Lights out across the academy. Silence blanketed the dorms, but no one really slept.
The Intergalactic Youth Cup qualifiers were hours away.
And tomorrow… we face Vix Asteroid Academy.
Soren lay on his bunk opposite mine, earbuds in, eyes wide open. Musa? Tossing, turning, muttering plays under his breath like mantras. Even Kenji — Mr. Ice Cold — had gotten up twice to fill his water bottle for no reason.
Me?
I was trying to sleep. Trying.
But the pressure curled around my ribs like a vice.
What if I messed up? What if I couldn't live up to this starting role? What if everything the GOAT system gave me… still wasn't enough?
Somewhere between overthinking and drifting off, my eyes finally shut.
Darkness.
And then—
Light.
A warm, golden kind. Not from the sun… from memory. From greatness.
---
⚡ The GOAT Hall
I stood barefoot on a massive pitch that stretched into the stars.
The stands were empty, but I could feel a million echoes humming through the air — chants from Earth, Mars, Europa… all layered into one timeless roar.
And then…
They appeared.
Messi.
Smiling, calm. Juggling a ball like it was nothing but a leaf in the breeze.
Ronaldinho.
Spinning on his heel, laughing, pulling off tricks just to entertain the ghosts in the stands.
Zidane. Okocha. Buffon. Neymar.
Even Ronaldo, arms crossed, nodding slightly as I approached.
A lump rose in my throat.
Messi walked over first. "Nervous?"
I nodded.
"You should be," he said, grinning. "Pressure's part of it."
Ronaldinho whistled. "I saw that flick last week. Not bad, Vega."
"It's Ruiz," I corrected automatically.
Buffon chuckled from behind me. "Name doesn't matter. Heart does."
They circled around me, almost casually — not judging, not testing… just being there.
"You think the system makes you great?" Zidane asked, voice low and steady.
"No," I said quietly. "It… helps. But I still have to earn it."
"Good," he replied. "Because tomorrow? You bleed for it."
---
✨ A Moment of Stillness
I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turned.
It was Xavi.
The one whose vision I still hadn't unlocked properly.
He didn't say anything.
Just stared at me for a second, then pointed up.
I looked — and saw thousands of tiny floating scenes. Kids playing football in sandlots. Teenagers doing stepovers with half-flat balls. Adults cheering in packed stadiums, crying, laughing, living for the game.
I swallowed hard.
"I started playing football," I whispered, "because I loved it."
Xavi nodded.
Ronaldinho winked. "Don't forget that part, hermano."
Messi bumped the ball gently toward me. It rolled to my feet. I looked down, and the pitch shimmered beneath me — glowing, ancient and infinite.
---
🌀 [GOAT SYSTEM MESSAGE]
> [Dream Sync Complete]
[Emotional Core Reinforced: "Love of the Game"]
[No Skill Unlocked]
[No Shortcut Given]
Just Heart.
---
I opened my eyes.
It was morning.
The dorm was quiet again. Sunlight spilled through the blinds. I sat up slowly, heart still pounding, the ghost of their voices echoing in my head.
I didn't feel less pressure.
But I felt… ready.