The morning of Saturday, May 23rd, brought a heat that felt more like mid-summer than late spring. The Northcastle training grounds were buzzing with the sound of a team that had found its rhythm.
Eric Maddox stood on the touchline, his hands tucked into his pockets, watching his players go through a high-intensity possession drill.
The air was thick with the scent of freshly watered grass and the sharp, rhythmic sound of boots meeting the ball. In the center of the pitch, the players were divided into two groups, moving in a tight circle, trying to keep the ball away from two defenders in the middle.
Suddenly, a familiar translucent blue window flickered into Maddox's vision. The Pro Manager System was running its background analysis, and a new alert began to pulse with a golden glow.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Exceptional Growth Detected]
[Highest Gem Growth Event: Noah Perring]
[Creativity: +1 (13)]
[Passing: +1 (11)]
[Movement: +2 (10)]
[Teamwork: +2 (12)]
