Limited (updated stats)

In a local pub in Darmstadt, Lukas was seated on a stool with his father.

Javi had a jar of beer, while Lukas was drinking a cup of orange juice.

The pub was filled to the brim, and was as loud as it gets.

The color of the day was undoubtedly black, white, and red with majority of the customers wearing a German national team jersey or a scarf or a combination of both.

Lukas had a Thomas Muller shirt on as he looked around the pub in amusement.

"This is what it looked like at this time, huh?" He thought with a smile.

He was a regular at this pub, and even had an open tab by the time he died in the previous timeline.

Mounted on one end of the pub was a huge flat-screen LG TV.

A pre-match ad had just finished playing as the feed cut back to the field.

"WOAAAHHHH!"

Deafening cheers and claps sounded throughout the bar as the German national team jogged out to start their warm-up routines.

It was about thirty minutes before the match against Scotland started.

"I wonder if the scores would be the same. I haven't had any contact with anyone that might affect the game, but you never know."

[*Yeah maybe you dribbled someone in the U19 team who told their parents who told their friend who is the father of a German national team player. And that conversation might have been used as a segue to a conversation that would end up disrupting the mind of that player. And that would now cause Germany to lose the opening game.*]

"You sound so freaking crazy."

[*Now imagine how you sound to me thinking you've done something in the past week that would change the outcome of this match from Darmstadt.*] TT responded mockingly.

"Fine, fine, I get it." Lukas responded dismissively as he moved his attention back to the TV.

Wirtz and Musiala were doing a passing challenge on the field, and the crowd was going crazy as the two youngsters regarded as the present and future of German football, were putting on a show for them.

"Will I be able to be on a pitch with them someday?" He thought with his gaze fixed as Wirtz brought down a lofted pass from Musiala with ease.

[*It will be sooner than you think.*] TT replied.

And TT was right. Lukas had no idea that he wouldn't just share the pitch with them, he would be, by far, the brightest star on a pitch with all three of them.

* * *

Saturday June 15th

Lukas was sprawled out on the couch as he lazily watched the news.

"Emphatic Win for Die Mannschaft as Germany put 5 through Scotland."

The headline news for the day was Germany's 5-1 statement win the previous night.

"We played and won the game in a way that sends a message to all other contenders—Spain, France, England—this is our competition and we won't let anyone stop us from winning." The show host said.

"Yeah, right." Lukas thought as he watched the people on the show discuss Germany's high chance of winning the trophy.

He wasn't too interested, though, as he already knew how that script would end.

"Hey TT,"

[*What's up? Disappointed your rebirth didn't change the score?*]

"Not at all. I think it's better if things remain the same. At least until I'm directly involved."

[*Alright then. Why did you call me? I was asleep.*]

"You sleep? That's gotta be a lie."

[*So you're saying I don't deserve to rest?*]

"That's not what I meant to say. I'm sorry for disturbing your sleep. Open Player Profile."

[*Say please*]

"Ohhh come on!"

[*.....*]

"Okay, please?"

[*Say it all together.*]

"Dear TT, please open player profile."

[*You're lucky I'm in a good mood right now.*]

[ PROFILE – LUKAS BRANDT – FOOTBALLER

DATE OF BIRTH: 30/12/2008 (15) 

HEIGHT: 175cm

WEIGHT: 61kg

CAREER STATUS: EINTRACHT ACADEMY TRYOUTS 

RATING: 75 (↑ 5)

PLAYER STATS:

ATTACK: 

Off. Awareness: 70 (↑ 10)

Ball Control: 76 (↑ 4)

Dribbling: 79 (↑ 1)

Tight Possession: 79 (↑ 3)

Low Pass: 73 (↑ 5)

Lofted Pass: 73 (↑ 5)

Finishing: 75 (↑ 4)

Header: 72 (↑ 3)

Place Kicking: 80 (↑ 2)

Curl: 77 (↑ 1)

DEFENCE:

Def. Awareness: 71

Tackling: 68

Aggression: 67

Def. Engagement: 67

STRENGTH:

Speed: 74 (↑ 3)

Acceleration: 72 (↑ 4)

Kicking Power: 75 (↑ 5)

Jump: 73 (↑ 4)

Physical Contact: 65 (↑ 5)

Balance: 67 (↑ 5)

Stamina: 74 (↑ 2)

Note: Approaching your current limit.

↓ Expand]

"Wait a minute," Lukas thought, utterly confused as he stared at the golden screen in front of him.

"This can't be right. Aren't the numbers in the brackets supposed to indicate the amount that stat had changed by since he last time I checked them?"

[*Yeah they are.*]

"I checked them after yesterday's session too, and only my attack stats increased by only one or two today."

[*Is there a question in there somewhere?*]

"Yes! Why are the numbers in the brackets so different from the amount it has increased by since yesterday?"

[*Well, you saw it yesterday, but they haven't seen it for almost a week.*]

"Again with the inner monologue narration. Who's 'they'?"

[*That's not your problem for now. As long as the actual stats are correct, don't let the optics bother you.*]

"Hmmm... okay then.

Lukas examined the stat window.

He had been alternating between strength and attack training and had raised his stats considerably in the past week.

He looked to the bottom message

"Limit? The mighty TT has a limit? I guess you're not as strong as you claim."

[*Oh please don't blame me for your weakness.*]

"So it's because of me? What is the limit?"

[*Right now, your maximum stat for any attribute is 80.*]

"80? Considering where I was when I started, that's not the worst thing to ever happen. You said 'right now', is there a way to increase the limit?"

[*They increase both as your career progresses and you get older. What's the use of being 99-rated when you're competing with U17, right?*]

"Okay that makes sense. So if my career status changes from 'Eintracht Frankfurt tryouts' to 'player' the limit will increase."

[*Exactly.*]

"So how much would the limit increase to?"

[*That depends on what level of the club you play in. The exact number will be communicated to you if you officially become their player.*]

Lukas sat up from the sofa, his eyes still glued to the screen as he thought about the conversation he was having with TT.

The rewards he was getting from training had started falling — especially for attributes with higher stat points. The closer the stat got to 80, the slower it grew, and the harder the tasks he had to complete in the LTC to gain those rewards became.

To get the place-kicking stat to 80 — the only stat to hit the current limit — Lukas had to take a total of 17,526 free kicks over the course of two attacking training sessions.

That hellish routine had even given him a kind of sixth sense for when his free kick was going in or not immediately he struck the ball.

"If I were to push every stat to its limit before I officially sign with the club, what would I do at the LTC for my daily training? I won't be able to gain rewards from the daily sessions anymore, will I?"

Lukas was curious, but even he, was doubtful he could raise every single attribute it to it's maximum value in 2 weeks.

He still shuddered at the thought of what he went through to get just one attribute to it's limit.

[*I doubt you'll be able to worry about that. Just missing a lot of training, would likely cause your stats to start dropping. But just in case, expand that and see your skills.*]

"That's scary to think about. Expand." Lukas said as he couldn't begin to imagine what it'd be like for him to lose the stat points he almost died to gain.

[SKILLS:

Injured From Training? Not me. Passive. Level 5/5

La Croqueta. Active. Level 1/5

Step Over. Active. Level 1/5]

"Oh wow, two new skills were added. Is this because I used them during yesterday's match?"

[*Yes, exactly. So if your stat training ends, you can start your skill training.*]

"I really do have a lot to work on."

[*Exactly. So don't worry about what you'd do at the LTC. There's always gonna be something for you to work on.*]

Lukas knew he had a lot to do if he wanted to achieve his goals in this life. And he was ready for whatever training it might be.

"Hey, Lukas. What are you gazing out so intensely?" Javi's voice cut through Lukas' thoughts.

"Nothing, dad. I was just thinking about yesterday's training session."

"Oh? Hope it went well?"

"Yes, dad. It went really well. Not to sound cocky, but I have a feeling I'd be getting a contract soon."

"Hahahaha. I like how confident you sound, Luke. I believe in you."

"Thanks, dad." Lukas flashed a warm smile as they both turned their attention to the TV now replaying highlights of yesterday's match.

* * *

A/N: Oliver27, thank you for the 6 GTs! I'm really grateful. You literally just doubled the amount of GTs the books has. Thank you so much.

-Writ