Morning rolled in quietly, but something felt wrong. Or rather—different.
A tension hummed in the air, subtle yet unmistakable, like the academy itself was holding its breath.
I couldn't explain it, but I sensed it the moment my eyes opened.
My first clue came when I checked the System.
[SYSTEM BOOTING…]
[WARNING: HIGH-PRIORITY NOTIFICATION PENDING]
[Do you wish to view it now? Y/N]
My eyebrows rose. High-priority notifications were rare. The last one was when I reached Elite Tier.
"Show me," I whispered.
The blue interface flashed:
---
[HIGH-PRIORITY NOTICE]
You have been selected for: YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM PRE-SELECTION ASSESSMENT
Category: U-16 Elite Prospects
Date: 5 days from now
Location: Confidential – Lagos Training Complex
Status: Immediate Preparation Required
You are one of 12 players chosen nationwide.
---
I froze.
For a moment, it didn't feel real. My mind emptied, and my heartbeat drummed in my ears. National team assessment…? Me?
The System continued:
[NOTE: This is not a final call-up. This is a closed-door evaluation for potential national youth recruitment.]
[Warning: Emotional stability required.]
I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to breathe.
A national assessment wasn't a joke.
This meant scouts, coaches, tactical analysts—top-level eyes watching every movement.
I swallowed. Hard.
"Five days…" I whispered, hands trembling slightly. "Five days for the most important test of my life."
But the System wasn't done.
---
BREAKFAST.
The cafeteria was a different battlefield today.
Whispers.
Glances.
Uneasy silence.
Players stared at their plates as if they were trying not to think too loudly.
News traveled fast here—but not my news.
No one knew about the national assessment yet.
This tension was something else.
I barely sat down before Chinedu leaned close, voice low.
"You heard?"
"Heard what?" I asked cautiously.
"They're reshuffling the squads."
My spoon froze halfway to my mouth.
"Reshuffling? Why?"
He shrugged, eyes darting around. "Something about new internal standards. And possibly… new players coming in."
I frowned. "Is this confirmed?"
"Coach Ravel called a full assembly for 9 a.m. And he looked… stressed."
A mysterious reshuffling.
A national assessment in five days.
And a storm brewing in the academy.
I hadn't even processed the first twist before the second was already smashing through the door.
---
THE ASSEMBLY
The entire academy stood beneath the indoor arena lights.
Coaches.
Scouts.
Players from every tier.
The air crackled.
Coach Morgan stood at the front with a tablet in hand and a serious expression on his face. Coach Ravel and the assistant coaches flanked him.
"Students," Morgan began, "yesterday's Progress Evaluation Match has prompted immediate administrative decisions."
Darius stood across the hall, arms folded, eyes burning into mine.
Morgan continued:
"As of today, the **Red Squad and Blue Squad will undergo full reshuffling. All positions are open. All players will be redistributed based on individual performance metrics, tactical fit, and upcoming academy objectives."
A ripple moved through the players like a cold breeze. Murmurs. Tight jaws. Nervous shifting.
"This is not optional. This is mandatory."
My stomach tightened.
Academy reshuffling meant everything:
Leadership shifts.
Rivalries disrupted.
Positions reclaimed or lost.
And worst of all—
It meant instability.
Exactly when I needed stability the most.
Morgan's eyes scanned the hall. Then he said something that froze my blood.
"Before we begin, two of our academy players have been shortlisted for an external Elite Opportunity and will be under special evaluation."
Two?
My heart thundered.
No.
No way.
Who was the second person?
Morgan tapped the screen.
A spotlight beam illuminated the first name.
"Joseph Oyas — U-16 National Pre-Selection Assessment."
Gasps.
Soft murmurs.
Shock.
Chinedu's mouth fell open.
Darius's eyes sharpened like blades.
Some players looked impressed.
Others… jealous.
Heat crawled up my neck. The floor felt unsteady beneath my feet.
Then—
Morgan illuminated the second name.
"Darius Onyedika — invited to a private assessment with an international youth affiliate."
The hall erupted.
International?
Darius?
The rivalry wasn't fading—it was climbing to the next level.
He and I locked eyes across the room.
No anger.
No smugness.
Just intensity.
Two destinies rising at the same time.
---
After the announcements, tension thickened like smoke.
Coach Ravel stepped forward.
"We will now display the new squad lists."
A massive digital board lit up.
Names began moving.
Shifting.
Rearranging.
Blue Squad.
Red Squad.
Reserve Squad.
Elite Rotation.
My chest tightened as I scanned the lists.
"Come on," I whispered. "Where am I…?"
Then I saw it.
My name—
not under Red Squad
not under Blue Squad
not even under Elite Rotation.
But under a new category:
"STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM – SPECIAL PRIORITY UNIT"
Only four names were listed there:
1. Joseph Oyas
2. Darius Onyedika
3. Samuel Ogbu
4. Leo Martinez
The entire hall erupted again.
A new special unit?
Created just now?
With me and Darius… together?
I heard someone whisper behind me:
"This unit… it's like a pre-elite group."
"They're being trained for something bigger."
"Bro, Joseph and Darius in the same team? That's fireworks waiting to happen."
My head spun.
National assessment.
Special priority unit.
Training beside my biggest rival.
Five days until the biggest test of my career.
It was too much at once.
---
As players dispersed, the hallway buzzed with tension.
Chinedu caught up to me immediately.
"Joseph! My guy! Bro—national assessment?? Do you know what this MEANS?"
I tried to speak, but my voice cracked. "…It's too much."
He put a hand on my shoulder. "Yeah. It is. But you're not alone."
I gave him a weak smile.
But before I could respond—
A voice I recognized all too well spoke behind us.
"Congratulations."
I turned.
Darius.
His tone was calm, dangerously calm.
"This changes everything," he said softly. "You and I… in the same special unit? Training together? Competing in front of scouts?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I hope you're ready."
I straightened my shoulders. "I've been ready."
A slow smile formed on his lips.
"Good."
We held that stare for a long, heavy moment.
Rivalry didn't always need anger.
Sometimes it needed respect wrapped in fire.
---
Just when I thought the surprises were done, Coach Morgan called my name.
"Joseph. My office. Now."
My heart thudded.
When I entered, the atmosphere was cold and serious.
Morgan folded his arms.
"You understand the significance of this national assessment?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then understand this as well—your performance will directly affect the academy's reputation. And with the new squad reshuffling, you will be juggling two extreme responsibilities at the same time."
My breath caught. "Sir… I'll handle it."
He leaned forward.
"You must. Because if you fail—both you and the academy suffer."
I clenched my jaw. "I won't fail."
He studied me for a long moment.
"…Good."
Then he handed me a sealed envelope.
"Inside this is your official assessment briefing. Read it in private. And brace yourself. This is not like any match you've ever played."
I nodded, bowing slightly, and left the room.
My hands trembled as I held the envelope.
Everything was happening too fast.
Too big.
Too heavy.
But also—
Too important to fear.
---
In the solitude of my dorm room, I finally opened it.
Inside was a letter bearing the official crest of the national youth federation.
My eyes scanned the words.
And then my breath stopped.
Because the final line read:
"If you excel, you may receive direct invitation to the Youth National Camp — and potential pathways to European club partnerships."
My vision blurred.
My chest tightened.
This was it.
This was the chance every Nigerian boy who ever loved football dreamt of.
And it came to me…
the boy from Benin City…
the boy who trained on dusty fields…
the boy who once kicked a football barefoot because he had no boots.
Now the System pulsed behind my eyes, almost like a heartbeat.
[SYSTEM ALERT: PRIMARY DESTINY ARC UPDATE DETECTED]
[Trajectory Status: Altered]
[Potential Pathway Detected — International Level]
My hands gripped the letter tightly.
This wasn't just a chapter.
This was the beginning of a new era.
And the world—the entire football world—
had just knocked on my door.