Mated to A Rival Alpha - Chapter 41: One Step Forward, Two Steps Behind

David Drinkwater lived his entire career as football's biggest joke.Thirty seven years old, rejected by every major club, and called a “club whore” by fans across Europe, but at Wembley Stadium, in the rain, he finally proved them wrong.Championship playoff final between Millwall and Norwich, and in the 90th minute, he scored the winning goal, then he died.**[Ding. Ding.]****「Host found: David Drinkwater.」****「Synchronisation complete.」**He opens his eyes in an eighteen year old body.Demien Walter, a failed Fiorentina academy prospect and suicide attempt survivor with an overall rating of 48, no team, and no future, but David brought something impossible with him.**[Ding.]****「Ultimate Gacha System activated.」****「Mission: Rise from nothing. Become the greatest footballer in history.」**Training earns points while matches earn rewards, and achievements unlock legendary packs.Every pack opening could change everything, whether through common stat boosts, rare techniques, or epic abilities, yet there's always the ultimate prize.**[Ding.]****「Diamond Pack opened.」****「Congratulations. Andrea Pirlo — Regista Vision obtained. Passing +15. Vision +10. Legendary Trait unlocked: Deep-Lying Playmaker.」**From trialist to conquering the football world, every pack, every point, and every impossible moment building toward football immortality.They called him a failure once, and they called him wasted potential, but now, with forty years of wisdom in an eighteen year old body and a system that rewards every drop of sweat with power, David will rewrite football history.One pack at a time.**Some dreams get a second chance, and some legends get a second life, so this is his.**

In this world, some say, the truth and the legends are the same. One such legend belonged to the protagonist, Valerian.

Valerian was an orphan, a boy blessed with a beautiful face, and everyone around him, could not help but want to play with him, till one day a prophet passing through their town pronounced him to be cursed.

Since that day, the destiny of the boy seemed to have changed completely, he was shunned by everyone around him, and the gazes that were earlier filled with love and affection, now brimmed with disgust and hatred.

The constant shunning and humiliation made the cheerful child grow up to be bitter and inexpectant. On his seventh birthday, things changed once again.

This time, it was not the people around him who went through a change, but himself. As he grew up, Valerian became a legend in his own sense.

The people sang of a boy, who could not speak, they shed tears for a boy, who could not grieve. He came from nowhere yet he was known everywhere.

Would you like to know this legend? A story where a curse can become a blessing? A story of sacrifice, betrayal, determination, and secrets.

«Bleh.» — Imp. An Imp, a monster known to kill with a grin, a demon of the world, a creature of incredible might! Something that no force in the world can stand against! At least that’s what the Main Character would like himself to be, the reality is very different, however.

Exactly that Imp stumbles along a path of unfortunate fortunes and grows through it, in a world that hates its very existence.

It grows more intelligent, more powerful, simply better at whatever it needs to do. Amongst other things, that includes raising children, killing Soldiers, and carving wooden figurines for money.