The sun over Santiago burned brightly,but inside the German training camp,the heat came from something else entirely—
Anticipation.
The U-20 World Cup Final was just days away.
And Germany, fresh off their victory over France,was sharpening every weapon for the ultimate battle.
Tactical Preparations
Coach Schuster led intense but focused sessions.
Compact defensive drills.
High-pressure pressing.
Breakout counters designed to punish Spain's aggressive fullbacks.
Special coverage plans for Lamine Yamal.
No one smiled.
No one joked.
The atmosphere wasn't tense—it was sacred.
They knew where they were.
And what stood in front of them.
A Surprise at the Hotel
After a morning session,Mateo returned to the team hotel,sweaty and tired,ready for a shower and some quiet.
But as he stepped into the lobby—
He stopped cold.
Two figures stood waiting near the reception.
One with strawberry-blonde hair and a radiant smile.The other with eyes full of warmth and a hint of tears.
Klara.His mother.
He froze for just a second.
Then dropped his bag and sprinted across the marble floor.
Klara threw her arms around him.
His mother wrapped them both.
No words.Just heartbeats.Tears he didn't even realize he had held back.
The weight of everything—the pressure, the noise, the expectation—
Evaporated in that moment.
"I wanted to be here," Klara whispered."No matter what happens."
His mother nodded, stroking his hair.
"You've already made us proud, Mateo."
He exhaled, finally…breathing fully.
Opening the Reward
That night, in his hotel room,Mateo sat on his bed with the System interface floating before him.
He had been holding onto it for days.
The reward from the semifinal victory.
Now, with his heart full and his mind clear,he was ready.
Inside the System:
[Special Reward: Skill Evolution Opportunity]
You may evolve one existing skill into a new, enhanced version.Choose wisely.
A panel appeared, listing eligible skills:
Finishing Instinct Lv.1
Explosive First Step
Vision and Passing Accuracy Lv.1
Clutch Performer
Flow State
He stared at the list.
Each one had shaped his game.
But he knew exactly which one mattered most for the final—
The skill that let him turn seconds into magic.
The skill that made pressure his ally.
"Clutch Performer.""That's the one."
[Evolving Skill: Clutch Performer → Champion's Instinct]
Effect:When in knockout-stage matches,all core stats receive a +20% boost for 15 minutes following any goal or assist.Cooldown: 30 minutes.Bonus: Unlocks "Last 5 Minutes Surge" (additional +10% stats if score is tied or behind in final 5 minutes).
Mateo leaned back, stunned.
This wasn't just a skill.
It was a weapon designed for finals.
For champions.
He closed the System window,stepped onto the hotel balcony,and looked out at the lights of Santiago.
His mother and Klara were here.His teammates trusted him.The system had made him stronger.
Now, all that remained…
Was to win it.