The soft glow of morning light spilled across Mateo's room, brushing the edges of his bed, his desk, and the football posters lining the walls.
Today was different.
Today, he turned fifteen.
Today, everything would change.
Still tangled in his blankets, Mateo called softly:
"System... show me my rewards."
A soft chime answered him, and a golden panel unfolded before his eyes.
[Quest Completed: Foundation of a Champion - 3 Years of Daily Training.]
First came the bonus:a sudden, invigorating warmth flooded through Mateo's body, almost like a subtle electric current awakening every fiber of his muscles.
[Bonus Attribute Growth: +2 to all base attributes.]
He didn't need to see the numbers yet — he could feel it.
His body, already stronger than the average boy his age, now felt even more balanced, faster, sharper.All the endless training, the hard days, the discipline — they had shaped him into something real.
But that was just the beginning.
Floating before him, pulsing with soft golden light, was the true reward:
[Special Mystery Box (Ready to Open)]
Mateo's heart thumped in his chest.
"Open it," he said.
The air shimmered, and a platform formed before his eyes — swirling with golden mist.Above it floated five glowing cards, each framed in brilliant energy, spinning slowly as if beckoning him closer.
Each card burned with a familiar face.
1. Lionel Messi – Dribbling Instinct (Lv.1)
Supernatural close control and pace changes; grants incredible ball manipulation in tight spaces.
2. Diego Maradona – Divine Balance (Lv.1)
Legendary low center of gravity and upper-body strength; grants supreme balance even under heavy physical pressure.
3. Ronaldinho – Art of Creativity (Lv.1)
Master of unexpected plays; grants flair, unpredictable passes, and magical improvisation.
4. Johan Cruyff – Visionary Game Sense (Lv.1)
Grants advanced movement prediction, spatial control, and tactical brilliance.
5. Neymar Jr. – Flair and Feints (Lv.1)
Grants fluid dribbling tricks and stylish feints to dismantle defenders with flair.
Mateo stared at them, his mouth slightly open.
Each card shone with its own unique pull —Maradona's resilience, Ronaldinho's magic, Cruyff's brilliance, Neymar's showmanship.
But it was the first card — Messi's — that called to him the loudest.
Messi, the boy from Rosario, who had conquered the world without needing to be the tallest, the strongest, or the loudest.Messi, who danced through defenders like a ghost.
Mateo's heart made the decision before his mind could.
"I choose Messi," he whispered.
The Messi card flared brilliantly — a burst of golden light shooting into his chest.He gasped as a new awareness flowed into his body — subtle, elegant, but undeniably powerful.
[Congratulations!][Skill Acquired: Dribbling Instinct (Lv.1)]Close control, body feints, and pace changes enhanced.Skill proficiency: 0%. Training required for mastery.
Mateo sat back against the bed, breathing deeply.
His body felt normal — but also… different.He could feel the ball already in his mind, the rhythm of its movement, the way his foot would touch it without thought.
Still smiling, a thought struck him.
"System," he said. "Show me my current attributes."
At once, a clean and orderly panel appeared before him:
[Mateo González Schwarz]
Age: 15 years oldHeight: 1.65 metersWeight: 55 kgCondition: Excellent
[Attributes]
Strength: 8 (+2)
Speed: 9 (+2)
Agility: 10 (+2)
Endurance: 11 (+2)
Vitality: 9 (+2)
Intelligence: 8 (+2)
Luck: 6 (+2)
Communication: 7 (+2)
[Skills]
Stamina Boost (Lv.1)
Athlete's Recovery (Lv.1)
Dribbling Instinct (Lv.1)
[Language Mastery]
Spanish: Native (Fluent)
German: Fluent (Advanced)
English: Intermediate (Growing)
Mateo's eyes gleamed as he read through the panel.
Each attribute, each skill, each improvement, was the physical proof of his journey — of the hundreds of days of sweat, of the nights studying while fighting exhaustion, of pushing himself every single day.
And now — with the Dribbling Instinct skill waiting to be sharpened —he could almost feel the future pulling him forward.
A future where his name might someday be spoken alongside those very legends whose cards had just floated before him.
He closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips.
It was time.