Chapter 11: A Monday in Cleiton's Life
It was still dark when Cleiton woke up at five in the morning to complete his daily mission. The silence of the street still blanketed the neighborhood, and the sky was just beginning to glow orange as he ran along the sidewalks, driven by the system that kept him focused on his goals. After finishing his walk and morning run, he completed his sets of push-ups and sit-ups with discipline and determination.
Back at home, he found his father, José, in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Their bond had strengthened over recent months, and José's support, especially lately, was a huge motivation for Cleiton.
"Up and running early again, huh?" José said, handing Cleiton a glass of orange juice. "I don't know where you get so much energy."
Cleiton smiled, feeling the mild fatigue from his exercises. "Good morning, Dad. It's the training... and the upcoming challenges that keep me motivated."
José nodded, pride evident in his expression. "Remember to savor every step, son. This journey in football is made of small steps. Big achievements come little by little."
Cleiton agreed, feeling the weight of his father's words. He knew this daily dedication, although demanding, was essential for what he aimed to achieve.
José, now more present and involved in Cleiton's sports journey, nodded in understanding, his eyes gleaming with pride and a touch of nostalgia, remembering when he too had once dreamed of a football career.
"That's important, Cleiton. It's easy to get caught up in victories, but being able to see where you can still improve—that's what sets great players apart from good ones. And don't forget, training is only part of it; keeping up with your studies is part of the discipline too."
Cleiton listened attentively, knowing his father's support was a key part of his motivation. Over time, José had set aside his initial doubts and embraced his son's dream, even watching games and discussing the plays with him.
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll keep everything balanced," Cleiton replied, finishing his juice. "We've got a tough physical training session with Roberval today, but I'm ready."
José smiled, giving his son a light pat on the shoulder.
"That's the spirit. Go on now, and remember: enjoy every moment. The road is long, but you're already further along than most," José said, watching Cleiton leave the house with renewed confidence.
---
As Cleiton arrived at school, he found Cássio and Nathan at the entrance, and the three greeted each other with smiles and jokes. Memories of the weekend were still fresh, and they took every chance to relive the highlights.
"Who else's body is totally sore?" asked Cássio, stretching his arms as he glanced at his friends with a smirk.
"Man, I'm completely wiped," Cleiton said with a slight smile.
Nathan, on the other hand, let out a dramatic sigh.
"Too bad football can't help me with history class too, right? Who can even remember all those dates?" he joked, earning laughs from Cleiton and Cássio as they walked down the hall to their classroom.
Once they settled into their seats, the teacher came in, and the group focused on reviewing for the test. Cleiton tried to concentrate on her explanations, but his mind kept drifting between the weekend's games, his training, and the goals he'd set for himself.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to push away distractions and focus on the class—each achievement required sacrifices, and he knew he had to balance every area.
The morning continued with lessons until the bell rang for lunch. The three friends gathered in the cafeteria to eat together, and as they ate, Cássio had an idea that sparked excitement in the group.
"Hey, how about we stop by the usual lan house for a quick game of LoL? It's been a while since we played together, and no one here is good enough to challenge my mid," he said, grinning.
Nathan laughed and shook his head.
"Oh yeah? Just wait until I pick Draven—I'm carrying you guys!" he said, already excited.
Cleiton nodded in agreement, and they all decided to head to the lan house after lunch.
---
The lan house was a small, well-organized place. Computers were lined up along the walls, with comfortable chairs and adequate lighting. The owner, recognizing them from past visits, greeted them with a smile.
Once seated and geared up, they quickly launched League of Legends. Cleiton chose Aatrox for the top lane, Cássio went with Anivia for mid, and Nathan, known for his ADC skills, picked Draven.
In just the first few minutes, Cleiton gained control of his lane, using Aatrox's abilities to pressure and dominate his opponent, who was playing Jax, scoring First Blood. His accuracy was flawless, and Cássio, while dealing with his own lane opponent, noticed his friend's improvement.
"Hey, Cleiton, looks like you've been secretly practicing LoL without us, huh?" joked Cássio as he used Anivia's ultimate to keep control over mid lane.
Cleiton only smiled, fully focused. Throughout the match, the three worked as a team, coordinating moves, calling out enemy positions, and setting up ambushes. Cássio commanded the mid lane with Anivia, controlling the map and freezing opponents with precision. Nathan's Draven dealt massive damage with each hit, intimidating anyone who got too close.
In a critical moment during the battle for the Hextech Dragon soul, Cleiton spotted the perfect opportunity. He charged into the middle of five enemies with Aatrox, activating his abilities and wiping them all out in a stunning pentakill. The whole team cheered, and victory was inevitable. After breaking down the enemy Nexus, they celebrated and had a good laugh over their performance.
"Whoa, Cleiton, you were on fire! That play was insane!" Nathan praised.
"It's just that you guys don't know how to play!" Cleiton replied, joking as he exited the game.
It was a quick and thrilling match, but the clock signaled it was time to head to training. With backpacks on and lively chatter, they headed to the club.
---
At the club, the physical trainer Roberval was waiting for the players with a determined expression, his arms crossed, eyes fixed on each one as they arrived. Monday was known as the toughest day of the week, especially when it came to physical training, and everyone knew Roberval wouldn't be going easy on them.
As soon as everyone was gathered, Roberval called the group together and made an announcement.
"Today, we're focusing on each player's individual needs," he stated, his firm voice echoing across the training field. "Every one of you has specific areas to work on. You'll be divided into stations, with exercises targeted to improve the areas you need to develop physically."
Cleiton listened carefully, his curiosity piqued as he watched Roberval evaluate each player's strengths and weaknesses. The coach knew everyone's abilities inside and out and was set on refining every detail.
When Roberval reached him, he looked Cleiton up and down with a serious expression.
"Cleiton, right now, your weak spot is your jumping ability," he said directly. "In games, you need to improve your leap reach. Today, we're focusing on strengthening your legs and working on explosiveness to give you height and power in your jumps."
Cleiton nodded, feeling motivated. He knew the coach was right—improving his jump would be essential for winning aerial challenges and making an impact on the field. Roberval led him to an area of the field with different jump-training stations, each designed to strengthen his leg muscles and develop explosive power.
"We're starting with a set of jump squats," Roberval explained, demonstrating the movement. "No weights. I want you to squat as low as you can, and as you jump, stretch up like you're reaching for the sky. The key here is explosion, and don't forget to react quickly when you hit the ground."
Cleiton got into position and began the exercise, squatting and then springing upward with all his strength. With each jump, he focused on extending his legs and arms to the fullest, feeling his thigh and calf muscles respond with intense effort.
The goal wasn't just to jump high, but to do so with speed and precision. Roberval watched his every move, correcting him when necessary and encouraging him to keep up the energy.
After several minutes, Roberval moved Cleiton to the next station, where various boxes of different heights were set up for box jumps.
"Now, Cleiton, we're going to work on box jumps," Roberval instructed. "Start with the smallest box, and when you're comfortable, move up to the higher ones. Jump onto the box, keeping control when you land. The goal here is to strengthen your reaction to the ground and improve your balance."
Cleiton eyed the first box and made a precise jump onto it. He repeated the move over and over, with each jump increasing in height as Roberval raised the stakes. When he reached the taller boxes, he had to use the full power of his legs to make the leap and ensure a steady landing. His legs burned from the effort, but his determination kept him going.
"Well done," Roberval said, nodding in approval. "Now we're going to add a new level of difficulty with resistance jumps."
The trainer grabbed a resistance band, wrapping it around Cleiton's waist and anchoring the other end to a fixed structure. This setup would create tension against the jump, forcing Cleiton to fight against the pull.
"The goal here is to jump, but the band will pull you back. I need you to overcome that resistance and jump as high as you can. This will build more explosive strength," Roberval explained.
Cleiton positioned himself, feeling the pressure of the band pulling against him. He took a deep breath and started the set, feeling the band yank him backward every time his feet left the ground. Each jump demanded more from his body to overcome the resistance, and the difficulty increased with every repetition. The effort required not only leg strength but also concentration to maintain balance and control each landing.
"Remember the explosion, Cleiton! Imagine you're trying to jump higher each time!" Roberval shouted as Cleiton powered through the moves.
But the training wasn't over. Roberval led Cleiton to another station, instructing him to do calf raises on a bar to further strengthen the muscles responsible for his jump.
"This exercise is to build your calves, which are essential for jumping. Lift yourself onto your toes, raise your body as high as you can, and then come down slowly. Control is key here."
Cleiton got into position and, with each lift, felt his calves working intensely. He repeated the movement multiple times, with short breaks in between, as Roberval kept a close watch on his rhythm, urging him to continue.
After finishing the calf exercises, Roberval directed him to one final exercise: broad jumps.
"Now we'll finish with broad jumps. Imagine you need to cover the longest distance possible with each jump. Keep your focus, your posture steady, and use the full strength of your hips and legs to push forward," Roberval said, demonstrating an impressive leap.
Cleiton took a deep breath, fully concentrating, and put all his effort into each jump. He launched himself forward, maintaining control of his body and aiming for maximum distance. The accumulated fatigue was setting in, but the sense of accomplishment drove him to keep going.
When he finally completed the session, Cleiton was breathless and exhausted, his leg muscles burning. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Roberval, who approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder with a look of approval.
"Excellent work, Cleiton. This kind of training not only builds your jump but also your strength and endurance. You're going to feel the difference on the field," Roberval said, with a confident smile.
Cleiton nodded, grateful for his coach's dedication and the opportunity to enhance his skills.
---
After the exhausting specialized training sessions led by Roberval, the players were getting ready to wrap up for the day and head home when Coach Cerqueira gathered everyone's attention.
"Everyone, before we finish up, I need to discuss something important," he began, walking to the center of the group, which turned to listen intently. "In two weeks, we'll start our journey in the Campeonato Baiano Sub-17. This is a major tournament, and I know many of you are excited."
Excitement rippled through the group, and a few players exchanged enthusiastic glances. Cleiton felt his heart race; this would be a huge opportunity for him and his teammates.
"Let me explain how it's going to work," Cerqueira continued. "Sixteen teams from across the state will compete, and the first phase will be a single round-robin format. That means we'll play each team once, so every game is a unique opportunity—no second chances."
Cleiton focused, making an effort to absorb each detail. The coach went on:
"The top four teams at the end of this phase will move on to the semifinals. The last-placed team will be automatically relegated to the second division, and the next-to-last team may also be relegated if the second division has 16 or more teams. It's a tough structure, so we'll need consistency and intensity in every game."
Cerqueira paused, scanning the group to ensure they were following.
The players listened closely, grasping the competition's complexity. The coach continued, explaining the knockout stages:
"For the semifinals and finals, matches will be played in a knockout format, meaning home and away games. If the score is tied after both games, the tiebreaker will be the goal difference. If we're still tied, it'll come down to a penalty shootout."
Some players exchanged nervous glances at the mention of penalties, but Cleiton remained focused, understanding that each detail would be crucial for the team.
"There's also an added incentive: the top four teams in the championship earn a spot in the Copa do Nordeste, a competition involving clubs from all nine states in the region. The top two teams in the Campeonato Baiano go directly to the Copa do Nordeste group stage, while the third and fourth places will need to go through the qualifying stage."
Cerqueira looked at the players intently, emphasizing the challenge and the opportunity.
"The Copa do Nordeste has 28 clubs in the group stage. From each state, two clubs qualify directly, totaling 18 already. Another 18 clubs, including the third and fourth places from each state, will compete for the remaining 10 spots in a qualifying round—a mini round-robin tournament. Only the top ten qualify for the Copa do Nordeste group stage."
Cleiton felt a growing sense of excitement. Competing in a tournament like the Copa do Nordeste was a dream for many young players, and knowing that this possibility was within reach motivated him even more.
"But that's for later," Cerqueira said, bringing the focus back to the Campeonato Baiano. "Our first opponent has already been set: Itabuna, an old rival. They didn't play us in the benefit tournament, but we watched their match against Barcelona de Ilhéus, which they lost. Still, they're a strong and experienced team."
He stopped to observe the players, who were visibly more motivated by the news. Cleiton felt everyone's energy rise, and his determination to stand out in the debut game only grew.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll shift our training focus to determining the starting lineup for the Itabuna game. I want to see everyone giving their best. You all know this is the time to show who's really ready to compete."
The group responded with nods and murmurs of excitement, the anticipation for the debut spreading among them. Cleiton took a deep breath, feeling prepared for the challenge and determined to make a mark. The Campeonato Baiano would be a decisive test, and he knew that every practice until then would need to be approached with absolute focus.
"All right, everyone, you're dismissed for today. I want you all rested and ready for tomorrow," Cerqueira concluded, giving an encouraging smile as the players dispersed.
Cleiton left the field with his friends, his mind filled with expectations and newfound confidence. He knew the days leading up to the debut would be intense, but he was more than ready to give his best.
—
Back at home, as he entered his room, Cleiton heard the familiar chime of the system activating, and a notification appeared in his vision:
'New Mission: In preparation for the Campeonato Baiano Sub-17, double the requirements of your daily mission until the day before the tournament begins.'
Reward: a ticket for the Iron Roulette.
Cleiton smiled at the unexpected opportunity and accepted the mission without hesitation. The thought of winning a roulette ticket was tempting, and the chance to push himself even further was motivating.
"Hey, system, why the sudden generosity?" he asked, with a hint of humor.
To his surprise, the system responded condescendingly:
'Generosity? If you keep playing like this, you'll embarrass all system users across the multiverse at the Campeonato Baiano. The system is simply being magnanimous in helping you avoid such humiliation.'
Cleiton laughed, dismissing the system's mocking tone. He knew this was just the beginning of an intense training period, and this new mission would drive him to give even more of himself.
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