Jin took a few deep breaths to compose himself, then pulled up the new quest with anticipation.
***
QUEST INITIATED
TASK: Win your first middle school match
[REWARDS]
– Book of Strength
– Unlock Training Plan
– Talent Increase
[PENALTY]
None
***
As Jin read the quest, his eyes lit up.
"Maybe I judged the system too early," he muttered with a grin.
Book of Strength… Training Plan… I'm not totally sure what those are yet, but hey, no penalty is a huge plus. Not that I plan to lose.
His thoughts drifted excitedly before he caught sight of the clock on his desk: 10:00 PM.
"Ah, it's getting late… I'll head to sleep for now and just focus on what I can do tomorrow."
Time passed quickly. The next few days blurred together, filled with focused practice, good sleep, and relentless effort.
Before Jin even realized it, Friday arrived.
He rocketed out of bed, energy buzzing through him.
Jin had been laser-focused in the days leading up to his first match; continuing after-practice sessions with Ren and Noah, fine-tuning his serves, eating clean, and recovering well.
And most importantly, he hadn't missed a single daily quest.
Gems: 50
Stat Points: 10
"Let me check my stats," Jin thought, pulling up the interface.
***
SYSTEM: ServeOS
NAME: Jin Zhang
AGE: 13
TALENT: Novice+
GEMS: 50
STAT POINTS: 10
{Physical Stats}
STRENGTH: F ●●●○○
DEXTERITY: F ●●●●●
STAMINA: D ○○○○○
BALANCE: F ●●●●●
{Mental Stats}
RESILIENCE: A- ○○○○○
GAME KNOWLEDGE: C+ ○○○○○
COMPOSURE: D ○○○○○
FOCUS: D ●○○○○
{Technical Stats}
SERVING: D ○○○○○
GROUNDSTROKES: F+ ●●●●●
VOLLEY: F- ○○○○○
FOOTWORK: F+ ●●●●●
***
Jin studied the changes carefully—his Stamina had risen a whole grade, and a few others ticked upward as well. But he didn't hesitate.
All 10 stat points went straight into Serving.
***
SERVE: D ○○○○○ → SERVE: C- ○○○○○
***
Having a weapon that can always be relied on is extremely important. It serves as a mental anchor and also a weapon of consistency. Being always able to dish out a high level shot can pressure your opponent wearing them down.
He felt a tingling warmth run through his arms as the upgrade settled in.
With that done, he opened the Skill List:
***
SKILLS COMMON
FAST FOOTWORK (50 Gems)
improves footwork speed
SWEETSPOT (50 Gems)
increases chance of hitting the middle of the racquet
STABLE WRIST(50 Gems)
Improves shot stability and reduces shanking under pressure
LIGHT GRIP(50 Gems)
Improves racquet control for volleys and drop shots
STEADY BREATHING(50 Gems)
Slightly increases stamina regeneration during rallies
EAGLE EYE (50 Gems)
Improves tracking of the opponent's movements and incoming ball path
READ & REACT(50 Gems)
Reduces reaction time when facing fast balls
CONSISTENCY BOOST(50 Gems)
Slightly lowers the chance of unforced errors on groundstrokes
RECOVERY STEP(50 Gems)
Increases recovery speed after wide shots
SPIN SENSE(50 Gems)
Improves recognition and handling of topspin and slice shots
SERVE RHYTHM(BOUGHT)
Makes serving motion more fluid, increasing first serve consistency
FIRM GRIT(50 Gems)
Minor boost to composure in long rallies or after losing points
DASH START(50 Gems)
Increases explosiveness in the first step toward the ball
***
Jin scrolled through the list, eyes sharp.
He ruled out most of the mental and consistency boosters—for now, his high Resilience could carry him mentally.
That left three contenders:
STEADY BREATHING for stamina in long rallies
FAST FOOTWORK for overall movement
DASH START for explosive bursts to reach tough balls
I've trained my stamina hard these last two weeks, Jin thought. I can trust it to hold. What I need more is that explosive reach.
With that, he made his choice.
***
Skill Acquired: DASH START
Explosiveness in your first step has been increased. Get to the ball faster, and pressure your opponent early.
***
Jin nodded to himself, eyes full of calm fire.
He was ready.
Once their morning workout was finished, Jin grabbed a quick bite, showered, and made his way to school, tennis bag in tow. On the way in, he spotted Ren already waiting by the front gate, bouncing slightly on his toes like he couldn't sit still.
"Big day," Ren said with a grin.
"Yeah," Jin replied, bumping fists with him. "Let's make it count."
The school day passed slower than usual. Every class dragged. Neither Jin nor Ren could fully focus. By the time lunch came around, they were already visualizing patterns of play, going over serves and returns in their heads. Even Noah joined them at the table with less of his usual chatter. they were focused, locked in.
As the final bell rang, the trio moved with purpose. They didn't need to speak much. The match was close now.
They made their way to the courts, where the late afternoon sun cast golden lines across the painted surface. Shadows stretched long, and the air had that humid weight that promised a hard-fought battle.
Jin and Ren began their warmup, easing into their groundstrokes and serves, letting their bodies loosen and their rhythm settle.
The sound of tennis balls echoing against the fence filled the air.
Then, the low rumble of an engine signaled the arrival of their opponents.
A yellow school bus pulled up beside the courts, brakes hissing.
The doors creaked open, and ten players stepped out, racquet bags slung over shoulders or clutched casually in hand. They wore matching tracksuits, their school's logo stitched across the chest. Some looked around with interest. Others kept their gazes sharp, eyes sweeping across the courts like they were already visualizing points to be won.
The quiet hum of anticipation settled over both teams.
Jin felt it deep in his chest.
It was time.