His phone buzzed, and the name sat on the screen, the message opening 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, squeezing it once, letting out a breath because belief feels heavier than doubt when you have not carried it for years.
"Alright," he said under his breath, setting the phone down as the panel above the desk waited.
"UG, can I get my stats up fast with this?" he asked, keeping his voice flat and 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, rubbing his jaw and nodding once because the only way through is through.
"UG, ready," he said, and the panel brightened, the room tightening as the light thickened.
「PACKS MENU ACTIVATED」
AVAILABLE PACKS:
Bronze Pack — 100 TP
3 random cards | Basic improvements
Available: 10 packsSilver Pack — 200 TP
5 cards (3 attributes + 1 trait shard + 1 wildcard)
Available: 5 packsGold 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 packsBlack Pack — 10 SP
8 cards (4 high attributes + 2 trait shards + 1 guaranteed skill + 1 wildcard)
Available: 8 packsDiamond 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, the choice locking in.
「BRONZE PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 100 TP | Remaining: 900 TP」
The floating interface turned into a small lever with a metal grip, the base humming as the words sharpened.
「Pull the lever to reveal your cards.」
He reached out, fingers closing around the grip, and he pulled because you do not get better by staring.
PACK OPENING
Card 1: Balance +1 — CommonCard 2: Shot Power +2 — CommonCard 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, tapping Silver because maybe the mid-tier would bite.
「SILVER PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 200 TP | Remaining: 700 TP」
PACK OPENING
Def. Awareness +2 — UncommonCrossing +2 — UncommonVolleys +2 — UncommonTrait Shard [Agent Negotiation Perk] — 1/4Rare 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, his thumb hovering as he tapped Silver once more because a pattern sometimes needs time.
「SILVER PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 200 TP | Remaining: 500 TP」
PACK OPENING
Aggression +2 — UncommonAggression +1 — CommonVolleys +1 — CommonTrait Shard [Long Shot Taker] — 1/4Aggression +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, looked at the ticket thread again, then back at the lever because going halfway is another way to stop.
"Gold," he said, letting the breath out as the base of the lever glowed and the cost clicked down.
「GOLD PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 500 TP | Remaining: 0 TP」
PACK OPENING
Stamina +3 — UncommonAcceleration +4 — UncommonPositioning +4 — RareComposure +2 — CommonTrait Shard [Set Piece Specialist] — 1/4Curve Run Timing — EPIC TechniqueComposure +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, tapping Black, watching 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, setting his jaw, thumbing 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, looked at the flight message again, and nodded because Milan would not slow down for him.
"Again," he said, tapping Black because quitting is a habit he does not want.
「BLACK PACK SELECTED」
「Cost: 10 SP | Remaining: 60 SP」
PACK OPENING
Sprint Speed +6 — RareSprint Speed +6 — EPICGK Kicking +7 — EPICStrength +4 — RareTrait Shard [Recovery Boost] — +1 (now 1/4 → 2/4)Trait Shard [Recovery Boost] — +1 (still 2/4; duplicate condensed)Lofted Dink — RARE TechniqueTrait 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: 1/5
Long Shot Taker: 1/4
Set Piece Specialist: 1/4
Recovery Boost: 2/4
Speed Dribbler: 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, not hiding it, tapping 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: 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, thumb wavering 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, 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 — RAREComposure +6 — EPICAggression +9 — EPICBall Control +6 — EPICLong Passing +5 — RARETrait Shard [Press Resistant] — 1/4Trait Shard [Stamina Regeneration Technique] — 1/4Epic Skill Shard [Blindside Run] — 1/8Epic Skill Shard [Dipping Power Shot] — 1/8Golden 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, the panel holding them back, and he stared because he knew they could change Milan and 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. He pushed the chair back so he could stand without wobbling.
He screamed, the sound jumping in the small room, the chair scraping 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, the door rattling because she thought something had happened to her son.