[Eturnagaram – Next Morning]
The early light filtered through Pavan's window as he tied his shoelaces. His muscles still carried the ache of yesterday's grind, but his eyes were sharp — burning with purpose.
[System Notification]
Task Chain Update: Club Entry Path Activated
New Task: Meet Coach Raman's contact for advanced-level net sessions.
Reward: Enhanced Vision (Ball Trajectory +5%) | Fan Awareness Tracker (Locked)
He grabbed his bat and stepped outside. The world looked the same — but Pavan was changing it, one step at a time.
[Local School Ground]
Coach Raman stood near the nets, adjusting a stump when he spotted Pavan.
"Boy," he said gruffly, "I made a call to my old friend. He coaches the Rising Strikers Youth Club in Mahabubabad. Serious talent there."
Pavan's grip on the bat tightened. "Do they allow walk-ins?"
"Not usually," Raman replied, squinting. "But I told him about a kid with guts, footwork, and eyes like an eagle. His name is Coach Aditya."
[New Character Unlocked: Coach Aditya Deshmukh – Ex-Zonal Player | Current Club Coach | Tough but Fair]
"Thank you, sir."
Raman smirked. "Don't thank me yet. Impressing him won't be easy. They've got a kid named Siddharth over there. Left-handed opener. Undefeated in local tournaments. Bit of an arrogant brat, but damn talented."
[Rival Introduced: Siddharth Yadav – Club Star Batsman | Crowd Charmer | Short-Tempered]
[Later – Rising Strikers Ground, Mahabubabad]
Pavan stood at the edge of the turf. A proper ground. Turf wickets. Seam-lined nets. Water tanks. Practice kits. Two dozen players in matching white jerseys. This wasn't a school playground anymore — this was the proving ground.
A voice barked from across the nets.
"You're the village boy Raman mentioned?"
Pavan turned. A well-built man in his late 30s approached — sharp eyes, salt-and-pepper stubble, and a whistle around his neck.
"Coach Aditya, sir," Pavan greeted with a respectful nod.
"You've got ten minutes in the nets. After that, Siddharth will bowl to you. Let's see if you're worth the hype."
[System Buff Activated: Confidence Aura (Level 1)]
Nearby players feel mild interest.
Siddharth, standing nearby with crossed arms, scoffed. "Another wild card. Hope you brought more than confidence, village boy."
[Net Session Begins]
The bowler charged in. Pavan watched, eyes locked, footwork precise.
First Ball: Full length — straight drive. Clean. Crisp. Coach Aditya raised an eyebrow.
Second Ball: Bouncer — Pavan ducked effortlessly.
Third Ball: Slightly wide — cut behind point for four.
[System Alert: Timing Boost Triggered | Trajectory Anticipation Unlocked for 1 hour]
From the boundary, a few younger boys whispered, "Who is that guy?"
Even Sujatha, who had quietly come to visit her cousin at the club, recognized the stance. She didn't call out — just watched with interest.
[Now Bowling – Siddharth Yadav]
"You handled practice bowlers," Siddharth said, spinning the ball in his hand. "Let's see how you do against me."
[Challenge Activated: Rival Duel – Siddharth Yadav]
Perform well in this exchange to gain public recognition and unlock Fan Awareness Tracker.
Ball 1: Swing delivery — Pavan met it with a perfect late cut.
Ball 2: Fast yorker — blocked, dead-center.
Ball 3: Siddharth tried a slower ball — Pavan stepped out and lofted it over mid-off. Not six… but a strong four.
The small crowd watching clapped. Even Coach Aditya gave a half-smile.
Siddharth narrowed his eyes. "You've got something. But I'm still better."
Pavan didn't reply. He just walked out of the nets with quiet confidence.
[Challenge Outcome: Moderate Success]
New Passive Unlocked: Early Fan Attention (Tier 1)
Fanbase: 6 followers – Club trainees, local observers
System Perk: Motivation Boost (Crowd cheers increase focus by 3%)
[After Practice – Water Station]
Coach Aditya walked over. "You're rough on the edges. But you've got potential. I'll give you a 2-week trial here. Make it count."
Pavan bowed slightly. "Thank you, sir."
A soft voice interrupted. "Your footwork's cleaner than most seniors here."
He turned — Sujatha.
"I didn't know you played here," he said, surprised.
"I don't. I just visit sometimes. Didn't expect to see you today."
She handed him a cold bottle of water and left without another word.
[Harem Flag: Sujatha – Interest +1 | Respect +2]
Pavan watched her walk away, then glanced back at the ground. His body was tired. But his spirit?
Stronger than ever.
[System Notification]
Next Task: Get selected into the club's first squad.
Optional Chain: Earn 100 Fan Followers within 30 days
Bonus: Media Feature + Skill Boost Opportunity
He grinned.
"One step closer."
End of Chapter 4