The squad dispersed to finish preparations, and Demien sat on the bench lacing his boots with methodical precision while around him teammates pulled on shin guards and wrapped athletic tape around ankles and wrists.

Lookman sat beside him adjusting his socks, and the English winger glanced over with a casual expression. "First time back here since they released you?"

"Yeah," Demien confirmed.

"How's it feel?"

"Strange. But good strange."

"Good. Use it." Lookman stood and stretched his arms above his head. "Let's go warm up."

Artemio Franchi Stadium

12:00 PM - Pitch

The pitch was immaculate under midday sun as Atalanta's squad emerged from the tunnel for warm-ups, and the stadium was still mostly empty except for early fans beginning to filter into their sections while ground staff made final preparations.

Demien jogged onto the grass while his boots felt comfortable and broken-in, and the playing surface had perfect spring beneath his feet as he began dynamic stretching near the touchline alongside his teammates.

Across the pitch, Fiorentina's squad was conducting their own warm-up routine, and Demien's eyes found Adriano automatically—number 10 in purple, moving through passing drills with the same fluid technique he'd always possessed—and when their eyes met briefly across fifty yards neither acknowledged the other beyond that momentary recognition.

The broadcast cameras captured everything from their elevated positions, and commentary was already beginning for the pre-match show as producers cut between shots of both squads warming up.

Commentary Booth - Artemio Franchi

"Welcome to the Artemio Franchi here in Florence for what promises to be a fascinating encounter between two sides with genuine ambitions this season," the lead commentator began. "Fiorentina host Atalanta in Matchweek 11 of Serie A, and this fixture arrives with significant context."

The co-commentator picked up smoothly. "Absolutely, Marco. Let's look at the table because positioning matters here. Atalanta sit third with twenty points from ten matches—just four points behind leaders Inter and three behind Milan. They're in genuine title race territory, especially after that draw with Roma last week showed they can compete against top opposition."

"Meanwhile Fiorentina are sixth with sixteen points," the lead commentator continued. "Four points off Atalanta but very much in the hunt for European qualification. They've been strong at home this season—two wins and a draw from their three matches at the Franchi so far—and this crowd will absolutely be a factor today."

The screen showed tactical graphics displaying both teams' formations.

"Fiorentina line up in their usual 4-3-3," the co-commentator explained while arrows showed movement patterns. "Terracciano in goal. Back four of Dodô, Milenkovic, Martínez Quarta, and Biraghi. Midfield trio of Bonaventura, Amrabat, and Mandragora. Front three of González, Jović, and Kouamé, with Adriano Ventresca operating as the attacking midfielder behind Jović."

"They've been particularly dangerous in transition," the lead commentator added. "Luka Jović already has eight goals this season—he's been clinical whenever chances fall to him. And their pressing structure is aggressive, designed to win the ball high and create quick opportunities."

"Now Atalanta," the co-commentator said as the graphic changed. "Gasperini's 3-4-2-1 today with Musso in goal. Back three of Demiral, Tolói, and Djimsiti. Wing-backs Hateboer and Maehle providing width. Double pivot of De Roon and Koopmeiners. Attacking duo of Lookman and Malinovskyi supporting Højlund up front—and Demien Walter operating centrally between the lines."

"Which brings us to the narrative everyone's been discussing," the lead commentator said. "Two eighteen-year-olds. Two attacking midfielders. Very different paths to reach this point."

The screen split to show photos of Adriano and Demien side by side.

"Adriano Ventresca represents Fiorentina's academy system," the co-commentator explained. "Came through their youth setup, trusted early in the first team, already an important part of their tactical structure. Six goals and six assists in nine appearances this season—excellent production for a teenager."

"Meanwhile Demien Walter was rejected by this same Fiorentina academy three years ago," the lead commentator continued. "Joined Atalanta's system, developed there, broke into their first team this season and has been outstanding. Seven goals and ten assists in eleven matches—those are numbers that put him among Serie A's most productive midfielders regardless of age."

"It's a compelling contrast," the co-commentator agreed. "The academy product who fulfilled expectations versus the academy reject who's exceeded them elsewhere. But both have earned their positions through quality football. This isn't about narrative—it's about two genuinely talented players operating at the highest level."

"The question tonight," the lead commentator said, "is who handles the occasion better. Ventresca has home advantage, familiar surroundings, crowd support. Walter returns to the city that released him, facing the club that told him he wasn't good enough. How does each player respond to those circumstances?"

"We'll find out in about ninety minutes," the co-commentator replied. "Both teams are finishing warm-ups now. Kickoff approaching at 3:00 PM."

Away Dressing Room - Artemio Franchi

2:30 PM

The squad returned from warm-ups to find the dressing room exactly as they'd left it, and players changed into their match kits while the atmosphere shifted from preparation to readiness, and Demien pulled on his number 28 shirt while the fabric felt light against his skin.

Around him teammates moved through final checks—boots double-knotted, shin guards secured, compression shorts adjusted, athletic tape applied to ankles and wrists—and the sounds were familiar even in an away stadium that carried personal history.

Gasperini entered at 2:45 PM and stood at the center of the room while the squad settled onto benches and gave him complete attention.

"Final reminders," the manager said without preamble. "Shape stays compact when they have the ball. We don't chase unnecessarily. We force them wide, cut off central options, make them work for every chance. When we recover possession, first pass is crucial—find the free man quickly before their press resets."

He paused and his eyes moved across the room. "This is the Artemio Franchi. Their fans will create noise. Their players will fight for every ball. We match their intensity without losing our discipline. We play our football, execute our game plan, and take three points back to Bergamo."

The speech was short and practical without emotional manipulation, and when Gasperini finished speaking the squad stood as one while the captaincy armband got passed to De Roon who secured it around his bicep.

"Let's go," the captain said, and his voice carried calm authority.

The squad filed toward the tunnel in formation, and Demien walked in his position among the starters while his heart rate increased steadily, and when they reached the tunnel entrance Fiorentina's squad was already assembling on the opposite side.

The two teams lined up in parallel formation with children mascots standing between them, and Demien's eyes found Adriano in Fiorentina's line wearing number 10 with his hair pushed back and his expression focused, and when their eyes met briefly neither showed anything beyond professional acknowledgment.

The referee and his assistants appeared between the two lines holding the match ball, and stadium officials began coordinating the walk-out sequence while the roar from above intensified as fifty-five thousand fans sensed the teams were about to emerge.

The system interface materialized suddenly in Demien's peripheral vision, and the familiar blue panel appeared with clean precision.

「NEW MATCH MISSION」

「OBJECTIVE: Contribute to 1 Goal AND Achieve Match Rating 7.5+」

「REWARD: 150 TP + 30 MP」

「MISSION ACTIVE」

The notification provided no encouragement or explanation, just clear conditions and substantial rewards that reflected the fixture's significance, and Demien dismissed it while his focus remained on the ninety minutes ahead.

The tunnel official raised his hand, and the signal rippled down both lines as players prepared to move.

The roar from the stadium became deafening.

The referee nodded once.

And both teams stepped forward into the light.

Artemio Franchi Stadium

2:58 PM

The noise hit them as they emerged from the tunnel, and fifty-five thousand voices created sound that pressed against eardrums and vibrated through concrete, and purple smoke from flares drifted across sections of the crowd while banners waved in patterns.

Demien walked beside his teammates toward the center circle while his eyes tracked across the stadium taking in the Artemio Franchi at capacity, and somewhere in Section 23 his mother was sitting with her Atalanta scarf waiting to watch him play, and that knowledge settled something in his chest.

The teams reached their positions while children mascots dispersed toward the sidelines, and the referee gathered both captains at midfield for the coin toss while cameras captured the ritual from multiple angles.

Commentary Booth

"The atmosphere here is electric," the lead commentator said. "The Artemio Franchi in full voice welcoming their team for this crucial fixture against third-placed Atalanta."

"Both teams now in their positions," the co-commentator added. "Kickoff moments away. Ninety minutes to decide which narrative prevails—Fiorentina's home strength or Atalanta's title chase credentials."

The coin toss completed, and both captains returned to their teams while the referee moved to his starting position at the center circle.

Demien stood in his assigned space between the lines, and his legs felt light while his breathing stayed controlled, and when he glanced once toward Fiorentina's half he saw Adriano positioned similarly for their team with identical focus written across his face.

Academy product versus academy reject.

Two eighteen-year-olds.

One stage.

Ninety minutes.

The referee raised the whistle to his lips while his eyes scanned both teams one final time.

The stadium held its breath.

And at 3:00 PM exactly on Sunday, October 23, 2022, the whistle blew sharp and clear across the Artemio Franchi.

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