The first light of March seeped into the Paterna training grounds, painting the turf in shades of green and gold. Álex arrived early, as always, tying his boots and adjusting his kit, feeling the crisp air press against his lungs. It was quiet now, but in two hours, the academy would be alive with motion, shouting, and the rhythm of feet striking balls against turf.
Today was not a normal practice. Today was about preparation, refinement, and proof. The MIC tournament loomed in April, and every player knew the stakes. Not everyone in the Valencia U15 squad would make the trip. Competition was fierce. Every touch, every sprint, every shot counted.
Álex ran a few warm-up laps, feeling the morning stiffness dissolve into controlled energy. He glanced at the weight area, where a few older players were already lifting. Physical conditioning wasn't just about strength — it was stamina, agility, and injury prevention. His own history with the hospital had impressed upon him the value of resilience.
Coach Molina approached him with a clipboard in hand.
"Álex," he said, voice steady but firm, "we're going to focus on three areas today: speed, shooting accuracy, and match awareness. You've improved technically, but the tournament will demand endurance and decisiveness under pressure."
Álex nodded. "Understood, coach."
The first session was a circuit around the pitch. Sprint drills, cone agility runs, and shuttle sprints were lined up in succession. Álex felt the tension in his muscles loosen, then tighten as he pushed past his previous limits.
[Acceleration: 58 → 60]
[Sprint Speed: 56 → 58]
Each sprint was measured: the system tracked every millisecond of his movement, recording split times, stride efficiency, and recovery rates. He pushed himself past the point where breathing became controlled only through force, his lungs burning, legs pumping.
Between sprints, Álex rotated through core exercises: planks, lateral jumps, and medicine ball throws. The focus wasn't just raw power — it was stability, balance, and preventing injuries that could derail progress.
[Balance: 55 → 57]
[Stamina: 55 → 58]
Coach Molina observed, nodding silently. He didn't need to speak — the results were evident in Álex's posture, stride, and responsiveness.
After the physical circuit, the squad moved to the shooting drills. Valencia had set up multiple stations: one for long-range shots, one for volleys, one for low-driven placement, and one for weak-foot practice.
Álex started at the long-range station. Every shot was calculated: hip angle, foot placement, follow-through. The system's faint prompts appeared in his peripheral vision:
[Shot Accuracy: 49 → 52]
[Finishing: 53 → 56]
[Composure: 54 → 56]
He alternated feet. Left. Right. Curling. Driven. Chip. Each repetition sharpened his decision-making and allowed him to anticipate goalkeeper reactions. He kept count: 50 precise shots before a water break, 75 before moving to volleys.
[Weak Foot Strength: ★★★ → Improved control and confidence]
The volley station demanded timing. Balls were delivered at varying speeds, angles, and heights. Álex adjusted constantly, coordinating eye, foot, and body in a fluid motion. He fell into rhythm, each strike more confident than the last.
[Skill Moves: ★★★★ → Execution more fluid under pressure]
By the end of the shooting drills, sweat was running down his face, clothes sticking. But his shots had found both corners repeatedly, force and accuracy balanced perfectly.
Finally, it was time for the decisive internal match. The coaching staff had set up a full 60-minute scrimmage, split into two teams. The objective: evaluate players not just individually, but in match conditions. Every pass, sprint, tackle, and shot was a test.
Álex was placed in his natural position: attacking midfielder, left-oriented. He knew that today's performance could decide whether he would represent Valencia in the MIC tournament.
The whistle blew. Immediately, the intensity skyrocketed. Teammates and rivals collided in a controlled chaos, pushing each other to the limits. Álex received the ball early and felt his instincts guiding him:
[Decision Making: Stabilized]
[Positioning: 55 → 57]
[Ball Control: 61 → 63]
He dribbled past one defender, executing a stepover that sent him around a second. His eyes flicked up, scanning for open teammates. Javi Torres sprinted past the defensive line. Álex threaded the ball through the narrowest channel possible.
[Assist Attempt: Successful Execution]
The forward finished perfectly. Goal.
"Good vision, Álex!" Coach Molina shouted.
Álex had to adapt quickly, slowing down play when necessary, finding open lanes, and controlling the tempo.
A sudden turnover put him under pressure. Two defenders converged, trying to trap him near the sideline. Without panic, Álex let the ball roll across his foot, pivoted, and slipped a pass into a midfielder cutting through the center. The momentum of the defenders carried them past him, leaving space for the counterattack.
[Stepover Success — Level 2]
[Mental Resilience: Tempered → Improved under pressure]
The match continued, minute by minute, test by test. Álex's legs burned, lungs gasping, but every touch, every decision, every run reinforced his readiness.
The scrimmage highlighted rivalries. Javi Torres challenged Álex repeatedly, pushing him to react faster, think smarter. Each duel became a micro-test: who could outthink whom, who could anticipate movement first.
Álex anticipated Javi's feints and blocked passes, then countered with a sharp through ball that led to a shot narrowly saved. Each interaction built mutual respect and honed skills under pressure.
[Attack Contribution: 2 Key Plays → 5 by half-time]
[Composure: Peak]
The last ten minutes were critical. Both teams were exhausted. Álex had been involved in almost every play, controlling tempo, guiding teammates, creating opportunities. He executed a near-perfect one-touch combination with Javi and a forward, leading to a goal that sealed the scrimmage victory for his team.
[Performance Rating: Maximum]
[Confidence: Boosted]
[Projected OVR: 57 → 58]
Coach Molina blew the final whistle. Players collapsed onto the turf, gasping and dripping with sweat. The scrimmage had served its purpose: the squad for the MIC tournament would be selected today, and Álex had proved his readiness.
In the locker room, the coaches conferred quietly. Then Molina addressed the players:
"Congratulations. You've earned your spots for the MIC tournament. Performance, consistency, and mental strength were key. Álex Castillo, your vision, composure, and execution make you a pivotal part of this squad, Javi Torres, your explosive speed
Álex's chest tightened with pride. Relief. Responsibility. Every drop of sweat, every repeated drill, every step from the hospital to this moment had led here.
The system appeared in his awareness:
[STATUS WINDOW — Pre-Tournament Update]
Name: Alejandro Adeyemi Castillo
Age: 13
Height: 163 cm
Position: Attacking Midfielder (Left)
Technical Potential: Very High
Tactical Awareness: Stabilized
Physical Development: Accelerating
Mental Resilience: Tempered
Current Standing: MIC Squad Confirmed
[OVERALL RATING]
OVR: 58
[PHYSICAL]
Acceleration: 60
Sprint Speed: 58
Agility: 62
Balance: 57
Jumping: 51
Reaction: 55
Stamina: 58
Strength: 48
[MENTAL & TACTICAL]
Positioning: 57
Vision: 58
Decision Making: 57
Composure: 56
[TECHNICAL]
Ball Control: 63
Crossing: 57
Dribbling: 64
Finishing: 56
Short Pass: 59
Long Pass: 53
[SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES]
Weak Foot Strength: ★★★☆☆(3 stars)
Skill Moves: ★★★★☆(4 stars)
[SKILLS POSSESSED]
• Stepover – Level 2
• Body Feint – Level 1
[POTENTIAL]
Projected OVR: 81
Trajectory: La Liga First-team Attacking Midfielder
Reflection
Later that evening, Álex sat on his bed, legs tired but mind sharp. The MIC tournament would be his first true challenge beyond the academy walls, facing teams from across the globe.
But he was ready. The drills, the sprints, the volleys, the internal scrimmage — every moment had prepared him not just physically, but mentally, tactically, and emotionally.
He could feel his body humming with energy, confidence, and purpose.
The MIC tournament wasn't coming for him. He was ready to meet it head-on.