The booming voice of the commentator blaring through the speakers echoed in Mystic's ears as his vision blurred from overusing his ability, he shook his head, pushing through the haze, and steeled himself.
"The team needs me!" The thought rang like a battle cry in his mind as he surged forward on the left wing.
He could already see his team had regained possession, and with him unmarked, he knew the ball would soon come his way.
Mystic didn't doubt it for a second, he had firmly established himself as the best player on the team, and his instincts sharpened as he began cutting inside from the wing, the opposing left-back sprinted toward him, desperately trying to close him down, but Mystic was one step ahead.
His eyes glowed faintly blue as he activated his ability, the moment he sensed his teammate preparing to pass, the world around him transformed into a vivid 3D grid, overlayed with a stream of analytical data.
Even without turning his head, his ability revealed there was an 80% chance someone was about to crash into him from behind.
The ball arrived at his feet just then, and with a calculated move, Mystic used the top of his right foot to nudge it backward, twisting his body sideways, he narrowly avoided the reckless tackle that would have sent him sprawling and cost his team possession.
Instead of losing the ball, Mystic outmaneuvered his marker and found himself in open space, he dashed forward, gently nudging the ball ahead with his left boot, raising his gaze, he surveyed the field. Ahead of him, five players loomed.
Two were his teammates.
One of them was his team's striker which was locked in a physical battle with one of the central defenders, who was aggressively tugging at his jersey.
Despite the defender's rough tactics, the striker kept his focus, pointing forward and signalling Mystic to send a through ball.
Mystic's glowing eyes analysed the situation, and the data flowed seamlessly, percentages and probabilities flashed before him as he weighed his options.
[> Special Ability – Zone Sense (Legendary+++)<]
30% chance of completing a through ball
20% chance of scoring from that position
40% chance of losing possession with a through ball
10% chance of conceding a corner
Mystic didn't fully understand how his ability worked. He had been born with it, and all he knew was that it could be activated through intense focus, unfortunately, it came with a severe side effect, overusing it left him drained and vulnerable.
Given the odds presented to him, Mystic decided against sending the ball to the striker, he didn't even consider the winger on the right, who was tightly marked by the opposing left-back, instead, he chose to take the ball forward himself.
While he was weighing his options, the opposition's free central defender seized the opportunity to close him down.
The defender had read Mystic's hesitation and lunged in with a perfectly timed slide tackle attempt, aiming to not only steal the ball but also take Mystic off his feet.
One leg was positioned to swipe the ball cleanly, while the other aimed to knock Mystic to the ground in a calculated, stylish challenge.
But Mystic wasn't caught off guard, even while deliberating, his ability had already alerted him to the 90% chance of a sliding tackle.
Prepared for the move, Mystic adjusted his position.
Just as the defender closed in, Mystic dragged the ball back slightly before flicking it into the air and with a perfectly timed jump, he soared above the tackle, leaving the defender sliding helplessly past him.
The crowd erupted in cheers at the audacious move.
It was another show-stopping stunt from Mystic, however, as his feet touched the ground, the duration of his ability expired, and a wave of exhaustion hit him, his body weakening from the strain.
Despite the fatigue, Mystic refused to let it affect him, he had a clear chance to score, and he wasn't going to waste it, as he nudged the ball forward with the side of his right foot, positioning himself for a shot.
The two defenders ahead of him abandoned their markers, rushing to block him, they knew exactly how deadly Mystic was in front of goal.
Their dread was palpable as Mystic lined up his strike, determined to finish the play in spectacular fashion.
His arms were wide in the air, his left foot firmly planted into the ground to support his poised right foot, ready to strike the ball into the back of the net, but in that split second, the right-back he had evaded earlier finally caught up with him.
With a reckless sliding tackle, the defender used both legs to clamp down on Mystic's supporting left leg, viciously twisting his momentum and sending him crashing toward the ground.
It was a deliberate and dangerous foul, and as Mystic fell, he couldn't help but wonder how differently it might have played out if his ability were still active.
A bewildered expression spread across his face as the overwhelming fatigue from overusing his power paralyzed him completely, leaving him unable to move even a single muscle.
Bang!
–
"Nooooo!"
A sharp intake of breath followed as Mystic jolted upright, sitting in his bed, his upper body was bare, his lower half concealed beneath the duvet, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"It's just a dream," Mystic muttered, running a hand through his hair as he swung his legs off the bed, he stumbled toward the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face.
After a few seconds, he raised his head, staring into the mirror at his reflection, his average yet strikingly handsome face, framed by neat cornrows that gave him a certain playboy aura, stared back at him.
With his mind slightly clearer, Mystic returned to his room, he moved toward the large transparent glass wall, gazing out at the city streets.
The quiet serenity of the late hour washed over him as he took in the twinkling lights and stillness outside.
As he stood there, he found himself reflecting on his journey, the trials that had led him to this moment and the strange connection he felt to the dream he'd just had, his thoughts deepened as a faint light blue glow flickered in his eyes.
[> Special Ability – Zone Sense (Legendary+++)<]
[ System (Locked.)]