My system allows me to copy talents

“Huff! Huff!”

On a pitch, an individual could be seen running. The pitch was warmly lit by the golden rays of the setting sun. The cool breeze rustled, and the molten clouds moved steadily.

Beads of sweat trickled down his face as he ran along the pitch. His breathing was ragged and he was panting heavily.

The warm rays of the sun lit his exposed skin.

He had an athletic build, and he had decent muscle mass. Under the glow of the setting sun, his black skin looked even more ethereal.

His temple was covered with jewel-bead-like sweat. Every time he moved, a few beads of sweat would trickle down his face.

“I need to push myself,” he muttered under his breath.

Though he looked exhausted, his eyes were full of vitality. Those pair of black pearls radiated his unwillingness to accept something. Perhaps those eyes were kindling with some kind of fire.

Every step he took was taking a toll on his body. Yet, his eyes were burning with an intense urge to resist something.

“Ansu, it’d be better if you transfer. I know you want to fight for your spot. However, I suggest you transfer next season. If you stay here, I can’t guarantee you any playing minutes.”

Ansu Fati who once hailed as one of the most interesting prospects in the world of football, was on the brink of ruin. Though he could perform, he couldn’t perform like he used to.

Nothing remained the same after the devastating injury he suffered.

He was a shadow of his former self.

“To be honest with you the club no longer counts on you.”

He couldn’t forget those words even if he wished to forget. Those words kept haunting him.

“You are our most valued possession, Ansu. We believe in you.”

Those were the words of the president of the club before he injured himself. Those sweat words had made him feel special. He felt blessed to be part of this club. For as long as he could remember, he had wished to play for this club.

But, now the very same club that made him feel special was making him feel worthless.

Suddenly, he collapsed.

Thud!

With his face turned against the sky, he lay on the ground. He raised his hand to cover his eyes. Even though his heart pounded heavily, he couldn’t get rid of the voice echoing inside him.

They kept buzzing in his ears, haunting him.

Those cold words, the truth, he couldn’t bring himself to accept. He knew he was getting discarded now that he didn’t have any use.

Yet still, he couldn’t bring himself to accept the truth.

The club wanted to sell him while he still had some value. But he didn’t want to leave the club. He wanted to make a name for himself in this club.

“Devotion. Loyalty. Hmph!” He curled his lips, revealing a self-depreciated smile. “They’re nothing more than flimsy words meant to bind one.”

The cold breeze rustled, caressing his exposed skin. The blades of grass fluttered with the breeze. The pitch, however, remained silent.

“Wasn’t I loyal to the club? Am I not dedicated enough?”

He couldn’t help but mumble. He kept murmuring as if someone would answer his questions. However, aside from the rustling of the wind, he couldn’t hear anything at all. The silence only made him question his decision further.

“Hahaha…” He started laughing maniacally. “Obviously, there’s no reward for loyalty and devotion. Loyalty and devotion only apply to useful individuals. Someone who isn’t useful what good does their loyalty do to the club?”

“To them, you’re nothing but an object they could use as per their wishes.”

“While you’re still useful, they’ll treat you like you’re an invaluable asset. But the moment you become useless, they won’t hesitate to discard you.”

“It’s the truth. Yet, why can’t I accept it?”

He kept muttering. He sounded like he was in pain. He sounded like he was suffering. His tone was filled with pain. Though he laughed, his voice was tinged with sadness.

While he maintained the smile on his face, his eyes moistened. Tears trickled down his face as he kept rambling. He felt like a dagger had been stabbed inside his heart, making it ache.

For some inexplicable reason, he couldn’t help but grieve.

Though his muscles were aching from exhaustion, he couldn’t feel them. The only thing he felt was that intense emotion of sadness raging inside him.

For a while, he lay there with his face turned against the sky. The mix of sweat and tears had made his hand wet.

He slowly lifted his hand from his eyes. Wiping the moisture, he opened his eyes to look at the sky. The sky was vast and lit in different hues. He could spot a few stars glittering in the sky. He could also spot the crescent of a moon.

For some reason, it felt soothing to look at the sky.

Having shed tears, he felt light as well. He felt like a burden had been lifted from his shoulder. Like a clear blue sky after the rain, he felt refreshed.

“The transfer is inevitable,” he muttered under his breath, staring at the sky.

He slowly rose from the ground, lifting himself. His eyes, now much clearer, seemed relaxed. Even his face looked rejuvenated.

“Let’s do our best until then.”

Finally, he accepted the reality and resolved to do better. Though he could tell his journey with the club of his life was coming to an end, he didn’t resent the club now.

Before, he couldn’t help but resent the club.

Even during his peak, he had devoted his life to the club. But now, he was casually getting discarded. There were plenty of reasons for him to detest the club.

However, now that his thoughts were clear, he couldn’t even bring himself to resent the club.

How could he resent the club he loved?

Hence, he resolved to perform better while he was still here. However, even if he were to perform better, he wouldn’t extend his contract with the club this time.

Even though he loved the club, he knew that his journey with the club had come to an end. He knew that he had to let this feeling go and walk on a new path.