The next morning, Luca's alarm buzzed at 6:30 a.m. sharp.
He stared at the ceiling for a long moment.
The weight of yesterday's failure still pressed down on his chest like a stone. The coaches' looks, the lost confidence, the creeping sense that time was running out.
He swung his legs over the side of his bed and stood up. The apartment was quiet. His father had already left for work. Only the soft hum of the city filtered through the cracked window.
And then—
Ding.
It wasn't a phone. It wasn't a message.
It echoed inside his head.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
Luca froze.
"…What?"
Welcome, Luca Herrera.System 10 Activated. Version: 1.0.0Linking host consciousness… Calibrating physical and mental attributes…Assessment Complete.
A blue-tinted, holographic screen blinked into existence—floating in front of him, following his eyes.
His pulse quickened.
You have been selected as a host of System 10 — a performance enhancement AI designed to assist you in becoming the greatest footballer in the world.
Due to extreme potential and low current trajectory, you have been awarded a Legendary Starting Template: Ronaldinho
Luca stumbled backward. "Ronaldinho? Like… the real one?"
Correct. Applying Ronaldinho Skill Template. Please stand by.
Golden particles shimmered around him like stardust.
He felt something shift. His chest tightened. Muscles tingled. A strange warmth coursed through his limbs—like his body was being fine-tuned from the inside out.
Ronaldinho Template Upgrade:
Dribbling: +20
Vision: +15
Shooting: +12
Technique: +18
Flair: +10
Special Passive Skill Unlocked: Joga Bonito Flow – Boosts creativity, flair, and unpredictability when confident.
Updated Player Stats: Luca Herrera
Pace: 72
Dribbling:88
Passing: 65
Shooting:76
Vision:82
Stamina: 69
Technique:84
Mentality: 70
Flair:71
Overall Rating:76
Luca's breath caught in his throat.
Everything felt different.
His fingers twitched with better control. His mind felt more alert—more aware of how the game flowed. He could practically feel the rhythm of football beating in his veins.
Would you like to access System Functions?
"…Yeah," he whispered.
Another screen slid into view, clean and futuristic.
SYSTEM FEATURES UNLOCKED
⚽ Daily Quests
Complete training challenges to gain small stat increases daily.
Missing objectives resets progress.
🏆 Career Milestone Rewards
Rewards for key achievements:
First team debut
First goal
First assist
Champions League debut
Becoming a starter
Winning trophies
Each milestone unlocks either:
Stat boosts
Passive skills
Signature moves
Custom gear/perks
Influence (media/fans/sponsors)
🧠 Tactical Feedback Mode (Locked – Requires First Team Debut)📈 Skill Growth Tracker🎥 Stream Boost (Locked – Activate at Streaming Level 5)
Milestone Quest Activated:"Debut for FC Barcelona's First Team"Reward: Unlock "Street King" Skill – (+10 Technique and +5 Dribbling during 1v1s)
Luca blinked rapidly.
He wasn't dreaming.
The fire inside him—nearly smothered just 24 hours ago—roared back to life.
Reminder: You are now being monitored. All training sessions will factor into experience gain. Performance affects progression. Potential path: World-Class unlocked.
Luca smiled, wide and wild.
This wasn't just a miracle.
This was his rebirth.
He clenched his fists, sparks of anticipation dancing in his fingertips.
"Let's see what happens when I train with this."