Noah's legs ached pleasantly as he jogged across the academy pitch, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the grass.
He could still feel the mentor's words from earlier: Flow Frame, Crown State, Ego players, Prodigies, and the system.
It had sounded impossible, but now, standing among his teammates, everything felt… real.
"Focus, Noah! Eyes on the ball!" Marcus shouted, chasing after a stray pass.
Noah smirked and adjusted his stance, feeling a familiar tingle in his legs and chest.
The system was quietly running in the background, subtly tuning his movements. He bent his knees, leaned forward, and sprinted toward the ball.
Time seemed to stretch for a fraction of a second—the world slowing around him.
SYSTEM NOTICE: FLOW FRAME READY — Aura Animal: Cheetah (minor)
He weaved past Damien, who tried to block him but was too slow.
The ball danced effortlessly at Noah's feet as he approached the small training goal.
With a smooth flick, he sent the ball flying past the makeshift keeper.
GOAL!!!!
He spun, grinning at his stunned friends. Damien groaned. "How do you even move like that? That was… insane."
Noah shrugged, brushing sweat from his brow. "Just… paying attention. Maybe a little instinct.
Nothing you need to worry about." He felt a small surge inside him, a thrill at the first real taste of his system in action.
Speed felt sharper, his movements lighter.
He could feel every minor improvement—the Flow Frame was real, even if it wasn't fully manifest yet.
SYSTEM UPDATE: Speed +2, Agility +3, Dribbling +3
"Confidence doesn't suit you," Ethan teased, tossing him the ball for another round.
"Don't get too full of yourself just because you got lucky scoring."
Noah caught it effortlessly, spinning past both Ethan and Marcus with an easy flick of his foot.
The faint shimmer of his aura pulsed around him, like a whisper of what was to come.
Dragon.
Cheetah.
Both waiting for the right moment to fully awaken.
He passed the ball to Marcus with a teasing grin. "Luck? Maybe.
But watch closely—because this is only the beginning."
As the practice game continued, Noah felt a strange satisfaction in the rhythm of the match.
Every sprint, every feint, every small pass reminded him that he was learning, growing, and—just a little—surpassing his peers.
His friends laughed and shouted, teasing each other as usual, and Noah laughed too, though inside, the tiniest spark of arrogance was igniting.
He could feel it, a sense that he was destined for more than just academy glory.
The system hummed quietly in the background, teasing with glimpses of abilities he could unlock and skills he could hone.
"Careful, Noah!" Damien called, attempting to intercept a pass.
Noah sidestepped, the ball gliding at his feet.
He could sense the tiniest surge of his Flow Frame, the faint hint of Dragon energy coiling inside him. He smiled, feeling the potential he had yet to tap.
As the sun dipped lower, painting the field in gold, Noah jogged to the edge of the pitch, hands on his knees, laughing. "You guys are slow today. Don't tell me you're already tired."
"Yeah, yeah," Marcus huffed, shaking his head. "We'll see how long that confidence lasts once the real matches start."
Noah straightened, letting the wind wash over him. "Real matches? Just wait. One day, everyone will know my name."
He felt it again—the faint pulse of Dragon energy, the whisper of the system promising more, the thrill of the game feeding his ego.
For the first time, Noah truly understood: this was just the beginning.