World football system
Chapter 34: The Choice Before the Climb

Chapter 34: The Choice Before the Climb

Valencia in early summer simmered with a quiet heat. The cobblestone streets were sun-washed, dappled with shade from gently swaying orange trees. Birds flitted between rooftops, and children played barefoot in alleyways echoing with laughter. Life pulsed gently in the city. But inside the Oliveira apartment, a storm brewed.

Tobi stood before the whiteboard Clara had installed beside the family dining table. She’d drawn a complex web of boxes, dates, and arrows—his schedule for the month. Football training. Physiotherapy. Tactical analysis. Language studies. Press appearances. Finals at school. And one box circled in red:

Portugal National Team Camp – RSVP by June 7

He sighed.

Everything he had worked for in his second life—everything the system had pushed him toward—led here. Recognition. Validation. A call-up to the senior national squad. Not just a youth side, but the real thing. Yet the pressure that came with it was suffocating.

---

Burnout, Body & Balance

The echoes of his last stint with Portugal’s training camp were still fresh. The brilliant debut against Switzerland. The surge in fame. The exhaustion.

His performance on the pitch had masked the growing cost to his body. Coach Moreno had warned him. Club doctors had warned him. Even the system had issued warnings:

> [SYSTEM NOTICE] Fatigue Levels: 76% – Recovery Required Physical Load Forecast: UNSUSTAINABLE Risk of Muscular Overload: HIGH

Tobi read it like a prophecy.

The truth was, he hadn’t stopped. Not since his system reawakening. Not since his rebirth. Every day had been a sprint—a battle against time, doubt, weakness. A war he refused to lose.

Until now.

---

Clara’s Warning

"Pick something," Clara told him, standing at the kitchen sink.

Tobi leaned on the counter, expression distant.

"Portugal wants me to commit for the season."

"They should," Clara said. "You were the best midfielder in the last camp."

"Valencia is reworking the entire lineup around me. They’re offering a contract extension."

"I saw."

"Spain offered a youth fast-track. Dual citizenship."

Clara dried her hands. "You’re not Spanish, Tobi."

"But I could be."

She walked over to him. Placed both hands on his shoulders.

"You’re my son. And you are seventeen. Don’t let the weight of countries crush the boy I still see every morning at breakfast."

---

A Conversation with Coach Moreno

Later that day, Tobi visited the training grounds. The grass smelled of fresh paint lines and ambition. Coach Moreno sat on a bench near pitch two, reading match notes.

"Sit," he said without looking up.

Tobi obeyed.

"Portugal?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"They want me full-time. I’d miss preseason. Six league games. Cup qualifiers."

Moreno looked at him.

"Do you want to go?"

"I don’t know."

"That’s an answer."

"I want to do both."

Moreno chuckled. "You want to become a god."

Tobi stayed quiet.

"I’ve coached gods," Moreno continued. "Or boys who thought they were. Know what happened?"

"They burned out."

"They broke."

Tobi looked down.

"I need to grow," he said softly.

"Then stay. Become great here. Build roots. Portugal will still be there."

> [SYSTEM TIP] Long-Term Growth Path: Prioritize Foundation National Fame Available Later

---

Leonor’s Promise

Leonor had a match that weekend—semi-finals with the Valencia U15 girls.

Tobi sat in the stands, hoodie up, sunglasses on, trying to avoid attention. Leonor spotted him and smiled so wide her coach laughed.

She scored the second goal. Set up the third. Valencia won 3–1.

After the match, they walked to the bus stop. She chewed gum, slung her kit bag over her shoulder.

"You’ll pick me up if I ever fall, right?" she asked suddenly.

Tobi blinked. "What?"

"If I mess up. Miss a chance. Get benched."

"Always."

She nodded. "Then you can fall too. And I’ll be there."

He didn’t answer.

He just hugged her tight.

> [SYSTEM EMOTION SYNC] Sibling Bond Strengthened Willpower +4

---

The Spain Temptation

Three days later, Clara opened the letter from the Spanish Football Federation.

"Development fast-track," she read aloud. "They’ll train you through the Olympic cycle. No cap-tie until senior debut."

Tobi raised an eyebrow.

"They’re offering options."

"They’re offering ownership," Clara corrected. "It’s politics, son. They saw what you did in Lisbon."

Tobi stared at the ceiling.

"Spain wants the brand," he murmured.

"What do you want?"

He didn’t know.

---

Dreams and Systems

That night, Tobi had a dream. He stood at the center circle of a stadium with no crowd. Just fog. Three tunnels stretched ahead:

– One lined with red banners and the Portuguese flag. – One with Valencia’s crest glowing like fire. – One veiled in gold, no identity.

He heard his own voice echo: "Choose."

He opened his eyes at 4:47 a.m. and sat up.

He activated the system.

> SYSTEM DECISION REQUIRED – Accept Full Portugal Duty: Prestige +10 / Fatigue +12 / Media Buff Active – Accept Spain Path: Tactical Training +4 / Morale -3 / Legacy Path Delayed – Decline Both and Focus on Valencia: Resilience +8 / Fatigue Recovery Enabled / National Debut Delayed

He hovered.

And chose: Focus on Valencia

> SYSTEM RESPONSE Club Loyalty Path Locked National Calls Temporarily Disabled Tactical Framework Boosted

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The Press Conference

A week later, Tobi sat at a table before a sea of reporters.

"I want to thank the national teams for their interest. But right now, I belong in Valencia. This is my home. I want to build something here first."

Questions flew. Accusations. Praise. Speculation.

But his eyes stayed forward.

"I’ll wear Portugal colors one day. But I want to deserve them—not just wear them early."

Coach Moreno and Clara hugged him after.

Leonor posted on her team group chat: "My brother just said no to TWO countries. Legend."

---

Rest, Recovery, and Reinvention

For the first time in over a year, Tobi rested.

He slept full nights. He read books. He played piano. He even joined Leonor’s team for a beach football day—incognito. No cameras. Just laughter, water, and joy.

> SYSTEM STATUS Fatigue: 28% Morale: 92% Recovery Buff: ACTIVE Tactical Expansion Options Unlocked

Clara scheduled new training with specialists—nutritionists, vision coaches, balance drills. Tobi rebuilt himself.

By the end of summer, he returned to preseason stronger, faster, and sharper.

Valencia’s opening match saw him score a screamer and assist twice.

> Match Rating: 9.8 Fans: Electrified System Boost: Legacy Momentum Unlocked

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Final Thoughts

Back in his room, Tobi opened his notebook.

"I chose me. For once. Not the crowd. Not the scouts. Just me. And I’ve never felt more free."

He stared at the ceiling.

No flags. No contracts. No pressure.

Just football.

And that, he thought, was enough.