The Monday after the contract signing felt like the true beginning of something permanent. Alex Rivera stood in the middle of the Inglewood Youth SC training pitch at dawn, the grass still damp with morning dew under his cleats. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of freshly cut grass and distant city traffic. He had arrived an hour before anyone else, the signed contract tucked safely in his bag like a quiet promise. Two hundred dollars a week. Travel expenses. Performance bonuses. It wasn't riches yet, but it was the first real step toward clearing the family debt completely and launching the sports shop Dad had dreamed about for years.
Inside his head, the blue system screen glowed with cold precision, visible to no one but him.
[Current Status]
Host: Alex "Ace" Rivera
Level: 4 (800 / 2,000 EXP)
Core Stats:
Pace: 54Shooting: 48Dribbling: 53Passing: 51Physicality: 42Mentality: 62Vision: 58
Skills Unlocked:
God's First Touch (S-Grade)Basic Stamina BoostShadow Dribble (Mid-Grade)
Skill Points Available: 4
He mentally allocated one point into Physicality, pushing it to 43, and another into Mentality, pushing it to 63. The remaining two he held back for now. I need to stay balanced. The next friendly is in five days. I have to keep pushing every limit while the family business starts to take shape.
Coach Ramirez arrived shortly after, setting up cones and small goals with a determined expression. "Rivera! You're here early again. Good. After the Carson City game, the scouts are circling. Today we start the real work. No more park-league comfort. We train like professionals."
The week unfolded as a relentless, meticulously planned forge — each day a hammer strike shaping Alex into something sharper, faster, and more unstoppable.
Monday – Technical Precision and First Touch Mastery
The session began with 700 touches. Coach had set up a grid of cones in tight squares. Alex moved through them at full speed, the ball glued to his foot thanks to "God's First Touch." Every reception was instant, every control perfect. He worked on quick one-twos with Miguel Torres, then sudden bursts into the box to finish with both feet from different angles.
Miguel wiped sweat from his brow after the tenth repetition. "Ace, your first touch is ridiculous. It's like the ball knows where you want it before you do. How are you doing that?"
Alex shrugged, keeping his voice casual. "Just been working on it nonstop. Keep coming at me — I need the pressure."
Coach Ramirez watched from the sideline, arms crossed. "Again, Rivera. Faster this time. I want that ball to feel like an extension of your leg."
Alex pushed harder, the ball never leaving his control. He added "Shadow Dribble" into the mix — sudden body feints that made Miguel stumble mid-step. The captain laughed in frustration. "Man, you're moving like you're lying to my eyes. That feint is nasty."
By the end of the four-hour session Alex's shirt was soaked through, but the system rewarded the grind internally.
[Technical Training Bonus]
EXP Gained: +280
Tuesday – Physical Dominance and Endurance Forge
Morning gym session at the community center weight room. Alex loaded the bar heavier than ever — squats, deadlifts, explosive box jumps, core circuits that left his abs burning. His enhanced physicality made every rep controlled, but he still pushed until failure on the final sets. Sweat poured down his back as he finished a set of heavy deadlifts.
In the afternoon, Coach ran 1v1 duels against the full squad. Alex faced Jamal Washington first. He dropped his shoulder, triggered "Shadow Dribble," and left the tall defender on the grass twice in a row. Jamal stood up laughing. "You're cheating, Ace. Your body moves before your feet even commit. That's unfair."
Alex kept his expression neutral. "Just new moves I've been practicing. Come again."
The session ended with repeated 400-meter sprints with minimal recovery. Alex finished every one at full speed, the stamina boost keeping him sharp while the others started to falter.
[Endurance Training Bonus]
EXP Gained: +310
Wednesday – Tactical Mastery and Vision Expansion
Coach brought in video analysis of the next opponents — a physical side that loved long balls and set pieces. Alex studied every clip in silence, using his future knowledge to predict patterns the others couldn't see. On the pitch he ran repeated attacking sequences: receiving the ball in the No. 10 pocket, quick one-twos, through-balls, and long-range shots.
He tested vision by playing with his back to goal, spinning and finding runners in tight spaces. Miguel Torres was visibly impressed. "Your passes are getting scary, Ace. It's like you see the whole pitch in slow motion."
Alex nodded. The system helps, but I'm still out here grinding every single day.
The session ended with set-piece work — corners and free kicks. Alex delivered whipped inswingers that Jamal and Tyler attacked with precision.
[Tactical Training Bonus]
EXP Gained: +340
Thursday – Match Simulation and Full Attack Pressure
Full 11v11 practice match against the second team. Alex played as the attacking midfielder again, dictating tempo from the No. 10 role. He dropped deep when needed, pressed high when the opportunity came, and surged forward to create chances. He tested "Shadow Dribble" repeatedly — quick feints that froze defenders mid-step, creating space out of nothing. One moment he was jogging, the next he exploded past two players and played a no-look through-ball that set Tyler up for a goal.
Coach Ramirez blew the whistle and called him over. "Rivera, you're operating on another level. Keep this up and bigger clubs are going to notice fast."
Alex nodded. The system stayed completely silent and secret, but he felt the growth in every fiber of his body.
Friday – Recovery and Final Sharpening
Light session — stretching, tactical walkthroughs, and small-sided games. Alex stayed behind afterward for nearly two extra hours, working on long-range shooting and set-piece delivery until his legs felt like lead. He mentally opened the system shop and browsed Body Enhancement options, saving points for when he needed a bigger boost before the next friendly.
As the sun set, he sat alone on the grass for a long moment, reflecting on the dual life he was forging.
This is the balance I chose. Intense grind during the day — training, tactics, pushing every limit to become the GOAT and surpass Messi and Ronaldo. The nights and private moments — pleasure, the full superstar playboy life. No more regret from 2024. I'm taking both worlds completely.
He stood up, muscles tired but mind crystal clear. The family business was moving forward. The contract was signed. The media interest was growing.
The climb continued.