Space Odyssey: Spectre - Chapter 77: Night 1

Eric Maddox, a 70-year-old American retired football coach once hailed for his tactical brilliance, now forgotten by time—closes his eyes for what he believes is a normal nap in his quiet Florida retirement home.But when he opens them, he's not staring at ceiling tiles, instead, he's on a touchline.Wearing boots in the rain.With players running on the pitch, fans jeering behind barriers, and the smell of cheap turf pellets in the air.“What the hell is this?”He’s twenty-five again, but it’s not Earth. It’s a world where football reigns supreme. A world where the sport is religion, its practitioners, deities in cleats. Coaches are revered, players are worshipped, and even the kit man gets treated like royalty.But there's one catch: none of it is familiar. The clubs, the players, the leagues, the competitions, and even the currency—they're all different. Alien. Like waking up in a dream where the rules are the same, but the language is foreign.As if that wasn’t enough, the body he’s now in? A youth coach with a laughable win record, a looming divorce, and a measly fifty thousand in the bank that his ex-wife is fighting tooth and nail to take. All of it.Just when the spiral seems inevitable, a monotone chime pierces the noise.[Initiating Golden Finger…][…45%… 75%… 100%][System Integration Complete.][Welcome, host. You are now bound to the Pro Manager System. Objective: Dominate the Football World. A new era begins]From washed-up has-been to chosen one of destiny, Eric Maddox is about to trade arthritis pills for tactical boards, and shuffleboard for Prestigious Cup glory.Because in this world, tactics are power.And on this touchline, he’s about to become a god.

“Welcome aboard the Dimensional Rift game exclusive train. This train will depart from the Level E Departure Station and head to Level D stations. Please ensure your safety while boarding in an orderly manner and abide by the train rules.”“The train rules are as follows:”“1. Do not bring non-game items onto the train. (Underwear is the exception)”“2. Consumption is mandatory. (All train staff are unpaid volunteers)”“3. Do not turn on the lights after they are out. (Except for those who are exceptionally talented and courageous)”“Additionally, the train encourages various leisure activities such as sneak attacks, brawling, and predation. Players are free to choose.”“We wish you a pleasant journey.”

Humanity has been gradually transported to the Abyss by a bored god to compete against other races and monsters.The problem is… humanity failed. In a last desperate push the strongest survivors chose a comrade to travel as far as possible back in time.

Han Seo-jin is a top ranker of Pick Me Up with an account name of Loki.Due to a bug he encountered while clearing one of the top floors inside the game, he was summoned inside the game as a hero… a Level 1… 1-Star Hero…Loki, the once called, master of masters, is now a [Level 1] [1-Star Hero] that must follow the orders of his master.However…