The cold air bit at Mateo's cheeks as they drove through the outskirts of Munich the next morning.
He sat in the backseat, his heart hammering with a mix of nerves and excitement.His grandfather, Friedrich, drove with calm precision, occasionally pointing out landmarks, while his grandmother, Anneliese, sat beside him humming softly.His mother smiled at him from the passenger seat, her eyes warm and encouraging.
Finally, they pulled into a sprawling complex surrounded by tall trees and shining modern buildings.Large banners with images of athletes in mid-motion fluttered in the crisp breeze.
Mateo stared, wide-eyed.
It wasn't a football academy.It was something broader, bigger — a high-performance sports center, designed for athletes of every kind: track runners, swimmers, martial artists, gymnasts.Everywhere he looked, young athletes in sleek uniforms sprinted, lifted, jumped, and trained with breathtaking intensity.
His jaw dropped.
"This is... incredible," he whispered.
His grandfather chuckled. "Dies ist nur der Anfang, mein Junge. Only the beginning."
They entered through glass doors into a gleaming lobby.Posters of Olympic champions lined the walls.The smell of polished floors and fresh gym mats filled the air.Trainers and coaches moved briskly through the halls, offering instructions in crisp German.
[System Notification:][New Environment Analyzed: Elite Sports Center Detected.][Host Exposure: Highly Beneficial for Physical Development.][Daily Quest Unlocked: Foundation of a Champion.]
Mateo blinked as a panel opened before his eyes, visible only to him:
Daily Quest: Foundation of a ChampionObjective:
Train every day for a minimum of 2 hours.
Complete assigned exercises (stamina, strength, flexibility, speed).
Maintain training log.
Duration:
Until the host turns 15 years old.
Reward:
Special Mystery Box upon completion.
Bonus attribute growth.
Mateo's heart raced.
It was exactly the opportunity the system had talked about — a place to build himself from the ground up.
He turned to his grandfather, his mind already made up.
"Abuelo," he said, voice firm, "I want to train here."
Friedrich raised an eyebrow in surprise.He crouched slightly, leveling his gaze with Mateo's.
"Are you sure, Junge?" he asked gently. "I thought your dream was football, not... gymnastics or track."
Mateo nodded, determination lighting his eyes.
"My dream is still football," he said without hesitation. "But... I want to prepare first.I want to build my body, get stronger, faster. When I feel ready — when I turn fifteen — I'll try out for a club."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then his mother and grandmother smiled — small, proud smiles filled with emotion.His grandfather stared at him for a long moment — then burst into a loud, hearty laugh that echoed through the lobby.
"Hah!" Friedrich bellowed. "Gut! Very good, Mateo!"
With a grin, he opened his jacket dramatically — and beneath it, Mateo caught sight of a familiar red and white jersey.
A Bayern Munich shirt.
His grandfather tapped the emblem proudly.
"When you are ready," he said, his voice full of warmth and fierce pride, "I will take you to the club of my heart. FC Bayern! And we will show them what the blood of González and Schwarz can do."
Mateo laughed for the first time in what felt like forever.
He felt it deep inside — a spark reignited.
A plan.A purpose.A future.
He turned back to look at the shining corridors of the training center, at the young athletes moving with speed and power.
He would train.He would grow.
And when the time came — he would rise.