Chapter 10: No Longer a Nobody

The locker room buzzed with energy after the match. Players laughed, joked, and exchanged playful jabs about their performances.

Jason, still sweaty from the game, sat on the bench, untying his boots. His body ached, but it was a good ache—the kind that came from proving yourself.

Across from him, Lucas sat with his arms crossed, staring at the floor.

Jason didn't need to rub it in.

The scoreboard had already done that for him.

Rodrigo walked over and nudged him. "Two goals and an assist in your first game? Not bad, man. Not bad at all."

Jason smirked. "Gotta start somewhere."

A few other players nodded in agreement.

Even the ones who had ignored him earlier were acknowledging him now.

He wasn't just some new trialist anymore.

He was part of the team.

Coach Moreno stepped into the room, and the noise died down.

"Good effort out there," he said. "But we're just getting started. We've got another friendly in a few days. Some of you will play. Some of you won't."

He let that sink in.

"I'll be making my squad selection tomorrow."

With that, he turned and walked out.

The tension in the room shifted instantly.

The real battle was about to begin.

A Late-Night System Upgrade

That night, Jason lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

His body was exhausted, but his mind was racing.

He had done well today, but it wasn't enough.

If he wanted to secure his spot in the team, he had to be better.

Ding!

The system interface popped up.

[Match Performance Evaluated]

Goals Scored: 2 (+100 XP)

Assists: 1 (+50 XP)

Key Passes: 3 (+30 XP)

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Bonus XP for outperforming a rival: +50

Total XP Gained: 230 XP

Jason's eyes widened.

[You have leveled up!]

Current Level: 2 → 3

A new notification appeared.

[Skill Upgrade Unlocked]

Choose one:

Striker's Instinct (Lv.2 → Lv.3) – Improved ability to predict and react in goal-scoring situations.

Acceleration Boost (Lv.1 → Lv.2) – Faster bursts of speed over short distances.

Composure (Lv.1 → Lv.2) – Increased calmness under pressure, leading to better decision-making in front of goal.

Jason exhaled.

All three upgrades were tempting.

But after today's match, he knew what he needed most.

He tapped his choice.

[Striker's Instinct Upgraded to Level 3]

A wave of energy coursed through him.

His vision sharpened, his mind processing attacking movements faster.

This was exactly what he needed.

He clenched his fists.

Tomorrow, when Moreno announced the squad, he was going to make sure his name was on that list.

The Squad Announcement

The next morning, Jason arrived at the training ground early.

The squad list for the next match was pinned to the bulletin board outside the locker room.

A small crowd of players stood around it, murmuring.

Jason pushed through and scanned the names.

And then—

Jason Carter – Striker

He grinned.

He had made it.

Rodrigo slapped his shoulder. "Told you, man. You're in."

Jason nodded. "Yeah. But now comes the hard part."

Rodrigo smirked. "Keeping your spot?"

Jason's eyes burned with determination.

"Exactly."

Because making the squad was one thing.

Becoming undroppable was another.

And Jason wasn't here to sit on the bench.