Vihaan's eyes widened. Free stat points. He could improve his attributes right now.
His fingers trembled as he mentally navigated through the system, selecting the stat allocation menu. A simple interface appeared, displaying his current stats with the ability to distribute his 20 points however he wished.
"Alright… Think logically," he muttered to himself.
After a moment of deliberation, he settled on the following distribution:
+7 Pace → 58 (Speed was essential in football.)
+5 Dribbling → 51 (Control over the ball would help him avoid tackles.)
+3 Shooting → 43 (He couldn't keep missing easy chances.)
+5 Stamina → 50 (So he wouldn't be exhausted after 30 minutes.)
Once confirmed, a strange warmth spread through his body. It was subtle, like a gentle pulse of energy washing over his muscles. He flexed his fingers. Was it just in his head, or did he already feel lighter? Faster?
Another message popped up.
[Stat Allocation Complete!]
[Would you like to consume your items now?]
Vihaan hesitated. The pills. He needed to check what they actually did first.
"System, explain the Conditioning Pill and Growth Pill."
[Conditioning Pill: Instantly boosts stamina by 5 points. Effects are immediate and last permanently.]
[Growth Pill: Enhances physical attributes, improving strength, endurance, and overall physique. Takes 8 hours to fully activate, best consumed before rest.]
Vihaan nodded to himself. The Conditioning Pill was a no-brainer—it worked instantly. The Growth Pill, however, would take time. If he took it before sleeping, he'd wake up stronger.
"Alright," he exhaled, feeling a new sense of determination settle in. "Let's do this."
He selected Consume Conditioning Pill.
A sudden rush of energy coursed through him, like an instant adrenaline hit. His muscles felt… fresher? More capable? It wasn't overwhelming, but it was there—a small, undeniable boost.
Encouraged, he then selected Consume Growth Pill. A faint warmth spread through his limbs, but this time, there was no immediate change. 8 hours, huh?
Yawning, exhaustion from the day finally hit him. His body craved rest. As he settled into bed, a small, hopeful smile touched his lips.
A sharp chime echoed in Vihaan's ears as he stirred awake. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim morning light creeping through the curtains. For a moment, he lay still, his mind sluggish from sleep. Then, a strange sensation settled in—his body felt different.
He pushed himself up and immediately noticed it. His arms… his shoulders… even his legs. Everything felt stronger, firmer. He flexed his fingers, clenched his fists—his muscles responded with an unfamiliar ease, as if his entire body had been fine-tuned overnight.
Vihaan swung his legs off the bed and stood up. The second he did, he felt it.
He was taller.
Not drastically so, but enough to notice. He rushed to the mirror, his breath catching in his throat. His face looked… sharper. His jawline a bit more defined, his features slightly more mature. His once lanky frame now carried a more athletic build, not bulky but clearly stronger.
He took a hesitant step back, hands running over his arms, chest, and shoulders. This was real. The system hadn't lied.
A notification popped up in his vision.
[Growth Pill Activated! Physical attributes enhanced.]
[Strength: +4 → 43]
[Stamina: +3 → 53]
[Jumping: +3 → 44]
[Overall Rating: 42 → 45]
Vihaan exhaled slowly. This is insane.
Before he could process it fully, a knock sounded at his door.
"Vihaan, wake up! You'll be late for school," his mother called out.
"Coming!" he responded, quickly throwing on his uniform. Even his clothes felt slightly tighter—his shirtsleeves snug around his biceps, his pants just a bit shorter than before.
As he stepped into the kitchen, his younger sister, Anya, blinked at him, rubbing her eyes. "You look… different," she muttered groggily.
His mother, setting down a cup of chai, paused to give him a once-over. "Did you get a haircut or something?" she asked, frowning slightly.
Vihaan grinned. "Nope. Just slept well."
His father, flipping through the newspaper, didn't seem to notice, but Anya kept staring. "You look… taller. And your face is less ugly."
Vihaan rolled his eyes. "Thanks, I guess?"
As he scarfed down his breakfast, an odd excitement bubbled in his chest. His body felt amazing. Stronger, more energized.
Vihaan strolled into school, feeling the slightest bounce in his step. The changes weren't massive, but they were noticeable. His uniform fit differently, his posture felt stronger, and even the way he moved seemed… sharper.
At first, no one paid much attention. But as he walked through the hallways, he caught a few lingering glances. People were noticing.
A couple of classmates whispered among themselves. One of them, Julian, raised an eyebrow as Vihaan passed by.
"Did Singh hit puberty overnight or what?" he muttered to his friend, loud enough for Vihaan to hear.
Vihaan smirked but didn't respond. He wasn't here to explain anything.
The school day was mostly normal—lessons dragged on as usual, and he found himself more focused than before. Whether it was the system or just his own confidence growing, he felt sharper, more alert. Even in P.E., he found his movements a bit smoother, his endurance slightly better.
But the real test would be at the academy.
Schalke Youth Academy - Afternoon
As soon as Vihaan stepped onto the training grounds, the atmosphere shifted.
The Schalke U-15 squad was already warming up, stretching, and juggling footballs. A few players turned to glance at him, some doing double takes. They could tell something was off.
Someone let out a chuckle.
"Yo, look at Singh! Hit the gym for one day and thinks he's a beast now."
Laughter rippled through a few of the boys. Vihaan rolled his shoulders, unfazed. He expected this. Football culture was ruthless—if you weren't already respected, you had to earn it.
Then, a voice called out.
"Damn, Vihaan. Did you sell your soul for an upgrade?"
Vihaan turned and spotted Leon Köhler, Schalke U-15's star striker and his closest friend in the team. Leon was one of the top players in the squad—tall, quick, and lethal in front of goal. He had been one of the few who didn't look down on Vihaan before, but even he was giving him a curious look now.
"Something like that," Vihaan said with a grin.
Leon laughed. "Well, whatever you did, let's hope it stops you from getting bodied in training today."
Vihaan smirked. We'll see.
At that moment, their coach, Trainer Müller, clapped his hands. "Alright, enough talking. Everyone in position for drills."
As the players lined up for the drills, Vihaan took a moment to check his teammates' stats using the system.
Most players had stats in the low-to-mid 50s, making them decent academy-level talents. But one name stood out.
Leon Köhler – Overall: 58 Pace: 72 | Dribbling: 60 | Shooting: 65 | Strength: 55 | Stamina: 61
Vihaan whistled under his breath. Leon was different. No wonder he was one of the best in the squad.
Just then, a new notification flashed before his eyes.
[NEW TASK: PROVE YOUR WORTH]
Objective: Impress Coach Müller in today's drills and practice match.
Reward: +3 Overall Rating, +3 to a random stat, 100 System Points.
[NEW FEATURE UNLOCKED: SYSTEM SHOP]
System Points (SP) can be used to purchase skills, consumables, and stat boosts from the System Shop. The shop updates periodically, offering new skills based on your progression.
Vihaan's breath hitched. The System Shop? He quickly navigated to it, eyes scanning through the available purchases.
🔹 [Basic Skills Available]
First Touch Mastery (100 SP) – Improves ball control upon receiving passes.Dribbling Control (150 SP) – Enhances close-control dribbling in tight spaces.Acceleration Burst (200 SP) – Short burst of speed for quick take-offs.
Most of the good skills were expensive, but earning SP through tasks would help. 100 SP for today's challenge was already a solid start.
Vihaan clenched his fists. He needed those skills. And to get them, he had to dominate today's session.
The first drill was a standard passing routine—quick touches, short passes, movement in tight spaces. Vihaan focused as the drill started.
Tap. Tap. Move.
His touches felt smoother, his balance sharper, his footwork crisper. It wasn't just in his head—he was improving.
Leon, passing next to him, raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Where'd that come from?"
Vihaan just smirked.
Next was 1v1 battles—attackers against defenders. Vihaan stepped up against Jonas, one of the stronger center-backs in the squad.
Jonas smirked. "Try not to trip over yourself, Singh."
The whistle blew.
Jonas lunged immediately, trying to overpower Vihaan.
But Vihaan saw it coming.
A sharp feint. A quick flick. Gone.
Jonas stumbled as Vihaan burst past him, the ball glued to his foot. One step, two steps—a powerful shot into the bottom corner.
Silence.
Then murmurs.
"Wait… what?"
"Did he just—?"
Leon let out a low whistle. "Okay… now I know something's up."
Even Coach Müller, usually unreadable, watched Vihaan a second longer than usual before moving on.
Skepticism and the Match Ahead
Vihaan continued exceeding expectations. His passes were cleaner, his dribbles sharper, his movement more decisive.
But despite the improvement, there was doubt.
"Lucky touches."
"He's just having a good day."
"Bet he fumbles in the practice match."
Vihaan heard everything. And he didn't care.
Because now, he knew one thing for sure—
This was just the beginning.