The early morning sun streamed through the thin curtains of the school dormitory. Most students were still curled under worn blankets, lost in dreams and snoring away.
But Pavan Raj was already awake.
He sat cross-legged on the thin mattress, his back straight, eyes closed. He wasn't meditating. He was focusing — and feeling something new.
It was as if his mind was... clearer.
The usual swirl of thoughts — past regrets, future worries, anxious second-guessing — had all settled. His focus felt razor-sharp.
[System Buff Active: Increased Focus (Lv.1)]
Duration Remaining: 22h 14m
+15% Attention Span
+10% Learning Efficiency
+5% Emotional Resistance
Raj opened his eyes slowly and let out a deep breath. "This… this is what clarity feels like."
He glanced at the digital watch on his wrist — a sleek black strap with a glowing interface, gifted by the system after his last mission. It wasn't just for time. It was a direct interface with system prompts, hidden notifications, and task trackers.
At the moment, it blinked with a soft reminder:
"Train your body. Sharpen your mind. Greatness awaits."
At school, the difference was immediate.
Raj sat in Class 9A, second row — not at the back like he used to.
When the math teacher scribbled equations on the board, he followed effortlessly. When the English teacher asked for volunteers to read, Raj raised his hand.
Even the teachers noticed.
"Raj? You're focused today," Mr. Rao said with a surprised smile. "I thought you hated algebra."
Raj just nodded. "Not anymore, sir."
Around him, a few students exchanged glances. Some were curious. Some were confused.
Uday, sitting beside him, leaned closer. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with my friend?"
Raj grinned. "The real me just woke up."
After class, Raj skipped lunch.
Instead, he went straight to the cricket nets near the playground. Normally, the nets would be empty at noon, but today, two juniors were practicing.
Raj walked up and asked, "Can I borrow one of your bats for a few minutes?"
They handed it over, starstruck.
Raj tied on his shoes, stepped into the crease, and took a deep breath.
One of the boys bowled a gentle off-spin.
Raj didn't just react — he anticipated it.
He stepped forward smoothly, rotating his shoulders and delivering a crisp cover drive that sliced through the air and hit the net.
[Reflex Check Passed]
System bonus: +4% Reflexes (temporary during focus buff)
Ball after ball, he adapted. Footwork tighter. Timing cleaner. Mind fully in the moment.
After ten minutes, he returned the bat with a smile.
The juniors looked at each other.
"Who is this guy?"
In the evening, while walking past the school storehouse, Raj heard something unusual.
Two senior students were arguing.
"We need at least five cones and boundary ropes for the inter-class matches," one said.
"There's no budget left," the other replied. "We'll have to cancel the warm-up drills."
Raj paused.
In his old life, he'd ignored this argument. The match still happened — but without prep gear. Their team lost. Coach Murali scolded everyone, and a few good players got dropped unfairly.
But this time… Raj stepped in.
"Excuse me," he said. "What if I can arrange cones and boundary rope for you?"
The seniors looked at him. "You? How?"
"Just trust me."
That night, Raj returned to his dorm and pulled out his notebook.
He'd learned something valuable from the water filter model he used to win the science competition: practical, low-cost innovation could change lives.
And now, with the system's clarity buff, he could visualize things better.
He sketched a plan:
Plastic bottles filled with sand, tied with rope — perfect for cones
Boundary ropes made using leftover exam banners from the school wall
Anchor pins from an old cycle stand, reshaped
He set an alarm for 4:30 AM.
By sunrise, he was on the ground with a bag full of DIY equipment.
Using a knife, thread, tape, and determination, he set up a practice grid for warm-ups. It wasn't fancy — but it worked.
By the time Coach Murali arrived, the warm-up circle was set. The cones were sturdy. The ropes were straight.
Coach raised an eyebrow. "Who set this up?"
"Raj, sir," someone said.
The coach walked over, picked up a cone, inspected it, and smiled faintly.
"Well done."
[System Side Mission Complete: Initiative Taken]
Reward: +1 Coach Favor
Mini Buff: "Tactical Eye (Lv.1)" Unlocked
Effect: You now gain visual prompts on ground layout optimization and field strategies.
Raj's watch buzzed.
The words were simple:
"One step ahead of the rest."
At lunch, Uday was bursting with questions.
"You made cones out of bottles?! What next, bro? Gloves from cardboard?"
Raj laughed. "If it works, why not?"
Zayed joined them, munching on roasted peanuts. "Word's spreading, by the way. Seniors are impressed."
Raj nodded, but inside, he knew he couldn't slow down.
This wasn't about being impressive.
It was about becoming irreplaceable.
That night, while brushing his teeth, Raj caught a reflection of himself in the cracked mirror near the tap.
He looked different.
Not physically.
But in his eyes — there was fire. Focus. Direction.
[System Notification]
Phase 1 Growth Achieved.
New Route Unlocked: Minor Leadership Path
Next Quest Available:
Name: "Earn Their Trust"
Objective: Help 3 players improve within 5 days
Reward: Unlock "Mentor" Passive + 2% Team Influence Radius
Hint: Teaching others is a faster way to learn yourself.
Raj stared at the quest.
So now… it wasn't just about him.
He had to bring others along too.