Pain.
That was the first thing he felt. A deep, bone-deep ache that pulsed with each heartbeat — proof that he was alive.
His eyes opened to a pale ceiling. The scent of disinfectant burned his nose, and the sunlight that filtered through the blinds stung his vision. For a moment, he just lay there, blank and dazed.
Then, the memories came.
The hospital room. The thin oxygen tube that had lived under his nose since childhood. The countless nights he'd stared at the TV, watching footballers fly across the field with bodies strong enough to do what his never could.
And the last thing he remembered — the flatline tone.
He had died at twenty-five.
So… how was he alive?
He pushed himself up, expecting the sharp pain of weakness — but instead, his body responded smoothly, effortlessly. His chest rose strong and even. No trembling. No fragility. Just power.
Then he caught his reflection in the window.
The face staring back had black hair that shimmered faintly blue under the light — and eyes that didn't belong in the same world: one sea green, one sky blue.
Alive. Sharp. Electric.
"…No way," he whispered. "I'm not dreaming, am I?"
And then—
> [System Initialization Complete.]
Welcome, Player: Echo Min-Ha
World: Neo Italia – Professional Football Simulation
A blue holographic panel unfolded in midair. His heart skipped a beat.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Echo Min-Ha
Age: 16
Nationality: Korean-Italian
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 62 kg
Position: SS / LW
Overall Rating: 52
Pace: 68
Dribbling: 61
Shooting: 59
Passing: 55
Physical: 48
Stamina: 45
Intelligence: 63
Mentality: 70
---
⚡ Innate Traits
[Dual Footed] – Perfect ambidexterity. Shoots, dribbles, and passes with both feet naturally.
[Spectral Awareness] – Perceives spatial and player movements beyond normal human range. Grants a near 360° predictive sense, allowing him to "see" plays seconds before they unfold.
[EX-Rank Ball Control] – God-tier touch and balance. Every contact is smooth, stable, and fluid. The ball sticks as if it recognizes him as its master.
---
Hidden Potential: EX (Locked)
> "Legends are born from the rare few who can break limits. You are one of them."
---
He stared at the window, breath caught between awe and disbelief.
A system? Football stats? Traits?
This had to be a dream.
But the thrum of his heart said otherwise.
In his previous life, he had been a frail man — cursed with a weak body, always watching greatness from afar. He'd idolized Neymar's creativity, Messi's genius, KDB's precision, Zlatan's arrogance, Ronaldinho's joy, and Ronaldo's relentless will.
He had envied them all.
But now, he had a chance to be what he once admired.
"This time," he whispered, clenching his fists, "I'll live it for real."
Another notification flashed.
> [Daily Mission Unlocked!]
Complete: Light Training (2 Hours)
Reward: +2 Stamina, +1 Dribbling
He grinned. "A football system with quests…? Guess I just got promoted from spectator to player."
---
Two days later, he stood on a modest training ground under the blazing Italian sun.
A faded sign read U.S. Castello Youth Academy.
The fourth division. Humble, underfunded, overlooked. But for him, it was heaven.
"Echo Min-Ha, right?" The coach — a grizzled man with a whistle around his neck — eyed him curiously. "Half-Korean, half-Italian. You any good?"
Echo smiled faintly. "You tell me, coach."
The man snorted. "Bold. I like that. Let's see what your feet can do."
As Echo jogged onto the field, the air smelled of cut grass and sweat. His pulse quickened — not with nerves, but hunger.
A pass rolled toward him.
His left foot stopped it mid-motion, smooth as silk.
Then his right foot took over — flick, drag, spin.
The ball obeyed like it had a mind of its own.
> [EX-Rank Ball Control Activated]
Ball-Stability: Perfect (100%)
Every touch was clean, instinctive. It wasn't just skill — it was art.
"Holy…" one of the older players muttered, watching the ball dance around his feet. "He's making love to it."
Echo ignored the comments. He moved faster — switching feet, adjusting his balance, cutting angles that shouldn't have been possible.
And then — boom.
He fired a shot from the edge of the box.
The ball screamed through the air and struck the top corner.
The net rippled violently. Silence fell across the pitch.
Then came the murmurs. "Who the hell is this kid?"
"His touch… it's unreal."
Echo looked at his feet, then at the goal, breathing deeply.
That's when his eyes glowed faintly — a green shimmer in one, blue in the other.
The world slowed.
Players moved in predictable arcs.
Paths of motion lit up like lines of light on the grass.
He could see space itself.
> [Spectral Awareness Activated]
Predictive Range: 12 meters
For the first time in two lives, he wasn't just playing football.
He was feeling it.
He could sense pressure before it came, anticipate passes before they happened, move before defenders even twitched. Every motion, every decision, was clear.
When the system faded, he was panting lightly, but grinning.
"This… this is insane."
---
That night, in the dorm, he stared at his reflection again.
He'd spent his first life as a weakling — admiring the beautiful game through a screen.
But now, fate had given him a second life, and a system that defied logic.
> [New Skill Acquired!]
"Borrowed Memory: Neymar Jr. (Dribbling Pattern)"
Duration: 5 minutes
Partial Retention: 1%
His veins pulsed with excitement.
When he closed his eyes, his muscles remembered Neymar's body feints, the rhythm of his steps, the sway of balance. The sensation wasn't perfect — but it was close.
He exhaled, the corners of his lips curling upward.
"This world doesn't have Neymar, Ronaldo, or Messi…"
His mismatched eyes glowed under the moonlight.
"…but it has me."
He chuckled quietly, a spark of arrogance mixing with resolve.
"I'll carve my name into football history.
Echo Min-Ha — the player born from two worlds."