Morning in Utrecht felt different.
Not because the sun rose earlier, or because the air was colder than usual.
No—this time, the difference was inside Richard himself.
In the faster heartbeat, in the heavier steps, and in the one thought repeating in his mind:
Today was his first day as a Jong Utrecht player.
He looked at himself in the dorm mirror.
The Jong Utrecht training kit he received yesterday was neatly folded on the desk. The red and white looked more "grown up" than the U18 jersey—bigger logo, sharper details.
Richard took a long breath.
"From here on… everything changes."
He picked up the jersey and put it on slowly, almost afraid to ruin the moment. When the cool fabric touched his skin, a strange feeling crept up—pride, fear, excitement, all mixed together.
His phone buzzed repeatedly.
• "Bang, good luck on your first training!" – Ivar
• "Don't be stiff. Just play naturally." – Justin
• "We're proud of you." – Coach De Vries
• "Don't disappoint me." – Coach Bram, with a straight-faced emoji
Richard chuckled. "Classic Bram."
He pocketed his phone, fixed his hair, and stepped out of his room.
No room for mistakes today.
---
Jong Utrecht Training Complex
The Jong Utrecht pitch was on the opposite side of the facility.
Bigger.
More modern.
Quieter—but also way more intimidating.
As Richard approached, he heard the thump of boots on grass, whistle bursts, and the sharp voices of coaches.
The Jong Utrecht players—mostly 18 to 21-year-olds—were already running laps. Their bodies were bigger, more developed, and the way they moved… far more professional.
This was a different level.
"Hey. You must be Richard."
Richard turned.
A dark-haired man in a staff jacket walked toward him, his posture firm and his expression serious.
"I'm Coach Muller," he said, shaking Richard's hand. "Technique coach and one of the main staff here. You'll join the full training today."
Richard nodded. "Yes, Coach."
"Don't be tense," Muller added. "But don't relax either. The boys here don't like players who give up easily."
It wasn't a threat—just a warning.
Richard accepted it.
---
A Tense First Introduction
The moment Richard stepped onto the pitch, almost everyone stopped for a second to look at him.
The look in their eyes wasn't curiosity like in U18.
Here, the looks meant:
Who are you?
Are you good enough?
Or just another temporary promotion?
A tall blond midfielder approached him first.
"I'm Lars. Midfielder."
"Richard. Forward."
"Forward, huh?" Lars raised an eyebrow. "Hope you're actually good. Striker isn't a safe spot here."
Before Richard could answer, another player tapped his shoulder.
"Don't listen to him. Lars likes pretending he's a senior."
"Shut up, Noah."
"I'm Noah. Right-back. If you're a striker, we're gonna clash a lot."
Noah smiled warmly—completely opposite of Lars.
"Welcome to the Young Bulls."
Richard smiled back. "Thanks."
Before he could breathe, a shout cut through the air—
"EVERYONE TO THE CENTER!"
Coach Muller called them.
Adaptation time was over.
---
Training Begins: The Unspoken Test
Warm-up was first.
Normal stuff—except the pace was insane.
What U18 players did in 30 seconds, Jong Utrecht did in 15. Two times faster, two times harder.
"Richard!"
"Yes, Coach!"
"Don't fall behind. We don't protect newcomers here!"
Richard pushed himself.
Legs burning, breath tightening. Five minutes in, he already felt the difference.
But he kept going.
This wasn't U18.
This wasn't a selection test.
This was home now.
---
Drill 1 — Ball Control
Small group drills.
Richard was paired with Noah and two senior players.
"Richard, take the right position," Coach Muller instructed.
One-touch combinations, quick turns, finishing into mini-goals.
For pros, normal.
For a fresh U18 graduate… brutal.
First pass from Noah—sharp but precise.
Tap, tap—Richard controlled it.
Lars shouted from afar, "That all you got?"
Richard ignored him.
He flicked the ball, turned, and finished cleanly.
Tok.
Straight in.
Coach Muller nodded. "Good. Continue."
But here, one "good" meant nothing.
Consistency was everything.
Second round.
Third.
Fourth.
Pressure rising.
Richard held on.
---
Drill 2 — Pressure Test
The hardest one.
One striker vs. two defenders + one defensive midfielder.
Goal: survive 10 seconds without losing the ball.
"Richard, step in."
"Yes, Coach."
Whistle.
Three bigger, stronger seniors swarmed him immediately.
The first shove almost knocked him over.
"This is Jong Utrecht, kid!" one defender barked.
Richard steadied himself, spun, shielded the ball using a feint he perfected during selection.
2 seconds.
3.
6.
The right-back lunged.
Richard rolled the ball past him and covered—
BIP!
10 seconds.
Coach Muller scribbled something on his clipboard.
Praise? Criticism?
Richard had no idea.
But he'd survived.
---
System Awakens
[ DING! ]
A familiar sound echoed in his head.
[SYSTEM UPDATE – PROFESSIONAL LEVEL UNLOCKED]
Status: Jong Utrecht Player
Progression Boost: ×1.4
New Passive Skill: Focus Under Pressure (E-Rank)
• Better concentration under pressure
• Reduced first-touch errors in tight spaces
Richard smiled slightly.
Finally… real progress.
---
Scrimmage — 5v5 Game
The most nerve-wracking part.
Richard's team: Noah, Lars (unfortunately), two senior midfielders, and himself.
Opponents: a mix of equal and higher-level players.
"Richard, hold the right lane!" Noah shouted.
Richard positioned himself well. The moment he saw a gap, he sprinted.
A pass came from Lars—too strong, almost rough.
But Richard controlled it with his heel.
That tiny movement made three players freeze.
He cut inside.
The defender closed in.
Richard chipped the ball through his legs and fired toward the far post.
DUAK!
Post.
The rebound fell to Lars, who finished it easily.
"GOAL!"
His team celebrated.
Lars looked at Richard and gave a short nod.
Not gratitude.
But recognition.
---
End of Training
After two hours of intense work, Coach Muller called him.
"Richard."
He stepped forward.
"Good work for a newcomer. You've got a lot to learn, but… you have something not every player has."
Richard swallowed. "What's that, Coach?"
"Courage."
Then he walked away, adding—
"Tomorrow… double intensity."
Richard stared at the pitch, breathing deeply.
He knew.
From today onward, everything would be harder.
But also closer to his dream.
With Ivar and Justin watching from afar, his family waiting back home, and the System growing stronger…
He wasn't stopping.