The sun had begun its descent by the time Tobi dropped to his knees at the edge of the pitch, gasping for breath. His legs burned. His lungs ached. But it was the good kind of pain—the kind that reminded you you were alive.
He hadn't felt this way in a decade.
The Football System pinged softly.
---
> Level Up!
Level 2 Achieved.
Skill Points Earned: +3
Bonus Reward: +1 to Dribbling, +1 to Stamina.
> Current Attributes:
Pace: 63
Dribbling: 69 → 70
Shooting: 60
Passing: 62
Stamina: 58 → 59
Mentality: 45
> Skill Points Available: 8
---
Eight skill points. In the past, he would've thrown them all into shooting or pace, just to look flashy. But that was the old Tobi—the one obsessed with highlight reels, who ignored the fundamentals, who fell apart when things didn't go his way.
Now?
Now he needed to be smarter.
He opened the system panel with a thought and allocated his points carefully:
> Mentality: +3 (45 → 48)
Stamina: +2 (59 → 61)
Passing: +1 (62 → 63)
Pace: +2 (63 → 65)
He didn't want to just be fast. He wanted to endure. To think. To command the game. Mentality was everything in the professional world—resilience, composure, awareness.
And God knew he'd lacked it before.
---
He returned home, sweat-soaked and sore. His mother scolded him for ruining his clothes, but when he hugged her tightly, burying his face into her shoulder, she froze.
"Tobi?" she asked, gently. "Are you alright?"
He didn't know how to answer that. "I just missed this," he murmured.
She laughed, brushing his hair with her fingers. "Silly boy. You see me every day."
No, he hadn't—not for ten long years.
---
That Night
The house creaked with nighttime quiet. His father's television hummed from the living room, playing an old Portuguese comedy show. Tobi sat at the edge of his bed, staring at a journal—empty pages waiting to be filled.
He began writing everything he could remember from the future:
Key Dates:
Major academy trials
Tournament fixtures
Injury risks
Players to watch
Names to Avoid:
Diogo Mendes – former agent, a snake in a suit
Álvaro Paiva – the academy coach who ruined his confidence
Rui Lopes – teammate who stole credit and poisoned the locker room
Goals:
1. Get into a major academy (Benfica or Porto)
2. Build consistency—not just talent
3. Avoid early fame
4. Be mentally stronger
5. Never let anyone control his career again
By the time he closed the notebook, it was nearly midnight.
---
System Notification: Passive Skill Unlocked
> "Focused Mind" – Increases resistance to pressure and improves decision-making in crucial moments.
Tobi smirked. "Now we're talking."
---
The Next Day – São Vicente High School
The school looked just like he remembered: cracked pavement, graffitied lockers, and classrooms that smelled like chalk and sweat. He hadn't missed it. But as he walked through the halls, something felt different.
He wasn't just another awkward teen anymore.
He had ten years of mistakes to learn from—and that made him dangerous.
---
In PE class, Coach Farinha announced a school football trial would be held that Friday for a youth regional tournament. Dozens of boys turned their heads toward Tobi.
He was a known name even at sixteen. Once a prodigy, always watched—especially by those who wanted to see him fall.
João Reis, the star striker, laughed under his breath. "Oliveira's trying again? Didn't your last match end with a red card and a tantrum?"
The class laughed. Tobi didn't flinch.
Old Tobi would've snapped.
New Tobi just smiled.
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "You'll have a front-row seat to the comeback."
---
After School – The Pitch
He trained alone again, activating drills from the System.
> Agility Drill – Intermediate
XP Gained: +12
New Skill: "Quick Shift" – Slightly increases dribbling accuracy while changing direction at speed.
> Stamina Training – Light Jog (1hr)
XP Gained: +8
Fatigue: 17%
The more he trained, the more the System responded—helping, nudging, guiding. It wasn't just boosting his body. It was rewiring his instincts. Faster reactions. Sharper passes. Calculated movements.
But the fatigue was real. He'd have to manage it carefully. Burnout was a trap even the System couldn't prevent if he pushed too far.
---
That Evening
As he iced his legs at home, his father walked in, holding a pair of scuffed black cleats.
"I found these in the attic," he said gruffly. "They were yours. From the youth tournament five years ago."
Tobi held them gently. They were beat-up, worn thin, but full of memories.
"I'm trying again," he said.
His father nodded, slowly. "You have my support. Just don't get lost in it again."
Tobi looked up.
"I won't," he said. "This time, I'm doing it my way."
---
System Quest Update:
> "A New Start" – Progress: 15%
Bonus Quest Unlocked: "Redeem the Past"
Objective: Make the school team and lead them to the semifinals.
Reward: Unlock "Insight Vision" Passive Skill.
Failure: Reputation debuff (-10 respect with local scouts).
---
And so it began.
The road back to the top was long, brutal, and unforgiving. But Tobi wasn't just fighting for glory now.
He was fighting for redemption.
And this time, he wouldn't fall short.