The System Makes Me a Player

After the teams were formed, Kelvin scanned the opposing side, and then he noticed: Kazana and Dante were together. On the same team.

His heart tightened for a moment. That wasn't a coincidence. Rafael definitely wanted to test him against Dante and Kazana.

"Ian", he muttered beside him.

"Those two together won't be easy"

Kelvin just nodded. But inside, he was completely energized.

Rafael blew the whistle. The ball rolled.

The match began with high intensity. Kelvin's team pushed forward with Ian controlling the midfield. He passed and moved quickly, creating openings. Kelvin, on the left wing, made diagonal runs, trying to confuse the defenders.

But the opposing team didn't back down. Kazana dropped into midfield to pick up the ball, while Dante floated between lines, delivering precise passes and organizing everything with an eerie calmness.

At eight minutes, Kazana burst forward from midfield, nutmegged a defender, cut inside, and unleashed a rocket. The ball smashed off the post, drawing gasps from the sidelines.

Kelvin watched from the opposite side. That wasn't just skill. He was provoking.

The game remained balanced. Stylish plays came from both teams. Ian played a perfect through ball to Kelvin, who burst into the box at full speed. He feinted with his right, cut to the left, and took a shot. But Dante was there, appearing like a shadow, blocking it cleanly.

Kelvin hit the ground from the impact, and the ball went out for a corner.

"That guy...", he muttered, standing up.

"He reads everything before it happens… doesn't even feel like a striker"

He could feel his body adapting, his game sense improving.

At 15 minutes, the opposing team opened the score. Dante launched a counterattack with a first-touch pass to Kazana, who no longer looked like the same player from his duel with Kelvin. He beat a defender and fired into the bottom corner. A brilliant goal.

But he didn't celebrate. He just looked at Kelvin.

"I can do that too, Kelvin"

Kelvin gave a half-smile.

"Let's play, then"

Rafael noted the play without expression, but his eyes were locked on the trio.

The game resumed. Kelvin was more alert, more aggressive. In a following move, he received on the wing, dribbled one, then another, and even surrounded, managed a backheel pass to Ian, who took a shot from outside the box. It went close.

"So close!", Ian shouted

"Great pass, Kelvin"

The match intensity kept rising. Rafael wasn't calling fouls. He wanted to see everyone's limits.

At 21 minutes, Kelvin received the ball again on the left wing. He moved forward, stopped, faked a cross, and cut inside. Kazana came to cover. This was the moment. Kelvin shifted to his weak foot—or so it seemed.

[Skill Activated: Instinctive Dribble]

In the blink of an eye, Kelvin pulled off a rapid combo: a short elastico, followed by a half roulette, then a light tap over Kazana's leg.

"What the?!", Kazana lost his balance, surprised.

Kelvin entered the box. Dante appeared. Time seemed to slow, but something in Kelvin's vision revealed a space that wasn't being covered.

He shot cleanly with his left, wrong-footing the keeper. Goal.

Kelvin stood still, because in that moment he was sure: he only scored because of the system. He never would've seen that open angle on his own.

1–1.

The sidelines erupted in cheers. Rafael didn't even blink, just wrote something on his clipboard.

Ian ran over, tapping Kelvin's shoulder.

"You're on fire, bro! Let's turn this around!"

Rafael blew the whistle again. The game resumed.

It became more physical, more intense. Emotions were heating up. Ian won tackles with clean slides, and Kazana started dropping sarcastic comments.

"Chill out", Kazana said after a shoulder bump.

"This is just training"

"But the game is real", Ian replied.

Kelvin's team started pressing more. With each minute, the chemistry between Kelvin and a second striker, a skinny but fast kid named Felipe, grew.

Felipe dashed down the right and crossed low. Kelvin moved between defenders, but Dante slid to intercept at the last moment.

"Damn!", Kelvin shouted, kicking the air.

Dante stood up calmly, wiping his arm with his shirt.

"If you wanna get past me, you'll have to be faster than that"

"Don't worry", Kelvin said, locking eyes.

"I've already done it once"

Kazana took the ball from deep, beat two players, and sent a perfect pass to Dante. Dante controlled it, turned, and shot from distance.

Kelvin's team's goalkeeper dived and parried. The rebound almost led to another goal.

"Stay sharp, Kelvin!", Ian yelled, tracking back

"Those two won't stop easy"

Kelvin nodded. He knew that.

But he also knew something else: if he could recreate that clear vision from the previous goal… he might be able to see the entire field.

After a quick midfield exchange, Felipe passed to Ian, who spun and launched it to Kelvin on the left.

"Now's the time!", Ian shouted.

Kelvin sprinted with the ball glued to his feet. One defender approached—quick cut. Another tried to tackle—short dribble. Kazana moved in to cover.

"You're not getting past me again!", Kazana yelled.

Kelvin smiled.

"We'll see"

[Activation: Instinctive Dribble]

A heel flick, a spin, and a fake where his body went one way and the ball the other.

"Not again!", Kazana shouted, but he was already turning into empty space.

Kelvin broke into the box. Dante was ready. Their eyes locked.

"Gonna try again?", Dante asked calmly.

Kelvin didn't answer. He simply passed sideways to Felipe, who arrived unmarked.

"Yes!", Felipe shouted, smashing it in first time.

Top corner. Spectacular goal.

2–1.

The whole team celebrated. Kelvin held out his hand, and Felipe bumped him lightly in the chest.

"That vision, man?! You didn't even look!".

Kelvin gave a crooked smile.

"I… just felt it".

After the second goal, Rafael finally smiled, blew the whistle hard.

Game over.

He walked to the center of the field with firm steps, locking eyes with the players while Kelvin's team celebrated quietly.

"That's it for today!", he said firmly, though his eyes shone.

"Everyone did well… but three players stood out to me"

A silence spread. Everyone knew who he meant.

"Kazana, Ian, Kelvin, and Dante", he said, pausing between names.

"You drove this session. Kazana, your poise and ability to shift the game remain top-notch. Dante, your control of space and awareness are… frightening. And Kelvin…", Rafael turned directly to him

"…You surprised me again. You're starting to understand that football isn't just about running with the ball. It's about decision-making. Reading the game. And you showed that today".

Kelvin nodded slightly, a burn in his chest.

"But don't get comfortable. This was just training", Rafael continued

"The competition is near, and I still haven't finalized the starting lineup. Today was just a glimpse of what I expect from all of you: attitude, commitment, and game intelligence",

He clapped twice.

"You're dismissed. Wednesday, same time",

The players slowly dispersed, chatting about the plays, laughing, teasing each other. Ian walked up to Kelvin again.

"Dude… if you play like that in the tournament, you'll be the school's MVP", he said, smiling and placing a hand on Kelvin's shoulder

"But seriously… what happened there? How'd you see that space?"

Kelvin chuckled, glancing at the sky turning gold with the sunset.

"I don't know… it felt like I… just knew he'd be there"

Ian frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing", Kelvin replied quickly, smiling again

"Let's grab some water"

As they walked toward the bench, Kelvin quietly opened his mental interface. A flashing notification appeared:

[Mission Complete: Earn Your Spot in the Starting Lineup]

[Reward: +50 XP]

Kelvin closed the mental window and clenched his fist slightly.

Then, the system opened a new reward screen in front of him:

[Player showed great potential with assist today!]

[New Skill Unlocked: Precision Vision]

Kelvin broke into a wide smile.

"Wait, this wasn't even on the reward list…", he looked at the sky, then down at the ground

"So maybe… there are hidden skills I can unlock by doing certain things on the pitch?"

He just furrowed his brow.

"You're really something, system"