Watching the defenders charging at him with murder in their eyes, Renzo Uzumaki didn't need a tactical briefing to know their intent. They were going to hack him down, a tactical foul to kill the transition.
Without waiting for the trap to close, Renzo's right foot flicked.
It was a trademark outside-of-the-foot "trivela" pass—a ground-hugging curveball that bypassed the lunging legs of two defenders and landed with pinpoint accuracy into the stride of Salah on the left wing.
Palermo's full-back, having run himself into the ground for eighty minutes, was a spent arrow. In contrast, Salah, who had only been on the pitch for fifteen minutes, was a lightning bolt. He didn't even need a trick; a simple, sudden burst of raw acceleration left his marker eating the Sicilian dust.
As Salah cut inside, the right center-back abandoned his post to cover. Anticipating the movement, Salah shifted his weight, feinted a shot, and instead drove toward the goal line. He whipped a high-quality cross into the vacated "corridor of uncertainty."
The space was ruthlessly seized by Gilardino.
The former master of poaching on the Apennine Peninsula shone with the brilliance of his peak years. With a desperate, hungry slide at the near post, Gilardino poked the ball into the corner of the net!
2-1! Fiorentina had snatched the lead in the dying embers of the match!
[Goal! Goal!!!]
[The late winner!! The 'Ghost' and the 'Poacher'—what a combination!]
[Holy crap! Gilardino is back! A brace for the veteran!]
[Time waits for no man, but Renzo Uzumaki waits for the perfect run. peak Gilardino would have dived for a header, but that slide was pure class!]
[Renzo has fed Mario Gomez back into a beast; now he's doing the same for Gilardino. He's not just a player; he's a career-restorer!]
Gilardino, having secured his brace, sprinted to the touchline. He played the "violin" for the second time today, his face etched with a joy he hadn't felt in years. His teammates waited respectfully for him to finish his signature gesture before mobbing him.
He couldn't even remember the last time he'd scored a Serie A brace. It didn't matter. The interception by Renzo, the tearing run by Salah, and his own ghostly movement—it was a counter-attack of aesthetic perfection.
On the sidelines, Vincenzo Montella exhaled a breath he'd been holding since the 32nd minute. He applauded vigorously, his eyes fixed on Renzo.
This kid... Montella marveled. He has the air of a maestro who can turn stones into gold.
Beyond the technical genius, it was Renzo's "Big Heart" that left Montella in awe. Coming on in the 70th minute under the crushing pressure of a deficit, Renzo hadn't panicked. He had simply taken the steering wheel and steered the match toward a Fiorentina victory with the cold composure of a veteran.
Palermo's manager, Beppe Iachini, was berating Dybala for the dispossession that led to the goal, but it was shouting into the wind. Palermo threw everyone forward in stoppage time, but the "Viola," buoyed by the lead, were a fortress.
When the final whistle blew, the score remained 2-1.
Fiorentina had extended their winning streak to eight matches in Serie A—their best run in nearly 50 years. It was a feat second only to the legendary 1955-56 season, where the club won 11 straight and secured their first Scudetto.
Across all competitions, the streak stood at 11 games. For the 3,000 traveling fans in Sicily, Renzo Uzumaki was no longer just a talented prospect; he was an object of worship.
In the dressing room, the atmosphere was electric. Gilardino, clutching his Man of the Match trophy, joked, "Before the 70th minute, I was the worst player on the pitch. Then Renzo comes on, and suddenly I'm a hero? This trophy belongs to him!"
Mario Gomez chuckled. "Don't be modest, Gila. Renzo's won so many of those his hands are numb. Let him share the wealth."
Captain Pasqual was more serious. "Today proves it. Without Renzo, our attack has a massive hole. He bridges the gap between mediocrity and brilliance."
Even Cuadrado, who had been uncharacteristically quiet after a mediocre performance, tried to save face by putting his arm around Renzo. "I'm just saving my energy for the next one, right Renzo? My dearest big brother on the pitch!"
The laughter was interrupted by a notification that silenced the room. In the Coppa Italia quarter-finals a week away, Fiorentina had drawn the league hegemon: Juventus.
Montella had planned to rest Renzo for the domestic cup, prioritizing the Europa League and Serie A. But the media wouldn't allow a "quiet" game. The world wanted to see the unstoppable "Viola" streak tested against the "Old Lady" of Turin.
It was past 9 PM when Renzo finally returned to his dormitory in Florence. Exhausted, he collapsed onto his bed and opened his system interface.
There were no Milestone notifications.
"It's been a while since a milestone refreshed," Renzo mused. Then, his heart skipped a beat. Wait... how long has it been since I checked the 'Waste Reforging' mode?
He quickly clicked the entry button. The dormitory vanished, replaced by the familiar pure white space. The naked figure practicing in the distance was still there—working, grinding, never stopping.
[Waste Reforging Mode: Recasting Progress 100%!]
[Ding! Your Long Passing attribute has increased! 61 ➔ 65!]
[Ding! Your Set Piece attribute has increased! 60 ➔ 65!]
[Ding! Your Top Speed attribute has increased! 62 ➔ 65!]
[Ding! Your Acceleration attribute has increased! 60 ➔ 65!]
[Ding! Your Tackling attribute has increased! 60 ➔ 65!]
[Ding! Your Interception attribute has increased! 60 ➔ 65!]
[Ding! Your Anticipation attribute has increased! 60 ➔ 65!]
[Ding! Your Overall Rating has increased! 75 ➔ 77!]
Renzo's heart felt like it was going to explode. 28 attribute points in an instant! While these were his "lower" stats, the improvement of his "floor" was staggering. He didn't have to waste Milestone points on these secondary attributes anymore.
Just as he was savoring the boost, a new prompt appeared:
[Waste Reforging Mode Phase Three has now been activated!]
[Current Goal: Attain an 'S-Rank' performance against a League Leader.]
[Reward: Epic Treasure Chest!]
Renzo looked at the prompt, then thought of the Juventus draw. A grin spread across his face.
"Juventus, huh? Perfect timing."
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