The silence in the training ground was heavier than the humid Jakarta air.
Rio stood on the penalty spot, his chest heaving. The goal he had just scored—a rocket into the top corner—was still replaying in everyone's minds. Even Kevin, the bully who claimed to be the ace, was still lying on the grass, staring blankly at the sky.
"Valdes."
The Head Coach, Coach Bima, broke the silence. He marched over to Rio, his face unreadable. He looked at Rio's pale face, then at the ball in the net, and finally at the medical bracelet on Rio's wrist.
"That burst of speed..." Coach Bima narrowed his eyes. "I've never seen an Indonesian player move like that. Not even in the senior national team."
"I told you, Coach," Rio said, trying to steady his breathing. The side effect of Flash Step was kicking in; his calves felt like they were on fire. "I can play."
"You can play for two seconds," Coach Bima countered sharply. "Look at you. You're trembling. If I put you in a ninety-minute game, you'll be dead by halftime."
Rio grit his teeth. He knew the coach was right. The [SOUL BALL] system gave him skills, but it didn't magically fix his stamina or his heart condition.
"I don't need ninety minutes," Rio bluffed, meeting the coach's gaze. "Give me fifteen. The last fifteen minutes of the game. When the enemy is tired, I'll be their nightmare."
Coach Bima paused. He was a pragmatic man. He needed a weapon for the upcoming Asian Championship qualifiers. A player who could change the flow of the game in an instant was rare.
"A Joker card, huh?" Coach Bima muttered. He sighed and rubbed his temples. "Fine. You're in the squad. But only as a substitute. And you sign a liability waiver. If you collapse, the team isn't responsible."
"Deal," Rio said instantly.
[SYSTEM ALERT][QUEST COMPLETED: JOIN THE SQUAD][REWARD: +3 Days Lifespan]
Rio let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He had bought himself three more days.
Later that evening, in the team dormitory.
Rio collapsed onto his bunk bed. The adrenaline had worn off, and now the reality of his situation was setting in.
[CURRENT LIFESPAN: 79 Days, 16 Hours, 10 Minutes]
"Don't celebrate yet," Specter's voice floated from the top bunk. The ghost was lying upside down, reading a sports magazine from 1998. "You spent ten days to get a skill. You earned back three days and two hours today. You're operating at a loss, kid. This is bad business."
Rio stared at the red timer hovering in the air. "I know. The math doesn't work. At this rate, I'll run out of time before the tournament even starts."
"Exactly," Specter said, floating down to face him. "You're playing a losing game. You need a Jackpot. This is my unfinished business, too. Check your Quest Log."
Rio frowned and tapped the [QUEST] tab on the holographic screen. Usually, it was empty, but now a gold-bordered notification was pulsing.
He opened it.
[MAIN QUEST: THE ROAD TO IMMORTALITY][OBJECTIVE:] Win the FIFA U-20 World Cup. [TIMELIMIT:] 2 Years. [REWARD:] Item: [Heart of the Dragon] (Complete Cardiac Reconstruction / Cure). [FAILURE:] Immediate Termination of Host.
Rio's eyes widened. "Win the World Cup? Are you crazy? Indonesia has never even qualified for the World Cup, let alone won it! And the time limit is 2 years? My lifespan is only 79 days!"
"That's why you have to keep winning," Specter said, pointing his cigar at Rio. "Every win extends your life. Every goal buys you time. You have to chain your victories together to survive long enough to reach that final."
Specter leaned in close, his ghostly face inches from Rio's.
"This isn't just about scoring goals anymore, Rio. You have to drag this mediocre team to the top of the world. You have to carry them. Because if the team loses... you die."
Rio looked at his hands. They were shaking. The weight of the impossible task pressed down on him. He was a dying boy, in a team of underdogs, tasked with conquering the world.
But then, a strange feeling bubbled up in his chest. It wasn't fear. It was excitement.
"World Champion, huh?" Rio smirked, a wild light returning to his eyes. "If the reward is a new heart... then I guess I have no choice."
Knock, knock.
The door opened. It was Kevin.
The bulky striker stood in the doorway, holding an ice pack to his cheek where he had face-planted earlier. He looked at Rio with a mix of anger and begrudging respect.
"Coach wants us in the meeting room," Kevin grunted. "We have a practice match tomorrow."
"Against who?" Rio asked, sitting up.
Kevin's face turned grim.
"The South Korean U-19 Academy Team. They're visiting for a friendly."
Specter let out a low whistle. "Koreans? They run like machines. This is going to be a bloodbath."
Rio stood up, checking his System one last time.
[NEW SIDE QUEST AVAILABLE][DEFEAT THE TIGER]
Objective: Score a goal against the South Korean team.
Reward: +5 Days Lifespan + 1 Gacha Ticket (Item).
Rio grabbed his jacket. "Let's go. I need those tickets."