All night long, Franck had been consumed by thoughts of the final match that was just two days away. The anticipation left him in a heightened state of excitement, making it difficult to relax. When he finally drifted off into a deep sleep in the middle of the night, he found himself in the midst of a vivid dream: he was clad in a Schalke 04 jersey, sprinting down the field in the Bundesliga. In the dream, he broke through Dortmund's defense and scored a stunning goal. The roar of the crowd at the Westfalenstadion was deafening, and as he celebrated, he saw Lena in the stands, her face glowing with pride. She rushed towards him and kissed him passionately.
Franck jolted awake, his mind racing. "What in the world was that?" he muttered to himself. It wasn't the first time he'd had a dream like this. Over the past week, as the final approached, similar dreams had visited him each night. But with each passing night, the dreams became more vivid, more intense. The scenes felt incredibly real, as if he were actually living them. He could even hear the chants of the fans, echoing through the stadium, calling his name, "Franck! Franck!"
The clarity of these dreams was unsettling. Franck had dreamt countless times before, but never with such detail. The faces of his teammates, the opposition players, the atmosphere of the stadium—everything was startlingly lifelike.
He glanced at the clock on his bedside table—3:00 AM. His two friends, Alain and Samuel, were still fast asleep, their loud snores reverberating through the small room they shared. Franck sighed, pulling the blanket over his head in an attempt to get some more rest.
But sleep didn't come easily. Samuel's snoring was a relentless background noise, and Franck's mind was still buzzing from the intensity of his dream. When he did finally drift off again, the dream returned, this time even more vivid. In the dream, Franck was not just a central defender, his usual position. He found himself playing as a midfield maestro, orchestrating the game with precision passes and daring dribbles. He was unstoppable, weaving through defenders with ease, and even scoring spectacular long-range goals that would have graced any highlight reel.
Even within the dream, Franck was amazed at what he was doing. He had always played as a striker in his early years, but during high school, he had been converted to a central defender by his coach. The idea of dominating the midfield was completely foreign to him. Yet here he was, in his dream, excelling in a role he had never played.
Then, the dream took an even stranger turn. Franck found himself back in the Schalke 04 jersey, but this time, he was surrounded by Bayern Munich players, their red jerseys forming a wall around him. He was in the box during a corner kick, and as the ball sailed towards him, he executed a perfect bicycle kick. The ball smashed against the crossbar, sending a shudder through the goalpost.
"Lying trough!" Franck cursed in his dream, a phrase he rarely used in real life. Suddenly, a strange "ding ding" sound echoed in his mind, like the startup chime of a computer. And then, out of nowhere, he heard a voice.
"System unlocked successfully! Welcome to the Star Player Evolution Engine!"
Franck's body stiffened in his sleep, a jolt of adrenaline rushing through him. He had never experienced anything like this before. "Who's there? What's going on?" he asked, both in his dream and in reality.
There was no immediate response. After what felt like an eternity, the voice spoke again: "System activated successfully. Reading initial data."
Franck snapped awake, his heart pounding. The voice hadn't come from the dream; it had echoed directly in his mind. This realization sent a chill down his spine.
As someone who loved both playing football and reading online novels, Franck was no stranger to the concept of a "system" taking over a protagonist's life. But that was just fiction. Could it be that he had somehow stumbled into his own extraordinary adventure?
Still disoriented, Franck decided to test his theory. He concentrated, trying to communicate with whatever had invaded his mind. "Who are you? How did you get into my head?"
To his surprise, there was an immediate response. This time, the voice was different—calm, deep, and reassuring. It was a male voice, rich with authority.
"Host Franck, congratulations on successfully activating the Star Player Evolution Engine. I am Alessandro Nesta, the temporary administrator of this system. I've received your questions and will now provide answers."
Franck was stunned. Alessandro Nesta? The legendary Italian defender? What was he doing in his head? And what on earth was a "Star Player Evolution Engine"?
The voice of Nesta continued, cutting through Franck's confusion. "This system is designed to help aspiring football players—particularly those from humble beginnings—realize their full potential. Your performance in helping your school team reach the finals triggered the system's activation. This is your opportunity to achieve greatness."
Franck was speechless. His lifelong dream had been to become a professional footballer, just like his friends Alain and Samuel. But Coach Elgert's harsh words had always echoed in his mind, telling them they weren't good enough to even make it to a youth team of a professional club. Those words had been a painful reminder of the uphill battle they faced.
But now, with this system, was it possible that Franck could prove them all wrong? Could he actually become the player he had always dreamed of being?
Franck's mind swirled with questions. He wasn't sure how this system had determined that he had the potential to become a professional player.
Since the system was integrated directly into Franck's mind, it had immediate access to his status and thoughts. Administrator Alessandro Nesta's voice resonated again:
"Host Franck, feel free to ask any questions. A strong relationship between the host and the system is crucial for seamless communication and cooperation. This is the mission of your administrator."
Franck, still grappling with the surreal situation, decided to challenge the system. "Why are you called Alessandro Nesta? It feels strange using the name of a real player. Why not choose another name?"
The administrator responded calmly, "No, my name must resonate with the host's position and aspirations. You are a central defender, and two of the most formidable defenders in world football today are Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta. The system aligns with Nesta, particularly since you share a similar height advantage. The system's ultimate goal is to develop your defensive awareness to match that of a top-tier center-back. By adopting Nesta's name, it serves as a constant reminder of the system's objectives."
Franck wasn't convinced. "It feels weird to call you by the name of someone who exists in real life. How about I call you 'Tactica' instead?"
The administrator paused, considering the suggestion. "It differs from what I initially envisioned, but it will suffice. The name does not change the system's functionality or purpose."
After a moment's reflection, Franck asked, "So, do I need to complete various tasks within the system to improve my abilities?"
"Not exactly," Tactica replied, neither fully affirming nor denying it, before delving into the details of the Star Player Evolution Engine:
"This system, rooted in real-world football dynamics, reflects the characteristics of live football. Your primary method of improving ability is modeled on the player career progression seen in the FIFA video game series. You will enhance your skills through consistent professional training and match simulations. After each training session and match, the system will automatically analyze the data, using it to boost your various technical capabilities. If you ever wish to check your progress, simply call my name and make the relevant request."
Franck was about to ask another question when Tactica added, "Since you are currently competing at the college league level, where professional training might not be as rigorous or systematic, the system can activate a task mode to accelerate your development. These tasks will help bridge the gap between your current abilities and those required by professional players. Once you join the youth academy of a professional club, task mode will automatically deactivate. From that point onward, all improvements will come from your dedication to self-training and discipline."
Franck's curiosity grew. "Since the system believes I have the potential to become a professional player, can I see what my current level is?"
"Request acknowledged," Tactica replied. "Reading and analyzing your ability data now. Please close your eyes, and the information will be displayed in your mind as a virtual image."
Franck did as instructed, and as he closed his eyes, a detailed analysis of his personal attributes and current abilities appeared before him. The results left him feeling both intrigued and apprehensive.
Star Player Evolution Engine
Name: Franck Emmanuel Ndongo
Age: 18
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 81 kg
Nationality: Cameroonian
Position: Central defender
Dominant Foot: Right
Short Passing: 74
Long Passing: 61
Shooting: 39
Jumping: 70
Physical Fitness: 60
Reactions: 67
Speed: 49
Acceleration: 55
Positioning: 70
Set-piece Accuracy: 35
Corner Accuracy: 35
Heading: 63
As Franck reviewed the data, a chill ran down his spine. His next question came out almost involuntarily, "Is the perfect score 100?"
Tactica's response was immediate, "No, the maximum achievable score is 99. Even in football, perfection does not exist."
Franck examined his stats closely. Apart from his physical fitness, jumping, positioning, and heading—which were notably better than those of his school teammates—most of his other abilities seemed underwhelming. He couldn't help but chuckle bitterly, "So many of my stats are below 60. How can I ever hope to become a professional player at this level?"
Tactica responded with measured reassurance, "Do not be discouraged. The system's reference point is the elite players in top European leagues. For an amateur player at the college level, achieving scores of 60 or even 70 indicates that you possess above-average talent. According to the system's evaluation criteria, most student players would have ability values between 30 and 40. You should build self-confidence, as this is a critical attribute for any professional athlete. A strong mentality will also influence the growth of your ability scores."
As Franck was processing this, Tactica's voice came again, "Is there anything else you wish to know?"
Franck considered for a moment before asking, "What happens if I eventually max out my stats to 99?"
"In this system, abilities below 75 are displayed in white. Once an ability reaches 75, it will appear green. At 80, it will turn yellow, and at 90, it will change to red. Should any ability reach 99, it will be displayed in dark red, indicating mastery. When all your abilities reach 99, your overall strength will surpass that of any legendary player in football history. Your market value could exceed 100 million euros, and you would possess the capability to win any individual awards in world football."
Franck's heart raced with excitement as he imagined his future filled with footballing glory.
But Tactica was quick to bring him back to reality. "Do not get ahead of yourself. At this stage, your primary focus must be on self-improvement. The fact that you've been chosen among millions of FIFA players speaks volumes about your potential but remember that even the most successful stars in professional football attribute their success to three parts talent and seven parts effort. Without diligence and discipline, the system will enforce punitive measures."
Franck frowned, uneasy at the mention of punishment. "Punitive measures? Are you saying the system can control aspects of my life, like drinking and social habits?"
It seemed as though Tactica anticipated Franck's concerns. The system issued a sudden alert: "Punitive measures activated. Initiating ultra-low voltage shock for three seconds!"
Before Franck could react, his body jolted, his scalp tingling with an uncomfortable sensation. The shock, brief but intense, sent a wave of fear surging through him.
Thankfully, the sensation faded as quickly as it came. Tactica's voice resumed, calm and firm, "To align with your ultimate goals, the system will strictly enforce the standards of top professional players. This means total dedication to your craft. You must avoid tobacco, alcohol, late nights without justifiable reason, and all forms of low-grade entertainment. Any violations will result in escalating punishments. I trust you will choose to follow these rules."
Franck swallowed hard, recognizing that arguing would be futile. The system clearly had a no-nonsense approach. "Alright, I will work hard," he promised, though his voice betrayed a hint of reluctance.
Tactica wasn't satisfied with mere compliance. "It's not just about trying; you must commit fully to your development!"
Franck sighed, realizing there was no escaping this path now. "I understand. I'll abide by the rules. You mentioned tasks earlier—what's my first one?"
Almost instantly, Tactica responded with the same efficient tone: "Task received… Task approved! Your first assignment: Lead your team to victory in the upcoming state college league championship and prevent the opposing striker from scoring. This is the duty of a defender. The system believes you have the ability to succeed. Your task reward will be provided after the match. Good luck, host!"