Chapter Four: Its always a shock

Ethan stirred in his bed, groaning softly as his mind struggled to pull itself from the haze of sleep. His room was dark, with only a faint sliver of moonlight streaming through the window. He turned over, burying his face in his pillow, when the sound came again.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

It was soft but persistent, like a distant chime, rhythmic and deliberate. Ethan's eyes snapped open, his heart skipping a beat. He sat up quickly, his head darting toward his desk, where his phone lay silent. It wasn't coming from there.

"What the...?" he mumbled groggily, rubbing his eyes.

The sound chimed again, pulling his gaze toward the air above him. His jaw dropped as the faint outline of a glowing, translucent menu appeared in the darkness.

[System Update Complete.]

Daily Quest Activated: Morning Hustle.

Ethan blinked, his heart racing. He hadn't imagined the system yesterday—it was real, and now it was back. But this was new.

Under the quest title, a set of instructions hovered in bold letters:

Complete 50 Push-UpsRun 1 MilePractice Ball Handling (15 Minutes)

Reward: +1 Stat Point

Ethan stared at the list, his sleepy brain trying to process what he was seeing. "Daily quest? What is this, a video game?" he muttered, his voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

He reached out instinctively to touch the glowing menu, and to his surprise, his hand passed right through it, but a soft chime sounded as if acknowledging his attempt. The screen shimmered slightly before settling back into place.

"Alright," he said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Guess I'm not getting any extra sleep today."

Ethan stood up, his body still sluggish from sleep, and glanced at the time on his phone. It was just after 5:30 a.m. Normally, he'd hit snooze and bury himself under the covers, but something about the quest stirred a spark of determination inside him.

"This system... it's pushing me," he said softly, smirking to himself. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

He dropped to the floor, planting his hands firmly on the carpet. "Fifty push-ups, huh? Easy enough."

As he began, he couldn't help but notice how much sharper and more focused he felt. His muscles burned, but his form stayed steady, almost like the system was guiding him.

By the time he finished, he was sweating but grinning. "One down," he said, grabbing his sneakers. "Let's hit that mile."

Ethan slipped out of the house, the early morning air crisp and cool against his skin. The world was quiet, the streets empty save for the faint hum of distant traffic. As his feet hit the pavement, he felt that same energy from the system pushing him forward, each step lighter than the last.

By the time he returned, the sky had begun to lighten, and he felt a new kind of exhilaration. The third part of the quest—ball handling—would have to wait until he got to school, but the anticipation was already building.

As Ethan stepped back into the house, his parents still asleep upstairs, he glanced at the glowing menu hovering beside him.

Progress: 2/3 Tasks Complete

"Almost there," he said, a grin spreading across his face. This system wasn't just a tool—it was a challenge. And for the first time, Ethan felt ready to take it head-on.

After completing his ball-handling drills, Ethan felt a rush of accomplishment. His hands were slick with sweat, but the satisfaction of finishing the quest made him grin. The timer buzzed, signaling that he had completed the 15 minutes.

[Quest Complete!]

+1 Stat Point Earned

The familiar notification popped up in front of him, and Ethan immediately opened his system menu. His eyes quickly scanned to the Passing stat.

Passing: 11/100

With a brief smile, he tapped the +1 Stat Point and watched as his passing stat clicked up to 12/100. A faint, almost imperceptible hum seemed to vibrate through him, like the system was syncing the increase directly into his muscle memory.

"Nice. This is only the beginning," he muttered to himself, the sense of progress already giving him the drive to work even harder.

He tossed his basketball back into his room and grabbed his bag, feeling a newfound confidence. The extra point in passing would make a real difference, and he was eager to see how much more it would improve in practice.

After a quick shower and getting dressed, Ethan grabbed his jacket and walked out the door, ready to take on the day.

Ethan's heart was already pounding in anticipation as he jogged toward the school. The morning was still cool, but he could feel the excitement building with each step. The thought of testing out his improved passing stat had him eager to get to the gym.

He reached the school just as the first few players trickled into the gym, the sound of sneakers squeaking on the polished floor already echoing through the building. As he entered, he spotted Coach Brooks organizing the team along the sideline. The coach's sharp gaze flicked over everyone, nodding as he saw Ethan walk in.

"Walker!" Coach called, his voice cutting through the chatter of the team. "Glad you made it. Get ready to work hard today."

Ethan nodded and tossed his bag into the locker room before joining the group. The practice hadn't even started yet, but his mind was already focused on his first real test—getting the ball to the right players at the right time, using his passing ability.

Coach Brooks blew his whistle, signaling the start of warm-ups. The usual drills followed: stretching, basic ball-handling, and layup lines. Ethan moved fluidly, his body already feeling the effects of his system boost. His passing felt smoother than ever, more intuitive, like he was one step ahead of where he had been yesterday.

Finally, Coach gathered them for some scrimmage drills, a chance to practice under game-like conditions. Ethan was placed on one of the teams, standing near the baseline as the ball was passed around. His teammates were in full motion, but his mind was laser-focused. He didn't want to mess up, especially not now.

The ball finally came his way, and instinct kicked in. Without thinking, he made a quick move, a bounce pass to the wing player that was perfectly timed. The ball was right where it needed to be, zipping through the air as his teammate caught it effortlessly and took the shot.

Swish.

Ethan couldn't help but grin.

He glanced at the scoreboard, but it didn't matter to him. The real win was in how the pass had felt, how his body had reacted with the right timing. The system wasn't just making his stats better; it was making him see the game differently.

Coach Brooks blew the whistle again, this time to switch up positions. "Good pass, Walker," he called. "Keep that up."

Ethan nodded, his heart swelling with a mix of pride and determination. The game wasn't about proving himself to the coach or the players anymore. It was about showing himself that he could be something more—someone who didn't just watch the game, but helped lead it.

And with each stat point, each improvement, he was getting closer.

As the final buzzer of morning practice sounded, signaling the end of their drills, Coach Brooks clapped his hands together, getting the team's attention. The players gathered in a loose circle, sweaty and tired but still buzzing with adrenaline.

"Alright, listen up," Coach began, his voice sharp but calm. "We've got a practice match against Riverton High later today. It's going to be a chance to see where we stand before the real season kicks off."

The mention of the rival school immediately piqued Ethan's interest. The Riverton team had always been one of the toughest competitors in the league, and this practice match was more than just an opportunity to practice—it was a chance to measure themselves against their biggest rivals.

The players murmured among themselves, exchanging glances. Ethan's stomach tightened at the thought of playing against them. The competitive energy that always filled the air around Riverton's players was intimidating. He had always watched them from a distance, admiring their skill and confidence on the court.

"Walker," Coach Brooks called, his eyes locking onto Ethan. "You'll be coming off the bench today, but I want you ready. I don't care if it's a practice match—every minute counts. This is your chance to prove that your passing game is the real deal."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat at the mention of him being included. He was still new to the team, and being picked for any game, even a practice match, felt like a huge step forward. He nodded quickly, trying to mask the nervousness that was beginning to creep in.

"I won't let you down, Coach," he said, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through his mind.

"Good," Coach said with a small nod. "I want to see you in action. Now, get some rest, hydrate, and be ready to bring it this afternoon. I'll see you all at 3:30 sharp for warm-ups."

The team broke up, heading off to their respective classes. Ethan gathered his things and made his way out of the gym, the weight of the upcoming match settling heavily on his shoulders. He hadn't expected to be called in so soon, especially not for a match against Riverton. But this was his moment. He could feel it—the system had already started pushing him beyond his limits, and now he had the chance to prove it on the court.

With the match looming in the afternoon, Ethan couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. But there was no turning back now. He had put in the work, and this was his time to show everyone, including himself, just how far he had come.

He stepped outside into the bright daylight, already thinking about the next steps. Practice had been good, but the real test was just around the corner.

The hours at school flew by in a blur. Ethan tried his best to stay focused in class, but his mind was always drifting back to the practice match. He couldn't stop replaying the drills from earlier in the day, thinking about how he could use his passing to create opportunities, how the system had already started making a difference. But this was real—it wasn't just practice anymore.

By the time the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, his heart was racing. The hallway was filled with the usual chatter, but all he could hear was the beat of his own pulse in his ears. He quickly grabbed his stuff from his locker and made his way to the gym, his legs carrying him faster than usual as the anticipation built.

As he entered the locker room, he found a few of the guys already there, gearing up and talking about the match. Coach Brooks was standing near the doorway, giving final instructions as the team prepared.

"Alright, everyone," Coach said, clapping his hands to get their attention. "This isn't just a scrimmage. Riverton's a tough team, and we're going to treat this like a real game. I want you all focused and ready. And remember, we're not just here to compete—we're here to dominate."

Ethan's stomach fluttered at Coach's words. He nodded, even though he knew he wasn't exactly a star player yet. He was still the new guy, still the one who had to prove himself.

After getting changed into his uniform, Ethan met the rest of the team on the court. The gym was buzzing with energy, players stretching, talking, and getting ready for the warm-up. Ethan tried to keep his nerves in check, focusing on his breathing.

Coach blew his whistle. "Warm-ups. You've got ten minutes. After that, we'll jump right into it."

Ethan joined the group as they ran through their usual drills—shooting, passing, and running through plays. He made sure to stay on his toes, aware of the way his body moved now with the added boost from his system. His passes felt crisp, faster, more accurate.

As the clock ticked down and the Riverton team started trickling onto the court, Ethan could feel the atmosphere shift. The energy in the gym grew thicker, charged with the tension of the upcoming match. Riverton's players were already stretching and warming up, their eyes locked on the court like they owned it.

Ethan's heart beat faster. This was it.

Coach gathered them together one more time. "Alright, listen up," he said, his voice firm. "You've all been working hard. Now's the time to show what you're made of. I want you all to play smart, work together, and remember, it's not about playing for the win—it's about playing as a team."

The team nodded, each player's focus sharpening. Ethan's hands tingled, his palms sweaty as the pressure settled in.

"Walker, you're starting off the bench," Coach said, his eyes locking onto Ethan for a brief moment. "But I want you ready. When you get in, I want to see those passes. Show them what you can do."

Ethan swallowed hard, a mix of nerves and excitement swirling inside him. This was it. He wasn't just here to sit back and watch. This was his chance.

The whistle blew, and the game began.

O