The Monday after the Hawthorne Elite thrashing felt heavier than usual, as if the entire city of Los Angeles had decided to test Alex Rivera's resolve. He woke before dawn, the small Inglewood apartment still wrapped in silence, and slipped out to the training pitch while the rest of the family slept. The signed development contract was now folded neatly in his bag, a quiet reminder of the two hundred dollars a week that had already started flowing into the family account. Dad had spent the weekend measuring walls and sketching shelf layouts for the tiny corner storefront they had secured for Rivera Sports. Mom had cut one waitress shift to help with the initial inventory list. Mia kept asking when she could work the counter after school. The medical debt was gone, and for the first time in years the shoebox on the counter was empty. Hope had replaced fear, but Alex carried that hope like extra weight in his training bag every single day.
He arrived at the pitch alone, 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 dropped his bag and began his solo warm-up — 700 touches in tight grids, the ball glued to his foot thanks to "God's First Touch." Every reception was instant, every control perfect. He moved through the cones at full speed, the ball never leaving his possession, testing "Shadow Dribble" repeatedly with quick body feints that would have left any defender stumbling.
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 (1,200 / 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 opened the system shop for the first time in days, browsing the familiar categories. Body Enhancement, Skill Cards, Tactical Boosters. Everything looked the same — until a new section suddenly appeared at the bottom of the list, glowing with a faint golden border that had never been there before.
[System Shop – New Section Unlocked: Core Upgrade]
Reason: Host has reached Level 4 and achieved consecutive dominant performances. Core Upgrade branch is now available.
Core Enhancement Crystal (Limited Stock: 1) – 3,000 System Points
Effect: Permanently upgrades one existing skill to Legendary tier or unlocks a new hidden branch. Warning: Irreversible. Choose wisely.
Alex's pulse quickened. This was new. The system had never offered an upgrade branch before. He stared at the glowing crystal icon for a long moment. Three thousand points… I don't have that yet, but I'm close. This could be the next leap. God's First Touch to Legendary? Or a completely new branch? I need to grind harder to unlock this.
He closed the shop for now, saving every point. The upgrade would come when he earned it. No rushing. The grind continued.
Coach Ramirez arrived shortly after, setting up cones and small goals with a determined expression. "Rivera! You're here early again. Good. After Hawthorne we're not resting. The next friendly is against a technical side that loves possession. Today we drill precision. No more park-league comfort. We train like we're already pro."
The session became a relentless forge.
Monday – Technical Precision and Skill Refinement
Alex moved through 800 touches in tight grids. The ball felt alive, sticking to his foot on every reception. Coach had him working quick one-twos with Miguel Torres, sudden bursts into the box to finish with both feet from different angles, then tight-space dribbling under pressure. He tested "Shadow Dribble" repeatedly — sudden body feints that made Miguel stumble mid-step.
Miguel wiped sweat from his brow after the tenth repetition. "Ace, your first touch and those feints are ridiculous. It's like the ball knows exactly where you want it and your body is lying to me at the same time. How are you doing that?"
Alex shrugged, keeping his voice casual. "Just been grinding 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. No thinking — just instinct."
By the end of the four-hour session Alex's shirt was soaked through, legs burning, but the system rewarded the grind internally.
[Technical Training Bonus]
EXP Gained: +320
Tuesday – Physical Dominance and Endurance Forge
Morning gym session. Alex loaded the bar heavier than ever — squats, deadlifts, explosive box jumps, core circuits that left his abs on fire. 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: +350
Wednesday – Tactical Mastery and Vision Expansion
Coach brought in video of the next opponents — a possession-heavy side that loved short passes and quick rotations. 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: +380
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 again and stared at the new Core Upgrade section. The Core Enhancement Crystal still sat there, glowing, waiting for 3,000 points. He was closer now. One more dominant performance and he could afford it.
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.