Chapter 5 : On and On
Back in his room that night, Nico lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was buzzing with everything that had happened today—his conversation with Johan, the promises he had made, and the intense training schedule that would begin tomorrow. He knew that pushing his body to its limits every single day would take a toll on him.
Then, a thought crossed his mind.
"System."
The familiar holographic interface appeared before him, glowing softly in the dimly lit room.
"Is there anything in the shop that can help my body recover faster while I sleep?" he asked.
A new option immediately appeared on the screen.
Enhanced Recovery SleepFor every hour of sleep, your body will recover as if it had slept for two hours.Price: 100 SP
Nico's eyes narrowed slightly. This would cost him every single remaining SP he had left, but he didn't hesitate for even a second. If he was going to train like a beast, he needed to recover like one too.
"Buy."
As soon as he confirmed the purchase, a warm sensation spread through his body, as if something inside him had changed. A notification appeared.
Enhanced Recovery Sleep activated.
Feeling satisfied, Nico finally closed his eyes. The exhaustion of the day caught up with him, and before he knew it, sleep took over.
________
The next day, before the sun had even risen, Nico's eyes snapped open at 4:30 AM sharp.
For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling incredible. His body, instead of the usual grogginess one might expect in the early hours of the morning, felt light—powerful. His muscles weren't sore, his mind wasn't sluggish. He felt like he could run a marathon.
The Enhanced Recovery Sleep was no joke.
Even though he had only slept for a few hours, his body felt as if it had recovered from twice that time. Every fiber of his being pulsed with energy. He had made the right choice spending his 100 SP on it.
But there was no time to marvel at it.
Nico jumped out of bed with a newfound excitement, freshened up quickly, and put on his sportswear. A simple but well-fitted athletic outfit that allowed him to move freely. As he looked at himself in the mirror for a brief moment, he couldn't help but notice—he was growing.
His silky black hair looked even smoother than before. His emerald-green eyes, sharp and piercing, held a determined glint. His porcelain white skin had a subtle healthy glow.
He was five years old, but he was already setting out on a path few in the world had the discipline to walk.
By the time the clock struck 5:00 AM, Nico had already stepped outside onto the lawn, where the cool early morning air greeted him.
Johan was already there.
The legendary figure stood casually on the grass, waiting for him, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked completely unfazed, as if waking up at this hour was something he had done for decades—which, knowing Johan, was probably true.
Nico didn't say a word.
Neither did Johan.
Instead, with a simple nod, they began.
The session started with a 30-minute jog around the pitch.
At first, it seemed easy—just simple running. But as the minutes ticked by, Nico could feel the effort beginning to build up. His small legs worked tirelessly, his lungs expanded with each breath, and sweat slowly began to form on his forehead.
This wasn't just about running—it was about building stamina. The kind of endurance that separated great players from good ones.
By the end of the jog, his breathing was slightly heavy, but he still felt capable—not exhausted, not overwhelmed.
And then, without a moment's rest, they transitioned into yoga.
For the next 30 minutes, Johan guided him through different poses and stretches—some were simple, others tested his balance and flexibility. It was an entirely different kind of training.
This wasn't about power or speed.
This was about control—grace—the ability to move in ways that many athletes struggled with. Johan explained that flexibility was just as important as strength, especially in football. If he wanted to be the best, he needed to be as fluid as a dancer, as stable as a mountain.
And then came the hardest part—strength training.
For the next hour, Johan pushed him through a series of carefully designed exercises:
Upper body workouts: Simple but effective push-ups, designed to slowly build his young muscles.
Core strengthening: Johan had him hold planks, do sit-ups, and balance exercises to build the core stability that all great players needed.
Leg strength training: Squats, lunges, and controlled jumps—all essential for the explosiveness required in football.
Despite the difficulty, Nico didn't complain.
He didn't ask for breaks.
He simply pushed forward.
His small hands clenched into fists, his legs trembled slightly under the new strain, but his spirit didn't waver.
Johan, watching closely, gave no unnecessary praise, no unnecessary words—just the occasional nod of approval when Nico performed something well.
By the time the session ended, the sky had begun to lighten with the first traces of morning.
Nico's entire body was drenched in sweat, his muscles burned, and yet—he felt amazing.
His heart was beating fast, but it wasn't from exhaustion.
It was from excitement.
This was only the first day.
And there were years of this ahead of him.
He had never been more ready.
________
After returning from school at 3:00 PM, Nico sat down with his grandmother and grandfather, chatting with them for a while. His grandmother, as always, showered him with warmth, asking about his day, if he ate well, if he was tired. Johan, on the other hand, simply listened, occasionally nodding, his sharp eyes observing Nico closely.
But this was only a brief moment of relaxation.
Soon, it was time for training again.
As the clock neared 5:00 PM, Johan stood up, stretching his arms slightly.
"Let's go," he said simply.
Nico didn't need to be told twice.
The two made their way back to the pitch. The sun was still out, though not as scorching as earlier in the day. A light breeze swept across the well-maintained lawn, and the scent of freshly cut grass filled the air.
Johan wasted no time.
The first thing he did was refine Nico's Pendulum and Cut-In.
"Your footwork is impressive," Johan admitted as he watched Nico shift the ball rapidly between his feet before executing a sharp cut inside. "But there are still flaws—little details that need fixing."
And so, for the next hour, Johan made Nico repeat the movements over and over again.
The Pendulum, the legendary dribble of Ronaldo 'El Fenomeno', needed to be perfected—not just the speed but the rhythm, the deception, the way he used his upper body to sell the movement. Nico had talent, but talent wasn't enough. It had to be refined.
Then came Robben's Cut-In—one of the deadliest weapons of the Dutch winger. But Nico's execution, though effective, could be smoother, sharper. Johan corrected the small imbalances, the slight overextensions.
"Timing is everything," Johan told him. "If you do it too early, the defender won't fall for it. If you do it too late, he'll close the gap."
Nico absorbed every word.
Then, they moved on to shooting drills.
Johan placed him in different positions—some near the box, some at the edge of it. He made him shoot from a standstill, then from a dribble, then under pressure.
"Use your entire body," Johan instructed. "Don't just kick with your foot. Let the power flow from your core, your hips."
Each shot was analyzed.
Each mistake was corrected.
Nico's strikes, though still limited by his young age and strength, were improving rapidly.
Next was dribbling.
Johan set up cones, dummies, and even moved around himself to simulate real-game scenarios.
"Don't just think about getting past your opponent," Johan said as Nico weaved through the cones. "Think about what comes after. Where is the space? What's the best option?"
Then, they moved into positioning and tactics.
This was where Johan truly excelled.
He didn't just teach Nico where to stand—he taught him why.
"When do you run? When do you hold your position?" Johan asked.
Nico remained silent, thinking.
"You run when you see the space before the defender does," Johan explained. "But sometimes, the best move is to wait. Let them move first. Then you punish them."
For the next hour, Johan walked him through every detail of movement—how to spot gaps in the defense, when to press, when to hold back, when to position himself between defenders, when to pull wide, when to cut inside.
Football wasn't just about skill.
It was about intelligence.
And Johan Cruyff was the greatest teacher in the world.
By the time training ended, the sun was beginning to set. Nico's legs were sore, his body was exhausted, but his mind—his mind was sharper than ever.
This was just the beginning.
___________
June 7, 2008
Three years had passed since that day.
Today was Nico's eighth birthday.
As usual, his morning started with training. At the crack of dawn, he was already on the pitch with Johan, going through the rigorous routine they had built over the years. The morning air was crisp, the grass slightly damp with dew. Jogging, yoga, strength training—his body had grown stronger, more conditioned, more flexible. Afterward, they moved on to ball work—refining his dribbles, improving his shot, perfecting his decision-making.
By the time the session ended at seven, Nico was drenched in sweat, his muscles burning. But this level of exertion had become normal. He enjoyed it. It was proof of his progress.
After training, he headed back to his room and stepped into the bath, letting the warm water relax his sore muscles. As he soaked, he opened the system.
A familiar holographic screen appeared before him.
[Name] Nico Cruyff
[Date of Birth] June 7, 2000
[Age] 8 years old
[Height] 134 cm
[Weight] 30 kg
[Attributes]
Pace 48Acceleration 49Sprint Speed 47
Dribbling 56Ball Control 57Agility 55Skill Moves 56
Shooting 47Finishing 48Shot Power 46Long Shots 45Volleys 47
Passing 45Short Passing 46Long Passing 44Vision 45Curve 46Crossing 44
Defending 45Tackling 44Interceptions 45Defensive Awareness 46
Physical 50Stamina 50Strength 49Balance 52Jumping 49
Free Kicks 57Free Kick Accuracy 58Set Piece Technique 56
[Skills]S-Shaped Free Kick High Intermediate
Pendulum High Intermediate
Robben's Cut-In High Intermediate
[SP] 1300
Looking at his attributes, Nico nodded in satisfaction. His body was developing steadily, his dribbling and free kicks were well ahead of his other stats, and his skills had improved significantly.
Three years of training had elevated him beyond his initial potential.
He opened the shop again, his emerald green eyes scanning through the familiar interface. This time, there were new skills available.
Ronaldo Chop. Cruyff Turn. La Croqueta. Elevator Free Kick.
Each skill cost 300 SP. Without hesitation, he purchased all four, watching as the system registered his new abilities.
[Skills]S-Shaped Free Kick – High IntermediatePendulum – High IntermediateRobben's Cut-In – High IntermediateRonaldo Chop – BeginnerCruyff Turn – BeginnerLa Croqueta – BeginnerElevator Free Kick – Beginner
The four new ones were at the beginner level, but he knew that with practice, they would reach the same heights as his other skills.
Closing the system, he stepped out of the bath, the steam swirling around him. He walked over to the mirror and stared at his reflection.
His body—still that of a child—was lean, toned beyond his years, sculpted through endless hours of hard work under Johan's meticulous training. His porcelain white skin, flawless and smooth, highlighted his sharp features. His silky black hair was slightly damp, framing his striking emerald green eyes.
He had truly grown.
The angel had promised him beauty, and they had kept their word. His face was breathtaking, an ethereal blend of elegance and sharpness. Even at eight, his features were undeniably handsome, hinting at the devastating beauty he would possess in the years to come.
But he didn't linger on his appearance for too long.
Because at the end of the day, his goal wasn't to be admired.
His goal was to dominate football.