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Seeing the system prompt, Lance felt even happier than he had after defeating Spain.
The previous increase in Hyuga Kojiro's fusion value had come entirely through stream-of-consciousness triggers, leaving him somewhat traumatized.
Isagi Yoichi's template, on the other hand, seemed far more straightforward.
As long as he repeatedly used Spatial Perception during matches and scored by making use of the "puzzle pieces" scattered across the field, it became easier to resonate with Isagi Yoichi's soul and increase the fusion rate.
Now that Skill 2, Direct Strike Shoot, had already been unlocked, Skill 3 wasn't far away.
Template: Isagi Yoichi — S Rank (Fusion Value: 67%)
Skill 1: Spatial Perception
Skill 2: Direct Strike Shoot
Skill 3: Unlocks at 75% Fusion Value
Based on Lance's previous experience with templates, the third skill was usually some kind of ultimate trump card.
The sort of ability that could seize absolute control in a crucial moment and decide the outcome of a key match.
Just thinking about it made him eager to see what special ability belonged to Isagi Yoichi, the "protagonist."
In truth, Isagi's template was particularly suited for fusion.
Rather than simply providing muscle memory, it enhanced decision-making itself.
It made spotting "puzzle pieces" easier.
It made reading the game easier.
It made choosing the correct option faster.
The problem was that the success rate for fusing S-rank templates wasn't very high.
Lance feared that if his luck was even slightly bad, such a valuable template could be damaged.
That would be a huge loss.
The 2-1 comeback victory over Spain finally reversed public opinion in Belgium.
Before that, Belgium had stumbled through the group stage.
The draws against Sweden and Ireland had nearly driven fans crazy.
Fortunately, things had gone much more smoothly in the knockout stage.
Still, the victory over Spain had been nerve-racking.
There were several moments when Spain looked capable of equalizing—or even taking the lead.
As a result, there were still plenty of critical voices online and in the media.
"Golden Generation? More like a disorganized mess."
"Can Hazard, Lukaku, and De Bruyne really not play together?"
"Does Belgium have the same problem as England?"
The most famous example in football was England's so-called "Scholes-Lampard dilemma."
Gerrard and Lampard had both been world-class midfielders.
One was Liverpool's leader.
The other was Chelsea's core.
Both possessed outstanding technique, vision, and control.
In theory, putting them together should have made England stronger.
Yet for some reason, they never truly clicked.
One plus one became less than two.
Manager after manager tried to solve the issue.
None succeeded.
Even a decade later, England still appeared stacked with stars but somehow struggled to translate talent into trophies.
Harry Kane.
Phil Foden.
Jude Bellingham.
Cole Palmer.
Declan Rice.
The lineup looked magnificent on paper.
Yet the performances often failed to match expectations.
Belgium seemed to have developed a similar problem.
The only reason they had reached this stage was because Lance kept carrying the team forward.
Without his astonishing record of eight goals in four matches—an average of two goals per game—Belgium might not even have survived the group stage.
As a result, nearly every Belgian star besides Lance found themselves under criticism.
Hazard.
Lukaku.
De Bruyne.
Fellaini.
Vermaelen.
None escaped the media's scrutiny.
Kevin De Bruyne happened to care deeply about public opinion.
Seeing so many people misunderstand him left him genuinely upset.
Late at night, he sat alone on a lounge chair in the resort hotel's courtyard, staring at the stars.
"Bro, spacing out again?"
"Couldn't sleep. Came outside for some air."
"Don't tell me you've been reading comments online."
"I already did."
"Then stop looking."
Lance pulled up a chair beside him.
"Let's just play well and prove them wrong."
"Prove them wrong?"
De Bruyne looked confused.
Lance spent a few minutes explaining the concept as it appeared in web novels.
Only then did De Bruyne nod.
"I get it."
"But can we really play beautiful football?"
"Everything still feels awkward on the field."
"The Spain match was already difficult."
"If we face another strong team in the quarterfinals, won't it be even worse?"
At that moment, his phone buzzed.
An ESPN notification popped up.
Germany defeat Slovakia 3-0! Germany will face Belgium in the quarter-finals!
The moment he read it, De Bruyne fell silent.
A few seconds later, he quietly said:
"Shit."
Germany.
The reigning world champions.
A perennial contender in international tournaments.
For nearly two decades, they had consistently reached the latter stages of major competitions.
Physicality.
Technique.
Teamwork.
Individual quality.
Germany possessed everything.
Although Guardiola's influence at Bayern Munich had gradually pushed Germany toward possession football and softened some of their traditional iron-blooded style, they remained one of the strongest teams in the world.
"Germany, huh..."
Even Lance paused for a moment.
His first instinct was the same as everyone else's.
Germany felt like the toughest possible opponent.
The aura of the World Cup champions still lingered.
The reputation of the German Panzer remained deeply rooted in people's minds.
Then Lance remembered the future he had seen in his prophetic dream.
The 2016 European Championship.
Germany would eventually defeat Italy in a penalty shootout.
Then lose 2-0 to France in the semifinals.
After that came decline.
At the 2018 World Cup, Germany failed to escape the group stage.
At the 2022 World Cup, they failed again.
Even at Euro 2020, they were knocked out in the first knockout round by England.
The mighty German Panzer gradually became a team that looked intimidating on the outside while growing weaker within.
And 2016 felt like the turning point.
"Kevin."
"What?"
"Another motivational speech?"
De Bruyne had already learned what a pep talk was.
Lance shook his head.
"No."
"I just have a feeling Germany aren't as strong as people think."
"Really?"
"Think about last season."
"Didn't we crush Bayern Munich at Bayer Leverkusen?"
De Bruyne froze.
Then his eyes slowly brightened.
He wasn't wrong.
Germany's national team was largely built around Bayern Munich's core.
Most of the squad played in the Bundesliga.
Last season, he and Lance had dominated that league together.
No Bundesliga side had been able to stop Bayer Leverkusen.
Looking at it from that angle, the fearsome German Panzer suddenly seemed far less invincible.
"As expected."
"Your pep talks really do work."
Lance laughed.
"Tomorrow let's get Eden involved."
"We need more practice together."
"If our chemistry improves, we'll be even stronger."
De Bruyne immediately frowned.
"Eden?"
"Extra training?"
"Do you really think he'll agree?"
"You're closer to him than I am."
"You convince him."
"I think he'll stay."
"Me?"
De Bruyne forced a smile.
Lance really did enjoy bullying honest people.
Still, after their brilliant combination against Spain, even Hazard would probably agree.
The Belgian trident needed to become stronger.
"Quarter-Final Preview: Germany Favored Over Belgium, Lance Faces Elimination Risk!"
"World Champions Germany Hold the Second-Best Odds to Win the Tournament, Behind Only Host Nation France!"
"Wilmots: This Is Our Toughest Match Yet. I Don't Know If We're Ready, But We'll Give Everything We Have."
As match day approached, tension spread throughout Belgium.
Fans were nervous.
The media was nervous.
Even the players felt an unprecedented sense of pressure.
The German Panzer was coming.