Chapter Seven: The More I Can Do

Ethan woke up the next morning to the familiar sound of his alarm buzzing in his ear. He groggily reached out and silenced it, rubbing his eyes before sitting up. The light filtering through his blinds told him it was early—early enough that he could still get a jump on his day.

The memory of his system's challenges was fresh in his mind, and for the first time in a long while, he didn't feel tired. The possibilities the system had unlocked for him made him eager to get started.

With a quick stretch and a half-smile, he stood up and tossed on his gym clothes. He hadn't gotten a full night's rest, but the thought of improving, leveling up, and ticking off another challenge pushed the exhaustion aside.

Daily Challenge:

Complete 30 minutes of ball-handling drills.Perform 10 accurate passes in practice or game situations.Run 2 miles.

Ethan grabbed his basketball from the corner of his room and jogged downstairs to the kitchen, where his mom had already made breakfast. She looked up with a smile.

"Morning, Ethan. Got a busy day ahead?"

"Yeah, practice and stuff," he said, grabbing a quick bite. His mind was already on the drills he'd need to complete.

After finishing, he quickly went to the nearby basketball court, where the morning air was cool and crisp. He stretched for a few minutes before diving into the first part of the challenge. His ball-handling drills felt smoother than they ever had before, each bounce and flick of the wrist almost automatic. The system had definitely made a difference.

As the minutes ticked by, Ethan's confidence grew. The ball felt like an extension of his own body. He hit the 30-minute mark with ease, completing the first part of the challenge.

Next came the passes. He found a spot on the court and visualized his teammates—mocking the game situations where he'd need to make those precise passes. With each one, his aim was sharper, more accurate. The ball left his hands with more precision, and he could feel the difference. The system was making his instincts sharper, guiding him with that invisible sense of awareness he hadn't had before.

He completed the 10 accurate passes in no time.

Finally, the run. Ethan strapped on his sneakers, took a deep breath, and jogged out onto the nearby trail. The 2 miles felt like nothing compared to the mental strength he'd gained from the system. He wasn't just running—he was pushing himself, feeling the rhythm of his body as it moved through the air. The run went by faster than he expected, and before long, he finished the challenge with a satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

Daily Challenge Completed!

Ball-handling Drills: ✅

10 Accurate Passes: ✅

2 Miles Run: ✅

Reward: +1 Stat Point

Ethan stood at the end of the trail, catching his breath, a grin spreading across his face. He felt alive—like something had clicked, and he was ready to face the day head-on.

With the challenge complete, he felt a rush of pride, his mind already turning to the possibilities of his next moves. Today's practice, tomorrow's game—everything was just a little bit closer now.

Later that morning, after he'd cooled down and showered, Ethan was lounging in the living room when his dad walked in.

"Hey, Ethan, I signed us up for a 2v2 basketball tournament today," his dad said casually, tossing a basketball from one hand to the other. "It's this little thing down at the community center. Just you and me against whoever shows up. You in?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, surprised. "A tournament? Just like that?"

"Yeah, nothing serious. Just for fun. I figured we could spend the afternoon playing." His dad's grin was wide, and he clearly seemed excited to have his son involved.

Ethan hesitated for a second. It was Saturday, and he had no plans for the day. A chance to spend time with his dad and play some basketball sounded like a decent idea. He'd also be able to test out how much his passing had improved—though he had no idea how his dad would react to the difference in his skills. Still, it seemed like a good opportunity to get some more practice in.

"Sure, why not? I've got nothing else to do." Ethan stood up, grabbing his sneakers. "When does it start?"

"In about an hour," his dad said. "I'll grab the car keys, and we'll head over."

An hour later, they arrived at the community center, the usual Saturday morning crowd gathered on the courts. Ethan spotted a few familiar faces—some local players who enjoyed casual games—and others who were here to test their skills.

It didn't seem like a high-stakes tournament, but it didn't matter. Ethan had a feeling this was exactly the kind of challenge he needed.

As they warmed up, Ethan dribbled the ball across the court, testing his moves. His hands felt more fluid now, the ball responding almost naturally to his commands. His passing was sharper than ever before, each bounce pass and chest pass smooth and precise.

His dad, clearly in his element, smiled and passed the ball back to Ethan. "Alright, let's show them what we've got, son."

The first team they faced was a duo of older teenagers—one tall and athletic, the other quick and sharp. They had a little more experience, but Ethan wasn't worried. He could already feel the power of his system coursing through him, ready to help him perform.

The game started, and Ethan's dad immediately took control of the offense, using his height to dominate in the paint. Ethan, on the other hand, focused on orchestrating the plays, gliding across the court and looking for the best possible angles. He was quick to realize that his passing had drastically improved—he was seeing the game in a whole new way.

As they approached the basket, his dad set up for an easy shot. Ethan didn't hesitate; he threw a sharp, no-look pass right to his dad's hands, threading the needle between two defenders. The ball went up, and with a smooth flick, his dad made the shot.

"Nice pass!" his dad called, giving him a quick nod.

Ethan smirked. "Told you, I've been working on it."

The game continued, and Ethan's passing became the highlight. His dad relied on him to set up the plays, and with every pass, it was clear how much more confident and precise Ethan had become. He was threading passes through tight spaces, leading his dad to the basket, and controlling the tempo of the game.

As the final score closed in, the other team grew frustrated. They couldn't stop Ethan's passes, and his dad was a reliable finish. The game ended in a solid victory for them.

"Man, that was awesome!" his dad said, slapping Ethan on the back as they walked off the court. "You've really stepped up your game. That passing is something else. You've got eyes like a hawk!"

Ethan couldn't help but grin, the satisfaction of his improvement making him feel proud. He knew he still had a long way to go, but today had been a reminder of how far he'd already come.

"Thanks, Dad," Ethan replied. "I've been working on it."

His dad raised an eyebrow. "You've been working on something alright." He gave him a teasing look. "You might just make me look bad out there."

Ethan chuckled, his thoughts already drifting to the next challenge. The system had made him better, but there was always more to learn. "Guess we'll have to see."

As Ethan and his dad walked off the court, still riding the high from their win, the familiar ping of the system sounded in his mind. It was a notification—one that wasn't just a congratulatory message.

Quest Unlocked:

Objective: Put your next 5 stat points into Shooting.Reward: +1 Shooting Skill, +10% Shooting Accuracy, +1 Stat Point.

Ethan stopped in his tracks for a moment, glancing at the notification flashing in his mind's eye. He raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

Shooting?

He had expected to continue improving his passing, but the system was directing him in a different direction. Ethan knew the importance of being a well-rounded player, but shooting wasn't his strongest suit. His dad had always been the one to take the perimeter shots, while Ethan stuck to facilitating plays. Still, he couldn't ignore the opportunity to get better.

"Hey, you good?" His dad looked over at him, noticing Ethan had paused for a moment.

Ethan nodded quickly, shaking off his thoughts. "Yeah, just thinking about something." He pulled out his phone and started scrolling through the system interface.

With a few taps, Ethan found his stat screen, and sure enough, the system was prompting him to allocate his next points into shooting. He had no choice but to follow the quest if he wanted the rewards—and something inside him told him it might help in ways he wasn't fully aware of yet.

I guess it's time to level up my shot.

Without overthinking it, Ethan selected his shooting stat and input the 5 points.

Shooting: 10/100 → 15/100

A strange sensation washed over him for a moment. It wasn't painful or jarring, but it felt like the system was unlocking something deep within him. His hand seemed steadier as he held the basketball, and his confidence with the ball shifted just slightly. It was as though the next time he shot, he would be more aware, more accurate.

"Everything alright?" his dad asked again, a knowing smile on his face.

Ethan met his dad's eyes and nodded. "Yeah. Ready for the next game." He dribbled the ball a few times, testing his feel for it. A flicker of certainty sparked in his chest.

Even though he hadn't practiced much shooting lately, he was starting to get a sense of what the system had done. The shot felt a little more natural already.

"Alright, let's grab a snack and head home," his dad said. "We've got the rest of the weekend ahead."

As they walked off the court, Ethan couldn't help but feel a new energy brewing inside him. He knew he had just unlocked something big. His passing had come a long way, but now, it was time to put the same focus into his shot. The quest had opened a new door for him—one that he would walk through with the same dedication that had already carried him this far.