The morning fog hung low over the pitch, as if the air itself anticipated the clash ahead. São Vicente's players arrived early, a quiet tension cloaking the locker room. No one spoke much. Even João, usually brash and loud, laced his boots in silence.
The match against Os Lobos Negros was scheduled for noon. But already, the stands were filling with spectators and scouts. Word had spread: this wasn't just another group stage game.
It was Tobi vs. Tomas.
---
Arrival of the Wolves
They stepped off the bus in coordinated black tracksuits, each one tall, sharp, and polished like they'd trained in military camps, not football academies.
At their center walked Tomas Leal.
He looked like he didn't belong on this pitch—like he belonged in a stadium in Spain or Italy. Confident stride, sharp eyes, and a resting scowl that dared anyone to challenge him.
Tobi watched from a distance. And their eyes met.
For a moment, time slowed.
Tomas gave a crooked smile. Then turned away like Tobi wasn't worth remembering.
---
System Notification: Rival Detection Enhanced
> Tomas Leal
Position: Central Midfield
Age: 16
Skills: Long Pass (Lv3), Field Control (Lv2), Shoulder Feint (Lv2)
Trait: "Pressure Breaker" – Performance improves under tight marking
Mentality: 87
Vision: 91
Influence: 89
Rival Status: Active
> Objective: Match or exceed Tomas's Influence rating during this match.
Bonus Reward: Trait Upgrade – "Playmaker's Aura II"
---
Tobi's heart thudded hard.
This wasn't just a match.
This was a duel.
---
Kickoff
The referee's whistle pierced the air.
The Wolves came hard from the first second—pressing, choking the midfield, keeping possession with robotic precision. Their passing triangle was tight. Controlled.
Tomas orchestrated everything. Not flamboyant—efficient. His movements were subtle, but every touch mattered. Every glance predicted space.
In the first 10 minutes, he created two chances, dictated tempo, and drew a foul just outside the box.
Tobi struggled to touch the ball.
> System Alert: Rival Control – 72% Tomas / 28% Tobi
Confidence dropping…
Trait Debuff: "Composure" – Slight decline under pressure
He's not just good, Tobi thought grimly. He's elite.
---
The Turn
20 minutes in, the game shifted.
A careless backpass from a Black Wolves defender—Tobi intercepted. Instead of launching a blind counter, he paused, baited Tomas forward, then chipped a pass over his outstretched foot to João on the left.
A quick cross. Goal.
1–0, São Vicente.
---
System Notification:
> Rival Control: 58% Tomas / 42% Tobi
+15 Influence
Passive Bonus Activated: "Game Sense I"
Confidence Restored
---
The game became a chess match.
Tomas made a run—Tobi tracked him. Tomas threaded a through ball—Tobi read it and intercepted. Tobi turned from hunter into shadow. A mirror on the field.
In the 36th minute, Tobi collected the ball under pressure and nutmegged Tomas. Gasps echoed through the crowd.
It wasn't about flash—it was dominance.
---
> System Alert: Rival Emotion Detected – "Frustration"
Tomas Leal: Mentality temporarily reduced by 5
Rival Control: 49% / 51% – Tobi leads
---
Halftime – Tied at 1–1
In the locker room, Coach Farinha clapped once, hard.
"We've got them rattled. But keep your heads. Tobi—keep dictating the rhythm. You're the pulse out there."
João nodded silently. "I'll follow your lead."
Those words. They meant something now.
Tobi was no longer just some reformed failure. He was a leader.
---
Second Half: The Storm Breaks
The Black Wolves returned with fury. In the 51st minute, Tomas received the ball, turned, and fired a long-range shot into the top corner. A world-class finish.
1–2.
But instead of deflating, São Vicente rallied.
Tobi called for calm. Called for the ball. He began pulling the strings.
Diagonal switches. Delayed passes. Tactical fouls. Fakes that pulled midfielders out of shape. He played like he had a drone above the pitch feeding him real-time data.
Then—minute 71.
He slipped behind Tomas, received a low pass, and let it run past him to confuse the center-back. With perfect timing, he executed Clean Strike.
Low. Right corner.
2–2.
---
> System Update:
Rival Control: 46% Tomas / 54% Tobi
Match Influence: Tobi – 87 / Tomas – 85
Reputation: +10 National
Trait Upgrade Unlocked: "Playmaker's Aura II"
Rival Status: Even
---
Final Minutes
Both captains pushed for the win.
But neither broke.
As the final whistle blew, both teams collapsed from exhaustion. It was a draw—but not in the eyes of the scouts.
It was a declaration.
Tobi Oliveira was no longer just a local talent.
He was something more.
---
Post-Match: Recognition
As Tobi left the locker room, Catarina Silva from Sporting approached.
"Oliveira," she said with a rare smile. "That was no accident. We've seen enough to offer you a trial with our Lisbon youth academy."
Tobi's breath caught.
Sporting. The same club that produced Figo, Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes…
He wasn't dreaming anymore.
He was rising.
---
System Notification: Quest Complete – "Defeat the Rival"
> Reward: "Rival Tracker" Unlocked
New Feature: You can now follow and measure progress against top rivals.
New Quest Available: "Impress Sporting Academy"
Goal: Earn a starting spot during the Sporting trial
Bonus: Unlock potential rating evaluation
---
Tobi looked out at the night sky again, that quiet corner of the world where his journey had started just weeks ago.
In his past life, he never made it here. He cracked under pressure. He drowned in doubt.
But this time?
This time, he was moving forward.
And nothing was going to stop him.
---