The smell of damp grass filled the air, mixed with the faint trace of liniment and detergent that clung to every locker in the Virtus Lombardia Youth changing room. The walls echoed with chatter, laughter, and the metallic clink of studs against tile.
But all noise seemed to bend toward one person.
Jaeven Moretti Han.
He sat at the far bench, tying the laces of his boots. His eyes were calm, distant — the same eyes that had burned like twin comets seven days ago during that unforgettable match.
> "Two million views already!"
"He broke the defender's ankles, man—did you see the replay angle?"
"Even the local news station mentioned him!"
The voices of his teammates buzzed around him, somewhere between disbelief and excitement. They had all fought in that match, but only one name was spreading through Italian football circles now.
Jaeven said nothing. He didn't need to. The faint smile curving his lips spoke enough.
---
⚙️ [System Notification]
> Divine Echelon Framework Update
Performance Evaluation: Outstanding (A–)
Analyzing post-match development…
Minor attribute increases detected.
Agility +1
Balance +1
Ball Control +1
Vision +1
New Passive Acquired: Spatial Awareness I
Description: "Your understanding of positioning and movement in confined spaces has slightly improved."
---
The glowing blue letters faded from his sight as he blinked. His fingers flexed, feeling that strange connection between his instincts and the world around him.
It wasn't magic. It wasn't divine.
It was something sharper — like seeing football through a cleaner lens.
For the first time, Jaeven could feel where defenders were going to step before they did. He could visualize passing lines before his body even moved.
And yet, he knew — this was just the first drop in an endless ocean.
---
"Jaeven!" Coach Bruno's gruff voice broke his thoughts. "Stop spacing out. You're not a star yet. Get out there and train."
He nodded immediately. "Yes, Coach."
Outside, the pitch shimmered under the pale Italian morning sun. The air was cold enough to sting his skin. Birds darted over the nearby rooftops as if racing them to the horizon.
Warm-up drills began — light jogging, ball touches, two-touch passing in small grids. The rest of the youth team threw him curious glances between drills.
Some were in awe.
Some were envious.
A few… looked nervous.
Fame, even the smallest kind, changes everything.
---
During a water break, Matteo — the team captain — approached him.
> "You know, Han… your goal saved us that day. But don't let it get to your head."
"I'm not," Jaeven replied calmly.
Matteo raised an eyebrow. "Good. Because we've got the semi-finals next week. They'll all be watching you now."
He patted Jaeven's shoulder, walked off, and barked orders at the others.
Jaeven tilted his head slightly, watching the players scatter. "They'll be watching me…" he whispered.
The weight of those words hit him harder than expected.
---
⚙️ [System Tip]
> "Recognition is both a spotlight and a mirror.
It reveals your talent—and your flaws.
Keep refining the reflection."
---
He stared down at his boots, dusted with grass, then clenched his fists.
"Yeah… I'll refine it."
---
Training – Day 1
They began with possession drills. Small 5v5 games in tight boxes.
The moment Jaeven received the ball, two defenders pressed him.
Before, his instinct was to panic — to push it wide, or try to dribble through blindly.
But now… something clicked.
The defenders' hips…
Their foot angles…
The way one leaned slightly forward while the other delayed half a second —
Jaeven tapped the ball with his left, flicked it with his right, and slipped through them.
It wasn't fast. It wasn't flashy.
But it was calculated.
> "Good! Again!" Coach Bruno shouted, surprised. "Keep the ball close!"
For hours, Jaeven repeated the same movements — short passes, turns, control.
By the end of training, his shirt clung to his skin. His breaths came ragged.
But his mind burned sharper than ever.
---
That night, the Divine Echelon Framework glowed faintly as he sat on his bed.
[Status Screen]
Name: Jaeven Moretti Han
Age: 16
Team: Virtus Lombardia Youth
Position: LW / SS
Attribute Score Grade Notes
Pace 38 E+ Improved short bursts
Dribbling 40 D Increased comfort under pressure
Shooting 36 E+ Needs more precision
Passing 37 E+ Decent awareness in tight space
Ball Control 42 D Developing smoother touch
Stamina 39 E+ Endurance improving gradually
Strength 35 E Still light frame
Agility 41 D Better foot coordination
Vision 40 D Reads team movement quicker
Mentality 55 C+ Unshaken confidence
Willpower 59 C+ Never gives up mid-play
Perseverance 58 C+ Adapts fast to errors
Charm 44 D Subtle presence, still raw
Traits:
Double Foot (A)
Spectral Awareness (S)
Ball Control (S)
Hidden EX Trait: [Locked]
---
He exhaled softly. The progress was small, but it was real.
He wasn't skipping steps.
> "This feels right," he murmured. "Slow… but right."
A faint vibration rippled through the air. Another message appeared.
⚙️ [System Notice]
> "Emotional stability detected. Synchronicity with the Divine Echelon increasing."
Tip: Emotional balance accelerates learning rate by 3%.
He chuckled. "Even the system's telling me to chill…"
Then his gaze wandered to his reflection in the dark laptop screen on the desk. His face — no longer pale, no longer weak — stared back with mismatched eyes: one sea-green, one sky-blue.
> "This time… I won't waste this body."
---
Training – Day 3
Clouds rolled over the city. Rain drizzled across the turf, but practice didn't stop.
If anything, Bruno looked happier. "Rain means life, boys! Move!"
They worked on transitions — counterattacks, defensive shifts, and sharp passing sequences. Jaeven's body ached, but his mind buzzed. Every drill unlocked tiny insights.
His passes carried more weight, his turns were tighter, and his balance no longer wobbled when defenders pushed him.
When he finally took a break, he noticed a few teammates staring again.
> "He's improving fast."
"Like… too fast."
Jaeven ignored them. He had no time for envy.
---
Later that evening, while leaving the facility, he noticed something strange.
A tall man leaned against the chain-link fence at the far end of the parking lot, watching the youth pitch even though training had ended hours ago.
His presence radiated authority — not loud, but heavy, like someone used to commanding attention.
Their eyes met for a brief second.
The man nodded slightly, then turned and left.
Jaeven's brow furrowed. "Who was that…?"
He didn't know it yet, but that fleeting glance would change everything.
---
Day 5 – Morning
A knock on the dorm door woke him.
It was Matteo again.
> "You're trending on the league's official youth page now," he said, tossing a tablet toward him.
"Trending?"
"Yeah. 'Virtus Lombardia's Young Miracle.' Has a ring to it, huh?"
Jaeven laughed under his breath. "That sounds… over the top."
> "Well, get used to it. Reporters are already sniffing around. Coach told us to keep you away from them."
That last part made Jaeven pause. "Why?"
> "He doesn't want you distracted. You've got the semi-final in two days. If we win that, we go to the finals."
The final. The same tournament that determined youth rankings — and often who got promoted to the senior squad.
His pulse quickened.
---
⚙️ [System Tip]
> "Key Match Approaching: Tournament Semi-Final."
Condition Detected: Mental Focus 94%.
Recommendation: Maintain composure. Train efficiency over intensity for next 48 hours.
---
"Efficiency over intensity…" he whispered.
That meant focusing on touch, movement, reading play — not exhausting drills.
For the next two days, Jaeven followed the system's guidance.
He practiced alone in the evenings, juggling until sweat soaked his shirt, visualizing plays, mimicking movements from his favorite matches.
Not Neymar — not in this world — but the legends that could've been.
In his mind, he replayed imaginary goals, sculpting technique from fragments of memory and imagination.
When he finally lay in bed the night before the semi-final, his heart wouldn't slow down.
The system flickered faintly.
⚙️ [System Notice]
> "Condition Locked: Focused Drive."
Effect: Boosts reaction speed by 3% and ball control precision by 2% for 48 hours.
---
The glow faded.
He smiled in the dark.
> "So it begins."
---
The next morning, the stadium felt alive. The semi-final match — Virtus Lombardia Youth vs. Bellarese U18.
Three of Bellarese's players were rumored to be scouted by professional clubs. Their forward, Riccardo Pessi, was already training with a 2nd Division side.
Jaeven tightened his jersey. His heart thudded against his ribs, steady and alive.
The chants outside echoed. Thousands of young dreams, a single field.
Coach Bruno's voice barked one final command. "Play smart. Trust your instincts. Han, don't do anything stupid."
Jaeven grinned. "Can't promise that, Coach."
---
In the farthest row of seats, the same mysterious man from the fence — the new Virtus Lombardia FC first-team coach — sat quietly, arms crossed. His eyes followed one player alone.
> "Let's see, kid… if that goal was a fluke, or the start of something real."
The whistle blew.
The ball rolled.
And the next storm in Jaeven's new life began to form.
---
Next Chapter Preview:
Chapter 6 – The Call from Above
> "A single match can change your life… but only if you're ready to grasp it."