The second day felt heavier than the first.
Not because Lamii was tired.
But because now—
He understood.
Yesterday, everything was new.
Today—
Everything was real.
Lamii stepped onto the pitch early again.
But this time, he didn't just look around.
He analyzed.
Players already warming up.
Touches clean.
Movements sharp.
Communication quick.
No wasted energy.
No wasted time.
This isn't a place to adapt slowly…
His eyes narrowed slightly.
You either rise… or disappear.
"You felt it yesterday, didn't you?"
Lamii didn't turn immediately.
He already knew who it was.
Adrián.
Arms crossed.
Same confident stance.
Same sharp eyes.
Lamii replied calmly:
"Yeah."
Adrián smirked.
"Good."
A pause.
"Because today… it gets worse."
Before Lamii could respond—
The energy shifted.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't announced.
But everyone felt it.
Players stopped talking.
Some straightened up.
Others glanced toward the entrance.
Lamii followed their gaze.
And saw him.
Walking onto the pitch.
Calm.
Slow.
Controlled.
No rush.
No pressure.
Like the field already belonged to him.
He wasn't bigger.
Wasn't louder.
Wasn't flashy.
But something about him—
Dominated the space.
Without trying.
Adrián exhaled slightly.
"Speak of the devil…"
Lamii looked at him.
"Who is he?"
Adrián didn't smile this time.
"That…"
A small pause.
"…is the one you don't want to face."
The player stopped near the center.
Looked around once.
Then stepped forward.
The coach nodded slightly.
Respect.
Recognition.
Adrián spoke quietly:
"Mateo."
Another pause.
"The king of La Masia."
Lamii studied him carefully.
No arrogance in his posture.
No wasted movement.
Just…
Confidence.
Pure.
Unshaken.
Like someone who had already proven everything.
Mateo's eyes moved across the field.
Then landed on Lamii.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
Because in that moment—
Lamii felt it.
He wasn't being welcomed.
He was being measured.
"Positions."
The coach's voice cut through.
"Full intensity."
The ball rolled.
And instantly—
The pace exploded.
Lamii received his first pass.
Controlled.
Looked up—
And froze.
For half a second.
Mateo was already there.
Closing the space.
Perfect angle.
Perfect timing.
Lamii tried to move—
Too late.
The ball was gone.
Clean.
Effortless.
Mateo didn't celebrate.
Didn't react.
Just passed the ball forward.
Like it was nothing.
Lamii stood still for a second.
That wasn't just speed…
That was anticipation.
"Told you."
Lamii clenched his jaw slightly.
But didn't respond.
Play continued.
And Mateo controlled everything.
Not loudly.
Not aggressively.
But completely.
Every pass—
Perfect.
Every movement—
Calculated.
Every decision—
One step ahead.
Lamii tried to read the game.
To use his vision.
But something was off.
Every time he predicted—
Mateo was already there.
He's seeing it before me…
The ball came again.
Lamii adjusted.
Faster.
Sharper.
No hesitation.
He moved.
One touch.
Turn—
Mateo stepped in.
Not reacting.
Predicting.
The angle closed instantly.
Lamii tried to escape—
But the space was gone.
Again.
This time—
Lamii felt it.
Not doubt.
Frustration.
Why can't I get past him?
As they reset—
Mateo walked past him.
Then said calmly:
"You think too much."
Lamii looked at him.
Mateo didn't stop.
"Football here…"
A pause.
"…is faster than your thoughts."
That line hit harder than anything else.
Because it was true.
Minutes passed.
And Lamii kept failing.
Not badly.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough to feel it.
Enough to know—
He wasn't winning.
"Stop."
Coach's voice.
Players gathered.
"New rule."
A pause.
"Two touches maximum."
The tension rose instantly.
"No thinking."
Another pause.
"Only instinct."
The game restarted.
Faster.
Sharper.
More brutal.
No space.
No time.
No mercy.
The ball came.
One touch.
Second touch—
Pressure.
Loss.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Lamii stepped back.
Breathing heavier.
Mind racing.
I can't keep up…
Papii's voice.
"I'll be there."
Enzo's voice.
"Only one of us."
Lamii closed his eyes for a second.
No.
He opened them again.
Focused.
Clear.
Next play—
He didn't think.
Didn't analyze.
Didn't calculate everything.
He trusted instinct.
Ball comes.
One touch.
Pass.
Move.
Again.
No hesitation.
For the first time—
Mateo paused.
Watching.
He's changing.
The ball came again.
Lamii moved instantly.
No delay.
No fear.
One touch.
Another.
Quick shift.
Mateo stepped in—
But this time—
He was slightly late.
The space opened.
Just for a second.
But enough.
Lamii passed.
Perfect.
Goal.
Players stopped.
Just for a moment.
Because they saw it.
That was different.
Adrián smiled slightly.
"Finally."
Mateo looked at Lamii.
No smile.
No reaction.
But his eyes—
Focused deeper now.
But not defeat anymore.
Whistle.
Players walked off.
Some tired.
Some satisfied.
Some thinking.
As Lamii walked off—
Mateo stopped him.
"Better."
Lamii looked at him.
Mateo continued:
"But not enough."
A pause.
"You're still behind."
Lamii nodded.
"I know."
The Challenge
Mateo turned away.
"Catch up."
Lamii stayed on the pitch.
Looking at the ground.
Thinking.
Processing.
"This is the level…"
A pause.
"…I have to reach."
The New Weapon
He whispered:
"Faster."
Not stronger.
Not smarter.
Faster thinking.
Faster acting.
Faster everything.
Because in this place—
Vision alone wasn't enough.
To survive…
To compete…
To dominate…
You had to see the future—
And reach it before anyone else.