The next morning, Chris woke up early, the faint glow of dawn creeping through the blinds of his dorm room. His body was still sore from the previous day's tryout, but his mind was sharper than ever. Today was the day he'd find out whether or not he had made the first cut.
Rolling out of bed, he pulled on a pair of sweats and a hoodie before heading out. He could feel the tension building as he approached the football facility. The morning air was crisp, but his nerves kept him warm. Dozens of other hopefuls were already gathered outside, talking amongst themselves in low voices. Some were confident, boasting about their performance yesterday, while others wore expressions of quiet anxiety.
Chris said nothing, staying in his own head. The System had been strangely quiet since the announcement of his new quest, and that only made him more aware of the stakes. He had completed the first challenge, but now came the real test—getting his name on that list.
As he neared the doors, he spotted a clipboard posted on the wall just inside the entrance. A few players huddled around it, scanning the names in search of their own. Chris kept his distance for a moment, mentally preparing himself. This was it.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and began scanning the list.
Dozens of names were on the sheet, some he recognized from yesterday's tryout, others were new. His eyes raced down the list, heart pounding in his chest.
Then he saw it.
Carter, Chris.
For a moment, Chris couldn't believe it. He blinked, his mind trying to catch up with what his eyes were seeing. He'd made it. He was still in the running.
"Congratulations, Chris." The System's voice returned, calm and clear. "You have advanced to the next phase. Quest updated: Survive two weeks of team practice. Reward: 10 skill points."
Chris exhaled, a smile creeping onto his face. He'd made it past the first hurdle, but there was still a long way to go. He knew this wasn't the end—just another step in a much larger journey.
He turned away from the list, giving a nod to one of the other walk-ons who had also made the cut. The group of players who hadn't been so lucky shuffled away, their shoulders slumped, as if they carried the weight of failure on their backs. Chris couldn't dwell on them, though. He had to stay focused.
Later that morning, Chris found himself back on the practice field. The atmosphere was different now. Instead of the scattered chaos of tryouts, there was an organized precision to the day's schedule. The Alabama Crimson Tide's full roster was out, and Chris could feel the intensity just by being near them. These guys were elite athletes—the best of the best. It was both inspiring and intimidating.
"Alright, everyone," Coach Henry's voice boomed across the field, "this is where things get serious. You've made it this far, but that doesn't mean you're safe. We're starting full team practices today, and if you don't show me something special, you'll be off this field faster than you can blink. Understand?"
The players nodded in unison, and Chris did his best to suppress his nerves. The stakes were higher now, and he had to prove himself against not just walk-ons, but some of the most talented athletes in the country.
Chris jogged to his position, lining up with the other wide receivers. They were a tight-knit group, all veterans of the team, and Chris couldn't help but feel like an outsider. These guys had already earned their stripes, and here he was, the new kid trying to carve out a spot.
"Yo, walk-on," one of the receivers called out, a smirk on his face. He was tall, well-built, and oozed confidence. "You think you can keep up with us?"
Chris recognized him—Jalen Thompson, a junior who had been Alabama's leading wide receiver the previous season. The guy was a star, and his tone wasn't exactly friendly.
"I'll do my best," Chris said, keeping his voice steady.
Jalen chuckled. "Good luck, man. You'll need it."
The other receivers snickered, but Chris didn't let it get to him. He knew this was part of the culture—rookies and walk-ons had to prove their worth, and until they did, they were just targets.
"New quest: Prove yourself in the first team drill. Reward: 5 skill points."
The System's voice echoed in Chris's mind as he lined up for the first drill of the day. It was a simple route-running exercise, designed to test their ability to create separation and make catches. The quarterback was one of the backups, but Chris knew the real test wasn't just catching the ball—it was how he ran the route.
As the first few players took their turns, Chris watched closely, studying their form, their explosiveness off the line. When Jalen stepped up, his performance was flawless, cutting through the secondary with ease and making a crisp catch. The guy was fast and precise, and it was clear why he was a star.
Then it was Chris's turn.
He stepped up to the line, his body tense with anticipation. The System displayed his stats again, the same as before—solid, but not extraordinary.
"Activating Agility Boost: +5 for 10 seconds."
Chris felt the familiar rush of energy flood his muscles, sharpening his movements. He crouched low, ready to explode off the line.
"Go!"
Chris bolted forward, his cleats digging into the turf as he sprinted toward the defender. He planted his foot and cut hard to the inside, his body moving with a fluidity that felt almost unnatural. The defender, caught off guard by the sudden shift, stumbled slightly, giving Chris just enough space to create separation.
The ball was already in the air, spiraling toward him. Chris reached out, his hands soft and ready, and made the catch. He pulled the ball in, tucking it to his chest as he sprinted downfield for the finish.
Coach Henry blew the whistle. "Good route, Carter. Keep that up."
Chris nodded, trying to keep his emotions in check. It wasn't a big play, but it was solid, and that's what he needed right now—consistency.
"Quest completed. You have earned 5 skill points."
He felt a small surge of satisfaction, but he knew there was more to do. The next two weeks would be grueling, and every day would bring a new challenge. He couldn't afford to slip up.
That night, back in his dorm room, Chris sat at his desk, staring at the System interface floating before him. The small digital display showed his stats, now updated with the 5 extra skill points he had earned.
"Speed: 85/100, Agility: 80/100, Strength: 72/100, Stamina: 78/100. Skill points available: 10."
Chris pondered where to allocate his points. Speed and agility were crucial for a wide receiver, but he knew that stamina would become more important as the practices got harder. The coaches expected perfection in every drill, and if his stamina couldn't keep up, he'd be in trouble.
He decided to split the points for now.
"Allocate 5 points to stamina, 3 to speed, and 2 to agility."
The System processed the command, and Chris felt a brief wave of energy wash over him as his body adjusted to the changes.
"New stats: Speed: 88/100, Agility: 82/100, Strength: 72/100, Stamina: 83/100."
It wasn't a huge leap, but it was enough to give him a small edge. He'd save the rest of his points for later, when he really needed them.
Lying back on his bed, Chris thought about the next two weeks. He had made it through the first tryout and earned his place in the practices, but the road to securing a roster spot was just beginning.
The System was helping him, but he knew that talent alone wouldn't carry him. He had to outwork everyone. He had to stay focused.
Because at Alabama, there was no room for second best.