Viktor's stomach lurched as the white light faded. He stumbled, catching himself on a metal railing. The air was thick with the roar of a crowd—tens of thousands of voices chanting in unison. The smell of hot dogs, beer, and sweat hit him like a wave. He was no longer in the empty Harbour Arena. He stood in a packed stadium, red banners waving, floodlights blazing. The scoreboard read: Manchester United vs. Chelsea, 0-0.
"What the hell?" Viktor muttered, gripping the railing. The pitch below was a blur of motion—players in red and blue jerseys darting across the grass, the ball pinging between them with surgical precision.
The glowing orb hovered beside him, invisible to the crowd.
"Welcome to Universe AX-0072X," the system said. "You are at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow. The 2008 UEFA Champions League final. Manchester United versus Chelsea."
Viktor's jaw dropped. "Manchester United? That useless team made it to the Champions League final?"
"In this universe, Manchester United is a powerhouse," the system replied. "Observe number 7 — your target striker."
Viktor followed the orb's invisible pointer to a player in a red Manchester United jersey, number 7 emblazoned on his back. The handsome young man moved like a predator—lean, explosive, untouchable. He dribbled past a Chelsea defender, his feet a blur, and unleashed a shot that rattled the crossbar. The crowd erupted, 70,000 fans screaming his name.
"Who's that?" Viktor asked.
"Cristiano Ronaldo," the system said. "The forward of this era. Speed, power, precision—his talent is unmatched. In 2007-08, he scored 42 goals in 49 matches, including 8 in the Champions League. This match will cement his legend."
Viktor watched Ronaldo sprint back, his eyes locked on the ball. Every move screamed confidence, dominance, destiny. "You're saying I can… take his talent?"
"Correct," the system said. "The talent extraction process transfers Ronaldo's abilities—his speed, shooting, instincts—into a host player aged 18 to 20."
The orb pulsed. "I will generate a talent orb—a concentrated energy sphere containing Ronaldo's abilities. You select a host in your universe, the orb integrates with their body, and their potential is rewritten. The process is instantaneous, but the host must train to unlock the full potential."
Viktor nodded, his real estate hustle kicking in. "Fine. Let's do it. Where's the orb?"
"Patience," the system said. "First, you must witness the talent in action to understand its value. Watch."
The match unfolded like a war. Ronaldo leaped for a header in the 26th minute, his body defying gravity, and powered the ball into the net. The stadium exploded. Viktor's heart raced. This was no ordinary player. This was a machine, a miracle, a myth.
The system's voice cut through the noise. "Ronaldo's talent is your key to survival. But you must choose a host carefully. The wrong vessel will waste the gift."
Viktor scanned the crowd, his mind racing back to Bournemouth. The university team had snubbed him. The secondary schools were too young. The amateur leagues wanted money he didn't have. But there was one place he hadn't tried—the streets. The kids playing pickup games on the docks, dreaming of glory but stuck in poverty. One of them could be Ronaldo.
The match reached halftime, 1-1. Ronaldo jogged off the pitch, his jersey soaked, his eyes burning with focus.
Viktor turned to the orb. "How do I pick the right kid?"
"The host must have a spark," the system said. "A hunger, a drive, a reason to fight. Ronaldo's talent requires a soul that burns for greatness. You will know when you see it."
Viktor thought of Bournemouth's gritty streets, the kids kicking battered balls against warehouse walls.
He'd seen their fire, their defiance. One of them could carry this gift. But who?
"Wait," Viktor said. "I need to see him once more. Just to be sure."
The system paused. "Very well. Second half."
The match resumed. Ronaldo was relentless—dribbling past defenders, leaping for crosses, testing the goalkeeper with long-range strikes. In the 77th minute, a curling free kick of his nearly won the match, but the Chelsea keeper made a miraculous save.
The final score held at 1-1. Penalties followed. Viktor held his breath as Ronaldo stepped up first—and missed. The stadium held its breath. But United prevailed 6–5, and Ronaldo lifted the Champions League trophy, his legend immortalized.
Though Ronaldo missed his penalty in the shootout, it was his goal during open play—the only one Manchester United scored from the run of play—that kept them alive. Throughout the ninety minutes, he was everywhere—sprinting, creating, and terrorizing Chelsea's back line. His performance was unmatched.
Viktor exhaled. "He's the one. Let's go."
The orb pulsed, floating into the air and beginning to spin rapidly. A dazzling spiral of light formed around it, condensing into a glowing red sphere.
"The talent orb is forming," the system announced. "Within this orb lies the essence of Ronaldo's footballing genius—his speed, instinct, technique, vision, and mentality. It awaits a worthy host."
The orb flared brilliantly.
"Talent orb locked. Return destination: Universe AX-0089X. Prepare for transit."
The Luzhniki Stadium dissolved into white light, and Viktor's world spun once more.