章 9: Rain of Rewards

The city lights twinkled in the distance as Cleiton and his teammates stepped off the bus, still riding the high of their recent championship victory. Despite his exhaustion, Cleiton felt euphoric, carrying the memory of the game like a trophy. The celebration, their sweat-soaked jerseys, the cheers that lingered long after the final whistle—all of it felt surreal, like a dream he didn't want to end.

"Great job out there, Cleiton!" called Ricardo, his fellow center-back, giving him a friendly pat on the back.

Cleiton smiled, feeling a surge of pride. "We gave it everything on the field. It was a team effort all the way."

After a few minutes, he bid goodbye to the rest of his teammates and walked toward his neighborhood with Nathan, Cássio, and Claudio Sousa, who lived relatively nearby. As the night deepened, the city seemed to fall asleep, and the four of them decided to stick together for the rest of the way, with the streets empty and shrouded in darkness.

"This championship was a big milestone for us, huh?" Nathan said with a tired smile.

"And it's just the beginning," replied Claudio. "Next year, we'll go for even more."

Cássio chuckled, glancing sideways at Nathan. "And our star player here is already making a name for himself. We just need to make sure he doesn't get snatched up by the big leagues too soon! A hat-trick in the first game and the decisive goal in the final—that's no small feat."

Nathan shook his head, smiling, but not letting pride get the better of him. "It was the whole team's victory, guys. I just did my part."

The group strolled down the quiet street, laughing and chatting, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere after all the hard work. But halfway there, the sound of sirens began to echo around them, coming from different directions. They stopped, exchanging uneasy glances. From the corner, five police cars appeared, speeding down the road with flashing lights.

One of the cars screeched to a halt beside them, and an officer stepped out, commanding in a firm voice:

"Up against the wall, hands in the air!"

Cleiton felt his heart race, and he and his friends quickly complied, pressing against the wall with their hands up as ordered. They knew it was a preventive measure, common in these types of operations, but that didn't make it any less uncomfortable.

"Relax, boys," one of the officers said, his tone professional and distant. "We're just going to check your IDs and make sure everything's in order. It's a routine procedure; we're running an operation in the area."

Cleiton and his friends stayed still as the officers checked their IDs and patted them down, looking for any prohibited items.

Finally, the lead officer, identified as Santana, addressed them:

"What are you doing out here at this hour?"

Claudio, calm and respectful, replied:

"We're from Vitória's youth team, sir. We were returning from a championship in the countryside. Just got back and are heading home."

Officer Santana looked at the other three, as if seeking confirmation.

Cleiton nodded. "That's right, sir."

After a moment, the officer exhaled and nodded slightly.

"Alright, you're free to go, but head straight home. We're conducting an anti-drug operation in the community, and things could get dangerous if there's any clash with the criminals. Get moving and stay off the streets."

The four young men thanked him, still feeling the adrenaline in their veins, and picked up their pace, avoiding conversation until they were out of sight of the patrol cars.

---

When they reached their neighborhood, each went his separate way. Cleiton slipped quietly into his house and headed straight to his room, letting the outside world fade as he collapsed onto his bed, finally allowing his muscles to relax.

But before he could fully rest, a soft sound filled the room. The familiar system had activated.

'Distributing rewards...'

A list appeared in front of him, each line detailing the rewards he had earned:

1. Stamina Elixir (RANK D-)

2. Standing Tackle Elixir (RANK E+)

3. Passing Accuracy Elixir (RANK E+)

4. 200 system points

5. System roulette unlocked

6. 1 ticket for the maximum-level roulette

Reading through each item, Cleiton's heart raced. He had received elixirs to boost his performance, points to spend, and most intriguing of all, a ticket to spin the system's highest-level roulette. His curiosity won out, and he opened the 'System Roulette' tab. The view was impressive: three roulette options, each with distinct symbols and values.

The 'Iron Roulette' required 1,000 points, the 'Gold Roulette' needed 10,000, and the 'Diamond Roulette' demanded 100,000 points. But, with the special tournament ticket, Cleiton could spin the Diamond Roulette for free—a rare opportunity.

He took a deep breath, selected the ticket, and inserted it. The Diamond Roulette lit up, divided into sections labeled 'Attribute Elixirs', 'Skills', 'Physical Power-ups', and 'Equipment'. His eyes locked onto the physical power-ups and skills, hoping it would land on one of those.

With the ticket inserted, he activated the roulette and watched it spin with a shimmering glow. The pointers danced from one section to another, and Cleiton's adrenaline surged as the spin slowed down, nearing the physical power-up category.

He held his breath, watching the motion grow slower and slower until, with a small nudge, the pointer slipped and landed on 'Equipment'.

The screen flashed, and a new message appeared:

> **Congratulations! You've won the Protection Belt - Diamond Rank!**<

Curious, he read the item's description:

'Protection Belt - Diamond Rank: Increases resistance to physical contact by 60%, helping you retain ball possession and protect your area.'

Cleiton could hardly believe it. With this belt, he would have greater resilience in tackles, staying steady in situations that previously threw him off balance. Unlike the elixirs, which were consumables, the belt was a permanent item in his inventory.

Unlike the elixirs, the belt was a permanent piece of equipment in his interface, like an item in an MMO RPG game. He opened the inventory tab and dragged the belt icon into the equipment slot, noticing that the system displayed a limit of five equippable items. The belt took up the first slot, and he was eager to test its effectiveness.

With the belt equipped, Cleiton decided to use the elixirs immediately, preparing himself for an intense test in the system's virtual training space.

Cleiton opened his system inventory and carefully read each label: Stamina Elixir (RANK D-), Standing Tackle Elixir (RANK E+), and Passing Accuracy Elixir (RANK E+). He selected the first one, activating a ten-second countdown.

The Stamina Elixir had a mineral, salty taste, sending a wave of energy through his body. Next, he drank the Standing Tackle Elixir, which had a sharp, citrus flavor that gave him intense focus. Finally, he took the Passing Accuracy Elixir, sweet and refreshing, leaving a sense of precision.

Feeling his body surge with energy, Cleiton activated the virtual training space, and in an instant, he found himself in a brightly lit futsal court. A message appeared before him:

"Training Match Started."

On the opposite side of the court, blue AI-controlled opponents took their positions, each simulated to act like a realistic player. Cleiton took his position, feeling a thrill of anticipation. He could feel the effects of the elixirs—an unending energy, a body alert and focused.

The whistle blew, and the game began.

As he took possession of the ball, he felt the stamina elixir's effect. He advanced down the court, light and agile, each step fueled by vigor. He dribbled past the first opponent with ease, quickly shifting and changing direction. The Passing Accuracy Elixir activated as he made a perfectly calculated pass to a virtual teammate. The ball curved smoothly, reaching its target with pinpoint accuracy.

Soon, an opponent regained possession, and Cleiton positioned himself in defense, ready to test the Standing Tackle Elixir. The AI player advanced, dribbling skillfully. Cleiton matched his movements, tracking every feint. When he saw an opening, he dove for the tackle. The execution was flawless, and he felt a newfound confidence as he disarmed his opponent, regaining control with a single, clean movement.

The virtual crowd seemed to cheer as he advanced again, passing with precision, each move made without hesitation.

The AI opponents stepped up the pressure, surrounding him. When two players closed in, Cleiton felt the Protection Belt kick in, keeping him steady, as if an invisible force shielded his body, dispersing some of the impact in the air, helping him avoid falls and break free from the mark.

For several minutes, he continued playing, testing every aspect of the enhancements granted by the equipment and elixirs, impressed with the potential it unlocked.

Cleiton pushed his limits, challenging his speed, agility, and accuracy. Running across the court, he felt the Stamina Elixir sustaining his vigor, as if fatigue couldn't reach him.

With each step, he intercepted passes, made calculated throws, and tackled opponents with a fluidity that made him feel unstoppable. The virtual training felt like an extension of his own movements, as if the skills he had only dreamed of were now within his reach.

In the final minutes, he decided to go for more. He received the ball near mid-court and advanced toward the goal, weaving past defenders in his path. The Passing Accuracy Elixir enabled him to calculate each position and distance precisely. Near the box, he launched a perfect pass to the striker, who received it and scored easily, sending the ball powerfully into the net.

The scoreboard lit up, confirming the simulated match's victory, and Cleiton smiled in satisfaction. Even though it was a virtual game, the experience felt incredibly real, and the thrill of playing at his peak, conquering every challenge, still raced through his chest.

When the virtual session ended, the court vanished around him, and he returned to the comfort of his room. The soft glow of the system began to dim gradually, leaving him alone in the semi-darkness. The effects of the elixirs slowly faded, like a retreating tide, but the certainty of what he had achieved remained.

Cleiton felt more prepared, stronger, with a newfound sense of control. He knew he had unlocked a part of himself he'd never imagined—a new level of readiness for the real challenges ahead.

---

Attributes:

Physical:

Strength: E-

Speed: F+

Agility: E

Stamina: E+ ➔ D-

Mental:

Focus: E

Resilience: E+

Discipline: E+

Technical:

Positioning: E-

Defensive Awareness: E-

Game IQ: F+

Standing Tackle: E- ➔ E+

Interception: E-

Jumping: F+

Heading: F

Passing Accuracy: F+ ➔ E+

---

After a moment of silence, Cleiton took a deep breath and decided he deserved a nice hot shower to relax his muscles and process everything he had just experienced. He got up, grabbed a clean towel, and headed to the bathroom.

He turned the tap and waited.

Nothing.

He didn't hear the expected sound of running water, just an empty silence. He tried again, thinking it might be a temporary issue. But the water remained out. A slight discomfort stirred in his stomach. This wasn't the first time it had happened, and he knew it likely wouldn't be the last.

Water shortages were a recurring issue in his neighborhood. In poor communities in third-world countries like Brazil, this kind of situation was common, a daily reality for many families.

Supply issues, worsened by old, poorly maintained infrastructure, left entire neighborhoods without water for hours, sometimes even days. Cleiton knew that if the problem continued into the morning, school would likely be canceled—since it was impossible to maintain basic hygiene, and students themselves needed water to prepare for the day.

He sighed, resigned, knowing he'd have to improvise. He washed his face and arms with what little water they had saved in a bottle, knowing that at any moment, the shortage might last for days.

As he lay down, he reflected on how the effort on the field and the challenges of daily life were all part of his journey. The scarcity taught him, in a way, to be stronger, to persist.

Cleiton then closed his eyes, feeling his body relax, though his mind still pulsed with adrenaline and a sense of growth.

Author's Note:

(This note won't count toward the chapter's word count. This chapter has 2,027 words.)

Hey everyone, first, I'd like to apologize for the delay in releasing this chapter. Today was a really busy day at work, with several tasks all at once, which kept me from drafting the chapters during work hours. Usually, I like to come home with the main ideas ready to go, but that wasn't possible today.

Regarding the second chapter, I still plan to finish and post it later today. Again, sorry for the delay.

And lastly, about the secret mission: Cleiton managed to complete almost all the objectives—the only one he missed was the MVP award, which went to Nathan. Although Cleiton definitely won the MVP of our hearts, it's too bad the system doesn't reward him for that. HAHAHAHA