The sea breeze of Las Palmas swept across the hotel windowsill, carrying a salty scent.
Lu Chuan stood alone on the balcony, gazing at the distant Atlantic Ocean, its waves rising and falling like the team's fate.
Four consecutive losses. This number was like a brand, searing everyone's hearts.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Trejo pushed the door open, his expression grim: "Captain, Paco is here."
Lu Chuan raised an eyebrow: "Paco? Isn't he still suspended?"
"Yes, but he took the earliest flight to get here. He's waiting for everyone in the meeting room now."
In the hotel meeting room, the atmosphere was so tense it was almost solidified.
Players walked in one after another, a flicker of surprise in their eyes when they saw Paco Jémez sitting at the head of the table.
Paco stood up, scanning each face. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, yet his voice was surprisingly calm.
"gentlemen, I know I shouldn't be here. By regulations, I am still suspended."
He paused, "But to hell with regulations! This is my team, and I have to be here."
A low rumble of laughter broke out in the meeting room, easing the tense atmosphere slightly.
Paco walked to the tactics board and picked up a marker. "Forget defense! Forget draws!"
He drew an extremely aggressive 4-2-4 formation on the board. "We only have one path—attack, score, and win! This match is our final!"
The players exchanged glances; this formation was almost suicidal.
"I know what you're thinking." Paco's sharp gaze swept over everyone,
"Too risky? Yes! But we have no choice. After four consecutive losses, what we need isn't conservatism, but a complete outburst!"
He pointed at Lu Chuan: "You, you're no longer just a simple striker. Today, you will be a free man, able to appear in any position."
Then to Trejo: "Óscar, you and Lu Chuan will partner up, ready to receive his passes at any time."
Álvaro García: "Álvaro, your task is to tear open the opponent's left-flank defense, creating space for Lu Chuan."
One by one, Paco assigned tasks to everyone, a mad glint in his eyes.
"But coach," Comesaña couldn't help but ask, "you can't be on the field, how will you direct the match?"
Paco revealed a sly smile, pulling a small earpiece from his pocket.
"Juan will wear this." He pointed to his Assistant Coach, "It's connected to my phone. I'll be 'remotely' directing from the hotel via live broadcast."
The players looked at the small device in surprise, unsure if this violated regulations, but no one questioned it.
"Finally," Paco's gaze fell on Lu Chuan, "Captain, what happens on the field is up to you. I trust your judgment. If any on-the-spot decisions need to be made, don't wait for my instructions."
This was a complete transfer of authority, and the greatest recognition of Lu Chuan's leadership.
After the meeting, the players left one after another. Paco called out to Lu Chuan.
"Stay for a moment."
Only the two of them remained in the room, and Paco's expression softened.
"You know what? Four years ago, when I was in Sevilla, I faced a similar situation."
Lu Chuan listened quietly; this was the first time Paco had spoken about his past.
"Four consecutive losses, team morale was low. At that time, my captain stood up, overturned the tactics board in the locker room, and yelled at me: 'Your tactics are rubbish!'"
Paco laughed, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
"And then?" Lu Chuan couldn't help but ask.
"Then we won, three consecutive wins, and successfully avoided relegation in the end." Paco patted Lu Chuan's shoulder, "That captain later became one of the best midfielders in La Liga. And you, Lu Chuan, your potential is even greater than his."
These words were like a warm current, flowing into Lu Chuan's heart.
"Thank you for your trust, Coach."
"No, I should thank you." Paco looked at him seriously, "During my suspension, you carried the entire team."
Back in his room, Lu Chuan found a package on his bedside table. Opening it, he found a small amulet and a note from Esther.
"I know you don't believe in this, but this is from my heart. Carry it, and it'll be like I'm with you."
Lu Chuan clasped the amulet tightly in his hand, feeling its warmth.
His phone vibrated; it was a message from Carlos.
A European renewable energy company invested in by L&E Capital saw its stock price surge by 30% after receiving a large EU subsidy. His personal assets had reached a new level.
Lu Chuan glanced at it, then put his phone aside. At this moment, no increase in wealth could distract him.
He closed his eyes and silently called out "System."
[Host: Lu Chuan]
[Current LP Balance: 4300]
[Activated Skills: Full Field Vision, Penalty Box Finisher, Big Heart, Guaranteed Long Shot, Man-Ball Unity]
[Core Talents: Guaranteed Long Shot (15%), Guaranteed Penalty Kick (40%)]
He decided to keep these LP as strategic reserves to cope with the even more brutal playoffs that lay ahead. Now, he needed to focus on this life-and-death battle before him.
It was late, but Lu Chuan was wide awake. He opened his laptop and once again studied the match footage of Las Palmas.
The opposing coach Pepe Mel's pre-match comments were circulating widely online: "A team with four consecutive losses has nothing to fear. We will give them a fifth consecutive loss at home."
Lu Chuan sneered, then closed his laptop. Underestimation, sometimes, was the most dangerous enemy.
On match day morning, the sun was bright. The team gathered in front of the hotel, preparing to head to the stadium.
Paco stood in front of the team bus, checking everyone's condition one last time. He couldn't accompany the team into the stadium; he could only direct from the hotel via live broadcast.
"gentlemen," his voice was low and powerful, "remember our promise. Today, we must win!"
The entire team gathered in a circle, stacking their hands together. Lu Chuan stood in the middle, his gaze firm.
"For Vallecas!" he shouted loudly.
"Fight!" Everyone responded in unison, their voices echoing in the morning air.
In the locker room of the Estadio Gran Canaria, Lu Chuan carefully placed Esther's amulet into his sock. This small object carried the blessing of his distant loved one.
He checked his captain's armband one last time, taking a deep breath. In the mirror, his eyes were as firm as iron.
In the player tunnel, the opposing captain walked over and extended his hand. "I heard you've lost four straight? Today will be the fifth."
Lu Chuan gripped the hand, just the right amount of force. "We'll see."
The moment he walked onto the field, the sun was dazzling, and the audience's boos were deafening. But Lu Chuan's heart was exceptionally calm.
He knew this might be the most important match of the season; there was no retreat, only victory.
Standing in the center circle, waiting for the referee's whistle, Lu Chuan took one last look at Assistant Coach Juan on the bench. In his ear, hidden, was the small earpiece connected to Paco.
Far away in the hotel, Paco was also intently watching everything on the field via television broadcast.
The referee raised the whistle to his lips, Lu Chuan's muscles tensed, ready to face this life-and-death battle.
The whistle blew, and the twenty-two people on the field erupted simultaneously.
This was not just a football match, but a team's final defiance against fate. And Lu Chuan had to be the banner of this defiance.
Las Palmas' players played extremely relaxed, as if this was just an inconsequential exhibition match. Their passing was flamboyant and casual, their defense loose and lazy.
This was exactly what Paco had anticipated. "They underestimate us," he told Juan through the earpiece, "Tell Lu Chuan, it's time to give them a surprise."
Juan relayed the message to Lu Chuan on the field. The latter nodded slightly, a cold glint in his eyes.
In the 7th minute of the match, a Las Palmas defender made a low-level mistake in midfield, passing the ball directly to Lu Chuan's feet.
The chance had come!
Lu Chuan didn't hesitate for a second, a change of direction shaking off the rushing defender, then activating Full Field Vision.
In this state, the entire field seemed to slow down. He saw Trejo making a high-speed run on the right, Álvaro creating space on the left, and a crack appearing in the opponent's defense.
He chose the most incredible option—a direct long shot!
The ball, like a cannonball, arced perfectly, flying straight into the top corner of the goal.
The Las Palmas goalkeeper made a desperate save attempt, but could only touch the edge of the ball. The net bulged violently, 1-0!
"Gooooal!" The commentator's voice almost tore his throat, "Lu Chuan! It's Lu Chuan again! This Chinese youngster, with a world-class long shot, breaks the deadlock!"
Lu Chuan didn't over-celebrate, merely clenched his fist and ran towards the bench. He hugged Juan tightly, whispering in his ear: "Tell Paco, this is just the beginning."
In the hotel room, Paco jumped up excitedly, nearly knocking over the coffee on the table. He responded through the earpiece: "Excellent! Keep up the pressure! Don't give them a moment to breathe!"
This sudden goal completely disrupted Las Palmas' rhythm. They began to panic, increasing their passing errors and leaving countless defensive gaps.
Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, was like a pack of hungry wolves, seizing every opportunity to attack. Paco's aggressive tactics were played to their fullest in this moment.
In the 23rd minute of the match, Lu Chuan orchestrated a brilliant team play in the attacking third.
He laid the ball back to Trejo, who played a through ball, allowing Álvaro to run through on goal and calmly slot it home, 2-0!
Las Palmas coach Pepe Mel roared on the sidelines, frantically directing his players to adjust their formation.
But it was too late; Rayo Vallecano's offensive was like a tsunami, wave after wave.
Before halftime, Lu Chuan again found an opportunity at the edge of the Penalty Box. This time, he didn't choose to shoot, but instead made a fake shot and a real pass, sending the ball to the surging Comesaña's feet.
Comesaña faced an open goal and easily tapped it into the net. 3-0!
The halftime whistle blew, and Rayo Vallecano's players embraced in celebration. The gloom of four consecutive losses seemed to be dispelled by this exhilarating offensive.
In the locker room, Juan handed his phone to Lu Chuan. Paco's voice came through the speaker, firm and powerful.
"In the second half, they will counterattack desperately. We need to stay calm and control the tempo. Lu Chuan, you know what to do."
Lu Chuan nodded, returning the phone to Juan. He scanned every face in the locker room, seeing long-lost confidence and fighting spirit.
"gentlemen," his voice was not loud but clear, "we haven't won yet. In the second half, the battle continues."
As Paco had predicted, Las Palmas brought on two attacking players in the second half and began a furious counterattack.
Rayo Vallecano's defense was under immense pressure, nearly breached several times. But goalkeeper Dimitrievski was in superb form, making a series of brilliant saves.
In the 67th minute of the match, Las Palmas finally broke through Rayo Vallecano's goal. Their central midfielder Rubén Castro's long shot from the edge of the Penalty Box deflected off a defender and into the net. 3-1.
After the goal, Las Palmas' morale soared, and their attacks became even more ferocious. Rayo Vallecano's players began to show signs of fatigue, and their defense was crumbling.
"Hold steady!" Lu Chuan constantly encouraged his teammates, "Don't panic! We're still ahead!"
Paco instructed Juan through the earpiece: "Have Lu Chuan drop back and strengthen the midfield. We need to control possession."
Lu Chuan received the instruction and immediately adjusted his position. He no longer charged at the front, but retreated to the midfield, helping the team organize attacks and relieve defensive pressure.
In the 75th minute of the match, Las Palmas again created an opportunity.
Their striker was through on goal inside the Penalty Box, about to shoot, when Savić made a desperate sliding tackle, clearing the ball out for a goal kick.
This crucial defense earned applause from the entire team. Savić lay on the ground, blood clearly visible on his knee, but a smile appeared on his face.
"For the team," he whispered to Lu Chuan as he was helped up.
Time ticked by, and the match entered its final ten minutes. Las Palmas' attacks became increasingly frantic, while Rayo Vallecano's defense grew more resilient.
In the 85th minute, Lu Chuan intercepted a ball in the attacking third and quickly launched a counterattack.
He dribbled forward, attracting two defenders, then passed the ball to Isi Palazón on the right flank.
Isi received the ball and immediately crossed it, the ball arcing beautifully into the middle of the Penalty Box.
Trejo leaped high, heading the ball into the goal!
Goal! 4-1!
Rayo Vallecano's players celebrated wildly; they knew victory was within reach.
The moment the final whistle blew, Lu Chuan knelt on the grass, letting out a long cry to the sky.
The nightmare of four consecutive losses was finally dispelled by this exhilarating victory.
The players rushed to the center of the field, tossing Lu Chuan high into the air. In the stands, the few Rayo Vallecano fans cheered joyfully, waving their red and white flags.
Back in the locker room, Juan's phone rang. It was a video call from Paco.
On the screen, Paco's eyes were slightly red, his voice a little choked: "Excellent work, gentlemen! I'm proud of you!"
The players gathered around the phone, cheering. In this moment, all the hardships and setbacks transformed into the joy of victory.
Lu Chuan sat in the corner, quietly taking off his captain's armband. He touched the amulet in his sock, a slight smile on his lips.
The system's prompt sounded in his mind:
[Ding! Host led the team to a crucial victory!]
[Match Rating: 9.8!]
[LP Gained: 300 (Victory) + 100 (Crucial Goal) + 80 (Assist) = 480LP!]
[Current LP Balance: 4300+480 = 4780LP]
But at this moment, these numbers were no longer so important to him. What mattered was that they won, and the team had regained its confidence and fighting spirit.
His phone vibrated; it was a message from Esther: "I watched the live broadcast! You guys were amazing! Did the amulet work?"
Lu Chuan smiled, replying: "It worked. But what worked best was thinking of you."
He knew this victory was just the beginning. There was still a crucial final match, and even more brutal playoffs ahead.
But at this moment, he allowed himself and his teammates to briefly celebrate this hard-won victory.
The "King" was back, and the team had found its direction again.
And he, as captain, would lead this team forward, until the dream of reaching La Liga came true.