The ball felt rougher than I remembered. The once-bright patches of black and white had dulled to a lifeless gray. Its seams were frayed, and every panel was worn thin, but it was mine — the same ball I had dribbled through the crowded alleys of Dharavi as a kid, pretending I was in the World Cup finals.
My fingers tightened around it.
"Quest 1: Touch the Ball. Reward: Amateur Dribbling (Skill) + Unlock Tutorial"
The words hung in the air, glowing faintly like an afterimage burned onto my vision. No matter where I turned, they followed, a silent demand from something unseen.
I hesitated. Was this a joke? A hallucination? Had my dying brain invented this as a way to cope with the end?
But then I heard it again.
SYSTEM: Timer Initiating. 00:59.
A countdown clock flickered below the words.
Fifty-nine seconds.
My heart lurched. "W-what happens if I don't do it?"
No answer.
The timer ticked down. 00:53. 00:52.
Instinct took over. My palms tingled as I crouched down and let the ball roll onto the floor. The smell of dust and damp concrete filled my nose — the unmistakable scent of my old room. My old life.
I nudged the ball with the inside of my foot.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then...
SYSTEM: Quest Complete.
Warmth surged through me. Then the message appeared:
* New Skill Acquired:Amateur Dribbling (F-Rank, Level 1)
--A raw, clumsy form of dribbling. Unstable, but it is a beginning.
I gasped. It wasn't just a number going up — it was knowledge, muscle memory. My body suddenly knew how to tap the ball more smoothly, how to shield it clumsily, how to keep it within arm's reach.
This wasn't training. This was… injection.
A new window opened in my vision:
[Skills]
Amateur Dribbling (F, Lv.1/10)
None
[Stats] Stamina: 8 Speed: 9 Technique: 5 Mentality: 6 Potential: ???
Another notification appeared:
Tutorial Unlocked. Skills can be acquired by:– Completing Quests. Leveling up existing Skills through training. Meeting Unique Conditions to copy skills from others.
I froze. Copy… skills?
The text continued:
Condition Example: Witness and defend against a dribble from a skilled player → Chance to unlock "Street Dribbling (F)" at Lv.1.Condition Example: Play alongside a talented passer and form synergy → Chance to copy "Visionary Passing (E)" at Lv.1.
My breath caught in my throat.
This was insane. This wasn't just a second chance. This was a cheat code.
The system blinked again:
New Quest: Show Your Skill. Dribble the ball for 1 minute without losing control. Reward: Amateur Ball Control (F, Lv.1)
I dropped the ball, my small chest tightening with nerves.
But this was it — the beginning.
Tap. Tap. Tap. The ball rolled from left to right under my feet. My tiny body was uncoordinated, but the Amateur Dribbling skill guided me. I stumbled, almost tripped, but kept control.
The countdown ticked. 00:20… 00:10… 00:05…
My legs burned. My lungs screamed.
SYSTEM: Quest Complete.
New Skill Acquired:Amateur Ball Control (F, Lv.1)
--A basic grasp of keeping the ball close. Fragile and unreliable under pressure.
Warmth filled me again. My touches smoothed out instantly. What was rough seconds ago now felt natural.
I collapsed to the floor, panting. Two F-rank skills already. It wasn't much, but it was mine.
Then came the next quest:
Next Quest: Join a Local Match. Reward: Sprint (F, Lv.1) + Hidden Skill Unlock Condition
I stared at the ball, a grin tugging at my lips.
This wasn't an office. This wasn't a spreadsheet.
This was football.
And this time… I had a system.