Henry had just stepped off the plane, his feet touching the ground of the airport in Italy, a wave of excitement crashing over him. His heart raced with anticipation, the weight of what lay ahead pressing against his chest, but there was also a slight sense of nervousness. He had made it to the academy. He had crossed the ocean, leaving behind his family and the life he knew. But the real test the test was just beginning.
He glanced around the terminal, spotting a few other newcomers with the same anxious yet excited looks on their faces. They were all here for the same reason, chasing the dream that Henry had fought so hard to get closer to. This was it. The opportunity that had once been a distant fantasy was now his reality.
Nathan was already there, standing next to him with that cocky grin that Henry had grown all too familiar with. Nathan had won the selection race and earned the top spot, but Henry couldn't help but feel that Nathan's overconfidence was going to catch up to him. It always did.
"First day at the big leagues, huh?" Nathan said, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Henry barely glanced at him, shrugging nonchalantly. "It's just the beginning." He had no time to entertain Nathan's taunts. He had a much bigger picture to focus on.
They were escorted to the academy headquarters, which was set in the outskirts of a beautiful Italian town. The facility was a massive complex, modern, sleek, and intimidating. As they entered the main lobby, the sound of voices filled the air as other new recruits greeted each other. Some were visibly nervous, some were excited, and others, like Nathan, were pretending like they were already at the top.
After a few minutes, they were ushered into a large conference room, the walls lined with monitors displaying the academy's history and its various racing programs. On the stage, a few of the academy's top instructors were standing, waiting for the orientation to begin.
Henry took a seat near the back, his hands resting on his lap. As much as he wanted to dive into training immediately, he knew he had to listen to everything being said. This was the start of his journey, and every detail mattered.
"Welcome," a stern-looking man in a black suit said from the front of the room. "We've selected you all from over 1,000 candidates who tried out. You're here because you've shown potential. But let me make this clear: potential means nothing without the drive to succeed. Not everyone here will make it."
A murmur rippled through the room. Henry's heart beat a little faster, but he remained focused. This wasn't a time to get intimidated. He had worked too hard to get here, and he wasn't about to back down now.
"You will be under constant evaluation. The first week will be crucial. We will be cutting the first ten recruits based on performance, attitude, and ability to adapt. It's not just about driving; it's about how well you integrate into the academy, how you approach challenges, and how well you take instruction. Each day will be a test."
Henry's stomach tightened. The weight of those words sunk in. A whole month to prove himself. But if he didn't make it through that first week if he wasn't among the top fifty it would all be for nothing. He would be sent back home.
"The academy will also assign daily tasks," the man continued. "These tasks will vary. Some will be physical, some mental, and some will be racing simulations. You are expected to complete these tasks every day. If you fail, your standing in the academy will drop, and the consequences will follow. This is not a vacation. This is a job. And you will act accordingly."
A shiver ran down Henry's spine as the weight of his situation became fully apparent. He wasn't here just to drive—he was here to prove he had the discipline, the dedication, and the mental fortitude to make it. His entire future was hanging on these next few weeks.
"We'll begin immediately. Tonight, you will all meet your instructors and get your initial assessments. The first race, an evaluation of your skills will take place in three days. That will determine the first cuts. Make sure you're prepared."
The orientation session concluded, and the recruits were split into groups. Henry followed the other newcomers to a separate area, where their individual training schedules and assigned tasks would be handed out.
As he sat down at a desk, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a notification from the system. A new task, as usual.
New Task:
• Task: Complete your morning workout (45 minutes).
• Requirement: Lift at least 75% of your maximum capacity in each exercise.
• Reward: +10 Strength, +5 Endurance
• Punishment: Failure to complete will result in a 10% decrease in current physical stats.
He quickly opened his system screen, wanting to check his overall progress after all the work he'd been doing. Since his first day at the academy, he'd been pushing hard, doing the daily tasks and trying to improve his attributes. This was his first real assessment, the first chance to see where he stood in comparison to everyone else.
System Status:
Name: Henry Wells
Age: 18
Country: USA
Current Class: Rookie F1 Academy Driver
Overall Stats:
• Physical Stats:
• Strength: 52 (+10 from daily tasks)
• Endurance: 60 (+12 from daily tasks)
• Agility: 57 (+8 from daily tasks)
• Flexibility: 50 (+5 from workouts)
• Mental Stats:
• Focus: 70 (+5 from mental tasks)
• Adaptability: 65 (+5 from challenges)
• Strategy: 60 (+7 from simulations)
• Driving Stats:
• Reflexes: 74 (+6 from race simulations)
• Precision: 72 (+5 from training)
• Car Control: 78 (+9 from race practice)
Skills Unlocked:
• Synchronization: Ability to synchronize with the car during races, improving overall performance.
• Endurance Boost: Increases endurance during long races by 15%.
• Focus Sharpness: Boosts focus during intense moments, reduces mental fatigue.
The stats were an encouraging sight. They showed improvement real progress since he first started but he still had a long way to go. He wasn't at the top yet, not even close. He had to keep pushing, and he had to do it every single day. The academy wasn't going to wait for him to catch up.
But then something caught his eye.
New Skill Available: "Synchronization."
• Description: The ability to fully synchronize with your car, improving your performance by 15%. Requires specific conditions during a race to activate.
System Message:
Synchronization skill unlocked. Will activate during high-intensity races. Task will appear when conditions are met.
Synchronization. Henry couldn't help but smile at the thought of what that could do for his performance. This was exactly what he needed a skill that would give him that extra edge. He just needed to figure out how to activate it at the right moment.
"Hey, Wells," a voice snapped Henry out of his thoughts. He turned and saw Nathan standing nearby, watching him with that same smug look.
"You better get ready," Nathan said, crossing his arms. "Because it's not going to be easy. They'll cut the weak ones first."
Henry didn't even bother to respond. He just smiled inwardly. Nathan might have been the first to win the selection race, but Henry knew that race wasn't everything. He'd get his chance to prove himself soon enough.
With the new challenges ahead, Henry knew it was time to get to work. The race simulations, the workouts, the daily tasks, each of them would push him to the limits. But he wasn't backing down.
He was going to make it. No matter what.
Daily Task Complete:
• Workout: Completed. Strength +10, Endurance +5.
• Penalty: None.
The academy had just begun. And with it, Henry's real journey was about to take flight.