The morning after Ares' shocking trial match felt unreal.
His phone kept buzzing—messages from teammates, classmates, even people he barely knew. Clips of his impossible dribble and the "Will Burst" moment were circulating all over campus. Some called it luck. Others called it a miracle. But none of them knew what truly happened inside his mind.
Only he and the Will System understood.
And today… he would have to decide what kind of future he wanted.
1. The Offer
Coach Ramirez summoned him to the academy office.
When Ares entered, the man who usually radiated intensity now wore a strange seriousness. He clasped his hands on the desk and stared at Ares a little too long.
"You changed yesterday," Ramirez finally said. "I don't know how… but you did."
Ares swallowed. "I… trained more."
Ramirez snorted. "Don't lie. I've coached for 18 years. Players don't transform like that overnight."
Ares stayed silent. He couldn't explain the System.
Ramirez leaned back. "But I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm here to make you an offer."
Ares's heartbeat quickened.
Ramirez slid a folder across the table. Inside was a form stamped with the academy's crest.
Elite Track Training Program.
A path reserved only for the academy's highest potential players—those who could be pushed toward professional clubs.
Ares had dreamed of this for years. He had tried, failed, tried again, and failed again.
Until now.
"This isn't a guaranteed route to a career," Ramirez warned. "But it will give you access to advanced training, video analysis, mental conditioning, and national scouting events."
Ares could barely breathe.
He had wanted this his entire life.
But then—Ramirez's expression hardened.
"There's a requirement."
Ares tensed. "What requirement?"
"You'll need to pick your primary specialization, the role you want to build your future on."
Ares blinked. This sounded normal—but Ramirez continued:
"You can't be a free-floating player anymore. If you want to enter the Elite Track… you must choose your identity on the pitch. From today forward."
Ares's mind raced.
Striker? Winger? Midfielder?
Before he could answer, the familiar digital voice echoed in his consciousness.
2. The System Intervenes
Elite Career Path Detected.
To optimize the host's trajectory, a mandatory choice must be made.
Choose your Core Will Path:
Predator Will (Striker)
Dominate with instinct, explosiveness, killer finishing.
Tempest Will (Winger)
Speed, flair, chaos. Break defenders through unstoppable momentum.
Commander Will (Midfielder)
Vision, control, orchestration. Influence the game's rhythm.
Aegis Will (Defensive Mid / Defender)
Stability, anticipation, iron resilience.
Warning:
Your choice will permanently influence future System skills, missions, and stat progression.
Ares inhaled sharply.
"Is something wrong?" Ramirez asked.
"No," Ares replied quickly. "I'm fine."
But he wasn't.
This wasn't just a normal academy requirement anymore.
This decision would shape the entire System… and his entire life.
Every memory flashed through his mind—
—his father cheering for him before he left.
—his failures.
—his humiliations.
—his dream of becoming someone unforgettable.
—his promise to himself that he would rise.
Ares clenched his fists.
He needed a path… one worthy of someone destined to break the world.
3. Ares Chooses
He stared at the options. His heart guided him before logic did.
He remembered the feeling during the trial match—the moment when the world slowed down, when instinct overtook thinking, when he broke through three defenders as if fate itself had opened a door.
At that moment, he didn't analyze. He didn't calculate. He hunted.
"Ares?" Ramirez pressed.
Ares looked up, eyes blazing with determination.
"I choose… the attacking path."
Ramirez nodded slowly. "Striker or winger?"
Ares felt the System humming, awaiting his verdict.
And he answered with certainty.
"Striker."
Ramirez smiled—not kindly, but like a general who had just seen a soldier choose war.
"Then welcome to the Elite Track."
4. System Activation
The moment Ares left the office, the System burst alive.
Your body and mind will align with the instinct of a finisher. Every action you take from now on will strengthen your ability to dominate the final third.
New Skill Unlocked: Predator Focus Lv.1
When inside the penalty area, time perception slows by 10% for 3 seconds.
Cooldown: 60 seconds.
Ares nearly stumbled.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't even fair.
He pressed a hand to his chest as excitement, fear, and burning ambition twisted inside him.
He was changing—no, evolving.
But the System wasn't done.
New Passive Will Trait: Hunger
Performance temporarily increases after every missed shot instead of decreasing.
Emotion converted: frustration → aggression.
Ares's breath shook.
That was the opposite of how humans worked.
But maybe he wasn't meant to be normal anymore.
5. The First Step Into Pressure
Training began an hour later.
Everyone gathered at the main field. When Ares stepped onto the grass, conversations stopped. Players who used to ignore him now stared with thinly veiled curiosity.
Or jealousy.
He could feel it.
Victor, the academy's current top scorer, approached him with his usual smug confidence.
"So the coach really put you in Elite Track, huh?" Victor smirked. "Don't get too excited. One lucky performance doesn't make you my competition."
Before Ares could speak, the System whispered:
Host's competitive drive increasing.
Will stat: +1 during direct rivalry situations.
Ares didn't even know he had a Will stat.
But he smiled. Calm, confident.
"We'll see."
Victor scoffed and jogged ahead.
Ramirez blew the whistle. "Warm-up! Then finishing drills!"
Finishing drills.
As if the universe was testing him immediately.
Ares jogged into the line. His blood felt hot. His muscles reacted faster than usual. His senses were sharper, like someone had turned reality into HD.
When his turn came, Ramirez fired a pass.
Ares controlled the ball—
—and "Predator Focus" activated.
Time stretched.
He saw the keeper leaning slightly left.
He saw the exact micro-gap at the far post.
He struck.
The ball sliced through the air like a bullet, kissing the inside of the far net.
Players stared.
Ramirez tried to hide a grin.
Victor's expression twisted.
Ares stepped back in line.
The hunger inside him whispered:
More.
Better.
Again.
6. Rising Pressure
The drills intensified.
Left-foot finish.
Volley.
First-time shot.
One-on-one with the keeper.
Each time his instincts sharpened, the Predator Will humming like a second heartbeat.
But the System wasn't just boosting him—it was pushing him.
Missed shot detected.
Temporary stat boost: +2 Attack Power, +1 Agility.
Ares felt his muscles react violently after a mis-kick, as if his body refused to accept failure.
Players whispered.
"This guy… what's happening to him?"
"He was average two days ago."
"Did he awaken superpowers or something?"
Ares ignored them.
He could feel something inside him growing—potential, ambition, the urge to dominate.
He was becoming someone new.
Someone dangerous.
7. The Challenge
Near the end of the session, Ramirez called out:
"Finishing competition. Victor vs. Ares."
The entire team erupted.
Victor smirked. Ares felt no fear—only heat.
The challenge was simple:
Five balls.
Five angles.
Five shots each.
Highest score wins.
Victor went first.
He scored four out of five—clean, professional, confident.
Then it was Ares's turn.
As he walked up, the System whispered:
Complete all 5 shots under System assistance.
Reward: Predator Skill Upgrade OR New Will Ability.
Failure: Penalty to Host Confidence (-2 Will) for 24 hours.
Ares's pulse thumped.
This wasn't just a challenge anymore.
It was a turning point.
He stepped to the first ball.
Exhaled.
And shot.
Boom.
Upper corner.
Second ball.
Boom.
Keeper frozen.
Third.
Predator Focus activated.
Time slowed.
A gap opened.
Boom.
Fourth.
The angle was tight. Most players would pass. Ares didn't even hesitate.
Boom.
Four goals… four perfect shots.
The fifth ball waited.
The team held their breath.
Victor glared.
Ramirez looked like he already knew the outcome.
Ares stepped to the ball.
The System whispered:
Host's determination is reshaping internal limits.
Ares swung his leg.
BOOM.
The net rippled.
Five out of five.
The field erupted—shouts, disbelief, shock, murmurs of "monster," "freak," "future star."
Victor looked like someone had punched him.
Ares simply breathed out.
The System chimed softly:
Reward earned: New Predator Ability.
New Skill: Kill Instinct Lv.1
When the host senses scoring probability above 70%, shooting accuracy increases by 12%.
Ares trembled.
This system…
This power…
This path…
It could change everything.
And he wasn't going to waste a second of it.