Leon stared at the spot where the System screen had just been, a faint tingle running through him. A new feature. He had no idea what it was, but the anticipation was thrilling.
He tried to activate it, to feel for it, but nothing immediately happened. He felt the same as before, his 'sight' still showing 'Potential' and 'Current' ratings. He shrugged, deciding to wait for it to reveal itself. The System usually had its own timing.
He spent the next few days in a whirlwind of post-season activities. There was a team celebration at Villa Park, a joyous affair where they lifted a symbolic "Champions League Qualifiers" trophy. Leon's mom was there, beaming with pride, taking countless photos. He exchanged hugs and laughs with his teammates, the bond between them solidified by their incredible achievement.
He also had a few more interviews, the Real Madrid rumors still swirling, but he stuck to his carefully worded statements. His focus, he insisted, was on the Champions League final trip to Japan.
A few days later, Leon was in his new garden, kicking a ball around idly, enjoying the quiet. He was thinking about the upcoming trip, about Byon, about the Champions League.
Suddenly, a new, subtle prompt appeared in his vision, a small, almost imperceptible icon hovering in the corner of his 'sight'. It looked like a magnifying glass. He focused on it, and a new thought appeared in his mind:
[ANALYZE PLAYER STATS].
Leon's heart leaped. This was it! The new feature! He immediately thought:
Analyze my own stats!
A new, detailed screen popped up in his vision, overlaid on his view of the garden. It was a comprehensive breakdown of his own abilities, far beyond just 'Current' and 'Potential'.
[PLAYER: LEON FISCHER]
[POTENTIAL RATING: 94]
Leon stared, astonished. This was incredible! He could see the granular details of his own game. His vision was indeed his strongest attribute, a staggering 95.
His passing was almost as good. His shooting was solid, but his physicality was his weakest point. It made sense; he was still quite lean. This new feature was a game-changer for his own development.
He could now pinpoint exactly what he needed to work on.
He spent the next hour just analyzing himself, running through different scenarios in his head, seeing how his stats might change with different actions.
This was a whole new level of understanding.
The next day, Leon met Byon at a local cafe. Byon was already buzzing about Japan.
"Can't believe we're actually going to Japan, Leo!" Byon exclaimed, taking a huge bite out of a pastry. "This is going to be epic! And then, Champions League next season! Proper big time!"
"I know, right?" Leon grinned. He looked at Byon, his 'sight' active. He thought: Analyze Byon's stats!
Immediately, a detailed breakdown of Byon's abilities appeared in his vision, overlaid on Byon's cheerful face.
[POTENTIAL RATING: 90]
Leon whistled internally. Byon's dribbling and pace were off the charts, both in the 90s. It perfectly explained his dazzling runs and solo goals.
His shooting was also excellent. His vision and passing were lower than Leon's, but that was to be expected. This new feature was amazing! He could now see exactly where his teammates, and opponents, excelled.
"So," Byon said, wiping crumbs from his mouth, "what's the plan for the future, Leo? You're a Champions League player now. And those Real Madrid rumors... are you actually going to go?"
Leon paused. He looked at Byon, his best friend, who had been with him through everything. He thought about his ambition to be the best in the world. He thought about the 'Help System' and its quests.
"It's a big decision, Byon," Leon said, choosing his words carefully. "Aston Villa has been incredible to me. They gave me my chance, they believed in me. And we've achieved something amazing here."
Byon nodded. "Yeah, but Real Madrid, Leo. That's... that's the dream, isn't it? The biggest club in the world. Playing with Mbappé, Bellingham, Emre Demir... that's another level."
"It is," Leon agreed. "And my goal is to be the best in the world. To win the Champions League. And to do that, I need to be playing at the highest possible level, consistently." He thought about his own 'Current: 84' and 'Potential: 94'. He needed to keep pushing.
"So, what teams do you want to go to, if you leave Villa?" Byon pressed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Besides Real Madrid, obviously. What about City? We could play together again! Imagine that, Leo! You in midfield, me on the wing... we'd be unstoppable!"
Leon chuckled. "City would be amazing, Byon. Playing with you again... that's always been a dream. But Pep's got a pretty stacked midfield, doesn't he?"
"We'd make space for you!" Byon insisted, grinning. "Everyone wants you! What about Barcelona? Or Bayern Munich? Or even PSG?"
Leon leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. He pictured the 'Current' ratings of those teams, the tactical setups, the challenges.
"Real Madrid is definitely appealing," Leon admitted. "The history, the ambition, the chance to win the Champions League. Bayern Munich is a machine, incredibly disciplined. Barcelona has amazing technical players, a different style. And PSG..."
He paused, then looked at Byon, a serious glint in his eye. "But wherever I go, Byon, whether it's Real Madrid, or City, or somewhere else... my goal is the same. To be the best. To win the Champions League. And to keep pushing my 'Current' and 'Potential' to their absolute limits. And to keep finding other talents, like Alex and Mark, and helping them reach their potential too."
He thought about his 'Help System', its secret quests, its market. This was his path.
Byon nodded, a look of understanding on his face. "I get it, Leo. You're not just playing for yourself anymore, are you? You're playing for something bigger. That's... that's pretty cool, mate."
He grinned. "Well, wherever you go, just remember your best mate Byon. And make sure you buy me dinner when you're a multi-millionaire superstar!"
Leon laughed. "Always, Byon. Always."
As they finished their drinks, Leon felt a renewed sense of purpose. The 'Analyze Player Stats' feature was a powerful tool. He could now see the game, and himself, in a whole new light.