The 75th minute. The Ciudad Deportiva felt like a pressure cooker about to burst. Getafe was trailing 0-1, and the fans in the stands were beginning to whistle in frustration. Alex stood at the corner flag, a small figure in a sea of giants. To the Rayo defenders, he looked like an easy target—a 15-year-old boy who had no business being in a "Division de Honor" match.
But inside Alex's mind, the [Tactical Eye] was performing millions of calculations. The world slowed to a crawl. The Rayo defenders became static obstacles, and the wind speed appeared as a glowing vector in his vision.
[System Notification: Set-Piece Analysis]
Field Density: 92% in the 6-yard box.
Goalkeeper Position: 20cm off-center (Anticipating a far-post cross).
Selection: "The Olympic Goal" (Direct Strike).
"Look at this kid," the local radio commentator shouted into his headset. "He's ignoring the Captain! Marco Valeri is screaming for a cross, but Villar is just staring at the near post. What is he thinking?"
Alex took four measured steps back. He struck the ball with the outside of his right boot—a "Trivela" strike with vicious, surgical precision.
The ball hissed through the air, initially appearing as if it were heading straight for the corner flag. Then, mid-flight, the physics of the spin took hold. The ball whipped inward with a violent, unnatural curve.
"Wait... look at the bend on that!" the commentator yelled.
The Rayo keeper lunged desperately, his body stretching to its absolute limit, but the ball was a ghost. It kissed the inside of the woodwork—clack—and rippled the side netting before the keeper could even touch it.
GOAL! Getafe 1 - 1 Rayo Vallecano.
For a heartbeat, there was absolute silence. Then, the stadium erupted into a deafening roar.
The Crowd:
"Did you see that?!" a scout in the stands muttered, dropping his pen. "A direct corner? At fifteen years old?" Parents and local fans were on their feet, some holding their heads in disbelief, others chanting the name they had just learned: "Villar! Villar!"
The Sideline:
Coach Gallo stood frozen on the touchline. His red face had gone pale with shock. He had expected a cross, perhaps a lucky header, but he had never seen a player in the academy execute an "Olympic Goal" with such cold-blooded intent. He slowly sat back down, whispering to his assistant, "We aren't just looking at a talent... we're looking at a monster."
The Field:
Marco Valeri stood in the middle of the box, his mouth hanging open. He had his mouth open to insult Alex for not passing, but the words died in his throat. Alex didn't celebrate. He didn't run to the cameras. He walked into the net, scooped up the ball, and sprinted back to the center circle.
As he passed the stunned Rayo captain, Alex glanced at him and said one word: "Watch."
[System Notification: Milestone Achieved]
Event: Direct Corner Goal (The Olympic Goal).
Reputation Gain: +500 (Academy Level).
Attribute Growth: Shot Power 58.5 (↑ +0.5), Vision 86.8 (↑ +0.1).
The "Architect" hadn't just tied the game. He had broken the spirit of the opposition.
After the legendary equalizer, Rayo Vallecano didn't retreat; they erupted in fury. Conceding an "Olympic Goal" to a 15-year-old was a humiliation they couldn't endure. They restarted the game with a relentless, high-intensity press, suffocating Getafe's defense.
[System Notification: High-Pressure Phase]
Status: Opponent in "Tactical Frenzy" mode.
Advice: Conserve energy for one final opening.
Alex moved through the midfield, his lungs burning, but his eyes remained cold. In the 89th minute, Rayo's playmaker misplaced a desperate pass. Marco Valeri lunged into a fierce slide tackle, and the ball bobbled loose. Alex was onto it in a heartbeat.
"Now!" Alex commanded.
[Skill Activation: Tactical Eye]
Golden Lane: Identified behind Rayo's overextended Left-Back.
Alex surged forward. With his improved Balance (52.2 ↑), he shrugged off a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge, then threaded a clinical long ball to Javier on the wing. Pushing through the stamina warnings, Alex ghosted into the penalty area. Javier sent a fizzing, low-driven cross across the face of the goal.
With a calmness that chilled the stadium, Alex opened his foot and chipped the ball delicately over the sprawling goalkeeper.
Score: Getafe 2 - 1 Rayo Vallecano.
The Commentator (Screaming):
"RE-MON-TADA! A historic comeback! Alex Villar has turned this game on its head! He built the victory from the ground up! This isn't a debut; it's a statement of war!"
[System Notification: Post-Match Stat Update]
Finishing: 59.4 (↑ +0.9) — Tier: <60
Balance: 52.2 (↑ +0.7) — Tier: <60
Tactical Awareness: 89.41 (↑ +0.01) — Tier: 80-90
[System Bonus: Match Winner Reward]
Due to the clutch nature of the debut victory, a major physical breakthrough has been triggered:
Sprint Speed: 53.5 → 56.5 (+3.0) — Massive gain due to "First Win" bonus!
Alex collapsed onto the grass as the final whistle blew, his body trembling with exhaustion. The interface before his eyes flashed a brilliant, solid gold:
[Quest Completed: The First Victory]
[Reward: +500 System Credits unlocked for the Professional Store]
The sound of the final whistle was still echoing in the stadium as Alex stumbled toward the tunnel. His legs felt like lead, and his Stamina was flashing a dangerous 0.1%. As he crossed the threshold of the locker room, the air changed instantly.
Usually, a comeback win like this would be filled with loud music and shouting. But today, there was a heavy, almost reverent silence. Every eye in the room was fixed on the 15-year-old boy who had just dismantled a Top-4 academy team in fifteen minutes.
[System Notification: Social Dynamics Analysis]
Team Morale: Elevated (+20%).
Hierarchy Status: Shifting. You are no longer "The Scholarship Kid."
New Title Unlocked: The Match-Winner.
Alex sat on the wooden bench, his head down, trying to catch his breath. Suddenly, a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see Marco Valeri. The team's star was drenched in sweat, his chest heaving. He had scored the winning goal, but his face didn't show the usual arrogance.
"That pass," Marco said, his voice low and gravelly. He looked at Alex with a mixture of resentment and newfound respect. "I didn't even have to break my stride. I've played with U-19 internationals who couldn't put that ball on my boot the way you did."
Marco leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. "But don't think this makes you the boss, Villar. One game is a fluke. Do it again next week, then maybe I'll believe the hype."
He didn't wait for an answer, but as he walked away, the System pinged.
[System Notification: Reputation Updated]
Target: Marco Valeri.
Relationship Status: From 'Hostile' to 'Begrudging Rival.'
Respect Level: 45% (↑ +40%).
Before the noise could return to the room, Coach Gallo entered. He didn't say a word at first. He walked to the center of the room, looking at the tactical board, then slowly turned his gaze toward Alex.
"Villar," Gallo said, his voice unusually calm. "That corner kick... I've been coaching youth football for twenty years. I've seen maybe two players in this age group attempt that. And I've seen zero succeed."
He paused, looking at the entire squad. "Today, you didn't win because you were faster or stronger. You won because someone on this pitch saw the game in a way the rest of you couldn't. Take a shower, get some rest. And Villar—"
Alex looked up.
"—The Sporting Director was in the stands. He left five minutes before the whistle, but he didn't leave alone. He took a copy of the match tape with him. Be in the administrative wing tomorrow at 09:00 AM. Bring your guardian."
The room erupted into whispers. A meeting with the Sporting Director usually meant only one thing: A professional contract.
Alex closed his eyes, a thin smile playing on his lips. He leaned back against the locker, the cold metal feeling like a throne. He opened the System one last time before the interface dimmed.
[System Note: Phase 1 Complete]
Current OVR: 60.1
Next Objective: Survival in the Boardroom.
As Alex pushed open the heavy exit doors of the locker room, the cool night air hit his face, carrying the scent of damp earth and victory. His guardian was waiting by the car, looking half-stunned, but Alex's attention was elsewhere.
The system interface was pulsating with a new, aggressive light.
[System Notification: Evolution Confirmed]
Global Status: Amateur Phase Deleted.
Current Tier: [Professional Prospect - Tier 1].
New Feature Unlocked: The Professional Store.
Alex leaned against the car door, closing his eyes to enter the mental space of the system. Instead of the basic interface, he now saw a sleek, black-and-gold marketplace.
[The Professional Store: Tier 1 Selection]
Skill Manual: [One-Touch Mastery] — Price: 600 Credits.
Physical Injector: [Stamina Booster - Level 1] — Price: 400 Credits.
Trait: [Media Darling] (Increases Reputation gains from interviews) — Price: 300 Credits.
Alex looked at his balance: 700 Credits. He could feel the power of the "Architect" growing. He didn't buy anything yet—he knew that tomorrow's meeting would determine exactly what he needed next.
Suddenly, a man in a trench coat stepped out from the shadows of the parking lot. He wasn't a coach or a fan. His eyes were sharp, scanning Alex like a piece of high-end machinery.
"Villar, right?" the man asked, his voice professional. "I'm a scout for Villarreal CF. That pass in the 92nd minute... it didn't belong in a U-19 game. It belonged in La Liga."
Alex didn't flinch. He didn't show the excitement of a 15-year-old. He simply nodded. "Then I'm sure you'll be watching next week as well."
The scout smirked, handing Alex a card. "Keep that. Getafe is a good club, but players with your vision eventually need a bigger canvas. Think about it."
[System Notification: Reputation Update]
Scout Interest: 12% (↑ +12%).
Warning: Getafe officials have noticed the contact. Negotiation tension for tomorrow: Increased.
As Alex got into the car, his guardian began talking excitedly about the goal, but Alex was looking out the window at the receding lights of the stadium.
He was no longer just a kid trying to prove he could play. He was a "Product" that everyone wanted, and a "General" who had just won his first battle. Tomorrow, he wouldn't go into that meeting as a beggar asking for a scholarship. He was going as a King demanding his due.
[System Note: Chapter 10 "The First Victory" - END] (Did he continue doing that?)🌹
OVR: 60.1
Stamina: 15% (Recovering...)
Mental State: Predatory.