After some time, the assistant coach entered the changing room and instructed everyone to get ready for one final warm-up before kickoff. Once they had changed and finished warming up, Winston found himself genuinely excited for the match.
While waiting in the changing room, he had done a little research on Hampstead F.C. and quickly realized they were one of the strongest teams in the league, both defensively and offensively.
The player who caught his attention the most was Kroug Maddison, the league's best left-back. Maddison specialized in pinpoint passing, delivering balls with such precision that only an unskilled forward or midfielder would fail to control them. His vision and passing had already produced numerous goals this season, placing him second on the assists leaderboard, just behind Oswin.
Winston had also looked into Hampstead's two wingers. Karlous ranked fourth on the scoring charts. His style reminded Winston of Oswin's—quick feet, explosive dribbling, and dangerous runs down the flank—although he wasn't known for shooting from long range.
On the opposite wing was Helton, a completely different type of player. He excelled at striking from distance and could unleash powerful shots from almost any angle. Winston drew a slow breath. Those three are going to be trouble.
Westminster didn't have defenders who specialized in man-marking, making Hampstead's attacking trio even more dangerous. If Westminster wanted to win, Winston felt he would need to contribute more than just his usual performance. He needed goals.
Thankfully, today's Core System challenge aligned perfectly with that objective. And with Oswin feeding him passes, his chances were even better. The team made its way through the tunnel and stepped into the blazing afternoon sun.
The stadium, which held around thirty thousand spectators, was smaller than most league venues but no less impressive. Its circular design gave it the appearance of a modern-day colosseum, and from its location on the outskirts of the city, Hampstead F.C.'s senior stadium could be seen only a few kilometers away.
As Winston scanned the pitch, his eyes landed on the three players he had spent the morning studying.
Kroug Maddison, Karlous, Helton. The trio stood on the opposite side of the field, calmly watching Westminster emerge from the tunnel. For a brief moment, Winston met their gaze. Then he looked away and walked toward his position.
The referee's whistle echoed around the stadium, and Westminster earned the first kickoff after winning the coin toss.
Winston calmly tapped the ball to Oswin, who immediately laid it off to the left-back.
Westminster patiently built from the back. The defenders exchanged passes before bringing the midfielders into play. Soon, Winston and Oswin joined the passing sequence, constantly drifting across the flanks and slipping into pockets of space. Their movement forced Hampstead F.C.'s defenders to keep checking their shoulders, never allowing them a moment to settle.
Although Westminster maintained their usual formation, Oswin frequently drifted out wide, stretching Hampstead's defensive line.
As the minutes passed, Westminster's midfield gradually pushed higher up the pitch, pinning Hampstead inside their own half. The passing wasn't flawless—Hampstead pressed aggressively whenever an opportunity arose—but Westminster remained composed. Their midfielders shielded the ball well, escaped pressure with quick dribbles, and kept possession moving.
The ball eventually found Oswin.
With a burst of skill, he danced past his marker before slipping a pass to Winston on the right flank. Winston drove forward until two defenders closed his path. Realizing there was no route through, he glanced up and laid the ball off to an overlapping midfielder charging down the wing.
The attack had been unfolding perfectly. Until a Hampstead defender launched into a well-timed sliding tackle, poking the ball away. Within seconds, Hampstead turned defense into attack.
A long through ball was fired toward Kroug Maddison, who attempted to cushion it with his chest. Oswin read the play brilliantly and intercepted before Kroug could bring it under control.
For several minutes, the match settled into a tactical battle. Possession changed hands repeatedly as both sides canceled each other out. The tempo slowed enough that some spectators even took the opportunity to leave their seats for refreshments or the restrooms.
Everything changed in the thirty-sixth minute. A Westminster midfielder misjudged the bounce of the ball. Karlous pounced instantly. Exploding into space, he left the right-back trailing behind before racing down the left flank. A sharp body feint sent another defender the wrong way, allowing him to cut inside the penalty area.
Helton was available for a simple pass. Instead, Karlous trusted himself. He burst toward the penalty spot and unleashed a fierce shot.
Thump!
To everyone's surprise, Westminster's goalkeeper reacted brilliantly, stretching both hands to palm the ball away. The save earned Hampstead a corner.
Kroug jogged over and carefully placed the ball inside the corner arc. He raised one arm, waiting for his teammates to finish their runs before whipping an in swinging cross into the crowded penalty area.
Westminster's center-back rose highest and powered a header clear. The loose ball dropped to a Westminster midfielder, who immediately released it down the left side.
Oswin collected it in stride. Without breaking his rhythm, he drove forward before flicking an outside-of-the-foot pass into Winston's path. Winston exploded into space. His feet danced in a sharp zigzag, weaving between defenders with such blistering footwork that several Hampstead players were left stumbling as they desperately tried to change direction.
As he entered the final third, Winston lifted his head. The goalkeeper was already rushing off his line. A faint smile crossed Winston's face.
With perfect composure, he delicately lifted the ball. It floated in a graceful arc, sailing over the advancing goalkeeper as he scrambled backward toward his goal.
Thwack!
[DAILY USER CHALLENGES]
[Score goals: 01/04]
Winston spread his arms like a soaring dove as he sprinted toward the corner flag. His teammates quickly surrounded him, celebrating the opening goal before jogging back to their positions.
Oswin couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Where did that speed come from?" he asked. "That's the first time I've seen you sprint like that."
Winston laughed it off. "What do you mean? I've always been this fast. You just never paid attention."
"Maybe I should start wearing ankle weights too." Both of them glanced down at Winston's weighted ankles.
"Be careful," Winston said with a grin. "They're heavier than they look."
"I doubt they're that heavy. You've been wearing them ever since you came back from that mysterious training with Dumi."
Before Winston could reply, the referee blew the whistle, signaling play to resume.
The remainder of the first half passed without another goal. Both teams created chances, but neither could find the breakthrough again.
Fweeeet!
Halftime.
As the players made their way through the tunnel, Winston's breathing became ragged. His chest tightened painfully. Each breath felt heavier than the last. The explosive sprint for his goal had drained him far more than he expected.
Inside the changing room, Winston collapsed onto the bench, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply. Jesus... I felt like I was dying. I can't keep using that speed carelessly until the Voltage Core reaches one hundred percent. But I need it now more than ever.
After the halftime team talk, both sides returned to the pitch. Hampstead immediately raised the tempo. Their passing became sharper, quicker, and far more aggressive than it had been in the opening half.
The attack began with Helton drifting toward the right wing. He exchanged a quick one-two with the striker, who cleverly back-heeled the ball into Helton's path as he burst beyond his marker.
Without taking a touch, Helton struck the ball first time. The shot curled viciously through the air. A collective gasp rippled through the stadium.
"Ohhh!"
Meanwhile, Kroug surged forward from left-back, overlapping at full speed. The move stretched Westminster's defense before Karlous arrived to meet the attack. He unleashed a thunderous strike.
Thwack!
The ball crashed against the post. The entire stadium erupted. This was the match everyone had hoped for. Neither team was willing to back down. Westminster's defenders exchanged uneasy glances.
The chemistry between Helton, Kroug, and Karlous reminded Winston of his own partnership with Oswin.
Three players moving with one mind. Westminster restarted play with a noticeable adjustment. Instead of patiently circulating possession across the back line, they began attacking through the middle before switching play to the advancing full-backs.
That movement allowed the wingers to drift inside and attack the half-spaces.
Oswin received the ball. Three Hampstead players closed him down immediately.
Including Kroug. It didn't matter. Atlas's training had refined every part of Oswin's game. His footwork flowed effortlessly into explosive acceleration as he glided between defenders, leaving all three chasing shadows.
The crowd roared. Cutting inside, Oswin exchanged a series of quick one-touch passes with Winston while both slipped between Hampstead's midfield lines.
The defenders expected Oswin to shoot. Instead, he threaded a perfectly weighted pass across the edge of the penalty area. Waiting there was Winston. Without hesitation, Winston wrapped his foot around the ball.
His finesse strike bent beautifully around the defenders, curling toward the far top corner. The Hampstead goalkeeper reacted a fraction too late as he launched himself toward the shot.
Thwack!
[DAILY USER CHALLENGES]
[Score goals: 02/04]
The match settled back into a tense stalemate, with both teams emphasizing defensive discipline. Aside from a few dangerous attacks at either end, neither side could find another breakthrough.
Hampstead F.C. tightly marked Winston, Oswin, and Westminster's other attacking players, refusing to give them space to turn. Westminster responded in kind, assigning close markers to Helton, Karlous, and the center forward while keeping Kroug from influencing the game with his precise passing.
Winston inhaled deeply as he jogged into space. Receiving the ball, he took a controlled touch before slipping a quick pass to Oswin.
Oswin immediately returned it with a perfectly weighted one-touch pass. The instant Winston collected it, he unleashed his full speed.
His acceleration exploded. He surged between Hampstead's midfielders like a lightning bolt, leaving nothing behind but a blur. Defenders lunged in desperation, but by the time they reacted, Winston had already slipped past them.
Only his fading shadow remained. The crowd rose to its feet. Even the Hampstead defenders froze in disbelief. Before anyone could recover—
Thwack!
The net rippled violently. For a brief second, the entire stadium fell silent, struggling to process what they had just witnessed.
Thwack!
[DAILY USER CHALLENGES]
[Score goals: 03/04]
[DAILY USER CHALLENGES]
[Score goals: Completed]
Using his newfound speed, Winston scored Westminster's fourth goal. By the time he returned to the halfway line, his legs felt like lead. Every muscle in his body burned, and each breath was heavier than the last.
Fweeeet!
The final whistle echoed around the stadium. Westminster's players erupted in celebration, but Oswin immediately noticed something was wrong. Winston was drenched in sweat, struggling to stay on his feet.
Oswin quickly wrapped one of Winston's arms over his shoulder. "Easy there, bro."
Winston managed a weak smile. "Thanks... I guess I overdid it this time."
"No problem." Oswin chuckled. "I've got you. Besides, after this performance, we've got to see where you are on the top scorers' leaderboard."
Winston let out a tired laugh. "I hope it's worth almost dying for."
Supporting Winston's weight, Oswin slowly guided him toward the tunnel, where the club medic was already waiting to examine him.
High above the stadium, inside the exclusive VIP section, two men dressed in black suits watched Winston disappear into the tunnel. Neither spoke for several seconds. Finally, one of them leaned back into the leather couch with a faint smirk.
"You owe me a drink... and a pack of cigarettes."
The other sighed. "I guess I do."
He folded his arms, still watching the tunnel entrance. "I doubted him at first."
A brief silence followed before he continued. "Let's make another bet. Do you think he'll use it again in the next match?"
The first man smiled knowingly. "Pay up for the first bet before making another."
The second man chuckled. "Fair enough."
"So... what did the higher-ups say? Did they approve his enrollment?"
"They said it's still under review." He paused. "If we can provide enough proof, they'll approve the request."
The two men rose from their seats and buttoned their suit jackets. Before leaving the VIP lounge, they cast one final glance toward the tunnel, where Oswin was still helping Winston walk toward the medical room. Neither of them noticed they were being watched.