His phone buzzed, and the name sat on the screen, and the message opened before he finished the breath.
"Ragazzo, we are confirmed for Selezione Milano – Stage di 2 Giorni; your Florence→Linate ticket is booked; check in on Friday; report 08:30 Saturday."
Another bubble landed while he read.
"Do not disappear on me again; I am proud you said yes; how are you feeling?"
He stared at the lines, and memory slid into place because Demien had agreed to this with his agent, and Marco Benetti was one of the few who still picked up the phone.
He typed slowly so the words would land right.
"I'm here; I'll start packing now; thank you for not giving up on me."
The reply came fast.
"I don't give up on my boys; bring both boots; arrive early; eat light; call me if the head gets noisy."
When I was David, no one stayed, and no one pushed me toward anything, and no one booked a flight.
"Okay; I'll do everything you said; thanks, Marco," he wrote, and he added a final line because truth matters. "I won't waste this."
"Bene; that's my son; Milan is a door, so you will walk through it," Marco sent, and the typing dots paused, and one last message followed. "I believe in you."
He held the phone for a moment, and he squeezed it once, and he let a breath out because belief feels heavier than doubt when you have not carried it for years.
"Alright," he said under his breath, and he set the phone down, and the panel above the desk waited.
"UG, can I get my stats up fast with this," he asked, and he kept his voice flat, and he kept his eyes on the currency.
「That depends on how strong your luck is; TP is steady grind and low variance, and SP is volatile with higher ceilings, so choose with your goals in mind.」
"Damn," he said, and he rubbed his jaw, and he nodded once because the only way through is through.
"UG, ready," he said, and the panel brightened, and the room tightened as the light thickened.
「PACKS MENU ACTIVATED」
AVAILABLE PACKS:
Bronze Pack — 100 TP
3 random cards | Basic improvements
Available: 10 packs
Silver Pack — 200 TP
5 cards (3 attributes + 1 trait shard + 1 wildcard)
Available: 5 packs
Gold Pack — 500 TP
7 cards (4 attributes + 1 trait shard + 1 skill shard + 1 wildcard)
15% chance skill shards upgrade to Epic skills
Available: 2 packs
Black Pack — 10 SP
8 cards (4 high attributes + 2 trait shards + 1 guaranteed skill + 1 wildcard)
Available: 8 packs
Diamond Pack — 50 SP
10 cards (1–3 Legendary Player Skills + premium rewards)
Available: 1 pack
Current Currency: 1,000 TP | 80 SP
「Select your pack type, or say 'close menu' to return.」
"Bronze," he said to test the water, and the menu shifted, and the choice locked.
「BRONZE PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 100 TP | Remaining: 900 TP」
The floating interface turned into a small lever with a metal grip, and the base hummed, and the words sharpened.
「Pull the lever to reveal your cards.」
He reached out, and his fingers closed, and he pulled because you do not get better by staring.
PACK OPENING
Card 1: Balance +1 — Common
Card 2: Shot Power +2 — Common
Card 3: Nothing… Better luck next time!
「RESULTS APPLIED」
UPDATED STATS
DRIBBLING
Balance: 50 → 51 (+1)
SHOOTING
Shot Power: 48 → 50 (+2)
STATUS
Overall Rating: 48 — no change
「Pack opening complete. Your attributes have been permanently updated.」
「Would you like to open another pack or return to menu?」
"Yes," he said without looking away, and he tapped Silver because maybe the mid-tier would bite.
「SILVER PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 200 TP | Remaining: 700 TP」
PACK OPENING
Def. Awareness +2 — Uncommon
Crossing +2 — Uncommon
Volleys +2 — Uncommon
Trait Shard [Agent Negotiation Perk] — 1/4
Rare Skill Shard [Penalty Mind Games] — 1/5
「RESULTS APPLIED」
Updated Stats
DEFENDING
Def. Awareness: 48 → 50 (+2)
PASSING
Crossing: 48 → 50 (+2)
SHOOTING
Volleys: 44 → 46 (+2)
Shot Power: 50 (from Bronze)
DRIBBLING
Balance: 51 (from Bronze)
STATUS
Overall Rating: 48 — no change
Currency
TP: 700
SP: 80
「Pack opening complete. Your attributes and shard inventory have been updated.」
「Would you like to open another pack or return to menu?」
"Yes," he said again, and his thumb hovered, and he tapped Silver once more because a pattern sometimes needs time.
「SILVER PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 200 TP | Remaining: 500 TP」
PACK OPENING
Aggression +2 — Uncommon
Aggression +1 — Common
Volleys +1 — Common
Trait Shard [Long Shot Taker] — 1/4
Aggression +2 — Uncommon
「RESULTS APPLIED」
Updated Stats
PHYSICAL
Aggression: 46 → 51 (+5)
SHOOTING
Volleys: 46 → 47 (+1)
STATUS
Overall Rating: 48 — no change
Shards Inventory
Agent Negotiation Perk: 1/4
Penalty Mind Games: 1/5
Long Shot Taker: 1/4
Currency
TP: 500
SP: 80
「Pack opening complete. Your attributes and shard inventory have been updated.」
「Would you like to open another pack or return to menu?」
He rolled his shoulders, and he looked at the ticket thread again, and he looked back at the lever because going halfway is another way to stop.
"Gold," he said, and he let the breath out, and the base of the lever glowed as the cost clicked down.
「GOLD PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 500 TP | Remaining: 0 TP」
PACK OPENING
Stamina +3 — Uncommon
Acceleration +4 — Uncommon
Positioning +4 — Rare
Composure +2 — Common
Trait Shard [Set Piece Specialist] — 1/4
Curve Run Timing — EPIC Technique
Composure +6 — Rare
「RESULTS APPLIED」
Updated Stats
PACE
Acceleration: 58 → 62 (+4)
SHOOTING
Positioning: 50 → 54 (+4)
DRIBBLING
Composure: 46 → 54 (+8)
PHYSICAL
Stamina: 52 → 55 (+3)
STATUS
Overall Rating: 48 → 50 (+2)
Techniques (Unlocked)
Curve Run Timing — EPIC
Shards Inventory
Agent Negotiation Perk: 1/4
Penalty Mind Games: 1/5
Long Shot Taker: 1/4
Set Piece Specialist: 1/4
Currency
TP: 0
SP: 80
「Pack opening complete. Your attributes and shard inventory have been updated.」
「Would you like to open another pack or return to menu?」
"Yeah; why not," he said, and he tapped Black, and he watched the base hum because risk has a sound.
「BLACK PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 10 SP | Remaining: 70 SP」
PACK OPENING
Nothing…
Nothing…
Nothing…
Nothing…
「RESULTS APPLIED」
No attribute, trait, or technique changes.
"The hell, UG," he said, and he set his jaw, and he thumbed the edge of the desk because part of him wanted to close the menu while the other part hated the idea of quitting on the first bad roll.
「I told you; it depends on your luck.」
He breathed once, and he looked at the flight message again, and he nodded because Milan will not slow down for him.
"Again," he said, and he tapped Black because quitting is a habit he does not want.
「BLACK PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 10 SP | Remaining: 60 SP」
PACK OPENING
Sprint Speed +6 — Rare
Sprint Speed +6 — EPIC
GK Kicking +7 — EPIC
Strength +4 — Rare
Trait Shard [Recovery Boost] — +1 (now 1/4 → 2/4)
Trait Shard [Recovery Boost] — +1 (still 2/4; duplicate condensed)
Lofted Dink — RARE Technique
Trait Shard [Speed Dribbler] — +1 (now 1/4)
「RESULTS APPLIED」
Updated Stats
PACE
Sprint Speed: 54 → 66 (+12)
Acceleration: 62
PHYSICAL
Strength: 51 → 55 (+4)
Stamina: 55
Aggression: 51
Jumping: 48
GOALKEEPING
Goalkeeping: 7
GK Kicking: 7 (+7)
STATUS
Overall Rating: 51 (+1)
Techniques (Unlocked)
Curve Run Timing — EPIC
Lofted Dink — RARE
Shards Inventory
Agent Negotiation Perk: 1/4
Penalty Mind Games (Rare Skill): 1/5
Long Shot Taker (Trait): 1/4
Set Piece Specialist (Trait): 1/4
Recovery Boost (Trait): 2/4
Speed Dribbler (Trait): 1/4
Currency
TP: 0
SP: 60
「Pack opening complete. Your attributes, techniques, and shard inventory have been updated.」
「Would you like to open another pack or return to menu?」
He smiled, and he did not hide it, and he tapped Black again because momentum is a kind of faith.
「BLACK PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 10 SP | Remaining: 50 SP」
PACK OPENING
Nothing…
Nothing…
Nothing…
Nothing…
「RESULTS APPLIED」
No attribute, trait, or technique changes.
Updated Stats
(No changes)
STATUS
Overall Rating: 51
Key attributes: Acceleration 62; Sprint Speed 66; Stamina 55; Composure 54; Strength 55
Techniques (Unlocked)
Curve Run Timing — EPIC
Lofted Dink — RARE
Shards Inventory
Agent Negotiation Perk: 1/4
Penalty Mind Games (Rare Skill): 1/5
Long Shot Taker: 1/4
Set Piece Specialist: 1/4
Recovery Boost: 2/4
Speed Dribbler: 1/4
Currency
TP: 0
SP: 50
「Pack opening complete.」
「Would you like to open another pack or return to menu?」
"What is this, again," he shouted, and his thumb wavered because temptation lives next to doubt, and his eyes slid to Diamond as the thought formed.
If I hit Diamond and it is dry, I have wasted everything; if I hit Black again, I may walk into Milan with nothing new; if I press without thinking—
His thumb brushed the icon, and the menu chimed, and his stomach dropped; "Oh God," he whispered as he clapped his hands together once, "just this one," and the choice had already gone.
「DIAMOND PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 50 SP | Remaining: 0 SP」
PACK OPENING
GK Handling +5 — RARE
Composure +6 — EPIC
Aggression +9 — EPIC
Ball Control +6 — EPIC
Long Passing +5 — RARE
Trait Shard [Press Resistant] — 1/4
Trait Shard [Stamina Regeneration Technique] — 1/4
Epic Skill Shard [Blindside Run] — 1/8
Epic Skill Shard [Dipping Power Shot] — 1/8
Golden Light Card — ???
Golden Light Card — ???
「RESULTS APPLIED」
Updated Stats
PASSING
Long Passing: 50 → 55 (+5)
DRIBBLING
Ball Control: 55 → 61 (+6)
Composure: 54 → 60 (+6)
PHYSICAL
Aggression: 51 → 60 (+9)
GOALKEEPING
GK Handling: 5 (+5)
STATUS
Overall Rating: 53 (+2)
Techniques (Unlocked)
Curve Run Timing — EPIC
Lofted Dink — RARE
Shards Inventory
Agent Negotiation Perk: 1/4
Penalty Mind Games: 1/5
Long Shot Taker: 1/4
Set Piece Specialist: 1/4
Recovery Boost: 2/4
Speed Dribbler: 1/4
Press Resistant: 1/4
Stamina Regeneration Technique: 1/4
Blindside Run (Epic Skill): 1/8
Dipping Power Shot (Epic Skill): 1/8
Currency
TP: 0
SP: 0
The two Golden Light cards pulsed in the corner, and the panel held them back, and he stared because he knew they could change Milan and he knew they could change everything; hope rose fast, and fear rose with it because falling from high places hurts more.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, and the UI dimmed to a soft idle so it would not be seen, and he pushed the chair back so he could stand without wobbling.
He screamed, and the sound jumped in the small room, and the chair scraped because the Diamond hit had landed and his body had to let it out.
"Demien," his mum shouted as feet ran down the hall, and the handle turned hard, and the door rattled because she thought something had happened to her son.