Chapter 5: If you know what you desire, even against a waterfall's torrent, you must swim upstream
The black smoke still curled around my feet like hungry shadows.
My body disappeared from everyone's sight as if invisible.
A minute later, I reappeared as if warped back to the training field again.
"Assarun!! Where did you go just now!?" Coach Yeager exclaimed.
"What do you mean? I just ran at the speed of sound. Can't Coach Yeager, with decades of experience in football, even see that? Look closely, Coach, what am I wearing now?"
"A c-c-coat! What is this!? You were wearing a vest today, weren't you! Don't tell me... you ran so fast that you changed clothes in the locker room without anyone seeing!?"
Coach Yeager was so stunned that his body and voice trembled. The other football team members, upon hearing that, were all amazed and started whispering and buzzing as if they had seen a famous celebrity taking a taxi.
"Only half correct, Coach. The truth is, I ran ten laps around the field as you ordered. Then I ran into the locker room to wash my face, and then I changed clothes. Finally, I hopped on one leg and did ten somersaults back to this training field."
"Impossible... I can't believe it..." Coach Yeager mumbled, sweating profusely.
That's right, Coach. It's impossible. Most of what I said was just bragging.
In reality, I just used all the speed from the Spark Dribble skill to run and change clothes, wash my face, rest for a bit, and then ran back to the training field. Because even though this skill greatly increases speed, it doesn't increase stamina.
In other words, when using the Spark Dribble skill, even if I'm as fast as the speed of sound, I wouldn't be able to run ten laps around the field, because I'd be exhausted and stop after the first lap.
Saying I ran ten laps or hopped on one leg was just bragging to save myself from having to run around the field again.
"As I said before, my body hasn't fully recovered. I'd like to ask for a bit more time to recuperate. So, I'd like to leave early today. Oh, can I have those five hundred dailiez, Coach?"
"Hmm..." Coach Yeager groaned, still seemingly stunned by my bragging. With trembling hands, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his wallet, then handed me five hundred dailiez.
But before I could leave, I had unfinished business.
My eyes found Kleber. Still standing there with his pretty silver hair. Still holding that ball like he owned the world.
"My turn," I said.
Kleber's face went pale. "Wait, what are you—"
"SPARK ARROW!"
Activating skill [Spark Arrow] 20 MP consumed Remaining MP: 60/100
The skill name left my lips like a prayer. Like a curse.
I'd never used this move before. Hell, I didn't even know what it would do. Arrow... that could mean passing. Could mean shooting. In football, moves with "Arrow" usually sent the ball flying straight to a target.
But this felt different.
Power flooded through me. Different from the dribbling skill. This was sharper. More focused. Like holding lightning in a bottle and knowing exactly where to throw it.
My body knew what to do even if my mind didn't. Instinct took over. The skill flowed through me like it had always been there, waiting.
I didn't need to run this time. I stood my ground. Felt the energy building in my chest, in my arms, in the very core of who I was.
The ball at my feet began to glow. Soft at first. Then brighter. Until it looked like a fallen star.
This wasn't a pass. This wasn't a normal shot either. This was something else entirely. Something that would fly straight and true like an arrow from a bow.
"This is for calling me weak," I said. My voice carried across the field like wind through wheat. "This is for that finishing move earlier."
I kicked.
The ball didn't just fly. It carved through the air like a knife through silk. Straight and true and beautiful in its violence.
Kleber tried to dodge. Too late.
The ball caught him in the chest. Sent him spinning backward, arms flailing like broken wings.
He hit the ground hard. Rolled twice. Came to rest on his back, staring up at the sky like he was seeing it for the first time.
Kleber's HP: 50/100
"Damage received," I whispered. "How's it feel?"
Coach Yeager was beside Kleber in seconds. Checking him over. Making sure nothing was broken.
"He's alright," the coach called out. "Just winded."
Kleber sat up slowly. His perfect silver hair was mussed now. Dirt streaked his face. But his eyes... his eyes held something new. Something that looked almost like respect.
"By the way, does this mean I'm still the team's number one striker?" I asked.
"Yes," Coach Yeager replied weakly. "You're still the team's number one striker."
"Then before I go home, I'll go to the finance office to collect my daily wages as the team's number one striker, as usual."
I walked off the field with a chuckle, and once out of sight, I let out a long sigh of relief.
Phew, that was a close call... I don't know how, but at least today I got away without losing my position as the team's number one striker, and I even got a lot of money.
[Congratulations, you have met the conditions. You have received the title 'Sonic Boy'.]
[Effect of the title "Sonic Boy": Your speed status will increase by 1 level.]
[Congratulations, you have met the conditions. You have received the title 'Braggart'.]
[Effect of the title "Braggart": You will receive the skill "Paradoxical Speech LV1". The effect of this skill allows you to make what you think into words that seem ambiguous and thought-provoking.]
Um... I got both a title and a skill.