**Chapter 8 — A Summer Crowned in Fire**
June 3rd, 2007 — The Day After
The morning after Castilla's triumphant promotion felt strangely quiet. Nico sat on the small balcony of his family's apartment, sipping orange juice as the city stirred beneath him. Madrid was waking, but he was already fully awake—mentally still on the pitch, replaying yesterday's moments in perfect clarity.
A system prompt flickered before his eyes.
> **New Quest Unlocked: Summer Trial**
> Objective: Train with Zidane Template to 100% Integration before preseason.
> Bonus Reward: Legendary Trait — *Maestro's Aura*
> Optional Objective: Play in three elite-level matches and earn a rating of 8.5+ in each.
> Bonus Reward: Mystery Player Template
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**June Training Camp — Castilla Facilities**
Coach Emil ran a tight ship, but even he couldn't hide his curiosity about Nico's transformation.
"What are you drinking at night?" he asked one morning after watching Nico outclass two senior midfielders in a tight-space drill.
"Just water and obsession," Nico replied with a straight face.
The team howled with laughter.
But during scrimmages, the laughs stopped. Nico played like a reincarnation. He dictated rhythm, tempo, and angles of attack. One moment he'd calmly turn away from a press, the next he'd cut open the defense with a diagonal outside-foot pass that curved like a blade.
By mid-June, even the veterans began to defer to him.
During one a squad match, Castilla's captain Mateo pulled Nico aside. "I thought you were quiet. Now you're running the show. I love it. Keep stepping on their necks."
He was.
Aggression didn't come through words—it came through touches. Through how long he held the ball under pressure, through how ruthlessly he dictated play.
Every time Nico stepped on the training pitch, he completed system drills with precision:
> *Zidane Template Integration: 60% → 75%*
> *Skill Unlocked: Levitating Drag — Control tempo by dragging the ball at near-standstill*
> *Composure Perk: Calm King (Reduces error rate in high-tension moments by 35%)*
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**July 15th, 2007 — Invitational Friendly vs Deportivo La Coruña (First Team)**
Castilla had been invited to play a summer friendly against Deportivo's first team. Most of Castilla's squad saw it as a fun trial.
Nico saw it as war.
Coach Emil leaned in before kickoff. "Play like it's your last match. Eyes are on you."
And Nico did.
**Minute 12** — Nico picked up the ball at midfield, slowed, surveyed, and split the lines with a Zidane-like lofted pass. Assist.
**Minute 47** — He received a throw-in under pressure, spun off two midfielders, and curled a shot that kissed the post and in.
**Minute 76** — He drew in three men, waited… waited… then played a reverse pass no one saw coming. Second assist.
Final Score: Castilla 3 – 1 Deportivo
> **Match Rating: 9.2**
> *System Bonus Objective: Match 1 Complete (1/3)*
Even the opposition applauded.
---
**Two More Friendlies. Two More Statements.**
Against Rayo Vallecano and Zaragoza B, Nico delivered another goal, three assists, and controlled each midfield like it belonged to him.
> **Match Ratings:** 8.9, 9.0
> *System Bonus Objective Complete: (3/3)*
> **Mystery Player Template Unlocked: Andrea Pirlo**
> Status: Locked (Reach Level 6 to Activate)
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**Final Week of July — System Update**
> **Zidane Template Integration: 100%**
> Legendary Trait Acquired: *Maestro's Aura* — When activated, nearby teammates gain +15% decision-making and passing accuracy.
> **Current Player Stats — Preseason Summary:**
> Age: 16
> Height: 5'10" (178cm)
> Weight: 150 lbs (68kg)
> Foot: Right (4-star weak foot)
> **Position:** Advanced Playmaker (Free Role)
> **Team:** Real Madrid Castilla (Promoted to Segunda División)
> **Jersey Number:** 18
> **Total Stats:**
> Matches: 35
> Goals: 13
> Assists: 22
> Key Passes: 66
> Dribbles Completed: 73
> MOTM Awards: 11
> Yellow Cards: 4
> Red Cards: 0
> **System Level:** 5
> XP: 990 / 1200
> **Active Template:** Zinedine Zidane (100%)
> Traits: Velvet Touch, Orbit Pass, Calm King, Maestro's Aura
Nico stood under the scorching Madrid sun, watching his teammates stretch before a new week of training.
He clenched his fists. He was no longer the quiet kid from the third division.
He was the conductor of Castilla. The heir to greatness.
And the world was about to notice.
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**End of Chapter 8**
*Next: With Re
al Madrid's senior scouts watching, Nico gets a taste of first-team exposure—and the dangerous spotlight that comes with it.*