[Mission Objective 1: 5 Assists in three matches (5/5) — COMPLETED]
[Mission Objective 2: Assists in three consecutive matches (3/3) — COMPLETED]
[Mission Objective 3: Man of the Match in all three matches (3/3) — COMPLETED]
As the final whistle blew against Atalanta, Renzo collapsed onto the bench, a genuine, tired smile spreading across his face. The grind was over. The reward was waiting.
"You're pushing yourself too hard, kid!" Aquilani grumbled affectionately, helping Renzo stretch his tight hamstrings.
After the high-intensity battle in Ukraine against Shakhtar, Renzo's stamina—sitting at a modest 72—had been completely red-lined. He had played that match on pure adrenaline and willpower. Even Montella had tried to bench him for the Atalanta game to prevent a season-ending injury.
But Renzo had panicked. If he didn't play against Atalanta, his mission streak would reset. In a stroke of desperate genius, he had told the coach: "I want the Serie A Assist Record! I can't break it if I'm sitting on the bench!"
That "ambition" had convinced the squad. His teammates even rallied around him, saying, "Let Ren play to boost his stats! We'll do the running for him!"
Against a relegation-threatened Atalanta, Renzo didn't need to run much—he just needed to pass.
In the first 20 minutes, he was like a stationary turret.
11th Minute: A razor-sharp through ball split Atalanta's double-pivot like a hot knife through butter. Mario Gomez slammed it home. 1-0.21st Minute: A delicate diagonal lob over the top found Cuadrado in stride. The winger rounded the keeper and slotted it in. 2-0.
With two assists in the bag and the "Man of the Match" virtually secured by his sheer influence, Montella finally pulled him off at halftime to rest. Renzo didn't complain this time. He had done enough.
While Renzo rested, the Italian media was in a state of ecstasy. Between Juventus beating Real Madrid and Fiorentina's 4-1 demolition of Shakhtar, Serie A was back on top of the world.
Tuttosport, the organizers of the prestigious European Golden Boy Award, dedicated a full column to the Chinese prodigy:
"Renzo's market value has surged to 40 million Euros. He is no longer just a 'hot prospect'—he is the most consistent playmaker in Europe. If he maintains this form, the Golden Boy trophy is his for the taking."
Back in the locker room, away from the prying eyes of cameras, Renzo mentally summoned the system interface. The purple-and-gold Epic Chest shimmered in his vision, radiating a powerful aura.
"Open it," he commanded.
The chest burst into a shower of crystalline light.
[Ding! Epic Chest opening...]
[Congratulations! You have obtained an Epic item: Legendary Player Model Attribute Unlock Card *1!]
[Description: Use this card to bypass the current attribute caps and unlock the specialized growth path of a random 'Legendary Passing Master' from football history!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained an Epic item: Epic Chest Trigger Card *1!]
[Description: Guarantees the activation of an Epic-level mission in your next high-profile match!]
Renzo's heart skipped a beat. The "Legendary Player Model" was the holy grail of the system. He wasn't just going to be a good player anymore; he was about to inherit the "DNA" of the greatest maestros to ever play the game.
"This," Renzo whispered, feeling his exhaustion vanish, "is where the real legend begins."