Chapter 41

Daniel Meadows

Age -14

Relation- Self

Occupation- Student

Personal Traits

Sexual Orientation (current) - Straight

Happiness- 65/100

Self Esteem- 54/100

Ambition- 65/100

Compassion- 61/100

Charisma- 51/100

Physical Traits

Health- 100/110

Stamina- 40/125

Strength- 9/100

Dexterity- 9/100

Constitution- 9/100

Mental Traits

Mental Health – 100/105

Intelligence – 8/100

Wisdom – 9/100

Aptitude – 12/100

Mental Fortitude- 13/100

Special Traits

Soccer

Stealing 52

Trapping 58

Dribbling 60

Shooting 63

Precision 63

Finesse 53

Dan’s stats made him grin as he looked them over, taking a moment to prepare himself mentally for the final challenge. Just as Samantha had demanded of him, Dan had climbed past the other players on the team, winning in each grid, to get to the top. Now, as he caught his breath, sweat dripping off his brow, he watched the Coach score her fifth point against the player she was currently facing. Watching them, Dan had to admit, the player actually had talent. Not as much as Dan, of course, but he knew what he was doing. However, Samantha…she was the real deal. Watching her, Dan knew her role as coach was not one that had been falsely given. Still, Dan was determined to make her regret how she’d been treating him. He was going to get her back, for how she’d made himself work. And he was going to make her realize Dan wasn’t like the other players. That Dan, was different. Dan was going to make her see just how good he was.

“Well well well, look who it is.” Samantha brushed a bit of hair out of her face as she looked at Dan, an amused smile across her face. “It seems you weren’t just talk after all.”

“I told you I was here to play soccer. Not just run around the field pointlessly.” Dan stepped into the grid with her. Everyone else was watching. The entire freshman team, was watching the two of them. “And now, I’ll show you just how good I am.”

Samantha laughed, though her eyes took on a dangerous sheen. “Well then, shall we make this match a little more interesting?” She pointed back towards her clipboard. “You’ve already got 4 checks. If you lose this, you’ll get your fifth. But if you win, I’ll run thirty minutes of suicides, and any other endurance drill you would like me to do, after practice. What do you say?”

“Well that-“

“Oh, but if you lose, and get that fifth checkmark. I’m going to require you to stay for an hour, not just 30 minutes. It’s only fair, considering you seem to be a little better than the average player here.”

Dan’s blood boiled. If there was one thing Samantha was good at, it seemed it was at getting a rise from the players. Was that a Charisma based skill? Because whatever it was, it almost felt like a taunt from a video game. And even with that thought, Dan didn’t care.

“You’re on.” He took up his position by the cones that denoted his goal. “I’ll make you regret your words.”

Samantha chuckled and placed the ball in the middle of the field. As she stepped backwards to her own goal, she tossed her whistle to the player she’d just beaten. “Trevor, we’ll go off your signal. So that Dan here can’t claim I’ve got an unfair advantage.”

Trevor, the above average freshman, eyed the whistle, which the coach had been using all day, with a mixture of excitement, and confusion. After a moment, and doing his best to hide his smiling, the boy put the whistle in his mouth, and nodded. Dan prepared himself, shifting his weight, getting himself ready to move. Across from him, Samantha did the same. A moment later, the sound of the whistle erupted in his ears.

Without a moment of hesitation Dan and Samantha were moving. Sure, Dan was taking a penalty right now to his stats, for how low his Stamina was, but still, he moved insanely fast. Faster than he’d ever moved, before his powers. Faster than he’d ever have thought possible for his 14 year old frame. And yet, Samantha, seemed to move just as quickly. The two of them reached the ball within a split second of each other, and it was all Dan could do, to snag the ball with his foot and quickly pull it back, to get himself some distance from Samantha, and plan out his move.

The way she adjusted her weight, the way she watched him, every bit of it was precise, practiced. Her actions screamed skill, and Dan realized he’d forgotten to actually check out her skill levels, before making the bet against her. Something he figured he would chalk up to her infuriating nature. Still, he’d seen his own numbers, and he knew he was good. Great, not yet, but definitely better than average. And magically enhanced.

“You’re fast.” Samantha said, never taking her eyes off him. “But speed alone won’t help you in this sport.”

Dan tried to feint to the right, pushing the ball quickly with his right foot, rolling it over the ball with the motion though, to rapidly pull it back to the left. In doing so, he’d shifted his weight, making it seem like he was going to dash to the right, only to adjust rapidly with a dart to the left. Samantha didn’t budge at the feint, and as he committed, he had to stop quickly as she shifted her weight. She knew what he had planned, and she was ready to stop him. It was like she was a predator, and he was caught in her gaze. Everything about her, made him feel suddenly trapped. He didn’t like it.

“Were you all talk, Dan?” She said with a dark chuckle, “or are you going to impress me?” As she spoke, Dan shifted, preparing his next move. The moment he did though, she stepped forward, turning her body as she slammed her frame into him as the same time as her foot trapped the ball he’d been keeping between his feet, blocking him completely from the ball. As he staggered backwards, she deftly maneuvered the ball away from him, and while he was still off balance, shifted past him, to score the first goal.

It happened so fast, Dan wasn’t sure if she would have been carded for that play, or not. While she’d definitely slammed into him…it could be argued she was just playing the ball…couldn’t it? Had he shifted forward in her movement? Had he already been moving forward, and she’d just reacted? IF that was the case, he had slammed into her, and not the other way around? The exhaustion, and the suddenness of her movements, made him question what had happened even more. On top of that, his head was reeling with the fact she’d just scored the first goal. Four more, and he was going to be in a for a world of hurt after the practice.

“I hope that’s not all you’ve got Dan.” Samantha said as she walked back to her goal. As per the rules, Dan now got to start with the ball. “Then again, I’m used to players talking a big game, and not being able to back it up.” She chuckled. “It happens way too often in my life.” And with that, Dan saw red. Well, not really, but his blood started to boil. She was playing with him. He wasn’t going to let that happen. Not here, not now. The soccer field, was his domain. He’d had tennis taken from him for the week, he was not about to take a loss on the soccer field as well. His pride wouldn’t allow it.

“I was just testing you.” Dan called back as he gently kicked the ball up, juggling it easily on his foot, executing a few precision techniques midair. He’d spent more hours than he’d like to admit mastering those moves, even though they were completely useless mid match. At the very least, they looked cool, and were a fun waste of time. “Now, I’ll show you my true skills.” As the ball hit the ground, he made a single, mental command. He activated his minor skill assist.