**Valencia, Spain, August 10, 2022
The Estadio de Mestalla glowed under the floodlights, its stands a roaring sea of orange and white as the Valencia Regional Youth Tournament's semifinal unfolded. The night air was thick with tension, the crowd's chants echoing like a war drum across the iconic stadium. Lin Feng stood at the center of the pitch, his Valencia CF youth kit clinging to his lean frame, the orange stripes vivid against his olive skin. His hazel eyes, sharp with the intensity of his Chinese-Spanish heritage, scanned the opposition with predatory focus. At 17, he was no longer the invisible nobody of his past life. His eight goals in the tournament—five against Deportivo, three against Real Betis—had made him a sensation, a "half-breed" prodigy whose name was whispered in awe by fans and scouts alike.
The [**Supreme Football System**] thrummed in his mind, a divine secret he guarded with his life. No one—not his teammates, his coach, or even Elena Voss—could suspect its existence. Its [**Causality Power**]—[*All shots within the 18-yard box score with 100% accuracy*]—had been his cheat code, while his purchased skills—[**Agile Footwork (+20% Dribbling)**], [**Steel Body (+30% Physical Resilience)**], [**Charisma Aura (+50% Persuasion)**], [**Eagle Vision (+20% Passing Accuracy)**], and [**Thunder Strike (+30% Shot Power)**]—had transformed him into a force beyond his D-Grade talent. His latest acquisition, [**Messi's La Croqueta (+30% Dribbling Flair)**], purchased after the tournament party, had added a mesmerizing flair to his movements, leaving him with 1,900 [**System Points**]. Last night's party had earned him 900 points and 2 [**Influence Points**] by humiliating Carlos Mendoza, the Real Madrid scout, cementing his resolve to dominate both on and off the pitch.
Tonight's opponent was Sevilla FC's under-18 squad, a team renowned for their relentless pressing and lethal counterattacks. Their captain, Luis "El Halcón" Navarro, was a wiry winger with hawk-like speed and a vicious streak, his dark curls and piercing gray eyes marking him as a fan favorite. In Lin Feng's past life, Luis had been a La Liga star who'd once humiliated him in a youth scrimmage, taunting his "Chinese blood" as he danced past him. Tonight, Lin Feng would make El Halcón plummet.
The [**System**] screen flickered in his mind, invisible to all:
[**Mission: Lead Valencia to Victory in the Tournament Semifinal.**]
[**Reward: 400 system points, +1 Prestige Point.**]
[**Hidden Mission: Neutralize Luis Navarro's Influence with a Dazzling Play.**]
[**Reward: 600 system points, +1 Skill Point.**]
Lin Feng's lips curved into a fierce grin. Neutralize Luis? He'd do more—he'd make the pitch his canvas, painting Sevilla's defeat with [**Messi's La Croqueta**] and [**Thunder Strike**]. But he'd be cautious; the [**System**]'s power had to remain hidden. His dominance would seem like raw talent, a prodigy's brilliance, not a divine cheat.
As the Valencia squad lined up, Lin Feng felt the weight of his teammates' trust. Javier Morales, the blond-haired striker whose star had faded since Lin Feng's rise, stood at the wing, his blue eyes smoldering with resentment. "Don't screw this up, Chino," Javier muttered, his voice low but venomous. "The whole country's watching."
Lin Feng turned, his [**Charisma Aura**] sharpening his retort. "Focus on keeping up, Javier. I'm not the one losing my spot." The other players stifled laughs, Javier's face reddening as he looked away. Lin Feng's ascent had reshaped the team, and he wielded that power like a blade.
Coach Martinez, his grizzled face taut with anticipation, clapped his hands. "Lin Feng, you're starting as striker. Sevilla's fast—Navarro's a demon on the wing. Stay sharp, or he'll carve you up."
Lin Feng nodded, his voice steady. "He'll be the one carved, Coach." Martinez raised an eyebrow, sensing the fire beneath Lin Feng's calm. In his past life, Lin Feng had been a ghost to Martinez. Now, he was the team's heart.
The whistle blew, and the match erupted under the Mestalla's lights. Sevilla pressed high, their players swarming like hornets, Luis Navarro darting down the left wing with blistering speed. Lin Feng moved like a shadow, his [**Steel Body**] absorbing rough challenges, his [**Eagle Vision**] spotting gaps in Sevilla's high line. In the 7th minute, a Valencia midfielder launched a long ball. Lin Feng sprinted, using [**Messi's La Croqueta**] to shift the ball from his right foot to his left, leaving a Sevilla defender sprawling. He entered the 18-yard box, the [**Causality Power**] igniting. His shot was a low, searing drive, unstoppable, ripping past the goalkeeper's dive.
1–0.
The Mestalla roared, fans leaping to their feet. Luis Navarro's gray eyes flashed with irritation, his lips curling as he barked at his defenders. Lin Feng jogged back, his expression cool, the [**System**]'s power invisible. To the crowd, it was a moment of genius; to him, it was the [**Causality Power**] at work.
Sevilla retaliated, Luis weaving through Valencia's right flank like a specter. In the 15th minute, he cut inside, his shot curling past the goalkeeper to level the score. 1–1. The Sevilla fans in the stands cheered, Luis taunting the Valencia crowd with a theatrical bow. Lin Feng's jaw tightened, the [**Hidden Mission**] burning in his mind—neutralize Luis with a dazzling play. A goal wasn't enough; he needed to steal the spotlight.
In the 22nd minute, Lin Feng saw his chance. Valencia won a throw-in deep in Sevilla's half. A teammate passed to him, and Lin Feng faced two defenders. He activated [**Messi's La Croqueta**], his body swaying like a dancer, the ball shifting seamlessly to outfox both defenders. The crowd gasped as he surged forward, Luis sprinting back to intercept. Lin Feng faked a shot, using [**Agile Footwork**] to nutmeg Luis, leaving him stumbling. He didn't enter the box, instead unleashing [**Thunder Strike**] from 20 yards—a thunderous shot that rocketed into the top corner, shaking the net.
2–1.
The Mestalla exploded, the noise deafening. Luis fell to his knees, his pride shattered, while Lin Feng stood tall, his gaze locking onto the Sevilla captain. The [**System**] chimed:
[*Ding!*]
[**Hidden Mission Complete: Neutralize Luis Navarro's Influence with a Dazzling Play.**]
[**Reward: 600 system points, +1 Skill Point.**]
[**Total System Points: 2,500**]
The first half ended with Valencia leading, Sevilla's press faltering under Lin Feng's dominance. In the locker room, Martinez was electric, his usual scowl gone. "Lin Feng, you're a bloody monster! Keep that fire!" Javier sat silently, his head bowed, his relevance fading further. Lin Feng stayed focused, his mind on the second half. He needed to seal this victory and secure the final.
The second half was a siege. Sevilla pushed desperately, Luis regaining some spark, but Lin Feng was relentless, his [**Steel Body**] shrugging off fouls, his [**Eagle Vision**] threading passes that carved Sevilla's defense. In the 70th minute, he intercepted a clearance, sprinting into the 18-yard box. A defender clipped his heel, but [**Steel Body**] kept him upright. He activated the [**Causality Power**], his shot a curling masterpiece that kissed the post before nestling in the net.
3–1.
The crowd chanted "Lin Feng! Lin Feng!" as Sevilla's spirit broke. The match ended 3–2, Lin Feng's third goal and a late Sevilla consolation unable to change the outcome. Scouts swarmed Martinez, cameras flashing as Lin Feng left the field, his name echoing through the Mestalla.
[*Ding!*]
[**Mission Complete: Lead Valencia to Victory in the Tournament Semifinal.**]
[**Reward: 400 system points, +1 Prestige Point.**]
[**Total System Points: 2,900**]
Lin Feng opened the [**System Shop**], the invisible screen glowing. He typed "skills" into the [**Search Bar**], the player-named options gleaming:
- [**Neymar's Rainbow Flick (+25% Trickery)**]: 700 points.
- [**Zidane's Roulette (+30% Ball Control)**]: 800 points.
He chose [**Zidane's Roulette**], spending 800 points. A surge of control flooded his senses, as if the ball would obey his every whim. With 2,100 points left, he was ready for the tournament final.
---
After the match, Lin Feng joined his teammates at a local bar, a rare moment of camaraderie. The team, once skeptical, now rallied around him, toasting his performance. Even Javier, though sullen, raised a glass, his resentment overshadowed by Lin Feng's undeniable brilliance. "You're carrying us," said Mateo, a midfielder with a quick smile. "Don't stop, man."
Lin Feng nodded, his [**Charisma Aura**] warming the group. "We're going all the way," he said, his voice firm. In his past life, he'd been an outcast among teammates. Now, he was their leader, a role he embraced.
At home in El Carmen, his parents, Sofia and Wei, waited with a late-night feast of tapas and Chinese dumplings. Sofia hugged him tightly, her hazel eyes glistening. "You're unstoppable, mijo," she said, showing him a viral video of his nutmeg on Luis. Wei clapped his shoulder, his stern face proud. "You're honoring our roots, Feng. Keep climbing."
Lin Feng's heart swelled, the [**Family Bond Point**] deepening his resolve. In his past life, he'd neglected these moments. Now, they were his foundation. "This is just the start," he said, his [**Charisma Aura**] making his words resonate. "I'll build a legacy for us."
As he lay in bed, his phone buzzed—a text from Elena Voss: "You're a legend, Lin Feng. Meet me after the final. Big things are coming." His pulse quickened, but he stayed calm, replying, "Count on it."
The [**System**] chimed:
[**Hidden Mission Unlocked: Win the Tournament Final and Impress Elena Voss Post-Match.**]
[**Reward: 800 system points, +1 Influence Point.**]
Lin Feng's eyes gleamed in the dark. Luis Navarro was just another fallen rival. The [**System**] was his secret, his empire his destiny. The final awaited, and with it, the world.