Two days after the Eastmere match, the locker room atmosphere had shifted.
Not drastically.
Just enough for Leon to notice.
He wasn't invisible anymore.
"Hey, Vale," Theo called, tossing him a bottle. "You're coming to tactical drills later, right? Coach mentioned something about advanced setups."
Leon nodded, catching it mid-air. "Yeah. I'll be there."
He wasn't used to attention—let alone inclusion. A week ago, he had eaten lunch alone and trained in silence. Now, teammates occasionally sought his input during rondos and positioning drills.
Not everyone, though.
Kael hadn't said a word to him since the match.
System Prompt – Upgrade Available
That night, Leon sat on his bed with the lights off, his HUD flickering softly as he browsed the system log.
Leon Vale – Level 2: Street Player
EXP: 31 / 200
Skill Progress: Tactical Awareness (Intermediate) Unlocked
Tactical Awareness (Intermediate)
Upgraded minimap now covers a 30-meter radius.
Displays suggested passing paths (based on AI match patterns).
Unlock next tier: "Predictive Pathing" – Requires 5 successful passing link-ups using AI suggestions.
A new glow shimmered in the top-left of his HUD — the minimap now pulsed gently with thin arrows showing ideal pass angles.
Leon's eyes widened.
This wasn't just information anymore.
It was strategy.
Updated Player Stats
Level: 2
EXP: 31 / 200
Abilities:
– Tactical Awareness (Intermediate) – Active
– PlaySight Usage Remaining: 1
Stats:
• Dribbling: 46
• Passing: 48
• Shooting: 41
• Vision: 12
• Mental: 41
• Speed: 46
• Stamina: 44
Unlock Progress:
– Agile Step: 40%
– Predictive Pathing: 0/5
Status: Stable. Moderate coach interest. Kael rivalry active.
Midweek Scrimmage – Under Lights
Coach Davor whistled from the center circle. "Two teams. Game rules: no more than three touches per player. You want the ball? Move."
Leon's team wore red bibs. Kael's team, blue.
The minimap flared to life.
The upgraded feature now showed arrow lines that moved dynamically — paths predicted to be most effective, based on positioning and tempo.
It didn't tell him what to do. But it showed what could work.
Minute 6: Leon received a bounce pass. The AI suggested a short flick forward into the center — a space just forming.
He trusted it. Executed.
It unlocked a chance.
+4 EXP: AI-Aided Decision (Successful)
Predictive Pathing Progress: 1/5
Theo, playing central mid, pointed. "Nice vision, Vale!"
Kael muttered something under his breath.
Leon didn't catch it.
Minute 11: Kael intercepted a loose ball and darted toward Leon's side.
Leon tracked back immediately. Minimap showed a red triangle forming near the left corner. A potential overload.
Leon sprinted across and closed it just as Kael tried a cutback.
The two collided.
Not enough for a foul.
But enough for a glare.
+5 EXP: Defensive Intervention
EXP: 40 / 200
"Next time," Kael hissed, "stay in your lane."
Leon didn't reply.
But his minimap said otherwise.
Coach's Feedback
After the scrimmage, Coach Davor called Leon over.
"You're reading patterns better," he said, rubbing his beard. "But you're too reliant on passing lines. Mix in instinct."
Leon nodded. "Yes, Coach."
"One more thing," Davor added. "Kael won't like it, but you've got the starting spot this Saturday. Right wing. Don't let the friction distract you."
Leon's chest tightened. "Understood."
Saturday Match – Versus Belden High
The stadium wasn't full, but the energy buzzed. Belden was rougher, more aggressive. And they had a reputation for targeting playmakers.
As the whistle blew, Leon felt a new alert from PlaySight.
Temporary Buff – Coach Confidence Active
+1 Vision / +1 Mental for next 90 minutes
He took his place on the wing.
Kael, again, started on the opposite side. The silence between them was deafening.
Minute 14: Leon picked up the ball on the sideline. The AI suggested a backward pass.
He ignored it.
Instead, he faked a retreat, then flicked it forward and charged around the defender.
Space opened.
He crossed to the penalty spot.
Shot. Deflected.
+9 EXP: Instinct Play Over AI
+7 EXP: Creative Decision
EXP: 48 / 200
Minute 29: Belden upped their physicality. Leon was shoved off the ball twice. His minimap scrambled slightly when he fell—PlaySight was glitching under high-contact moments.
Warning: Field Stability Disrupted
Vision-based skill reduced by 10% for 5 minutes
He gritted his teeth, got back up, and kept playing.
Minute 39: He saw a path—a classic AI suggestion, through the center.
He passed.
Kael, now in the middle, let it roll.
Deliberately.
The pass was intercepted.
Coach Davor barked, "What was that?"
Kael shrugged. "Too soft."
Leon bit back his response.
But inside, he knew what had happened.
Kael was sabotaging.
Second Half – Emotional Build
Leon's stats didn't reflect frustration. But his actions did.
He started overthinking. Trusted the AI paths too much. Ignored open runs. Misplaced a pass.
Minute 68: He collided with a Belden defender again, lost the ball, and stayed down for a second too long.
Coach Davor gestured to the sub.
Leon waved it off.
"No," he muttered. "I'm finishing."
Turning Point – Minute 81
PlaySight's alert flashed again.
PlaySight Charge: 1 Use Remaining
Activate for slow-time predictive field scan (2 seconds real-time analysis).
Leon exhaled.
This was it.
Belden pushed high. Northport won the ball in defense.
Leon activated the skill.
Time slowed.
The minimap expanded, now covering half the field. Arrows flared up across three channels.
Left: Kael. Open, but dangerous.
Center: Theo. Pressed tightly.
Right: A diagonal lane. The striker just started his run.
Leon took the risk. He lobbed a curling ball over the last line.
Perfect arc.
The striker connected.
Goal.
+15 EXP: PlaySight Activation – Strategic Decision
Predictive Pathing Progress: 2/5
EXP: 63 / 200
Leon didn't raise his hands.
He just turned, looked at Kael.
Kael stared back, jaw clenched.
End-of-Chapter HUD Log
Leon Vale – Player Log
• Level: 2
• EXP: 71 / 200
• PlaySight Uses: 0 (Recharge in 2 Matches)
Skills:
– Tactical Awareness (Intermediate)
– Predictive Pathing: 2 / 5
Skill Unlock Progress:
– Agile Step: 40%
Stat Update:
• Vision: 13 (+1)
• Mental: 42 (+1)
• Passing: 55 (+7)
• Dribbling: 47 (+1)
• Shooting: 42 (+1)
• Speed: 48 (+2)
• Stamina: 46 (+2)
Coach Trust: +1
Team Trust: Stable
Kael Rivalry: Increasing – Disruption Detected
Closing Moment
After the match, Leon sat alone at midfield as the sky turned orange.
Coach Davor walked over. "That pass? That's how you unlock a game."
Leon nodded, exhausted.
Davor glanced toward the bench, where Kael sat, talking with another substitute. "Play your game, Leon. Kael's got history. You've got momentum."
As the coach walked away, Leon whispered to himself:
"Not enough."
He opened his HUD, browsed the skill tree again.
So many locked abilities. So much left to grow.
And still,
Only Level 2.