05 - The End of the Training Game
The feeling of scoring a goal was a truly unique sensation for Lucas. The happiness mixed with the accomplishment and excitement of everyone on his team was delicious. Lucas could feel his heart beating fast. He could almost taste victory, as it tasted salty from the sweat dripping down his face.
The roar of celebration that echoed from his lips was an outpouring of the years of futile effort he had spent in that design office.
On the soccer field, even if it was between four lines, Lucas Tanaka felt true freedom.
His teammates ran toward him, their faces lit up with smiles of pure euphoria.
That moment, that goal, was more than just a point on the scoreboard. It was proof that Lucas' dreams were within reach of his hands - or rather, his feet.
"Lucas! What a beautiful goal! Yes, yes!" shouted Mr. Yamamoto, congratulating him from the sidelines.
Kenji, the player whose skill Lucas had copied, approached Lucas. "You were too smart this time."
Lucas, still panting, smiled proudly: "Thank you, Kenji. It was a kick inspired by yours."
"I could tell!"
With the game restarted, there were only ten minutes left before the final whistle. The adrenaline was still pumping through Lucas' veins, but he knew he had to keep a cool head and concentrate on the game. He had the system to help him. He could draw and then win.
The first team players, alert, changed their strategy. Lucas began to feel the eyes of each defender on him, watching his movements with the intensity of predators watching their prey. They were his teammates, but he had the feeling they had never looked at him so hungrily.
Every touch of the ball was fiercely contested, every pass a challenge to find space. This was no ordinary training session, and the other students who passed by the field after finishing their club activities that afternoon could see that.
"Eh... The soccer club really works hard, right?"
"During the holidays… They should take it a little easier."
"Didn't you see the poster? There's going to be a regional championship soon."
"That must be why they're working so hard."
The clock seemed to speed up, the seconds turning into a relentless countdown.
Lucas received the ball again and was quickly surrounded by opponents. He turned, trying to find an opening, a way forward. He made a simple touch to the right back who was advancing a bit ahead, but the ball was given back to him. This was not good. The reserves were relying on him to organize the team and keep up the aggressive pace of the game.
Lucas' eyes scanned the field looking for the best option for the next pass. He saw one of his team's strikers advance and played the ball between two defenders, but a third defender cut the ball back and sent it to the left side.
Play continued as normal. Lucas had no way of controlling the players on his team to make them play the way he wanted, but that was part of the fun of soccer. Besides, everyone was tired, and the reserve team was made up of many players who weren't even considered part of the club; they did more training than they actually played.
Still, Lucas Tanaka believed in winning. If there was a reason why he was back for this game, it was because he needed to use this game to change the course of his life, and he wasn't going to waste this second chance.
It was then that the ball, deflected by one of his team's defenders, came back to him, slowly rolling towards him from outside the box. Normally, Lucas would dominate the ball, trying to buy himself more time to think and pass to a better-placed teammate. He was a number 8, passing was what he did. However, it was always by passing to other players that he never made a name for himself outside his own team and consequently never became a professional.
The new skill he had acquired echoed in his mind...
With a sudden surge of confidence, Lucas decided to take a shot at the ball as well. He swung his leg out and hit the ball, hoping it would repeat the perfect trajectory of the first goal. This time, however, the ball deflected to the right and went wide of the goal.
"What?!" Lucas shouted, scratching his head and a little embarrassed.
"What's that, Tanaka? Were you trying to kill an owl?" Tsukada, number 10 in the starting lineup, asked under his breath.
Lucas had no answer and just laughed awkwardly.
'Why didn't I get it right this time? What about my new skill?'
[The hit chance of the skill
[With effort and practice, it's possible to increase the hit probability of the skill
Céos was merciless in his analysis.
Lucas felt a pang of frustration because he thought that the hit probability of this skill was 100%. However, it also made sense that a skill like this wouldn't have such a high hit probability, otherwise it would be too broken. Normally, he wouldn't even be able to hit the ball the first time.
"Come on, Lucas! Shake it off and let's go!" shouted Nishida, the number 9 of the first team, to encourage him.
Despite Nishida's words of encouragement, the game remained the same for the next few minutes, and in the last minute, Nishida personally increased the score for the first team.
[Final score: First Team 6 x 3 Reserve Team.]
Lucas couldn't change the pace of the game or secure victory, so he knelt on the ground and punched the turf, frustrated at failing in his first mission.
'Shit, shit, shit! Maybe if I hadn't kicked it in the first place... No, I should have kicked it!'
[Mission "The First Step of the Second Chance" failed].
[There will be a penalty for failing a mission].
[The punishment will be...]
[Daily Mission: "Effort X Reward" completed].
[Daily Mission: Effort X Reward.
Description: You're not good enough, try harder.
Daily goal:
0/100 Pushups
0/100 Abs
0/100 Squats
0/10KM Run
Rewards:
+1 Star Point.
+1 Loot Box].