The morning after unlocking Visionary, Tom woke up feeling different.
It wasn't just a physical change—his body felt the same.
It was his mind.
Every movement. Every possibility. Every detail.
It was clearer than ever before.
But there was only one way to know if this new skill was the real deal.
He had to test it on the field.
Scrimmage Day – Proving the Upgrade
Coach Donahue gathered the team in the locker room, his usual no-nonsense scowl plastered across his face.
"Nationals are two weeks away," he barked. "We're done with conditioning. Now, we find out who's ready and who's not."
His eyes swept over the team.
"Full-contact scrimmage. First-string offense vs. first-string defense. No holding back."
The players tensed.
They all knew what that meant.
No coach interference. No easy reps. Just war.
Tom's fingers tightened around his helmet.
Perfect.
The First Play – Instant Impact
Tom stepped up to the line, scanning the defense.
And then it happened.
His Visionary skill activated.
It was subtle at first—a feeling. Like he could see the future in glimpses.
The linebacker was leaning forward—he was blitzing.
The safety was shifting left—double coverage coming.
The cornerback hesitated—his timing was off.
Tom smiled.
He already knew how this play would go.
"Set… HUT!"
The ball snapped.
The blitz came exactly as predicted.
Tom stepped up, dodging a would-be sack before it even fully developed.
His receiver hadn't even broken on his route yet—
But Tom already knew where he would be.
He launched the ball.
Perfect spiral. Perfect placement.
His receiver turned at the last second—the ball was already in his hands.
First down.
The defense stood frozen.
Speedy clapped Tom on the shoulder. "Okay, what the hell was that?"
Tom just grinned.
"I saw it before it happened."
The Defense Adjusts – But It's Not Enough
On the next play, the defense tried to disguise their coverage.
Rotated safeties late. Sent a corner blitz from the opposite side.
But it didn't matter.
Tom saw it all.
"Check, check!" he called, adjusting the play.
The ball snapped—
He rolled out immediately, escaping the blitz before it even reached him.
Quick pass. Another first down.
The defense was frustrated.
Tom was making perfect reads, throwing before the openings even existed.
By the end of the scrimmage?
The offense had completely dominated.
Tom was untouchable.
And the team knew it.
This wasn't just "Tom getting better."
This was something else.
Something unnatural.
Meanwhile: Tyler Vaughn's Breaking Point
Across town, in a private training facility, Tyler Vaughn was pushing himself beyond human limits.
Sweat poured down his face. His body ached, but his trainer didn't care.
"You said you wanted to be the best," the coach growled. "Then act like it!"
Tyler clenched his fists.
His body felt stronger than ever. His throws felt effortless.
But…
Something was wrong.
His hands wouldn't stop shaking.
His mind felt cloudy.
And worse?
He was starting to forget things.
Little things at first. The name of a teammate. The last play he called.
But the more he trained… the worse it got.
He stared at himself in the mirror.
His eyes were bloodshot.
His body was changing.
And for the first time in his life…
He was afraid.
[GOAT SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
New Rival Update: Tyler Vaughn
• Unnatural performance detected.
• Possible negative effects on cognitive function.
• Warning: Be prepared for unexpected changes.
The Final Stretch – Two Weeks Until Nationals
Tom sat in the locker room after practice, running through game scenarios in his mind.
Every pass. Every read. Every play.
Nationals were coming fast.
And now?
He wasn't just playing to win.
He was playing to protect the future of football itself.
Because something was wrong with Tyler Vaughn.
And Tom was going to find out what.
End of Chapter 17