The morning sun rose lazily over Silversun City, its soft light seeping through the gauzy curtains in Lenny's room. He rolled onto his back and yawned, the memories of yesterday still fresh—the tutoring session, Lizzy's strange request, the unease that hadn't quite left him.
But the System didn't care about moods or family drama.
Daily Tasks UpdatedJog 3 km — Reward: +60 XP60 Push-ups — Reward: +60 XP
He slipped into his gear and headed outside, the cool morning air brushing against his skin like a gentle wake-up call. The jog was smooth, each step landing with practiced rhythm. His breath came steady, his legs now used to the daily routine. The world passed him by in familiar sights: the quiet streets, a stray cat darting across a sidewalk, the warm smell of chapati wafting from a corner vendor already prepping breakfast.
After his run, he dropped down on the front porch and launched into his push-ups. Sixty, clean and controlled. His arms burned, but it was a good kind of burn. The kind that told him he was getting stronger.
Task Complete. +60 XPTask Complete. +60 XP
Level: 7EXP: 175 / 300Health: 300 / 300
The System pulsed faintly in his mind. No level-up today—but he could feel it, creeping closer.
By 11:30 a.m., Lenny was freshly showered, dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, and ready to head out. Today wasn't about the System or the coming tests—it was about the game. Silversun United vs. Volcano City's Tiger FC. A long-awaited match. He grabbed his small backpack and left the house, locking the door behind him.
Silversun Stadium was already buzzing when he arrived. Located just on the edge of downtown, it rose like a steel colossus, echoing with energy and music. Fans in team colors milled about, some with face paint, others waving flags. Vendors shouted from roadside stalls, selling juice and skewers of smoky roast meat. A brass band played near the gates, matching the pulse of a city high on game-day fever.
He scanned the crowd and spotted Daniel near Gate 5, tall and lanky as ever, wearing a blue Silversun jersey.
"Yo!" Daniel waved, grinning. "Didn't think you'd actually come."
Lenny shrugged with a smile. "I Needed the break. And you said front-row seats, didn't you?"
"Cousin hooked me up," Daniel said, flashing the tickets like they were golden bars. "Let's go!"
They found their seats on the lower west wing, just behind the home bench. The view was incredible—close enough to see the players' expressions, feel the heat of the match, and hear the thud of the ball.
The first whistle blew. The crowd roared.
Silversun United took possession early. Their star midfielder, Jayden "The Magician" Malik, weaved through Tiger FC's defenders like water through cracks. One feint, two touches, then a backheel flick to the winger on the run—it was awesome.
"Ohhh!" Daniel yelled, jumping to his feet as the winger sent in a curling cross.
Their striker, Thompson, rose above the defense and powered in a header. The net rippled.
Goal! 1–0.
The stadium erupted.
Tiger FC retaliated fast. In the 19th minute, their forward cut inside, nutmegged the defender, and curved a shot past the keeper. Lenny couldn't even be mad. It was gorgeous.
1–1.
But Silversun was just warming up.
By halftime, Jayden had delivered a no-look assist through three defenders, and Thompson had chipped the goalie after a through ball that left jaws dropped.
3–1.
The second half brought more flair. A moment of magic came in the 68th minute when Jayden intercepted a lazy pass and danced past two midfielders. He sprinted up the center, drew the defense in, then released the ball just as Thompson ran into space. A perfect pass. Thompson didn't even look up—just fired.
4–1.
Tiger FC fought back with a scrappy goal in the 75th minute—4–2—but it wasn't enough. Silversun sealed the deal with a cheeky penalty in the 88th minute after a foul in the box.
5–2.
When the final whistle blew, the stadium was in chaos—cheering, singing, people throwing scarves into the air. Lenny grinned, caught in the wave of euphoria.
"That—" Daniel said, breathless, "—was the best five bucks I ever spent."
"Five bucks?" Lenny raised a brow.
"Okay, fine. My cousin paid," Daniel chuckled. "Still worth it."
As they left the stadium, their voices hoarse from cheering, the two friends shared stories of their favorite plays.
"You know," Lenny said as they parted ways near the bus stop, "we should do this again sometime."
"Absolutely," Daniel nodded. "Next time, we bring a crew."
Lenny rode home in the fading afternoon light, feeling oddly calm. For a few hours, he'd let himself be just a guy watching football with a friend. No System. No fights. No mysterious government tests looming.
Just a Sunday. A good one.
When he reached home, the house was quiet. Lizzy's door was shut. His mom was out running errands. Lenny tossed his hoodie on the back of a chair, sat on the couch, and exhaled.
His mind drifted to Monday—what the national testing might bring. There were rumors of everything from physical combat to advanced AI puzzles. He wasn't sure what to believe.
But whatever it was, let it come.
System Status:Level: 7EXP: 175 / 300Health: 300 / 300