Max was about to turn back toward the weight rack when he heard his dad's voice call out from across the gym.
"Max! Over here!"
Max glanced over to see his dad, Marcus, waving him over. With a sigh and a small chuckle to himself, Max excused himself from Emma and jogged over to his dad.
"Hey, what's up?" Max asked, still a bit out of breath from his last set.
Marcus looked at him with a half-smile, clearly amused. "You're looking a lot more confident out there, huh? I like what I'm seeing." He gave Max a quick nod of approval before getting to the point. "Listen, I know it's Saturday and all, but we've got football practice today. Coach wants everyone to show up, and I expect you to be there. Doesn't matter that it's the weekend."
Max blinked, a little surprised. "Wait, really? On a Saturday?"
"Yeah, really," his dad said with a grin. "You signed up for this, didn't you? Practice doesn't stop just because it's the weekend. You said you wanted to push yourself—well, now's your chance to show you mean it."
Max hesitated, glancing back over at Emma, who was chatting with someone else now. A small part of him wanted to hang around, but the thought of football practice made his heart race with excitement. He'd just had one of the best training sessions of his life, and now he had another opportunity to improve.
"Alright, I'll go," Max said, giving his dad a determined look. "I'll head over after a quick break."
Marcus clapped him on the back. "That's the spirit, son. I knew you'd be up for it."
As Max turned back toward his workout area, he saw Emma glance his way. He debated saying something, but with the sudden rush of adrenaline at the thought of football practice, he decided to leave it for later.
Football practice... Max thought as he grabbed his towel and wiped his forehead. He wasn't sure how his body would handle the pressure of both the gym and the football field, but it felt good to know he was balancing both. And somehow, the promise of pushing his limits was becoming more thrilling than he'd ever imagined.
As he headed toward the locker room to change for practice, Max felt that familiar rush of anticipation. Today was another chance to prove to himself that he could keep up with everything—whether it was weights, football, or the journey he was still learning to navigate.
And who knew? Maybe he'd find a way to juggle it all—and maybe even learn more about Emma along the way.
As Max got out of the car, his dad giving him a final pat on the back, he pulled his gym bag over his shoulder and started heading toward the football field. The sun was still high in the sky, and the air was warm, but the excitement of the day kept him moving forward, his heart pumping with anticipation. His dad's words still rang in his head—prove you mean it.
Just as he reached the entrance to the field, he felt that familiar ping in his mind. The system notification. He quickly checked his phone to see the new message.
System Notification:
New Quest: "Block Master"
Objective: Obtain 20 blocks in your next football practice. Blocks are successful defensive maneuvers made during tackles or when protecting a teammate from an opposing player. Progress will be tracked throughout the practice.
Reward: 500 XP, Strength +5, Stamina +5.
Max blinked, processing the new quest. "Blocks?" he muttered to himself, already feeling the weight of the challenge. He had never really thought of blocking as part of his training, but with his system now tracking it, he realized it was just another way for him to improve.
"Alright," Max whispered, as the notification disappeared. "Let's get these blocks."
As he walked toward the rest of the team, the players stretching and warming up, he felt a surge of determination. He had no idea how he was going to hit 20, but something inside him told him that he was ready for it. He could do this. After all, he was already lifting more than he thought possible, and now he had this new challenge ahead of him.
He spotted Coach Stevenson off to the side, talking to some of the other players. Max gave a quick nod to his dad before jogging over to join the group, mentally preparing for the practice ahead.
20 blocks… He kept repeating the number to himself. No turning back.
Max lined up with the rest of the team, his heart still pounding from the anticipation. Coach Stevenson stood at the front, clipboard in hand, ready to lead them through the first drill of the day.
"Alright, team! Let's get warmed up with some blocking drills! Offense, you're up first. Defense, line up behind them." The coach's voice was loud and commanding, cutting through the chatter of the players.
Max stepped forward, adjusting his pads and helmet. He wasn't always put on offense during practice, especially since he was still new to the team, but today felt different. His system had given him a quest that required blocking, so he was determined to get as many as he could, even if it meant being a defensive player.
As the offensive players went through their drills, Max stayed on his toes, eyes darting around to see where he could help. His role today was going to be a bit more mixed—sometimes offense, sometimes defense—depending on what the coach needed. But Max knew the challenge was still there. He had to work twice as hard, no matter which position he was put in.
He was selected for offense first.
The drill was simple—run the ball, fake out the defense, and gain as many yards as possible. Max felt the weight of the ball in his hands as he lined up behind the quarterback. His heart raced as the whistle blew, and the ball was snapped. Max charged forward, weaving between the defense. He felt the powerful push from his legs as he sprinted, his mind focused solely on the quest.
A defensive player rushed toward him, but Max wasn't about to let them tackle him. He braced himself, positioning his body with a clear, defensive stance. As the defender came in, Max pivoted and used his newfound strength to shield the defender away from his teammate who was following up from behind.
The defender bounced off, Max blocking him just enough to make the play a success.
Block one! the system noted.
Max barely had time to process the success before he was called back to the line for another round of drills, this time shifting to defense. He would have to block as many attacks as possible, preventing the offense from getting through.
He stood in position, scanning the incoming plays. The quarterback threw the ball to one of the receivers, and Max rushed to close the gap, determined to break through and create an opening for his defense.
He got low, pushing off his feet to rush toward the receiver, and at the perfect moment, Max used his arms to shove the receiver out of the way, preventing them from catching the pass.
Block two!
Max could feel the adrenaline pumping, but it wasn't just the physical rush. The system, tracking his progress, made each block feel like a small victory, spurring him on. Even when he wasn't on offense, Max could tell his efforts were adding up. And every time he successfully blocked someone, it felt like the system rewarded him with a deeper sense of purpose.
Coach Stevenson called for another round, and Max was ready. He wasn't sure how many blocks he had left to complete, but he was determined to hit 20. Whether he was playing offense or defense, he would keep pushing himself, just like he had in the gym earlier.
By the time practice wrapped up, Max was winded but exhilarated. His muscles burned from the effort, but he knew he had given it his all. As the final whistle blew, Coach Stevenson blew his whistle again, signaling for everyone to gather around.
"Great practice today, everyone," Coach said, giving a nod of approval to the group. "Max, good work out there—especially for a rookie. You're picking up things quickly."
Max, still catching his breath, managed a smile, grateful for the recognition, though he was secretly wondering how many blocks he had actually racked up.
As the team started to break down and pack up, Max checked his phone, eager to see how the quest had turned out.
System Notification:
Quest Complete: "Block Master"
Objective: Obtain 20 blocks in your next football practice. Status: Complete.
Rewards: 500 XP, Strength +5, Stamina +5.
Max grinned, seeing the notification pop up. "Twenty blocks," he whispered to himself, feeling a rush of pride. Not only had he managed to complete the quest, but he'd pushed himself further than he thought possible.
He couldn't wait to tell his dad—and maybe even Emma—about his success. It felt good to be this dedicated, to have both the gym and football pushing him to new limits. But as he collected his gear, a feeling of quiet satisfaction settled in.
Today had been one step closer to his goal. And tomorrow? Well, he had a feeling it would be just as challenging. But that was the kind of challenge Max was starting to crave.
Max pulled out his phone, his fingers quickly navigating to the system interface. His heart still raced from the excitement of football practice and the quest completion. He was eager to see how the quest rewards had impacted his stats.
System Interface:
Name: Maxwell "Max" Tate
Age: 17
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 292 lbs
Class: Novice Athlete
XP: 1,200/3,000
Physical Stats:
Strength: 36 (+5 from quest)Stamina: 38 (+5 from quest)Agility: 30Flexibility: 25Endurance: 34Muscle Mass: 18%Fat Percentage: 33%
Active Skills:
Iron Grip: Improved grip strength for heavier lifts.Hulk Mode: Temporary surge in power and stamina (1 use/day).
Quest Status:
"Block Master" — CompleteRewards: 500 XP, Strength +5, Stamina +5
Max stared at the numbers, a small smile creeping onto his face. The increase in his strength and stamina was noticeable—not just in the system, but in how his body felt. His muscles were sore, but the burn was a satisfying reminder of his effort.
He was still a long way from where he wanted to be, but every little boost counted. The quest rewards had helped him take another step forward. The fact that his strength was climbing made him feel like the goal of becoming a powerhouse wasn't as far off as it once seemed.
Max scrolled down, checking his weight. 292 pounds. He hadn't lost much yet, but he could feel the difference in his body, even if it wasn't reflected on the scale yet. There was a strength behind his movements that wasn't there before.
"Progress," he whispered to himself. The numbers might not be dramatic yet, but they were still moving in the right direction. And that was all that mattered.
He tucked his phone back into his pocket and headed out of the locker room. Max had a long way to go, but today was another victory. Tomorrow? He'd just have to keep pushing.