The silence of morning drills felt different now.
No crowd. No teammates. Just the ball, the wind, and the steady pulse of the system humming behind Leon's vision. PlaySight was active, data whispering softly in the corner of his interface.
The Ridgegate match had earned him something. Not celebration, not fame — but momentum.
And momentum mattered.
Player: Leon Vale
Level: 2
EXP: 135 / 200
Skill Progress: Agile Step – 78%
Stats:
Dribbling: 47
Passing: 57
Shooting: 42
Vision: 15
Mental: 42
Speed: 50
Stamina: 48
Active Systems:
– Minimap (Basic Mode: 30m radius, slow update)
– Legacy Echo: Passive (ZANE-003)
The ball rolled from his foot, bounced once, and returned off the wall. He trapped it and pivoted with one motion, quicker than he used to. His center of balance had shifted slightly. He could feel it.
"Again," he whispered to himself.
He launched into a timed sprint with sharp cuts between cones. On the second cut, something clicked.
It wasn't explosive speed. It wasn't reflex.
It was rhythm.
The moment his foot touched the turf, he felt the feedback in real time. His body adjusted microseconds faster — weight transfer smoother, pivot sharper.
PlaySight pinged.
Skill Sync Update: Agile Step – 100%
Skill Acquired!
Skill Unlocked:
Agile Step Lv. 1
-Enhanced lateral acceleration
-Reduced delay between cuts
-Movement Flow Assist: Active during dribble sequences
-EXP multiplier for movement-based plays: +5%
Leon staggered to a halt, chest rising.
He'd done it.
The first skill wasn't just theory anymore.
It was alive in him.
Later That Day
Coach Davor leaned against the fence, arms crossed, watching Leon run drills alone. A few players jogged nearby, but the coach's focus was unshakable.
"Vale," he called out. "Midfield shuffle drills. Three cones. Dribble and cut. Full pace."
Leon nodded, not betraying how hard his heart thudded.
He set the ball, took his mark, and burst forward.
The rhythm of Agile Step activated the moment he shifted left. A faint pulse surged through his feet. His balance held even through tight transitions. The ball stayed glued to his boot.
The third cone came — he stopped on a dime, turned full-body, and sent a clean pass straight into a mini-goal.
No wobble. No overstep.
Just clean execution.
Coach Davor narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You're quicker than last week," he said.
Leon wiped his forehead. "Been practicing."
"That's not all it is," the coach muttered, more to himself than to Leon. "Run it again. Five more times."
Leon didn't hesitate.
Each rep, the system integrated deeper. PlaySight began tagging his cuts with micro-adjustments — green outlines mapping ideal foot placement, pressure zones, angles of motion.
Leon didn't always follow them.
But when he did — it felt effortless.
+10 EXP (Skill-Integrated Movement)
+1 Dribbling
+1 Mental
Skill Progress – Agile Step Lv. 1: 7%
Player: Leon Vale
Level: 2
EXP: 145 / 200
Stats:
Dribbling: 49 (+1)
Mental: 43 (+1)
Coach Davor walked up as Leon rested his hands on his knees.
"You're moving smarter," he said. "You used to overshoot your turns. Now you're compensating. Reflexive, not just learned."
Leon looked up, trying not to show his internal tension.
"You're seeing something, aren't you?" Coach asked. "On the field. Anticipating things before they happen."
Leon didn't answer.
Coach studied him in silence. Then said, "I'll be watching closer from now on."
Leon met his gaze and nodded.
Later That Week – Scrimmage
Leon's squad faced the second string in a high-tempo, short-field scrimmage. No coaches shouting. Just players and pressure.
Kael captained the opposing side.
Leon noticed right away — Kael had been watching him more. Not marking. Studying.
Leon didn't let it bother him.
Midway through the game, Leon picked the ball deep in his half and began a run. Agile Step pulsed under his soles. The dribble felt smoother — not flashy, but tight and efficient.
The minimap flared — red dot closing in.
Leon cut right just before the tackle landed. His movement was now predictive, just a half-second ahead.
Zane's Echo didn't interfere — not yet. But the system was clearly adapting to the rhythm Leon had grown into.
He completed the sequence with a sharp pass down the line — and Kael intercepted it.
He turned and smirked. "Still a beat late, Vale."
Leon grinned. "Only because you finally caught up."
+6 EXP (Skill-based evasion)
Minimap Awareness Assist
Agile Step Progress Lv. 1: 12%
The game ended with Leon's side losing by one goal, but no one really cared.
As the players cooled down, Kael approached him by the benches.
"You're using something," Kael said quietly.
Leon blinked. "Using what?"
"Don't play dumb. You're different from three weeks ago. Not just skill — instincts. Positioning. You read the field like a chess board now."
Leon stayed quiet.
Kael looked at him, jaw tight. "Whatever it is… don't lose yourself in it."
Leon nodded slowly. "I won't."
Kael walked away without another word.
Night – Room
Leon sat in the dark, PlaySight open again.
Player: Leon Vale
Level: 2
EXP: 151 / 200
Skill: Agile Step Lv. 1 – Progress: 12%
Stats:
Dribbling: 49
Passing: 57
Shooting: 42
Vision: 15
Mental: 43
Speed: 50
Stamina: 48
Minimap (Basic): Active
Tactical Mode: Locked
Mental Threshold Required: 50
ZANE-003 Echo: Passive | Visual Residue: Stable
He tapped the skill card for Agile Step and watched the recorded movement overlay — green silhouettes showing his recent motion paths.
He noticed something strange — one overlay that wasn't his.
It was faster. Smarter. Predictive.
Zane?
It vanished before he could study it again.
Leon leaned back on his bed.
The system was growing — and so was he.
But he wasn't alone in it anymore.
And neither was his path forward.