The locker room was colder than usual—not in temperature, but in tone.
Leon felt it the moment he walked in. No greetings. No banter. Just the steady sound of zippers, cleats on tile, and whispered conversations. A week ago, teammates had patted his back after the Belden assist. Now, even Theo barely made eye contact.
It wasn't that Leon had done something wrong.
It was that he had done something right.
Too right.
Training began with passing drills, and Coach Davor deliberately paired Leon with Kael, Theo, and a few other regulars. On paper, it looked like a show of confidence.
In practice, it was something else.
The ball skipped Leon during the rondos. Theo passed around him. Kael rolled his eyes at any instructions he gave. Even the juniors mirrored the vibe—they followed the body language of the alphas.
By the third drill, Leon had barely touched the ball.
System Notification – Team Chemistry
Status: Strained (5 Active Players)
His jaw tightened.
"Switch partners," Coach called. But it didn't help. Wherever Leon went, the ball dodged him.
After training, Leon sat alone in the bleachers, staring at his stat screen.
Leon Vale – Level 2
EXP: 71 / 200
Abilities:
Tactical Awareness (Intermediate)
Predictive Pathing: 2 / 5
Skill Tree Progress:
Agile Step (Movement): 40%
Stats:
Dribbling: 47
Passing: 55
Shooting: 42
Vision: 13
Mental: 42
Speed: 48
Stamina: 46
He was growing, slowly but surely. But it felt like the stronger he got, the less the team wanted him there.
Kael was behind it. He wasn't loud or aggressive—he was calculated. Subtle. The kind of leader who could isolate someone with a glance.
Leon's fingers curled into fists.
If Kael wanted war, he'd get one.
Midweek Match: Northport vs. Silverpine
Silverpine was known for disciplined, tight defensive lines. They weren't top-tier, but they never gave away easy chances.
Leon started on the right again. He barely spoke during warmups.
"Simple football," Coach Davor said as they took the field. "Two-touch. Use the width. Work together."
Leon knew that last part wasn't directed at the team.
It was directed at him.
Kickoff.
Within five minutes, Leon felt the shift.
Kael and Theo exchanged passes, skipping Leon. The midfield pulled left, keeping him out of link-up play.
Then came a long clearance. Leon chased it down, shielded by a defender. He turned—looking for a pass option.
The minimap flickered.
PlaySight Warning
Predictive Pathing Unavailable
Vision System Overloaded
Duration: 10 minutes (Cause: Signal Disruption)
"What?" he whispered.
He blinked, and the tactical lines vanished. For the first time since unlocking his skill tree, he was playing blind.
He tried to cut inside, instinct guiding him. But the angle was tighter than he thought. He stumbled.
Silverpine pounced, launching a counterattack.
Goal.
Northport fell behind 0-1.
Back on the wing, Leon panted, heart thudding.
His system had failed him. No minimap. No predictive lanes. Nothing but his eyes and instincts.
Maybe that's what the others wanted all along—to prove he was nothing without his "cheat tool."
But he wasn't going to fold.
Minute 22.
Ball at his feet. Defender closing. Still no tactical lines.
He activated Agile Step.
Skill Activated: Agile Step (Lv. 1)
Speed boost: +10% for 1.5 seconds
Cooldown: 90 seconds
Leon faked left, then burst right—sharp and sudden. The defender lunged and missed.
He accelerated, crossed the ball low into the box.
The striker swung.
Goal.
Northport equalized.
+17 EXP: Dribble + Assist Contribution
Agile Step Progress: 67%
Leon didn't celebrate.
He glanced toward the bench, toward Kael, and found the same dead-eyed stare.
Second Half.
PlaySight returned slowly—dull and sluggish.
The tactical lines were back, but delayed.
Leon ignored them.
Minute 58: ball to feet, heavy pressure.
He danced around one, tapped forward, used Agile Step again—this time cleaner.
He skipped past the fullback, squared the ball across.
Theo latched on. Goal.
Even he couldn't ignore it.
"Nice run," Theo mumbled, jogging back.
Leon nodded. No smile.
+15 EXP: Clean Skill + Link Play
EXP: 89 / 200
Minute 74.
Coach subbed him off.
Kael took his place.
Leon walked off the field with sweat dripping from his brow, but his spine tall and straight.
This time, no one clapped him off.
Except Coach Davor.
In the locker room, Davor stopped him before he left.
"You're improving," he said quietly. "But I can't protect you from everything."
Leon met his eyes. "I don't need protection."
"You do," Davor replied. "Just not from tackles. From doubt. Doubt kills players faster than injuries."
He placed a hand on Leon's shoulder. "Keep showing them. Eventually, they'll believe."
Leon left without a word.
System Log (Post-Match):
Leon Vale – Level 2
EXP: 103 / 200
Agile Step Progress: 67%
Predictive Pathing: 2 / 5
Stat Changes:
Dribbling: 48
Vision: 14
Mental: 43
Coach Trust: +1
Team Trust: Stable (Still Strained)
Rivalry – Kael: Intensifying
Later that night, Leon scrolled through system files.
He noticed something odd.
System Ping Log
Access Attempt Detected – Source: Unknown
User Tag: ZANE-003
Time: During Match Session
Leon froze.
He didn't know a Zane.
And no one else should have PlaySight access.
The message blinked twice—then disappeared.
Leon sat back, heart pounding.
Someone else was watching.
Or worse—someone else had a system too.