[Next Task: "Mimic the Passes 200 times"
Mimic the exact pass of the Abstracts using the same passing lane, force, and technique used in the demonstration]
[Completion rate: 0/200 ]
Lukas looked at the system window, confused.
"Abstracts? What are those?"
[*They are system-generated players.*]
"Are they based on real life footballers?"
[*Yes, some of them. LTC version 1.0 can not generate real life players.*]
"So future versions will be able to? How do I upgrade the LTC?"
[*For someone who is exhausted, you sure ask a lot of questions.*]
BZZZT****
[New Task In Progress]
[Generating Abstract 1]
Lukas watched in awe as a figure emerged from the ground.
"It is shaped like a human." Lukas thought as he looked at the figure the system called 'Abstract'.
"The only difference is the lack of facial features and the skin colour."
The area where facial features were supposed to be located, was blank. Another striking characteristic that the figure possessed was its greenish skin.
The Hulk, it looked like the Hulk, but without the muscles nor a face.
[Abstract 1.]
This message was displayed on a green window located just above the figure's head. It stood there, as if on pause, alive yet It didn't speak nor move. Lukas stared and the figure stood lifeless with eyes positioned on Lukas
"Abstract 1 sounds… boring. I'll just call you One."
Immediately the name hovering above the figure's head changed.
[One]
[*Get ready, the next task is about to begin.*] TT's voice echoed in the stadium.
"Wow. Why am I getting excited?"
[*Because you don't know what you're about to go through.*]
[Task 2 Begins]
Pass 1: Low Pass With Accuracy.
Mimic The Low Pass of Abstract 1
Completion Rate: 0/100]
Lukas found himself immediately at the centre line. He looked to his left, and saw 'One' beside him. They both had a ball on their feet.
'One' kicked the ball with the inside of its foot, and the ball travelled in a straight line for about 15 meters before coming to a stop. The path the ball took, was graphically highlighted on the pitch as the ball moved, and Lukas watched slightly amazed.
"Well.. this doesn't seem too difficult."
He played the ball with the same motion 'One' used.
[Pass Failed. Completed 0/100] The window displayed the message. TT didn't even speak, seemingly expressing that he was unimpressed.
"What a sassy bot." Lukas thought to himself
Another ball appeared at his feet again.
"Okay, this is just the first try. It's just a straight line pass. How hard can it really be?"
** 45 Minutes Later **
[Pass Failed. Completed 0/100]
"Oh you've got to be kidding me. I must have played this pass more than 400 times and you're saying not even one of them is good enough!?" Lukas sat on the floor, frustrated.
He had tried everything, hitting gently, with "moderate" force, nonchalantly, he even started praying after the 200th attempt, still nothing.
[Novice Guided Mode Activated]
"Wait, you had something like this all this time?"
[*What do you think this is?*]
"Isn't it like a passing assistant? Like FIFA's Assisted Passing option?"
[*Why do you think this is a game?*]
"Well for starters I'm currently lying down on my bed at my apartment while training here for 24 hours, but only 24 seconds would have passed in the real world. Sounds like a game to me."
[*Well it isn't.*]
"So what is it?"
[*The system or the Novice Guided Mode?*]
"Both!"
[*The Guided Mode, takes control of your body, when completing a particular task is deemed almost impossible for the user's skill level. It performs the task with your body while leaving you with the sense of how it was done, so you can try to develop on that*] TT explained.
"Wait during training? So it can't be used in matches?"
[*So is my presence alone not enough of a cheat for you? You're still expecting me to literally come play the matches for you?*]
"Hmph..my bad.... Let's continue the session TT, I still have a lot of tasks to complete today."
[*I'm glad you're aware.*]
The ball appeared in front of Lukas again, and his own body moved. He wasn't in control, but he could feel it move. He felt like a marionette, but one that was aware it was being controlled.
He didn't dwell much on that feeling though as he tried to focus on the way his body was moving. The amount of force his foot hit the ball with, the location it made contact with, the placement of his other foot as he hit the ball.
And he felt EVERYTHING.
It felt like the kind of focus that's not human. The kind that a "talentless" person like him, would definitely not have. He watched as the ball came to a stop exactly at the same level as 'One'.
[Novice Guided Mode Deactivated.]
"It's just one try?"
[*You were expecting a million?*]
"Fine.. let me try myself before I lose this feeling."
The ball appeared in front of Lukas, he thought back to the feeling of his body placement and movement when the system was controlling him, and tried to replicate that movement and that feeling.
His foot made contact with the ball, and it rolled to the spot.
"Please count, please count, please count." Lukas murmured to himself, as his ball rolled to a stop perfectly beside 'One's.
"YESSS! I DID IT!" Lukas screamed at the top of his lungs.
[*Congratulations great host, you have done the impossible—completed a 15-metre ground pass. You're now Lionel Messi, there's no need for my existence anymore.*] TT's voice that always sounded human-like, was now fully mechanical.
"Oh c'mon. At least let me take this W."
[*…..*]
No response.
[Pass Successful. Completed 1/100]
Lukas's reaction changed immediately he saw the system window.
Just one.
"If it took this long to complete the first out of 100 ground passes, I'll most likely not finish the tasks today."
[*You can switch on Guided Mode once for each pass.*]
"You've finally said something I wanna hear, start the next passing sequence."
'One' played another ground pass, this time farther, with the ball curving.
Lukas studied.
[Novice Guided Mode Activated]
He moved.
***6 hours later***
Lukas was lying on the pitch, arms spread as he stared into the sky.
"Where's the sun coming from?" He thought.
The system window appeared just above him, acting as some sort of shield from the "sun".
[Task 2: Mimic The Passes 200 times.
Mimic the exact pass of the Abstracts using the same passing lane, force, and technique used in the demonstration.
Pass 1: Ground Pass 100/100
Pass 2: Lofted Pass 100/100
Task 2 Completed.]
He had completed the passing task. It took him 45 minutes to get the first pass, but since he started using the system's Guided Mode to feel the sensation of the motion through his body, he was able to recreate that feeling and make a pass in less than 50 trials.
He finished the Ground Passes in 2 hours, and spent 4 hours completing the Lofted Passes.
"I have now been here for about 9 hours, I could probably complete the attack training today."
[Task 3: Shooting and Set Piece Drills 0/200…]
Lukas had to shoot the ball from several points on the court. Sometimes it was in the format of a free kick, with Abstracts serving as the walls. Only the corners of the net counted, and an Abstract he nicknamed 'Goalie' was spawned in-between the goalpost.
He completed it in 5 hours.
[Task 3: Shooting and Set Piece Drills 200/200. Completed]
"Next! I'm on fire today!" Lukas screamed, as he continued his grueling training. He could see the stark difference in his skill in a particular area between his first attempt at the start of a task, and his final attempt.
And there's nothing more motivating than seeing the progress, all that hard work was bringing.
[Task 4: Dribbling Drills. 0/500 successful dribbles completed.]
The next drill was to improve his dribbling skills, and with his ball control skills already good from his first task of the day, so he figured it would not take him too long to finish.
Or so he thought.
No dribbling cones were used, instead 'One' was the defender. The task was simple, go past 'One', and score, then put the ball in the net. After 100 successful moves, another defender was spawned to increase the difficulty.
A defender kept spawning after every 100 count of success, and by the final trial, Lukas had 5 defenders surrounding him—named from the numbers 'One to Five.
'Two' was the first to lunge at Lukas immediately the drill started at the halfway line, but he just flicked the ball upward as he jumped with it, evading 'Two's' tackle.
'One' and 'Three' tried to hold on to him as he pushed the ball forward and accelerated, their hands only catching the wind behind him.
They gave chase, but Lukas was gone and the gap didn't look like it was closing down.
'Four' and 'Five' stood side by side in front of the 'D' outside the 18-yard box. Lukas didn't even raise his head to look at them. He executed a quick step over, and 'Four' dove in to poke the ball—it went through his legs.
Lukas raised his legs to shoot, but 'Five' dived in to block the shot with a tackle, with 'One' through 'Four' also recovering quickly, he saw the tackle and changed his mind in the milliseconds window he had.
He flicked the ball as it went over 'Five's body on the floor, and hit an unnecessarily powerful shot—low and hard to the left. Goalie got a hand on it, but it was too powerful and from point-blank range.
It had no chance of stopping it.
Lukas watched the ball go in as he fell on his knees. It had taken 13 hours to complete the dribbling drill.
"I had no idea how bad my dribbling was before today."
[TRAINING SESSION 2 COMPLETED]
[ Rewards (10X)
Off. Awareness +20
Ball Control: +30
Dribbling: +35
Tight Possession: +35
Low Pass: +25
Lofted Pass: +30
Finishing: +30
Header: +20
Place Kicking: +30
Curl: +25 ]
"Still, I love the feeling of seeing this reward window, especially after all THAT. Makes it worthwhile." Lukas said with a broad smile as he lay flat on his back.