Chapter 4: Breaking Through
Ethan Cole woke to his phone's alarm at 6:00 AM, the Thursday sky over Southampton still dark, streetlights casting a faint glow through his window. His legs ached from yesterday's training, but the Football Prodigy System's screen glowed in his vision, relentless: [Daily Task: Sprint 400m in under 60 seconds. Reward: Acceleration +2, 500 Goat Points.]
"Bloody mental," Ethan muttered, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He'd barely slept again, his mind tangled with the Bournemouth match tomorrow and Coach Marcus's warning about cuts. The system—glowing text, coach-like voice—still felt like a fever dream, but the +1 Short Pass from yesterday's passes had made his boots feel sharper. Fine. One more test. He pulled on his trainers, crept past Sarah's room, and slipped into the chilly Portswood streets.
The park was quiet, mist curling around benches. Ethan marked out 400 meters along a path, his breath fogging. He sprinted, legs pumping, lungs burning, the system's timer ticking in his head: 59.8 seconds. He collapsed onto the grass, gasping, as the screen flashed:
[Task Complete. Acceleration +2,500 Goat Points. Total GP: 1100.]
His legs buzzed, lighter, like he could outrun the wind. "This is daft," he said, half-laughing, but the sharpness was undeniable. Back home by 6:30 AM, he showered, ate toast with Sarah, and napped until 9:00 AM, his body craving rest after two sleepless nights. Sarah's voice—"You're pushing too hard,love"—lingered as he headed to training, the noon sun weak but warm.
At the academy, the pitch glistened, St Mary's Stadium a distant promise. Ollie Price was juggling a ball, his ginger hair catching the light. "Oi, Ethan! You're running like you've got rockets in your boots. What's the secret?"
"Training hard is the secret" Ethan said, dodging. He couldn't tell Ollie about the system—not without sounding like he'd lost it. Coach Marcus blew his whistle, his cap shadowing his glare. "Lads, Bournemouth's tomorrow. Passing drills, then scrimmage. Move!"
Ethan paired with Ollie, focusing on the system's Precise Pass skill (50% completion). Each pass felt smoother, the ball curving to Ollie's feet like it was magnetized. He visualized the system's lines, guiding his boots. By the end of drills, the screen pinged: [Precise Pass: 75% Completion.]
In the scrimmage, Ethan played winger, his new acceleration letting him dart past a defender. He used Precise Pass, threading the ball to Ollie for a goal. Ollie whooped, smacking Ethan's shoulder. "Mate, you're on fire!" Coach Marcus scribbled on his clipboard, his nod subtle but real. Ethan's chest tightened—was the system working?
That night, Sarah had the evening off, and they watched a Southampton FC match on their creaky TV, the Saints battling Liverpool, Your dad loves wingers she said, as a Liverpool winger crossed for a goal, her eyes bright. squeezing Ethan's hand. "He said They're the spark. You've got that, honey.
Friday's Bournemouth match hit like a storm. The away pitch, a soggy patch under Bournemouth's grey sky, gleamed under floodlights. A sparse crowd—parents, scouts, a few rowdy locals—clustered in the stands,Southampton's U-17s led 1-0 at halftime, but Bournemouth's pressing was relentless, their midfielders snapping at every pass. Ethan Cole sat on the bench, his stomach churning, the Football Prodigy System's quest glowing in his vision: [Match Quest: Provide an assist. Reward: +3 Stat Points, 1000 Goat Points.]
He tugged at his damp kit, the red-and-white stripes clinging to his lanky frame.
In the 70th minute, Coach Marcus barked, "Cole, you're on! Right wing, don't mess it up." Ethan jogged onto the pitch, heart pounding, the wet grass slick under his boots Ollie Price flashed him a grin from the left wing. "You got this, mate."
Ethan tracked back, intercepting a loose ball. The system pinged: He blinked—his feet moved faster than usual, snagging the ball cleanly,He pushed forward, the crowd's noise a dull roar. A Bournemouth defender lunged, but Ethan's new acceleration let him sidestep, the ball glued to his boot,The screen flashed again, his vision sharpening.
In the 85th minute, Southampton won a throw-in. Ollie flicked the ball to Ethan, who took it on the right flank, 30 yards from goal. The system's Precise Pass (75% completion) guided him, a faint blue line arcing in his vision toward Ollie's run. Ethan hesitated—This can't be real—but his instincts kicked in. He curled the ball with his right foot, the pass slicing past a defender's outstretched leg, landing perfectly at Ollie's feet in the box. Ollie tapped it past the keeper, the net rippling. 2-0.
The team roared, Ollie tackling Ethan in a hug. "Proper class, mate!"a few Southampton parents clapping. Coach Marcus's eyes locked on Ethan, his nod sharp. Ethan's chest swelled.
At a chip shop near Bournemouth's ground, Ollie shared a cone of chips, the air thick with grease. "You're different, Ethan," he said, squinting. "Like you've got a cheat code." Ethan laughed it off, but the system pinged:
[Quest Complete. +3 Stat Points, 1000 Goat Points. Total GP: 2100. Reward: C-Grade Recovery Potion.]
Back home, Ethan opened the system shop, his 2100 GP burning a hole. He bought Cruyff Turn (1000 GP), leaving 1100 GP. The skill appeared: [Cruyff Turn: 0% Completion.] A new quest flashed:
[Seasonal Quest: Survive the academy cut. Reward: +1 Skill, 2000 Goat Points.]
Ethan stared, the weight of it sinking in. The cut was days away. In his room, under Hazard's poster, he allocated his +3 stat points: +2 Dribbling, +1 Crossing. The system updated:
Name: Ethan Cole
Age: 16
Profession: Footballer
Status: Youth Academy Player
System Evaluation: One of the Worst Players
Player Rating: 52
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Winger
Potential: 100
[STATS]
Acceleration: 56 (+2)
Sprint Speed: 57
Agility: 58
Balance: 56
Jumping: 49
Reaction: 49
Stamina: 58
Strength: 57
Positioning: 50
Vision: 57
Ball Control: 55(+1)
Crossing: 56 (+1)
Dribbling: 57 (+1)
Finishing: 50
Short Pass: 55
Long Pass: 45
[SKILLS POSSESSED]
Precise Pass: 75% Completion
Cruyff Turn: 0% Completion
Ethan lay back, the screen fading. The potion's buzz in his veins felt real, his legs ready for more,Maybe am not yet do for,But the cut still loomed, and he wasn't safe yet.