After the dome training ended, Winston reported to Instructor Smith. The instructor informed him that both teams would be given a ten-minute break before the one-on-one match began and that he would be called when it was time to head to the field.
With time to spare, Winston returned to the football field beside Building D to finalize his game plan. He mentally reviewed the strengths of every player on his team. The ones he trusted most were Oswin and Hickman. Those two would be the backbone of the squad in the upcoming match.
As for Bongani... Winston was still uncertain. Bongani had shown plenty of promise during training, but training and competitive matches were two completely different environments. There was no telling how he would perform once the pressure of an official challenge set in. As Winston continued planning, another thought crossed his mind. It's been a while since I last checked the Core System's shop… Or bought any skills—He sat down on the grass, took a steadying breath, and opened the Core System.
Ding
[Core stats]
Name: Daley Winston
Age: 19
Weak Foot: 2
Foot: Right
Profession: Footballer
Team: N/A
Player Rating: 86
Position: Center forward.
Potential: 89
[CORE MERIDIAN]
[Voltage Core: Level 1]
Acceleration
Sprint Speed
[Innate Terra: 12%]
Shooting
[Spatial Zenith: 12%]
Passing
[Absolute: 12%]
Dribbling
[Nethen Essence: Level 1]
Physical
Reward Points: 20
Acquired skills: 05
Skills shop
A smile spread across Winston's face as his eyes dropped to the Reward Points section. It had been a long time since he had last checked his balance. When he first obtained the Core System, earning Reward Points had been his main priority. Then everything changed—the Awakenings had diverted his attention, pushing skill upgrades to the back of his mind. Twenty Reward Points… Not bad—I wonder what I can afford in the Skill Shop with this many.
Ding
[User skills shop]
Chip Shot: 25 points
Outside Foot Shot: 60 points
Long Passer: 10 points
Incisive Pass: 25 points
Tiki Taka: 10 points
First Touch: 45 points
Quick Step: 50 points
Low Driven shot: 50 points
Long Passer and Tiki-Taka… Those are the only two skills I can afford right now. That's not a bad combination. Oswin and I already have great chemistry on the pitch. If these skills improve our passing and link-up play, they could give us the edge against Diego's team. Without hesitating any longer, Winston selected both skills and pressed the purchase button.
[Skill move: Acquired]
[Long Passer: Equipped]
[Tiki Taka: Equipped]
After acquiring the two skills, Winston sat quietly and reviewed the formation he had discussed with Oswin back in the dome. 4-3-3.
He mentally arranged every player into position, going over possible attacks, defensive rotations, and passing patterns. When he finished, he stood up and began stretching.
To say he was calm would have been a lie. In truth, Winston was anxious—this was his first official challenge, and part of him would have preferred to sit back and watch other players compete first before challenging someone himself. Then a familiar voice called out. "Winston, come on. It's time," Instructor Smith said from the gate of the training field. Winston took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and followed the instructor. Inside the office, the teammates he had recruited were already waiting.
Some sat quietly with tense expressions, while others kept adjusting their jerseys and wristbands, unable to hide their nerves. Only Oswin and Lukas Hickman seemed completely relaxed. The two were chatting casually, as if they were waiting for an ordinary training session rather than an official challenge match. Seeing that, Winston felt a little of his own tension ease.
"Listen carefully," Instructor Smith began, looking around the room.
"As the other instructors have already explained, if Winston loses this challenge, he will lose three ranking points. The rest of you will each lose one point."
He paused to let the information sink in. "The match will follow the standard Federation rules."
"If a player is injured and unable to continue, your team may substitute any registered teammate. However, that injured player must remain off the field for at least twelve minutes before being eligible to return."
He folded the clipboard under his arm. "And remember—you are only allowed to issue one challenge per week, so make it count."
Instructor Smith swept his gaze across the room before letting out a quiet sigh. "That's all."
He stood up from his chair and walked toward the door. "I'll give you five minutes to discuss your tactics."
He opened the door. "I'll be waiting outside."
The office fell silent as the door closed. Winston stepped into the middle of the room. Everyone instinctively turned their attention toward him. He crouched down and quickly sketched the team's formation on a whiteboard, explaining the 4-3-3 setup he wanted to use. One by one, he pointed to each player, assigning their responsibilities both in possession and while defending. By the time he finished, most of the players understood their roles. Even so, Winston could still see the tension on several faces.
Some avoided eye contact. Others nervously tapped their feet or clenched their fists. Winston took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Listen." Everyone looked up. "Don't treat this match like it's about survival."
He looked each teammate in the eyes."Treat it like an opportunity. Every one of you earned your place at the Federation Academy because you're talented. Today is your chance to prove it."
He pointed toward the door leading to the pitch. "Play the kind of football that makes the next person thinking about challenging you hesitate."
"Make them wonder if it's worth facing you." The room gradually became quieter. The anxious expressions slowly disappeared, replaced by determined ones. Seeing the change, Winston nodded to himself. He didn't know whether the speech would be enough once they stepped onto the pitch… But for now, it was enough to make them believe.
Together, they made their way toward the football field where the challenge would be held. No one spoke—The silence hung heavily over Winston's team. Each player was lost in his own thoughts, mentally preparing for the match ahead. Walking with his hands clasped behind his back, Instructor Smith eventually stopped outside the entrance.
Without a word, he gestured toward the field. "Go on."
One by one, the players stepped onto the pitch. The moment Winston crossed the touchline, he froze for a split second. The football field was already packed. Youth players from every building had gathered around the sidelines, joined by Federation instructors dressed in sky-blue tracksuits and officials wearing tailored suits. No one wanted to miss the academy's first one-on-one challenge of the week.
Some had come simply to watch. Others were there to study. Every player knew that today's opponent could become tomorrow's challenger. Weaknesses exposed on the field would not remain secret for long. As Winston swept his gaze across the crowd, an uneasy feeling settled in his chest.
It felt as though his team had walked into a sheepfold, while everyone watching from the sidelines were wolves quietly sizing up their next prey. The realization made the atmosphere even heavier. This match wasn't just against Diego's team. It was a performance in front of the entire academy.
After the coin toss, both teams were handed plain training bibs to distinguish the sides. Winston's team pulled on yellow jerseys—Diego's team wore blue. As the players spread out across the pitch, the contrast between the two teams became immediately apparent.
The formations couldn't have been more different. Diego had opted for a 5-4-1. The challenge had caught him off guard, leaving him with little time to properly assess Winston or build a team around his preferred style of play. Rather than take unnecessary risks, he chose a compact, defense-oriented formation that emphasized organization and counterattacks. It wasn't the system he usually preferred, but under the circumstances, it was the safest option.
Across the halfway line, Winston's team lined up in a 4-3-3. It was the same attacking formation Winston had grown accustomed to during his time with Westminster's junior team. He had considered switching to a more balanced system. In the end, he rejected the idea—if he was going to issue his first challenge… He wanted to do it on his own terms. 'Attack' That was the football he believed in. And that was the football he intended to play.
Diego's team kicked off the match.
As expected, they began patiently, circulating the ball around the center circle before dropping it back into defense. Their style was deliberate—every player who received possession took an extra touch, lifted his head, and scanned for teammates before making the next pass.
Winston's team refused to sit back. The front three immediately pressed, forcing Diego's defenders to play under pressure. Despite the relentless press, Diego's team remained composed. They patiently worked the ball across the back line before switching play to the left flank. The left midfielder drove forward, combining with the overlapping full-back as they advanced past midfield. Waiting for them was Winston's left-back. He stayed on his feet, eyes locked on the ball. As the midfielder attempted to push it past him, the defender timed his challenge perfectly. His outstretched foot poked the ball over the touchline.
Throw-in.
Diego's team restarted play quickly. The thrower searched for an opening before spotting Diego checking toward the ball. Diego slipped between two defenders, received the throw cleanly, and immediately laid it back. The thrower returned the pass without hesitation. Receiving it again, Diego turned and accelerated toward the middle.
A quick feint—shoulder drop. Then a burst of close control.
He glided past the first defender before slipping between two midfielders with silky footwork. The crowd let out a collective murmur. Diego carried the ball toward the right side of the penalty area.
He glanced up. Winston's back line remained compact. There was no shooting lane. Just as he tried to cut inside—slide!
Lukas Hickman launched into a perfectly timed tackle. His boot cleanly hooked the ball away, sending it rolling toward the right touchline. One of Winston's full-backs reacted first. He reached the loose ball and immediately launched a counterattack. Without dwelling on possession, he fired a long pass into midfield. The midfielder controlled it with one touch before quickly playing it wide.
Bongani collected the pass on the right wing. Winston had deliberately deployed him there. He hadn't been able to recruit a natural winger, so Bongani's versatility made him the best option for the position.
Bongani squared up against the oncoming defender and sold a sharp body feint. The defender bit—bursting past him, Bongani accelerated down the right wing with the ball glued to his feet. As he approached the edge of the penalty area, he lifted his head, searching for someone to cross to.
No one was free—every yellow shirt inside the box was tightly marked by Diego's defenders. With no target available, Bongani abandoned the cross. Instead, he cut inside, carrying the ball into the penalty area. Diego's defenders immediately collapsed on him, forcing him closer and closer to the byline. Running out of space, Bongani swung his right foot and drove the ball toward the goalmouth. A defender reacted just in time, sticking out his knee.
Thud!
The ball ricocheted off the defender and flew behind the goal.
Corner kick.