The two-week trial period had officially begun, and with each passing day, the intensity at practice seemed to increase. Alabama's football program wasn't just about talent—it was about endurance, discipline, and a relentless work ethic. Chris felt the weight of all three bearing down on him as he jogged onto the field for another grueling practice session.
He'd spent the past few nights in his dorm room watching film, analyzing his movements, and studying his teammates. He wasn't just trying to survive anymore—he was trying to find an edge, something that could help him stand out. But as each day passed, the pressure built.
"Quest reminder: Survive two weeks of team practice. Days remaining: 10."
The System's daily reminders were helpful, but also a constant source of anxiety. Chris was making solid progress, but the competition was fierce. There were no easy days here. Every practice felt like a make-or-break moment, and Chris could feel the strain in his body.
As he jogged toward the wide receivers' drill station, Jalen Thompson, the star receiver, was already there, chatting with a few of the other veterans. Chris tried to keep to himself, focusing on his warm-up stretches. He'd gotten used to the way the veterans looked at him—the cocky smirks, the subtle jabs. They saw him as nothing more than a walk-on, a player who didn't belong.
Chris knew that had to change.
Coach Henry called the receivers over, holding his clipboard tight against his chest. His eyes scanned the group before landing on Chris. "Alright, listen up. We're going to run some deep routes today, and I expect every one of you to show me something. I don't care if you're first-string, second-string, or a walk-on. You either compete or you're off this team. Got it?"
Everyone nodded. Chris could feel his pulse quicken. He had been waiting for this chance. Deep routes were where his speed would shine, and with his recent skill point upgrades, he knew he had an edge.
"Carter, you're up first," Coach Henry barked, flipping through his clipboard.
Chris froze for a moment. First? His heart pounded in his chest, but he knew he couldn't hesitate. He stepped forward, lining up with the defender across from him. The ball was set, and the quarterback took his position.
Chris crouched low, his hands twitching at his sides. The defender was aggressive, his eyes locked on Chris, clearly underestimating him. That was fine. Let him think that. Chris was about to show him something different.
"Go!"
Chris exploded off the line, his legs churning as fast as they could. He could feel the defender keeping pace with him, but Chris had been training for this. At 10 yards, he made a sharp cut, breaking toward the sideline before accelerating again on a deep post route.
"Activating Speed Boost: +3 for 5 seconds."
The System's enhancement kicked in just as Chris reached the top of his route, and he felt the difference immediately. His legs moved like pistons, burning up the field. The defender's footsteps grew fainter behind him as Chris created separation, his speed overwhelming.
The ball was already in the air.
Chris looked up, his eyes tracking the perfect spiral. Time seemed to slow as he extended his arms, his fingers brushing the laces as the ball fell into his hands. He tucked it in and sprinted toward the imaginary end zone.
The whistle blew.
"Nice work, Carter," Coach Henry called out. "That's what I want to see!"
Chris jogged back to the group, the ball still in his hand. He felt a surge of pride. That was his best route of the day, and he knew it had left an impression. The other receivers watched him, a few with raised eyebrows. Even Jalen gave him a small nod.
But Chris wasn't satisfied. He couldn't be.
The rest of practice went by in a blur of drills, sprints, and conditioning. Chris did his best to stay focused, but by the time the whistle blew to signal the end of the session, his body felt like it had been through a war. His muscles ached, and his lungs burned from the relentless pace.
"Good work today, everyone," Coach Henry called out. "Get some rest. We've got another full day tomorrow."
Chris collapsed onto the bench, wiping the sweat from his forehead. His teammates were already heading to the locker room, but Chris stayed behind for a moment, catching his breath. The System chimed in again, its monotone voice a constant presence in his mind.
"Daily review: Practice performance rated as 78/100. Significant improvements in route running. No skill points earned."
Chris sighed. It was good feedback, but not enough. He needed to do better. The veterans were still ahead of him, and he could feel the gap between them widening with every practice.
That night, Chris sat in his dorm room, staring at the System's interface. His stats were slowly improving, but it still felt like he was missing something. He had earned skill points in small doses, but he had been holding back on using them, waiting for the right moment. Maybe that moment was now.
"You have 10 skill points available. Would you like to allocate them now?"
Chris hesitated, then nodded. He needed to be faster, more explosive, more durable. If he was going to compete with the veterans, he needed every advantage.
"Allocate 5 points to speed, 3 to stamina, and 2 to strength."
The System processed the command, and Chris felt a sudden rush of energy pulse through his body. It wasn't a dramatic change, but it was enough to make him feel sharper, more focused.
"New stats: Speed: 93/100, Agility: 82/100, Strength: 74/100, Stamina: 86/100."
That was better. He needed that speed boost, especially with more deep routes coming tomorrow. But the System wasn't done.
"New quest available: Catch 10 passes in a full-team scrimmage. Reward: 10 skill points."
Chris's heart skipped a beat. A full-team scrimmage? That was where the real evaluations happened. If he could perform well in the scrimmage, he'd have a real shot at making the team. But catching 10 passes? That was a tall order, especially with the competition for targets.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. This was it. Tomorrow's scrimmage would be his biggest test yet. If he could catch 10 passes, he'd not only complete the quest, but he'd prove to everyone—his coaches, his teammates, and himself—that he deserved to be on this team.
The next day dawned bright and early. Chris could barely contain his nerves as he arrived at the field. The scrimmage was set to begin in an hour, and the atmosphere was electric. The entire coaching staff would be watching, and Chris knew this was his chance to make a statement.
As the team gathered for the pre-scrimmage briefing, Coach Henry made it clear that today was all about competition. "I don't care if you're first-string or third-string," he barked. "Everyone's getting reps, and everyone's being evaluated. You want a spot on this team? Show me you can earn it."
Chris nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He lined up with the second-string offense, but that didn't bother him. He knew he'd get his chances, and when he did, he had to make the most of them.
The scrimmage began with the starters, Jalen Thompson making his presence known early with a few quick catches. Chris watched from the sidelines, studying every movement, every play. When his turn finally came, he jogged onto the field, taking his place at wide receiver.
The first play was a simple out route. Chris sprinted off the line, his legs churning with speed. The cornerback stayed tight, but Chris used his agility to create just enough separation to make the catch. The ball hit his hands, and he pulled it in cleanly, turning upfield for a few extra yards before being tackled.
One catch down. Nine to go.
The scrimmage continued, with Chris rotating in and out of the lineup. He made a few more solid catches, each one boosting his confidence. But with each passing minute, the pressure grew. Time was running out, and Chris still had a long way to go to reach his goal.
By the final drive, Chris had caught eight passes. He was exhausted, his body aching from the relentless pace of the scrimmage, but he couldn't stop now. He needed two more catches to complete the quest, and this was his last chance.
The quarterback called the play, a deep crossing route designed to get Chris into open space. He lined up, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Go!"
Chris exploded off the line, his speed carrying him downfield as he cut across the middle. The defender was close, but Chris had the edge. The quarterback saw it too, firing a bullet toward him.
The ball spiraled through the air, and Chris leaped, his fingers brushing the leather as he pulled it in. Another catch. One more to go.
There was no time to celebrate. The offense hurried to the line, and Chris took his place again. The final play was a slant route, designed for a quick hit. Chris lined up, his body on autopilot.
The ball was snapped, and Chris cut hard to the inside. The defender hesitated for a split second, and that was all Chris needed. The
football hurtled toward Chris, spiraling through the air as if guided by fate itself. Time slowed. His muscles tensed, his mind focused on one thing—making that catch. His heart pounded in his chest as the cornerback reached out, trying to close the gap. Chris extended his arms, hands wide open, and the ball met his fingertips perfectly.
He pulled it in, tucked it tight to his chest, and bolted upfield, cutting past the linebacker who had charged up in support. The whistle blew just as Chris was tackled, sending him crashing to the turf.
But he didn't care. He had done it.
"Quest completed: Catch 10 passes in a full-team scrimmage. You have earned 10 skill points."
Chris smiled to himself as he pushed up from the ground, brushing dirt from his jersey. He could feel the eyes of the coaching staff on him, scrutinizing every move, but today he didn't feel like the underdog. Today, he had proved something, not just to the coaches and his teammates, but to himself.
Coach Henry blew the final whistle, signaling the end of the scrimmage. The players trudged back to the sideline, some heads held high, others downcast from missed opportunities. Chris found himself somewhere in the middle. He had made his catches, performed well, but there was still that gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach. Would it be enough?
"Good work, everyone," Coach Henry called out. "We'll be reviewing the film and making roster decisions over the next few days. If you're still standing by the end of the week, congratulations. If not, well, that's football."
Chris exchanged nods with a few of the other receivers, but the feeling of camaraderie was thin. Most of the veterans saw him as competition, someone gunning for their spot. He didn't blame them. Football was a game of survival, and for Chris, survival was everything.
As the team dispersed, Chris lingered on the field, taking a moment to catch his breath. His mind buzzed with the day's events. The System chimed in again, offering its usual breakdown.
"Daily performance: 82/100. New stats: Speed: 93/100, Agility: 82/100, Strength: 74/100, Stamina: 86/100. 10 skill points available."
Chris mulled over the stats as he walked toward the locker room. He felt faster and more in tune with his body, but he knew that physical attributes weren't everything. Football was as much a mental game as it was physical. If he was going to keep up with the veterans, he needed to be smarter, more tactical.
He decided to hold onto the skill points for now. He'd wait until he could better assess what he needed to improve.