**Valencia, Spain, July 24, 2022**
The Valencia youth academy stadium pulsed with energy, the stands packed with a larger crowd than usual, their cheers rising like a tidal wave under the blazing afternoon sun. Lin Feng stood on the sidelines, his orange-and-white Valencia CF kit gleaming, his hazel eyes sharp with the fire of his Chinese-Spanish heritage. At 17, he was no longer the invisible benchwarmer of his past life. One week ago, he'd turned a youth match against Deportivo into a massacre, scoring five goals and crushing the arrogance of Javier Morales. That performance had sparked whispers of a prodigy, drawing scouts from across Spain to today's match—a high-stakes clash against Atlético Madrid's under-18 squad, a team known for their ruthless defense and tactical discipline.
The [**Supreme Football System**] thrummed in Lin Feng's mind, a secret known only to him, hidden from the world. Its [**Causality Power**]—[*All shots within the 18-yard box score with 100% accuracy*]—had been his cheat code in the last match, securing a hat-trick and 400 [**System Points**]. He'd spent 300 on [**Agile Footwork (+20% Dribbling)**], leaving him with 100 points, and last night at Elena Voss's gala, he'd earned 700 more points and 2 [**Charisma Points**] by humiliating Diego Ruiz and charming the Hollywood star. He'd used 200 points to purchase [**Charisma Aura (+50% Persuasion)**], bringing his total to 600 [**System Points**]. Today, he'd need every ounce of his skill and the [**System**]'s power to dominate a tougher opponent and silence new doubters.
The [**System**] screen flickered in his mind, invisible to all:
[**Mission: Lead Valencia to Victory Against Atlético Madrid's U-18 Team.**]
[**Reward: 200 system points, +1 Prestige Point.**]
[**Hidden Mission: Score a Long-Range Goal Outside the 18-Yard Box.**]
[**Reward: 400 system points, +1 Skill Point.**]
Lin Feng's lips curved into a predatory grin. A long-range goal? The [**Causality Power**] wouldn't help outside the box, but his [**Agile Footwork**] and natural talent—amplified by the [**System**]'s subtle enhancements—would be enough. He'd make this match a spectacle, proving his rise was no fluke, all while keeping the [**System**]'s existence a tightly guarded secret.
As the Valencia squad warmed up, Lin Feng felt eyes on him—teammates, rivals, scouts, all watching the "new kid" who'd exploded onto the scene. Javier Morales lingered at the edge of the group, his blond hair slick with sweat, his blue eyes burning with resentment. Since the Deportivo match, Javier's star had dimmed, his once-loyal clique now whispering about Lin Feng. "He got lucky," Javier muttered to a teammate, loud enough for Lin Feng to hear. "Let's see him try that against Atlético."
Lin Feng ignored him, his focus razor-sharp. Javier was a mosquito, annoying but irrelevant. The real challenge was Atlético Madrid, a team coached by a tactical genius, Diego Sánchez, whose under-18 squad played like a military unit. Their captain, Marcos Vega, was a towering center-back with a reputation for crushing forwards, his bald head and scarred cheek making him look more like a mercenary than a teenager. Lin Feng had heard of Marcos in his past life—a bully who used his size to intimidate, later signing with Atlético's senior team. Today, Lin Feng would make him a footnote in his legend.
Coach Martinez clapped his hands, his grizzled face stern but tinged with cautious hope. "Lin Feng, you're starting as striker. Don't let that last game go to your head. Atlético will eat you alive if you're not sharp."
Lin Feng nodded, his voice calm but laced with steel. "They'll choke on me, Coach." Martinez raised an eyebrow, surprised by the confidence, but said nothing. In his past life, Martinez had dismissed Lin Feng as weak. Now, he was starting to see the fire beneath the surface.
The whistle blew, and the match began. Atlético's players moved like a machine, their passes crisp, their defense a wall of steel. Marcos Vega marked Lin Feng tightly, his bulk looming as he growled, "You're the hotshot, huh? I'll break you, Chino." The slur stung, but Lin Feng's eyes glinted with defiance. He'd faced worse in his past life—today, Marcos was just another obstacle.
In the 8th minute, Valencia won a corner. The ball sailed into the box, and Lin Feng leaped, his [**Agile Footwork**] letting him twist past Marcos's outstretched arm. He was in the 18-yard box, the [**Causality Power**] humming like a live wire. He volleyed the ball, a clean strike that screamed past the goalkeeper, kissing the inside of the post before nestling in the net.
1–0.
The crowd roared, banners waving in the Valencia sun. Marcos cursed, shoving Lin Feng as he jogged back. "Lucky shot," he spat. Lin Feng smirked, saying nothing. The [**System**]'s power was invisible, his goal seeming like pure skill. No one could suspect the truth.
Atlético fought back, their midfield dominating possession, their wingers testing Valencia's flanks. Lin Feng sprinted tirelessly, his [**Agile Footwork**] letting him weave through tight spaces, creating chances where none existed. In the 22nd minute, he received a pass just outside the box, Marcos charging like a bull. Lin Feng remembered the [**Hidden Mission**]—a long-range goal. He faked left, his enhanced dribbling making Marcos stumble, then unleashed a rocket from 25 yards. The ball curved, dipping at the last second to graze the crossbar and dive into the net.
2–0.
The stands exploded, scouts leaping to their feet. Javier's face was a mask of fury, his hands clenched on the bench. Marcos roared, slamming the ground, but Lin Feng just jogged back, his expression cool. The crowd saw a prodigy; only he knew the [**System**]'s role in sharpening his instincts.
[*Ding!*]
[**Hidden Mission Complete: Score a Long-Range Goal Outside the 18-Yard Box.**]
[**Reward: 400 system points, +1 Skill Point.**]
[**Total System Points: 1,000**]
Lin Feng's heart raced, but he stayed focused. The match wasn't over. Atlético pushed harder, scoring a header in the 35th minute, narrowing the gap to 2–1. The second half was brutal, Atlético's defense tightening, Marcos shadowing Lin Feng like a vengeful ghost. But Lin Feng was relentless, his stamina seemingly endless, his movements fluid. In the 68th minute, he broke through, dribbling past three defenders with [**Agile Footwork**], entering the 18-yard box, and activating the [**Causality Power**]. His shot was a low, curling beauty that defied physics, slipping through a defender's legs and past the goalkeeper's dive.
3–1.
The final whistle blew at 4–1, Valencia's victory sealed by Lin Feng's third goal and an assist to a teammate. The crowd chanted his name, "Lin Feng! Lin Feng!" as scouts swarmed Coach Martinez. Marcos stormed off, his pride shattered, while Javier slunk away, his star fading further.
[*Ding!*]
[**Mission Complete: Lead Valencia to Victory Against Atlético Madrid's U-18 Team.**]
[**Reward: 200 system points, +1 Prestige Point.**]
[**Total System Points: 1,200**]
Lin Feng opened the [**System Shop**], his mind racing. With 1,200 points, he could afford something powerful. He typed "defense" into the [**Search Bar**]:
- [**Iron Defense (+20% Tackling)**]: 400 points.
- [**Steel Body (+30% Physical Resilience)**]: 600 points.
He chose [**Steel Body**], spending 600 points. A warm energy flooded his muscles, making him feel unbreakable. He saved the remaining 600 points, knowing tougher challenges awaited.
As he left the field, his phone buzzed—a text from his mother, Sofia. "Come home, mijo. We need to talk." Her words carried a weight that made his chest tighten. In his past life, he'd neglected his family, too consumed by his failures. Now, reborn, he'd make things right.
---
Lin Feng's family lived in a modest apartment in Valencia's El Carmen district, the walls adorned with photos of his childhood—kicking a ball in the park, his father teaching him Chinese calligraphy, his mother laughing at a beach picnic. Sofia, a petite woman with warm hazel eyes, greeted him with a hug, her smile tinged with worry. His father, Wei, sat at the kitchen table, his weathered face stern but proud.
"You're making waves, Feng," Wei said, his Shanghai accent thick. "The neighbors won't stop talking about your match last week."
Sofia set a plate of paella before him, her voice soft. "We're proud, mijo, but… you're changing. You're so driven now. What's fueling you?"
Lin Feng paused, the [**System**]'s secret heavy in his mind. He couldn't tell them, not yet. Instead, he smiled, his [**Charisma Aura**] making his words warm. "I just want to make you proud, Mamá, Papá. I want to give us a better life."
Sofia's eyes glistened, but Wei leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "Ambition is good, but don't lose yourself. You're our son, Spanish and Chinese. Never let anyone make you feel less."
Lin Feng nodded, his heart swelling. In his past life, he'd let their sacrifices—his father's long hours as a chef, his mother's cleaning jobs—go to waste. Now, he'd build an empire for them, too.
As he ate, his phone buzzed again—a message from Elena Voss: "Heard about your match today. You're unstoppable. Dinner tomorrow?" His pulse quickened, but he kept his face neutral, not wanting to worry his parents. He replied, "Count me in," already anticipating the next step in his rise.
The [**System**] chimed as he lay in bed that night:
[**Hidden Mission Unlocked: Strengthen Family Bonds and Impress Elena Voss at Dinner.**]
[**Reward: 600 system points, +1 Family Bond Point.**]
Lin Feng's eyes gleamed in the dark. The [**System**] was guiding him not just to football glory, but to a life of power and connection. Atlético was just the latest to fall. Diego Ruiz, La Liga, the world—they were next.