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"It's over, it's over! Today is Lance's match day!!"
"Can Atlético Madrid win the title?"
"I completely forgot! Damn it, Chloe didn't even remind me. She must be watching his game in secret by herself."
Laila was frantic, taking quick, hurried steps as she rushed back to the dorm. Her tight skirt and heels made it impossible to move fast, so she simply kicked off her shoes and sprinted barefoot down the hallway.
She had met a handsome guy at a bar the night before, and after a great evening together, she hadn't minded agreeing to a proper date. Unexpectedly, after the meal, he confessed on the spot, wanting to make things official.
Crazy. We've only known each other a day! I'm not that kind of girl!
Laila had turned and run. Halfway back, she suddenly remembered it was Lance's match day, so she ran even faster.
She pushed open the dorm door. Chloe was curled up at her desk, watching the match intently on her tablet.
Laila crowded in close.
"How is it? Did they win the title?"
"Almost!! Almost!!"
Chloe was shaking with excitement, clutching her roommate's sleeve tightly.
Laila looked at the screen and saw the face she'd been hearing so much about. She had never really understood the appeal before, but the moment she saw Lance, she got it completely. The charm, the charisma. It made sense now.
In the footage, Lance was ecstatic. He sprinted to the die-hard Atlético Madrid stand, threw a backflip, then jumped onto the advertising board with his arms raised. The fans in the front rows surged frantically toward the railing, reaching out to touch him like devoted believers. From the aerial camera angle, the scene looked exactly like that moment in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice where Superman is surrounded by outstretched hands. At this moment, Lance was a god in the eyes of every Atlético Madrid supporter.
Laila stared, then glanced at the scoreline in the corner.
"Wait. It's 4-0?"
She had checked her phone not long ago. Wasn't it 0-0 at halftime? She had been worried for Atlético Madrid! How was it already 4-0 with less than 80 minutes played?
"What happened? What did I miss?"
Before Chloe could answer, German commentator Mehmet Scholl was already going wild.
"Wow!!! A hat-trick!! This is Lance! This is the fully evolved Lance!"
"53 goals!! With this final match, he has completely surpassed Messi's 50-goal record, pushing his La Liga tally to an insurmountable 53 goals!"
"The 0-0 draw in the first half had Atlético Madrid supporters drenched in sweat. Who could have imagined that in just 30 minutes, Lance would complete 3 goals and 1 assist! Four goals to kill off the game, forcibly claiming this La Liga title! This is Lance's declaration: what I set my sights on, I make my own! A League title within 3 seasons of debuting! Even if Barcelona plays to a terrifying 103 points, it's not enough! Barcelona has truly given everything. In any past season, 103 points would have made the whole world look up to them. But here, at the Wanda Metropolitano, there is only one man you look up to. The man at the peak of Olympus — LAAAAAANCE —"
His commentary partner, Oliver Kahn, was equally full of praise.
"The previous goal was truly spectacular. Lance's calm volley reminded me of his days in the Bundesliga. The very first goal he scored after debuting left just as deep an impression on me. The devilish consistency, the astonishing ability to handle the ball in a crowd, the precise footwork at the moment of the shot. That ball was very difficult for any goalkeeper to deal with."
As a former Germany captain and one of the greatest goalkeepers the country had ever produced, Kahn watched Lance with something close to paternal pride. The kid was simply exceptional.
In the replay, Lance received a corner kick from a teammate. With his back to goal at the edge of the penalty area, he used a heel-flick to control the ball, nutmegged the tight-marking center-back, turned, and volleyed left-footed into the top corner.
It was a shame that such a spectacular goal wouldn't be eligible for the 2016 Puskás Award — the competition was simply too fierce. Every one of Lance's goals was spectacular. Rumor had it that FIFA was already looking at changing the Puskás Award selection rules, scrapping public fan voting in favor of internal media scoring. Otherwise, if Lance swept the award every year, it would make players from other countries look bad.
"A hat-trick. How were the other goals scored?"
"You'll have to watch the replay later. I can't even explain it."
Chloe hugged her knees, curled up in her chair, pretty face buried against her legs, head spinning like she was drunk. Lance's performance today had left the girl completely beside herself.
"I really shouldn't have gone on that date today."
Laila was devastated, feeling like she'd missed out on something irreplaceable.
On the field, the 4-0 scoreline had drained all remaining suspense from the final minutes. Every Atlético Madrid player, assistant coach, and substitute was lined up along the touchline with arms linked, buzzing with anticipation, ready to pour onto the field the moment the whistle blew. The 60,000 supporters in the stands launched into a chorus, a hymn rising for Atlético Madrid's La Liga title.
After the triumph in the 2013-2014 season and a year's interval, Atlético Madrid were about to lift the 2015-2016 League title. This meant Atlético had truly become the third pole of La Liga, breaking the Real Madrid and Barcelona duopoly for good.
As the songs rang out, Lance heard the music shift, and a familiar melody reached his ears. He looked up and saw a cluster of fans in the stands waving flags and singing loudly, drawing the foreigners around them into joining in.
"The five-starred red flag flutters in the wind, the song of victory resounds —"
Lance stopped.
He was both surprised and puzzled. Though he hadn't been back home many times since childhood, his parents had made sure that connection never faded. He held deep feelings for that culture and that melody. Hearing it here, in Madrid, on a night like this, Lance couldn't help but raise his hands and applaud the fans.
As the song ended, all 60,000 inside the stadium broke into warm applause. The entire Wanda Metropolitano became an ocean of celebration.
"Lance, we're winning the title! We're winning the title!"
Saúl's hands were trembling. When Atlético had won the title in the 2013-14 season, he had still been in the youth academy, unable to lift the trophy with the team. Now he could finally do it as a starter. And all of it was because of Lance.
"This is just the start. We still have two more trophies to go."
That was right. The La Liga title was only the beginning.
"So how did you do it? A hat-trick in 30 minutes."
"Luck, I guess."
Lance played it mysterious, which nearly drove Saúl to worship him on the spot.
In reality, Lance had used the [Isagi Yoichi] Template at 100% Rage Value to score two goals in rapid succession. With the [Isagi Yoichi] Template in full rage mode, his Spatial Perception reached its complete form. He could almost pinpoint the exact spot where a shot would go in before he hit it. That feeling of near-omniscience was simply exhilarating. From the 50th minute onward, he scored twice in 3 minutes. Everything happened so fast that even Lance barely had time to process it.
"Save it for the Copa del Rey. Give Messi a little surprise."
Lance couldn't wait to see the look on Messi's face.
Just as his thoughts drifted to the Copa del Rey Final in a week and the Champions League Final in two, the referee checked his watch. Stoppage time wasn't up yet, at least 3 minutes still to go. But Celta Vigo had nothing left, playing out the clock passively, and Atlético had no desire to score again.
The referee simply blew the whistle.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"The match is over!"
CCTV5's commentator roared with excitement.
"In the final battle of La Liga, Atlético Madrid defeats Celta Vigo 4-0 at home!"
"With a hat-trick and an assist in the second half, Lance locks his League goal record for the season at 53 goals!"
"He has become the first player in the world to score over 50 goals in a top-flight League season! The La Liga goal record has been raised to a new height!!"
The commentator's eyes were already glistening. If Lance's two seasons at Bayer Leverkusen were the opening chapter, then this season at Atlético Madrid was the true beginning of his ascent. He was now officially standing on the world stage alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.
"Of course, the most important thing right now is to congratulate Atlético Madrid! This season, they have defeated the giants with a historic La Liga high of 105 points, lifting the League title!"
As those words landed, the substitute players and coaches on the Atlético Madrid bench flooded onto the field, embracing everyone in sight. The green grass was quickly swallowed by a sea of red and white.
"Tonight belongs to Atlético Madrid, belongs to Lance, belongs to every Atlético Madrid supporter!"
On the field, Lance was buzzing. He ran straight to Simeone.
"Coach! Since the captain isn't here, can I lead the team to lift the trophy?"
Lance loved that feeling, holding the trophy high with the whole team celebrating behind him.
Simeone's expression went blank.
"What trophy?"
"The title ceremony."
"Hahaha, you're too eager." Simeone laughed.
A few seconds later, Lance's face wore exactly the same expression Modrić and Gareth Bale had when they first arrived in La Liga.
"What? The trophy isn't awarded until next season?"
He wanted to bury his face in his hands.
What the hell. The La Liga title ceremony actually had to wait until next season. If he wanted to fulfill his wish of lifting a trophy, he would have to wait for the Copa del Rey Final in a week.