The year is 2189,
The world has long since been overrun by A.I.
The young descendant of Elon Musk, Haru Musk managed to transfer humanity's consciousness into a simulated reality, similar to Earth in order to escape this A.I apocalypse.
In this virtual world, you can still feel pain, just like the real world, except none of it's actually real.
It's a simulated reality, designed for one thing and one thing only.
To escape the up rise of A.I
It has been 22 years since that fateful day.
The stadium floated high above the city.
Way too high.
Below it, the world of 2189 stretched out like a sea of neon. Towers glowed in blue, pink, and purple. Hover cars zipped through the air like streaks of light. Everything looked fake… almost like a game.
Thousands of people filled the stands around the floating field. Their voices crashed together into one loud roar. Lights flickered across the stadium, scanning the players like they were stars.
And right in the middle of it all…
Yusuke Takamaki stood still.
Tanned skin. Pink, messy hair. Slightly sweaty. Eyes locked in.
The ball rolled across the field.
Not just any field either. The grass glowed faint green under the night sky. Neon lines pulsed along the edges, reacting to every movement. Even the goals had light grids that shimmered like energy shields.
Score was tied.
Last play.
"Pass it!" someone yelled.
Yusuke didn't move.
He watched.
One defender stepped forward.
Then another.
Bad idea.
In one second, Yusuke exploded forward.
His foot tapped the ball once.
Gone.
He slipped between both defenders like they weren't even there. The crowd gasped. The neon lines under his feet lit up faster as he sprinted.
A third defender rushed him.
Too slow.
Yusuke cut left.
Then right.
The defender stumbled.
Now it was just him.
And the goal.
The keeper stepped up, arms wide.
Yusuke slowed for half a second.
Then,
boom
He kicked.
The ball shot forward like a bullet, glowing under the stadium lights. It curved slightly mid-air, spinning fast.
The keeper jumped.
Missed.
The ball slammed into the back of the net.
The entire stadium froze.
Then,
ROAR.
The crowd exploded.
Lights flashed everywhere. The field pulsed bright green. The city below reflected the celebration like a mirror.
Yusuke stood there, breathing hard.
He didn't smile.
He didn't celebrate.
He just stared at the goal.
Like it meant nothing.
Like he was already bored.
And somewhere deep inside him…
He knew.
This wasn't enough anymore.
A few minutes later,
The noise of the stadium started to calm down.
"You all played well, team!" the coach called out, clapping his hands as everyone gathered around him.
He looked at each of them, serious but proud.
"Listen. What you showed out there wasn't just skill. It was mindset. Anyone can kick a ball. Anyone can run. But not everyone can stay calm when everything's on the line."
He pointed back toward the glowing field.
"That pressure? That noise? That's what breaks people. But you didn't break. You adapted. You trusted each other. And most importantly… you trusted yourselves."
He paused for a second.
"But don't get comfortable. This world doesn't care about one win. Out there, there's always someone faster. Someone stronger. Someone hungrier."
His eyes sharpened.
"So if you wanna be the best… you don't stop here. You keep pushing. Every day. Every match. No excuses."
Then he smiled slightly.
"I'm proud of you. Now go get better."
Players slowly nodded, some more fired up than before, others quiet and thinking.
Up in the stands, thousands of people began leaving. The bright neon lights dimmed slightly as the crowd moved toward the exits in waves.
Near the edge of the floating stadium, a massive transparent bubble hovered in place.
A hundred people packed inside it at once.
"Stand in line, thank you!" a security guard shouted, guiding the next group forward.
The bubble doors sealed shut with a soft hiss.
Then it slowly floated downward, descending from the sky toward the glowing city below.
"Wait your turn please! I don't wanna see anyone cutting in line!" the guard added, watching the growing crowd form neat lines along the platform.
Above them, the stadium lights flickered.
And the night carried on.
A few hours later…
shhhk
Yusuke's apartment door slid open.
The hallway lights flickered softly as he stepped inside, still bouncing a soccer ball on his right foot like it weighed nothing.
89th floor.
Near the top of the city.
"Welcome home, Yusuke."
A small, flying, circular metallic robot zipped toward him, stopping right in front of his face.
"Hey, Mobu…" Yusuke muttered, barely looking at it.
"Ready to commence your daily hour training?" Mobu asked.
"Yeah, whatever…"
Another door slid open automatically as Yusuke walked forward.
It revealed a massive gym.
Bright white metal walls. Clean floors. Everything spotless. Machines lined up perfectly like they'd never been touched.
"It's push day today, so you won't be training legs," Mobu said, floating beside him.
"I don't care."
Yusuke grabbed a barbell.
Bench press.
He lowered it.
Pushed it back up like it was nothing.
Again.
And again.
Too easy.
He stared at the ceiling.
'I don't hate soccer…'
Another rep.
'I just… don't feel anything anymore.'
He racked the weight and stood up, moving straight to tricep rope pushdowns.
Push down.
Release.
Push down.
'Everyone's so slow.'
Switch.
Dumbbell shoulder press.
Up.
Down.
Up.
'It's like I'm playing a different game from them.'
He exhaled sharply.
'I'm not even trying… and I'm still better.'
In this world, every home came with something like Mobu.
An AI companion.
It tracked everything you did.
Training. Diet. Schedule. Movement.
All assigned by the government.
Miss your tasks, you get fined.
Break rules, it reports you.
Sure, it was a massive invasion of privacy.
But honestly…
what isn't nowadays?
"Yusuke."
Mobu suddenly floated closer.
"You have an invitation."
Yusuke didn't stop lifting.
"What for?"
"Dunno. All it has is an address not far from here. Apparently it's soccer related."
Yusuke paused mid-rep.
"…Soccer?"
He dropped the weights and sighed.
"Forget it. I'm fine with how I play already."
He grabbed a towel, wiping his face.
"I have a love hate relationship with soccer. I love playing it…"
He looked down at the floor.
"…but it's become so boring. It's too easy."
He walked past Mobu.
"Dump it."
"Are you sure?" Mobu asked. "According to the invitation, it says you'll be pushed to your limits."
Yusuke stopped.
Silence.
"…My limits?"
Mobu hovered quietly.
A few seconds passed.
Then,
"…Fine. I'll go."
He turned slightly.
"But it better push me to my absolute limit, got it?"
"Of course," Mobu replied.
A few minutes later after taking a shower and getting dressed, Yusuke stepped out onto his balcony.
The doors slid shut behind him.
Cold night air hit his face instantly.
He stood there for a second, looking out.
The city below stretched forever. Neon lights everywhere. Blue. Pink. Purple. Buildings stacked so high they almost touched the clouds. Hover cars zipped past like glowing streaks.
So much noise.
So much life.
And yet…
It all felt boring.
Yusuke rested the soccer ball on his foot, then flicked it up into his hands.
"…Guess I'll check it out."
He walked forward.
No hesitation.
And stepped off.
For a split second…
Nothing.
Then gravity grabbed him.
The wind slammed into his body as he dropped fast.
Faster.
The city rushed up toward him, lights stretching into long lines. The sounds grew louder. Engines. Voices. Energy.
Yusuke didn't panic.
Didn't flinch.
He just stared down.
Eyes calm.
Hair whipping in the wind.
"…Still looks the same."
He spun slightly mid-air, watching the buildings pass by.
People in windows.
Traffic flowing.
Everything moving.
'And I'm still above it all...'
Then,
A faint hum.
From below.
A sleek hoverboard shot upward, glowing softly underneath.
It matched his speed perfectly.
Yusuke adjusted his body slightly.
And landed on it like it was nothing.
No stumble.
No struggle.
Just smooth.
He leaned forward.
The board reacted instantly.
WHOOSH
It took off.
Yusuke sped through the city, weaving between buildings, passing cars, cutting through neon-lit air like he owned it.
The wind rushed past him again.
But this time…
He was in control.
Still bored.
But moving anyway.
Fast forward to Yusuke sitting in an auditorium.
Hundreds of people sat in silence.
Rows and rows of players, all staring at the stage. Some whispered. Some looked nervous. Some looked excited.
Then
tap… tap… tap…
Footsteps echoed.
"I'm glad you could all make it…"
A man walked onto the stage.
Early 30s.
Skinny.
Black suit. Black tie. Black pants.
Almost no hair.
And a face that looked like he hadn't smiled in years.
The room went quiet instantly.
He stopped at the center.
Hands behind his back.
"You've all been invited here for one reason."
His voice was calm.
Flat.
"You are among the most talented players in this world."
A pause.
"But talent alone is meaningless."
Some people shifted in their seats.
"You will be brought to a facility floating 5,000 meters in the sky."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"The purpose of that facility is simple."
He looked across the crowd.
"To create the greatest striker… and the greatest team… this world has ever seen."
Silence.
Then
"This is not a normal soccer program."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"There are no fixed teams."
That got their attention.
"You are all part of one large pool of players. Before every match, the system will randomly assign teams."
More whispers.
"That means… every game, your teammates change."
He started walking slowly across the stage.
"You will not rely on chemistry."
"You will not rely on comfort."
"You will adapt."
"You must understand how others play. You must sync with them instantly. And you must prove… that no matter who stands beside you…"
He stopped.
"…you can still dominate."
A few players leaned forward.
"After each match, results are tracked individually."
He raised one finger.
"If you lose once… you are placed at risk."
A second finger.
"If you lose again immediately after…"
Silence filled the room.
"…you are eliminated."
No one moved.
"You will lose your right to play soccer."
A few people's eyes widened.
"If you win, your loss streak resets to zero."
He lowered his hand.
"This system is built on three things."
"Pressure."
"Consistency."
"Adaptability."
His voice stayed calm.
"But make no mistake…"
He looked directly at the crowd.
"One bad game is terrifying."
A pause.
"Two in a row…"
He turned slightly.
"…ends everything."
The weight of it sank in.
Then
"The facility you will live in…"
He gestured upward slightly.
"…is located 5,000 meters in the sky."
"The structure itself…"
Another pause.
"…is exactly 5 kilometers in diameter."
Some people looked shocked.
Some excited.
Some scared.
"You will eat there. Sleep there. Train there."
"You will compete there."
"And most of you…"
He adjusted his sleeve.
"…will fail there."
Silence.
Then
"So,"
"What do you say?"
Silence.
Then
"What the hell is this?!"
A guy stood up from the middle rows, pointing at the stage.
"You're telling us to risk everything over this? Some of us have finals coming up! Scouts are watching us! We have actual teams!"
"Yeah!" another shouted. "I'm not throwing away my club just for some experiment!"
"This is insane!"
Voices started piling up.
Anger. Confusion. Fear.
"I've worked my whole life to get where I am!"
"You want us to abandon our teammates?!"
"That's not how soccer works!"
The room got louder.
Messy.
Emotional.
The man on stage didn't react.
Didn't interrupt.
He just waited.
And when the noise finally started to die down…
He spoke.
"…You're all saying the same thing."
His voice cut clean through the room.
"'My team.'"
"'My future.'"
"'My opportunity.'"
He slowly looked across the crowd.
"Tell me something."
A pause.
"When was the last time your 'team' made you the best in the world?"
No one answered.
"When was the last time relying on others… made you unstoppable?"
Silence.
He took a step forward.
"You hide behind teamwork."
A few people flinched.
"You call it loyalty."
Another step.
"But in reality…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…it's an excuse."
The tension in the room shifted.
"You're afraid."
No one spoke now.
"Afraid to stand alone."
"Afraid to take responsibility."
"Afraid… to lose because of your own limits."
His voice stayed calm.
"But let me tell you the truth."
He pointed toward them.
"The best striker in the world…"
A pause.
"…is selfish."
A few gasps.
"He doesn't wait for the perfect pass."
"He doesn't rely on teammates to carry him."
"He takes the ball."
"He decides the game."
"He wins."
The room felt heavier.
"If you truly want to be the best…"
He spread his arms slightly.
"…then prove it."
"Not with a team."
"Not with comfort."
"But here."
His voice dropped slightly.
"Where you have nothing to hide behind."
Silence.
No more shouting.
No more arguing.
Just thoughts.
Then,
A chair scraped loudly.
Yusuke stood up.
No hesitation.
No thinking.
He just moved.
thud
He jumped over the row in front of him and broke into a sprint straight down the aisle.
Eyes locked on the stage.
'I was ready to give up…'
His heart beat faster.
'Soccer was boring.'
'Faster.'
'Too easy.'
He ran past everyone.
'But this…'
Closer.
'This might actually be something.'
People turned their heads.
"What's he doing?"
"He's actually going?"
Yusuke didn't slow down.
He ran straight past the man on stage without even looking at him.
Didn't ask questions.
Didn't care.
He just kept going.
A second passed.
Then,
Another player stood.
"…Screw it."
He started running too.
Then another.
And another.
Chairs scraped.
Footsteps echoed.
Soon,
Dozens of players were sprinting down the aisles, rushing past the stage, heading straight for the exit.
The hesitation cracked.
Then shattered.
"I'm not missing this!"
"If this is real, I'm in!"
"Move!"
The crowd turned chaotic.
Not from fear anymore.
From excitement.
From hunger.
The man on stage didn't stop them.
Didn't call out.
He just watched.
Quietly.
As player after player ran past him.
All chasing the same thing.
Outside…
Buses waited.
Engines humming.
Doors open.
Ready.
And Yusuke?
He was already at the front.
Not looking back.
"By the way…"
A small pause.
"…you can just call me Kumara." the bald man said.
Thirty minutes later…
The city lights felt smaller now.
Way smaller.
Hundreds of players stood packed inside a massive transparent bubble, shoulder to shoulder. The surface of it shimmered faintly, like glass mixed with energy.
Then
vvvvvmmmm
It started rising.
Slow at first.
Then faster.
The ground pulled away beneath them.
Buildings dropped lower and lower. Neon lights blurred together. Hover cars became tiny dots weaving through the air.
Some players pressed against the glass, staring down.
"…We're actually doing this…"
"No way…"
Others stayed quiet.
Arms crossed.
Thinking.
Yusuke stood near the edge, hands in his pockets, looking out.
No reaction.
Just watching.
Clouds swallowed them.
For a few seconds, everything turned white.
No city.
No lights.
Just silence.
They broke through.
Above the clouds, the night sky opened up. Dark, wide, endless. The city was now just a distant glow far below.
And in front of them…
The facility.
It floated there like something unreal.
A massive circular structure, stretching so far it curved out of sight. Lights lined the edges. Parts of it shifted slowly, like it was alive.
"…That's five kilometers…?"
"You're joking…"
The bubble kept rising toward it.
The closer they got, the bigger it felt.
Like it could swallow them whole.
The bubble slowed as it reached a large opening in the structure. Panels slid apart smoothly, revealing a bright interior.
"Prepare for arrival," a robotic voice echoed inside.
Some players straightened up.
Others clenched their fists.
Yusuke stepped forward slightly, eyes fixed ahead.
"…This better not be boring."
The bubble drifted inside.
The entrance closed behind them.
No exit.
No escape.
Just the start.