[TRAINING MISSION COMPLETE]
[Successful Finishes: 7/10]
[Reward Applied: Finishing +0.3]
The change was too small to produce any physical sensation. Rafael noticed it only when he struck another ball during the final attacking exercise. His foot met the centre more cleanly, and the shot travelled closer to where he had intended.
The difference remained fractional. Poor movement could still remove the chance before his finishing mattered, while pressure, balance and the goalkeeper’s position would continue affecting every attempt.
Sunday’s league fixture confirmed that.
The opposition defended well throughout the first half and prevented Metz from creating anything beyond two blocked shots. Metz increased the tempo after halftime, moving the ball wider and forcing the defensive line to defend repeated crosses.
Rafael scored the opening goal by beginning behind the centre-back and moving in front of him as the left winger prepared to deliver. He did not beat the defender through strength or jump over him. He reached the space first and redirected the cross inside the near post with his forehead.
Metz added a second goal through a midfielder, conceded from a set piece and scored again during the closing minutes to win 3–1.
Only one notification appeared after the match.
[MISSION UPDATE: BUILD MOMENTUM]
[Goal Contribution Recorded]
[Current Streak: 2/3]
[Status: Active]
One more goal would complete the mission.
The following week moved quickly. Rafael attended lessons, completed his assignments and trained each afternoon without accepting another mission. Moreau sent his mother the details of two sports lawyers and advised her to choose whichever one she preferred. She selected one independently and arranged for the representation proposal to be reviewed.
Rafael left the matter with her and focused on Metz’s penultimate league fixture.
The match began badly.
Metz dominated possession during the opening half, but the opposition defended with a compact back line and left little space between the centre-backs. Rafael moved across them without receiving a clean delivery, while the midfield struggled to pass through the crowd in front of the penalty area.
The opposition were content to wait for a mistake.
It arrived in the thirty-first minute.
Metz’s right-back advanced to support an attack, and a midfielder attempted to force a pass into the area. The ball struck a defender and rolled toward the vacant side before Metz could recover.
The opposition winger reached it first.
He carried possession beyond halfway while Metz’s nearest centre-back moved across to delay him. The winger waited until the defender committed, then passed inside toward his striker.
The striker controlled the ball near the edge of the area and finished low past the advancing goalkeeper.
Metz trailed 1–0 despite controlling most of the half.
Rafael returned to the centre circle without calling for everyone to push forward. There were still almost sixty minutes remaining, and abandoning their shape would only give the opposition more counterattacks.
He continued dropping toward midfield, releasing the ball quickly and returning to the box. Sometimes a centre-back followed him, allowing Yanis or the left winger to attack the space behind. When both defenders remained in position, Rafael gave Metz another player through whom they could move possession from one side to the other.
The approach did not create an immediate goal. One return pass travelled behind the midfielder, another combination ended when Yanis was forced toward the touchline and Rafael headed a difficult cross over the bar.
Metz reached halftime still trailing.
The equaliser arrived six minutes after the restart.
The opposition tried to pass out from their own penalty area, but Metz’s left winger closed the full-back and forced the ball inside. A midfielder anticipated the next pass and won possession twenty-five metres from goal.
Rafael moved between the centre-backs, giving the midfielder an option through the middle. Both defenders narrowed around him.
The midfielder passed right instead.
Yanis received with enough space to enter the area and drove his shot beyond the goalkeeper into the far corner.
Rafael turned toward him as Yanis ran to the corner, but he did not pretend the goal belonged to his movement. The midfielder had recovered the ball and supplied the final pass. Yanis had taken the chance.
The score was 1–1, and Metz still needed another goal to win.
The opposition dropped deeper after conceding. Their wingers defended close to the full-backs, while the midfield protected the area in front of the centre-backs. Metz moved possession around them but struggled to enter the box.
Rafael remained patient. He competed for crosses when they arrived and returned passes when defenders prevented him from turning. A centre-back beat him to one header, while the goalkeeper collected another delivery before Rafael could reach it.
The match entered its final ten minutes.
Rafael’s legs had begun to feel heavy, but his movements remained controlled. He stopped making runs that could not affect the play and waited for the ball to enter a position his teammates could use.
In the eighty-third minute, Metz recovered possession near halfway and passed forward before the opposition settled. Rafael moved toward the ball with the nearest centre-back behind him.
The pass arrived firmly into his right foot.
Rafael laid it into Yanis’s path with one touch and turned away from the defender. Yanis carried the ball forward, drawing the opposing full-back toward him.
Rafael accelerated into the channel opening between the full-back and centre-back.
Yanis saw the run and threaded the return pass between them.
The centre-back recovered quickly and moved across Rafael’s path. Rafael’s first touch took the ball beyond the defender’s leading foot, allowing him to place his body between the opponent and possession.
The touch did not remove the pressure. The defender remained close enough to lean into Rafael’s shoulder, while the goalkeeper advanced from his line and lowered himself to cover the angle.
Rafael stayed upright and used his second touch to drive the ball low across goal.
The goalkeeper dropped toward it, but the shot passed beyond his left hand and entered the far corner.
Rafael’s momentum carried him several steps toward the byline. He turned as Yanis reached him and caught him around the shoulders. The remaining Metz players followed, their substitutes shouting from beside the technical area.
The celebration remained near the corner for several seconds before the referee called them back.
Metz protected the 2–1 lead through the remaining minutes. Their midfield stayed compact, the full-backs stopped advancing and Rafael held up two clearances near the touchline rather than trying to chase another goal.
The final whistle confirmed Metz’s third consecutive league victory.
Once the handshakes and celebration settled, the System appeared.
[MISSION COMPLETE: BUILD MOMENTUM]
[Final Streak: 3/3]
[Reward: Free Attribute Point ×1]
[CLAIM REWARD]
Rafael accepted the reward but made no attempt to assign it beside the pitch.
[Reward Claimed.]
[Free Attribute Point ×1 — Unassigned]
[CLOSE]
He dismissed the panel as the coach called the team together.
"Those last two wins have moved us into second," the coach said. "We are one point ahead of the team we face next Sunday. A draw keeps us there. A defeat puts them above us."
The conversations around him stopped.
"The top two qualify for the national quarterfinals. That is what the final match decides."
There was no speech about destiny or proving themselves. The coach reminded them to recover properly, report any injuries and arrive ready for training on Tuesday.
That evening, Rafael sat at his desk with his examination notes open beneath the lamp. The final league fixture was displayed on his phone, while Moreau’s unsigned representation proposal rested beside his books.
One match remained between Metz and the national quarterfinals.
Blue light appeared above the examination timetable.
[NEW MISSION]
[Finish Strong]
[Objective: Score in the final U19 league match and help Metz avoid defeat.]
[Reward: Free Attribute Point ×1]
[ACCEPT]
Rafael selected the final option.
[MISSION ACCEPTED: FINISH STRONG]
[Status: Active]
The panel faded, leaving the fixture and unsigned proposal in front of him.
One would decide whether Metz’s season continued.
The other would decide who helped guide whatever came after it.