The sun climbed over Barcelona like a promise.
Game day.
Luca stood in front of the mirror in the locker room, adjusting his shin pads. His heart thudded like a drum. Around him, his teammates were getting ready—lacing boots, sharing jokes, tapping each other's backs for luck.
But Luca?
He was locked in.
Focused.
[System Alert – Match Begins Soon]Objective: Contribute 1 Goal InvolvementBonus Challenge: "Dança do Rei" – 3 Successful Flair Dribbles
🎁 Reward: +10 XP, +2 Reputation (Scouts), Random Loot Drop
Status: ⚔️ Ready
The coach walked in.
"Alright boys," Coach Mateo said, voice firm. "This is Real Madrid. You don't need me to tell you what that means."
A few nervous chuckles broke out.
"But forget the badge," he continued. "Forget the crowd. You've trained for this. You are Barça. So go out there, and show them how we play."
He turned to Luca just before the team walked out. "You're the spark today, Herrera. Set the rhythm."
Luca nodded. "Sí, míster."
The small stadium was buzzing. Not full, but loud.
Parents. Staff. Scouts. Cameras. Whispers in the stands.
Among them, seated a few rows up, was Javier Montoya, a scout from Barcelona B. Sunglasses. Notepad. Watching.
And beside the tunnel, clutching a plastic bag with his work uniform still half on, was Luca's father—he'd run during his break just to make it on time.
The whistle blew.
Kickoff.
First ten minutes, both sides tested each other. Real Madrid was organized, sharp, confident.
But then…
Luca got the ball.
A soft diagonal from the right-back. He cushioned it with the outside of his boot, and in a single motion, turned on the defender like a flame in the wind.
[Flair Dribble Successful: 1/3]+1 Technique XP
He weaved through another, tapped it behind him with a backheel flick, spun—and left two players chasing air.
"¡Madre mía!" someone shouted in the stands.
Even the referee cracked a smile.
By the fifteenth minute, Luca was electric. Every touch had intention. Every move had soul.
Then, the moment came.
A counterattack. Luca received the ball at the halfway line. Defender closing. He chopped the ball inside—one, two, three touches. Fast. Elegant. Unpredictable.
He skipped past the final man like it was a street game, then slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
GOAL.
The crowd erupted.
His father stood up, yelling, "¡Vamos, Luca! ¡Sí, carajo!"
[Goal Scored]+1 Goal Involvement ✅
🎁 Reward Unlocked:+10 XP+2 Reputation (Scouts)🎁 Loot Drop: "Speed Burst" Passive (Temporary)
[Flair Dribble Successful: 3/3]🔓 Bonus Challenge Complete: "Dança do Rei"
Reward: +5 TechniqueUnlock: Ronaldinho Signature Animation ✅
The rest of the match?
Magic.
Luca danced down the wing again in the second half, pulled off a no-look assist with a curled cross to the striker—goal.
Then sealed the game with a second goal in the 77th minute: a step-over, a cut inside, and a rocket into the top corner from outside the box.
Final whistle: 3–1 for Barcelona.
In the locker room, the team swarmed him. Shouts. Laughs. Even some disbelief.
"Bro… you're not normal," one teammate said.
"Who taught you to dribble like that?" another asked.
Coach Mateo approached him, clapped a hand on his shoulder. "If you keep playing like this… you're going places, kid. Fast."
Outside the stadium, Javier Montoya took off his sunglasses. He scribbled one note on his page:
Luca Herrera – Special. Raw, but brilliant. Track closely.
He made a call.
"Yeah, it's Montoya. From the Juvenil match. Get me footage of the left winger. Number 11. No, no—trust me. This one's different."
That night, at home, Luca's father couldn't stop smiling.
"I told you, didn't I? You've got something in your feet. And now the world's starting to see it."
Luca sat quietly, still wearing his Barça jacket, eyes glowing.
He didn't need to say anything. Not tonight.
Because his dream?
It was no longer just a dream.
It was beginning.