Kapitel 7: Upgrades and Preparation
Morning, Marcus forced himself to wake at 6:30 AM, squeezing in an hour and a half of shooting practice before the team's morning training. His long-range shooting had recently been upgraded to level 2, but progress was slowing. Where a few hours of practice once yielded 30 points, it now barely managed 20. Still, his goal was clear: to reach level 3 within 17 days.
By evening, he was back in the gym for strength training, pushing his limits. The relentless schedule left him utterly drained. "This kind of life is hardly human," he thought.
The next day, June 18th, his body began to show signs of strain. Persistent aches and stiffness forced him to extend his warm-ups before training sessions. Yet, the slowdown in his shooting progress gnawed at him. How could he achieve his goals without relentless practice?
That evening, during a strength training session, his French teammate, Carl, noticed his fatigue and suggested a dietary change. High-protein, high-carb, and high-energy foods might help him sustain the grueling intensity of his schedule. The advice was sound, and he decided to adopt it immediately.
June 19th brought the weekend, but rest was not part of the plan. His philosophy was simple: "No pain, no gain." He practiced before meals, after meals, and at every possible moment. Skipping a day of training made him restless, and missing three would feel like falling behind. The effort was paying off—his shooting progress had reached 159 out of 300, and strength training progress climbed to 193 out of 300, faster than he had expected.
Although the diet change hadn't yet yielded noticeable results, his resolve only strengthened. His dream of leaving the youth team and playing in the Premier League burned brighter than ever.
On June 20th, the start of a new week, the air seemed different—fresher, filled with anticipation. With only ten days remaining until the final match, he resolved to push harder. That day's training felt smoother, less taxing. His body felt stronger, perhaps thanks to the dietary adjustments.
That evening, he returned to the dorms late, exhausted but satisfied. After showering and cleaning his boots, he visited Carl next door for a brief chat, easing the tension of the day.
By June 21st, morning training sessions had shifted focus to tactical drills in preparation for the upcoming tryout elimination match. Despite the change, his approach remained the same—an unwavering grind.
On June 22nd, his thoughts wandered to London. The city, just a short distance away, was a global hub of football. He dreamed of playing there, living in a grand villa, driving sports cars, and savoring evenings with vibrant, passionate fans. The dream fueled his determination.
The next day, June 23rd, he spoke with Gilbert, the team captain, about salaries in Arsenal's youth academy. The figures were astonishing—£350–800 per week, equivalent to £1,500–3,500 a month. Even more impressive were the salaries of first-team players, which reached tens of thousands per week. These numbers were beyond his imagination, reminiscent of the epic rewards in fantasy novels.
By June 24th, the diet changes began to take effect. His body adapted better to the training intensity, and though each session was mentally exhausting, the steady progress brought immense satisfaction.
The days that followed were marked by unwavering focus. June 25th was a revelation: the joy of improvement outweighed the pain of the process. He finally understood why players under managers like Guardiola spoke of unmatched satisfaction—it was the exhilaration of progress.
June 26th brought progress.
June 27th brought even more progress.
*****
Inside the U-19 United dormitory, Marcus's room was brightly lit, solely standing out from the rest of the rooms alongside the columns of rooms.
Marcus lay in a corner by the wall, his eyes closed, grinning to himself. Occasionally, he let out a few satisfied howls.
It was already close to midnight, and no one was around this area. Releasing some pent-up emotions was naturally not a problem.
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[Skill: Tactics Lv1]
[Edit Experience points: 300/300 (Edit available!)]
[Attributes: Game Awareness [E], Decision-Making [F]]
[Effect: You've started to grasp the importance of understanding how football works and enhancing mental confrontations, but you're still too weak. You crave the moment of your next upgrade.]
[Do you want to edit this skill now?]
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"Yes!"
He immediately replied without even lingering for a moment, the next instant a virtual keyboard appeared in his view with a new panel opening up.
[Enter attributes to add:
Recommendations: Increase an existing attribute or add a new attribute. If not, try purchasing 'Ability' under the skill 'Tactics'.
Edit points available: 300.]
"Ability? What is that??"
[Abilitys are innate attributes, which can be activated under the player's request instead of being passive, like [Game Awareness] and [Descesion Making].]
'So, they are, in a literal sense, active skills, like those in RPG games, huh.' After pondering for few moments Marcus decided to take a look at these 'abilities' system mentioned before proceeding to edit his skill, 'Tactics.'
"Then direct me to the store where I can buy the 'ability'."
[Ability available for Skill: TACTICS (LVL2)]
[Ability: Decisive Decision]
Edit points: 200
Description: You can employ this ability once in a 90-minute game. It will allow you to make a decision that will change the tide of the game.]
Seeing that only one 'Ability' was available, Marcus was a bit demotivated but he didn't let it bother him; instead, he fell into contemplation.
"Although 200 edit points is a huge amount... changing the tide of the game even once per match isn't some easy feat."
In the end, Marcus bought the ability and began editing his attribute; although he was every bit tempted to add a new attribute, he resisted and improved the existing one.
'For now, I have to focus on already available attributes.'
It was a rational decision considering the match against Liverpool is just around the corner; investing in a new attribute at this moment isn't the right decision.
"Alright, shall I sleep now?"
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[Skill: Tactics Lv2]
[Edit Experience points: 0/800 ]
[Attributes: Game Awareness [D-], Decision-Making [F]]
[Effect: You have begun to understand team's mentality, player thinking capability and bit of adaptability to fast-paced transitions during counterattacks and high-pressure defending.]
[Innate Ability: Decisive Decision
Edit points: 200
Description: You can employ this ability once in a 90-minute game. It will allow you to make a decision that will change the tide of the game.]
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Satisfied, Marcus wrapped himself in his bed cover and quickly fell asleep.
The next day, with just one day remaining before the trial match.
Coach Hans had everything planned out. The team would only train in the morning, leaving the afternoon for rest and preparation.
After the morning session, he gathered everyone together to announce the starting lineup for the match.
"We'll play a 4-3-3 formation with two defensive midfielders. Rowl will be the goalkeeper, Carl at left-back, Daniel and Ian as center-backs, and Thiago at right-back."
"Lamper and Klein will hold the defensive midfield, with Gilbert in central midfield.
For the front three, from left to right, Marcus, Gabi, and Ivan Dovoski. Gilbert will be the captain for this match and Ian being Vice-captian."
Holding a tactics board, Coach Hans glanced at the trial players. "Aside from you seven, this is the strongest lineup I could field. I've done everything I can for you. Now it's up to you to give your best and showcase your abilities, alright?"
Marcus and the others nodded firmly, their faces reflecting both anticipation and tension.
The pressure of elimination was palpable.
After spending six months here, who would want to leave now and go back to where they came from?
"Additionally…"
Hans straightened up and smiled. "Here's some good news: Mr. Mourinho is very likely to attend tomorrow's match and watch from the sidelines. If you manage to impress him, you might not make the first team immediately, but a loan deal to a Championship club wouldn't be out of reach."
Hearing this, the trial players and regular youth team members alike lit up with excitement, their determination growing. Mourinho! It wasn't every day he came to watch a youth match.
However, not everyone shared their excitement. Those left out of the lineup looked utterly dejected.
"Why didn't Mourinho come to watch when I played? Now he's here for these trial players?" someone muttered bitterly.
"What luck. These guys don't deserve this chance!" another player grumbled enviously.
"If your position overlaps with any of those seven, don't even think about playing."
Hans' response was firm, "I've made it clear—they'll play the full match."
After training, Marcus headed to the cafeteria for lunch. Following a brief rest, he returned to the field.
He wasn't planning to overtrain today. With just six proficiency points needed to upgrade his Shooting skill, he expected to finish within an hour.
"Let's do this. Once it's done, I'll rest and recharge for tomorrow."
Marcus emptied the bag of balls and quickly got into position, starting his shooting practice.
The soft sunlight bathed the Training Centre, bringing the field to life with vivid colors and a warm glow. The gentle breeze against his face and the pleasant weather lifted Marcus's mood as he trained with focus and determination.
Before he knew it, over an hour had passed.
"Bang!"
With one final shot, Marcus felt a surge of energy in his legs and waist, followed by a warm tingling sensation spreading through his body.
He knew instantly—his Long Range shot is ready for edit!
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein