
Passing: 48
Shooting: 50
Mentality: 60
Charisma: 30
Reputation: -10
Special Trait: [None]
---
"Negative ten rep?" I laughed bitterly. "Yeah, sounds about right."
---
> [New Quest: Earn Your Debut]
Task: Get subbed into your first official senior match.
Reward: Unlock Skill Tree – Beginner Tier
Time Limit: 30 Days
[Failure Penalty: System Lockout Forever]
Thirty days… or game over.
---
I looked up at the sky.
Dark. Quiet. Unfair.
Just like life.
But now?
Now I had something life never gave me: a cheat code.
I zipped up my bag, laced my boots tighter, and walked back to the dorms.
No more begging.
No more waiting.
They forgot my name.
I'll make them scream it.
---