The stadium had emptied.
Floodlights cast long shadows across the pitch, where dew glistened like scattered stars.
Adrian stayed behind, jogging slow laps with the ball at his feet. His legs burned, his lungs begged for rest, but the System's faint glow pulsed in his vision:
[Stamina Growth +0.2%]
[Ball Control Drills Progress: 48%]
He gritted his teeth. Not enough.
"Still here?"
The voice startled him. Miguel leaned against the fence, hands in his pockets, hair damp from a shower. He wasn't dressed to train, but his eyes carried that same knowing weight.
"Yeah," Adrian muttered. "Couldn't… stop yet."
Miguel chuckled quietly, walking closer. "Careful. Burn yourself out too soon, and this game will chew you up."
Adrian didn't reply. He dropped the ball, flicked it with his toe, and tried to spin it mid-air—only for it to wobble and fall. His chest tightened in frustration.
Miguel watched silently, then finally spoke.
"You're raw. Hungry. That's good. But out there, it's not just about skills. It's about moments. Ninety minutes feels long, but careers? They're short. Blink, and they're gone."
Adrian froze, staring at the man.Miguel's expression was calm, almost wistful, as if he were speaking to a younger version of himself.
"But you've got something in your eyes," Miguel added. "Fire. Don't let anyone snuff it out."
He patted Adrian's shoulder and turned to leave, his footsteps echoing on the concrete tunnel.
When Adrian was alone again, the System pulsed once more:
[Emotional Resilience +1]
[Hidden Trait Unlocked: Mentor's Insight]
—Your mental stability strengthens when guided by trusted voices.
Adrian blinked, sweat dripping into his eyes.
So even the System recognized it—Miguel's presence mattered. Not for his feet. But for his heart.
And with both the System's edge and
Miguel's grounding words—Adrian felt something shift.
Not just the hunger to survive.
But the belief that he could belong.
The night before the match, Adrian barely slept.He lay in his bunk staring at the ceiling, listening to the snores of teammates. His legs twitched restlessly, phantom touches of the ball echoing in his muscles.
The System hovered faintly in his vision:
[Ball Control: 62% Mastery]
[Acceleration: +1.2%]
[Hidden Quest: "Make Your Mark in the Next Match"]
Reward: Trait – Rising Confidence
His pulse quickened. Tomorrow.
---
The next day, the stadium buzzed like a beehive. Their club was away, facing a mid-table team in the Segunda División. The stands weren't full, but the noise rolled like thunder.
Adrian sat on the bench, kit pressed, boots gleaming under the sun. Every cheer, every whistle rattled his nerves. He clenched and unclenched his fists.
Miguel leaned in quietly. "Eyes forward, chico. Forget the crowd. When the chance comes, don't think. Just be. Trust your feet."
Adrian swallowed hard and nodded.
The match was ugly.
Long balls flew, tackles cracked, curses filled the air. Their side was pinned down,
surviving wave after wave. At halftime, they were down 1–0.
By the 75th minute, desperation showed. Their starting striker pulled a hamstring, collapsing to the turf.
The coach cursed, scanning the bench. His gaze landed on Adrian.
"You. Warm up."
The world blurred. Adrian jogged to the touchline, heart pounding against his ribs. Fans barely noticed—he was a nobody, after all.
But the System lit up inside him like fire:
[Adrenaline Surge Detected.]
[Temporary Stat Boost: +5% Speed, +5% Agility]
He stepped onto the pitch.
The first ball came to him like a test.
A defender closed fast, teeth bared. Adrian's chest tightened—until Miguel's voice echoed in his memory: Don't think. Be.
He tapped the ball forward, then flicked it lightly with the outside of his boot. The defender lunged—air. Adrian burst past, the wind cutting in his ears.
The crowd gasped.
Minutes later, a counterattack ignited.
The ball spilled loose at midfield, and Adrian pounced. He sprinted down the flank, defender at his shoulder, stadium noise swelling.
[Skill Activation: Quick Step Dribble Lv.1]
He feinted inside, then exploded outward, leaving the marker spinning. Crossing range. Without hesitating, he whipped the ball low into the box.
Their striker dived in—Goooaaaallllllllllll!
1–1.
The bench erupted.Commentators roared into their mics:
"Who is this boy?! A fearless run from the substitute—Adrian Silva with the assist!"
Adrian barely heard them. His chest heaved, his teammates swarmed him, slapping his back. For a moment, the noise, the lights, the pressure—it all faded into one truth:
He belonged here.
The final whistle blew.
Adrian bent over, hands on his knees, lungs burning, sweat dripping into the grass. The scoreboard glared 1–1, and though it wasn't a win, it felt like salvation.
He had done it. Even if it was just one assist.
His first real imprint.
On the sidelines, microphones and cameras buzzed to life. Reporters were already circling like hawks.
"Adrián Silva, wasn't it? The substitute with the assist?"
Adrian's eyes widened as the boom mic swung toward him. He wasn't ready. His throat dried instantly, words refusing to form.
Before he could stumble, Miguel stepped between him and the swarm."Easy, let the boy breathe," he said with calm authority. "One day, you'll get your stories."
The reporters groaned, but their headlines were already forming.
That night, the noise carried beyond the stadium.Clips of Adrian's run flooded social media: shaky fan videos, replay reels, snippets of commentary.
"Adrián Silva, the fearless debutant."
"Assist of the week from a nobody?"
"Future star in the making, or just beginner's luck?"
Even the TV studio panel couldn't ignore him.
The anchor leaned back, eyebrows raised as the highlight played again."Look at the composure here. He's fresh, unproven, yet that touch—"
A pundit interrupted, skeptical."Let's not exaggerate. One assist doesn't make a career. But… yes, there's something in his stride. That burst."
Another smiled."Mark my words, gentlemen. This kid Silva—he won't stay a nobody for long."
Back in his tiny apartment, Adrian sat cross-legged on the mattress, staring at his phone.
The screen blinked with notifications—mentions, tags, strangers chanting his name.
The System hummed softly in his vision:
[Quest Complete: Make Your Mark in the Next Match]
[Reward Unlocked: Trait – Rising Confidence]
—You gain +5% Mental Fortitude when under public scrutiny.
Adrian exhaled slowly, his hands trembling.
The world had noticed him.
But so had the shadows.
Because with every cheer came doubt. And with every spotlight, a target.