************
Earlier that day.
Lukas had just finished his defense stats training at the Legend Training Center that day, and was now sitting up on his bed as he stared at the golden system window.
[TRAINING SESSION 3 COMPLETED]
[ Rewards (10X)
Def. Awareness +30
Tackling: +30
Aggression: +20
Def. Engagement: +20 ]
He had spent another grueling 24 hours in the LTC where he trained his positioning when defending, how to cut off passing lanes when pressing the ball high up the field, the timing of tackles.
Some games require even the center forward to spend the majority of the match in their own half—defending.
This training engrained the important defending foundation, a midfielder or forward would need to survive in the current football climate.
And Lukas, was becoming a player who could play anywhere on the pitch when needed.
"Am I the German Ruud Gullit?" Lukas said out loud with a big smile on his face.
[*Right now, you're not even remotely close*] TT's voice rang in his head, ever so sarcastically.
"What a party pooper. But the most important part of that sentence is—'right now'.
I have only had you for about 3 days, and see how much I have improved as a player all round.
Imagine what it would be like in a few months, a year, ten years."
[*Well, that says more about how powerful I am, than about how talented you are.*]
"I know that, because I have lived a life where you weren't available. But I guess luck is a kind of skill too, and I'm as lucky as it gets."
[*You sure are. And this is just the beginning, as long as you don't get complacent and ignore your training, you will become a type of player your imagination is currently unable to conjure up.*]
"Wait a minute... Who are you?... What have you done to my one and only TT? When did you start encouraging me?"
[*I have always been cheering you on.*]
"Nooo, stop talking like that. You're giving me the heebie-jeebies." Lukas said as he mimicked a scared expression.
[*Who uses that word in 2024? Just for that, I'm now considering the option of deactivating your skill that stops you from getting muscle fatigue. Because it feels like your mouth is the sharpest after a workout session.*]
"Wait you can do that?"
[*Try me and find out.*]
"Ooooh... scary."
[*You should be scared.*]
"I don't even have the strength to this back and forth thing with you. Open player profile."
"Oh this isn't bad at all. I could probably be a sub for the first team in 2. Bundesliga with my current stats." Lukas thought as he looked at his information.
[ PROFILE – LUKAS BRANDT – FOOTBALLER
DATE OF BIRTH: 30/12/2008 (15)
HEIGHT: 175cm
WEIGHT: 61kg
CAREER STATUS: SV DARMSTADT ACADEMY REJECT
RATING: 66 (↑ 17)
PLAYER STATS:
ATTACK:
Off. Awareness: 58 (↑ 20)
Ball Control: 69 (↑ 30)
Dribbling: 74 (↑ 35)
Tight Possession: 72 (↑ 35)
Low Pass: 65 (↑ 25)
Lofted Pass: 65 (↑ 30)
Finishing: 68 (↑ 30)
Header: 67 (↑ 20)
Place Kicking: 78 (↑ 30)
Curl: 73 (↑ 25)
DEFENCE:
Def. Awareness: 68 (↑ 30)
Tackling: 65 (↑ 30)
Aggression: 65 (↑ 20)
Def. Engagement: 65 (↑ 20)
STRENGTH:
Speed: 69
Acceleration: 65
Kicking Power: 68
Jump: 67
Physical Contact: 58
Balance: 60
Stamina: 70
Note: All stats above average for players your age. Not enough to be "above average", you should be, THE BEST.
↓ Expand]
"Typical TT, I can't even enjoy my stat increase in peace."
[*Don't you have to go to school or something? It's a Thursday morning and you've been heckling me all day.*]
"Oh no.. you're right!" Lukas exclaimed as he picked up his phone to look at the time.
6:13AM
He jumped off the bed, and rushed to the bathroom.
As he sat down for breakfast—which was being set by Javi.
"Hey Luke, I'm glad you're able to return to school now. Are you sure you're okay though?" Javi asked as he set the bagel on the dining table.
"Dad, I am fine. I promise." Lukas responded as he stood up to assist his father.
"Alright son, just call me if anything comes up."
"I will, Dad. By the way, I will be going to the SV98 academy training ground after classes."
"Really? Going to see your friends?"
"Yeah. And coach Patrick says I can train with them, anytime." Lukas responded as they both sat down to start eating.
"I also have an appointment with a football agent after the training."
"A football agent? Did they contact you?" Javi asked, his brow raised as he waited for his son's response.
"No, I contacted him. He is João's agent, and João says only nice things about him. I wanna see if he can get me back into SV98 or maybe another academy." Lukas responded, eyes locked with Javi's.
Javi stared at him for a minute without a word.
"Alright then. I'll like to meet him too."
"Yeah. Well you'll HAVE to meet him if he wants to be my agent. I'm still underage."
"Oh so you know that."
"Funny, Dad. If things go well at the training ground, I will set up a meeting for you this evening at the Cafe down the street. Don't worry it will be after your working hours."
"Hey! You can't just add items to my schedule like that. I could have had a prior appointment." Javi said with a smile as he stretched out his hands and took a bagel from Lukas' plate.
"Dad, are you seeing someone? You also came back late from work a couple days ago. Confess, now!" Lukas said as he tried to retaliate by stealing a piece of cheese from Javi's plate, but his hand was swatted away.
"Ahem.. I don't have to answer that. Anyway! Can you look at that, it's past 7am. You'll be late for school. Off you go." Javi changed the subject as he dragged Lukas—who had finished his meal—off the table, handed him his backpack, and playfully pushed him towards the door.
"Dad! I gotta meet her sometime."
"Meet who? What are you talking about? Text me the meeting details. I'll see you there!"
"Bye dad, you both have a nice day. And extend my greetings to her." Lukas said with a grin as he walked out the front door.
"Byebye!" Javi responded quickly as he closed the door immediately.
"Damn, that kid is sharp. How did he know about her?" Javi thought with a puzzled expression.
His expression soon relaxed into a smile.
"Still, I'm glad he's back to his cheerful self."
************
Back to the training ground.
João was on the ground laughing at Hans and Johan who were both nutmegged by Lukas in a rondo.
"João stop laughing, you're gonna make me laugh too." Lukas said as he struggled to stop himself from bursting out laughing like João.
"C'mon man, it wasn't even that funny." Hans chimed in, trying to save himself from embarrassment.
FWEEE*
Coach Patrick's whistle sounded.
"Alright boys, enough warm-up. Goalkeepers, go with the assistant coach for goalkeeping training. The defenders, go with assistant coach Lev. The midfielders and forwards, you're stuck with me today. We will start the technical training."
Everyone moved, João and the rest of the defenders went with coach Lev, where they worked on long diagonal passes from deep, timing of tackles, and body movement when tackling or blocking shots inside the 18-yard box.
Lukas, however, was with coach Patrick with the rest of the attacking and midfield players.
The training was now fully on.
Passing drills where the players had to avoid cones placed as obstacles as they passed the ball to each other.
Executing sequences of receive, turn, and shoot. Where a player is given three touches from when the ball is played, to when it's in the back of the net.
Lukas had never been good with making or receiving passes, in fact, his first touch had always been horrible.
But with his showcase during the training session two days ago and the rondos from earlier, expectations were starting to rise.
And he didn't disappoint.
Hours of grueling training from TT started paying off.
His first touch, killed the ball's momentum. His second, allowed him to turn smoothly as he set himself up for the strike. And his last, placed the ball at one of the four corners of the goal.
"How does he keep placing the ball so precisely at the corners?" A few academy players who had chalked his initial progress up to 'dumb luck' could no longer avoid the truth as they murmured between themselves.
He was already performing above the other players, but when it got to set-piece taking, it was like he was on a complete other level.
25 metres out from goal to the right of the D.
He set the ball.
Took a couple steps back.
He took one look at the ball, then the wall, then the goal.
A short run up.
And a shot.
A/N: Later chapter today, was feeling sick. You guys have fun.
Love y'all.