Miyagi Prefectural Gym – After the Match
The victory buzz still lingered in the air.
Karasuno's players were packing up, energized from their first win. Kageyama and Hinata were already bickering about who jumped higher during warmups. Riku, however, sat quietly on the bench, staring at his hand.
Something felt strange.
A faint pulse in the back of his mind, like static clinging to his brainstem.
And then it happened.
A message screen popped up in his mind.
Private Message Incoming
Sender: System Admin – Rob
Decrypting…
Play Message?
Riku raised a brow and mentally selected "yes."
The world around him seemed to blur, and a glowing image of Rob flickered into view inside his mind's eye. He was dressed in his usual strange mix of fantasy cloak and volleyball jersey, but his tone was uncharacteristically serious.
"Yo, genius. If you're seeing this, congrats—you cleared your first tournament match and scored in double digits. Not bad for someone who could barely serve two weeks ago."
Riku rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the encouragement, Gandalf."
"But listen up. You're approaching a threshold. The next opponents? Stronger. Sharper. More system-aware than you think."
"You've done well growing on your own, but your foundation is still unstable. Without a strong core, your entire growth will collapse under pressure—mentally, physically, spiritually."
"So, I'm unlocking a one-time upgrade. Think of it as a 'starter pack for the chosen one'—because why not be dramatic?"
Another system window appeared:
SYSTEM ALERT: ADMIN GIFT UNLOCKED
Item: Core Soul Orb – "True Foundation Catalyst"
Description: Temporarily halts system growth and triggers an inner realm trial. Success recalibrates all base stats and permanently increases growth potential by 300%.
Warning: Trial difficulty scales with user's hidden trauma and internal instability.
**Do you accept the Gift of Origin?**
Riku didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The world went black.
---
System Realm: Inner Core Trial – The Foundation of Self
Riku stood in a pitch-black void. There was no floor, no sky. Just emptiness.
Then, a heartbeat.
The world around him lit with fire.
He was in a destroyed version of Karasuno's gym. The walls cracked, the floor scorched. Broken nets. Deflated volleyballs. Empty stands.
From the shadows stepped a figure.
It was himself.
But not the boy. Not the player.
It was the man in the suit—his first life. Blood on the collar. Lifeless, calculating eyes.
"You're wasting your second chance."
"I'm building something better," Riku replied.
"You're just playing at life. Pretending volleyball will fix you. That Shimizu will see someone who isn't broken."
"I'm earning it this time."
The echo surged forward, fists clenched.
Their bodies collided in a burst of shockwaves.
Trial Begins: Face Your Origin
Win Condition: Defeat your Past Self
Riku attacked first, swinging a powerful roundhouse kick enhanced by pure intent, but the echo blocked it easily.
"You're strong in body, but weak in will," the echo mocked.
It drove a fist into Riku's chest.
Riku gasped and fell to one knee, blood filling his mouth.
"You can't outrun what you used to be."
Then he heard her voice—Kiyoko's voice—from memory.
"I believe in this you more than the old you."
He stood, fire in his chest.
"I chose this path."
He ducked under the next strike and slammed his fist into the echo's face.
"I'm not running anymore."
He spun and leapt, unleashing a volleyball-style spike into the echo's chest.
The figure shattered into shards of light.
---
Trial Complete: Origin Accepted
Base Stats Recalibrated. Growth Potential Unlocked.
Passive Skill Gained: True Core – Anchor of the Self
Your stats can't be forcibly reduced. Under pressure, gain a 5% boost to all attributes.
Soul Anchor Set: You can now evolve traits based on emotional connection.
---
Real World – Gym Alleyway
Riku gasped awake, slumped against the gym's outside wall.
His body felt heavier and lighter all at once.
Balanced.
He clenched his fist. The power inside him no longer surged wildly. It flowed in harmony.
His foundation was solid.
A new system message flashed:
System Tier Unlocked: Path of the Core User
New abilities and evolutions will now unlock through emotional bonds, match performance, and combat stress.
Core Trait Tree Enabled.
Then the door creaked.
Kiyoko stepped out, holding a clipboard.
She paused when she saw him.
"Are you alright?" she asked, stepping closer.
He looked up at her and smiled—calm, certain, real.
"Yeah. I think I finally am."