As the roar of the crowd faded into memory and the family returned to their hotel for a quiet celebration, Henry Calder found himself sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the glowing panel before him. The system's presence felt sharper now, more intuitive, and it wasted no time breaking the silence.
"Congratulations, Henry Calder. With your graduation to Rookie Level, the system has undergone a significant upgrade. Allow me to explain the new capabilities available to you."
Henry leaned back against the headboard, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "All right, System. Lay it on me."
System Upgrade: Novice ➡ Rookie
The system's voice carried a newfound confidence, almost as if it had leveled up along with him.
"With the Rookie upgrade, your abilities have been enhanced to better prepare you for professional motorsport. Here's what's new:"
1. Attribute Adjustment:
• Explanation: Your current attributes have been recalibrated to reflect the difference in skill, physical demands, and mental acuity between the F1 Academy and professional motorsport.
• Result: Each attribute has been reduced by 30 points, creating room for growth at this higher level of competition.
• Note: The gap between your current level and the pros has increased, but this is an opportunity to push your limits further.
Henry nodded, checking his stats:
• Driving Skill: 95 ➡ 65
• Stamina: 80 ➡ 50
• Focus: 85 ➡ 55
• Racecraft: 90 ➡ 60
• Awareness: 80 ➡ 50
• Mental Resilience: 70 ➡ 40
"Yikes," Henry muttered. "Those look… rough."
"Think of it as a reality check," the system replied, its tone steady. "Your journey has only just begun."
2. New Skill: Analysis Mode
• Ability: Analyze Mode allows you to scan your car's performance and instantly identify mechanical issues. Additionally, you can analyze other competitors' vehicles to gain a general understanding of their car's strengths and weaknesses.
• Activation: Activate during a race or practice session with a single mental command.
• Limitations: Insight into competitors' cars is limited to high-level details such as tire condition, speed potential, and basic setup.
3. Enhanced Focus (Tier 1)
• Ability: Temporarily heightens your mental clarity during critical moments, allowing you to make faster, smarter decisions on the track.
• Usage: Can be used once per race.
"These tools will give you an edge, but remember, motorsport is about both man and machine. Master the skills, and greatness will follow."
Henry's grin returned. "Got it. Let's see where this takes us."
The next morning, Henry's father, Luke Calder, sat him down at the breakfast table. The family had gathered, still buzzing with pride over Henry's win. His mother had prepared an elaborate spread, but the serious look on Luke's face hinted at an important conversation.
"Henry," his dad began, placing a folder on the table. "You've got some decisions to make."
Inside the folder were five contracts from F2 teams and the official F1 Academy offer. Henry's eyes widened as he flipped through them.
"Five offers? Already?"
"You impressed a lot of people yesterday," Luke said. "But these aren't just contracts. They're career-defining choices. I want you to think carefully."
The Contracts
1. F2 Team: Carlin Racing
• Salary: $75,000 per season
• Length: 2 years
• Terms: Option to extend for 1 additional year based on performance. Mid-tier car with steady development.
2. F2 Team: Prema Racing
• Salary: $100,000 per season
• Length: 1 year
• Terms: Top-tier car, but highly competitive environment with no guarantees of being the primary focus.
3. F2 Team: ART Grand Prix
• Salary: $85,000 per season
• Length: 2 years
• Terms: Strong focus on driver development, decent car with potential for podiums.
4. F2 Team: MP Motorsport
• Salary: $50,000 per season
• Length: 3 years
• Terms: Lower-tier car, but guarantees full team support for development.
5. F2 Team: Hitech Pulse-Eight
• Salary: $60,000 per season
• Length: 1 year
• Terms: Mid-tier car, but potential for promotion to their affiliated F1 team if successful.
6. F1 Academy Contract
• Salary: $40,000 for 6 months
• Length: Until the end of the current season
• Terms: Continued development under the academy with exposure to F1 teams but no guarantees of a seat.
Henry sat back, his head spinning. Each contract had its pros and cons, and the weight of the decision loomed over him.
"What do you think, Dad?" he asked.
Luke leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. "If you're asking me, I'd say Prema Racing offers the best opportunity. They're a top-tier F2 team. If you do well there, you'll catch the attention of F1 teams immediately. But it's risky. They're not known for nurturing drivers."
Henry's mom chimed in. "I like the ART Grand Prix offer. It sounds like they'll actually take care of you."
Emily, still chewing on toast, added, "Go with the coolest name. That's what I'd do."
Henry laughed, but the pressure was real. His family continued to debate as he stared at the papers in front of him.
"This is a pivotal moment, Henry," the system said, breaking into his thoughts. "Each path holds potential. I recommend considering the Prema Racing offer if you seek immediate results, or the ART Grand Prix offer for steady growth."
Henry nodded, still mulling it over. Whatever decision he made, it was clear: the road ahead was going to be even tougher than before.
"No pressure, right?" he muttered to himself, a grin tugging at his lips.
His dad clapped him on the shoulder. "No matter what you choose, we've got your back."
Henry smiled, the weight of the decision easing slightly. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it head-on.