Leo Lin met the ball first time!
A thunderous strike from a tight angle!
"Bang!!!"
Bracaz got a palm to it, but the save only pushed the ball straight back to Leo Lin!
Bursting forward, he stretched out a toe and poked it home before the defender could react!
The rebound is in!!!
"GOAL!!!!"
"It's in!!!!" Casillas roared, pumping his fists.
"Lin!!!"
"A brilliant brace! Spain turn it around against Brazil!"
"That's exactly why he's valued at forty million euros!"
"Who can possibly question that price tag now?!"
On the ESPN broadcast, Jon Champion couldn't hold back his excitement.
"Hahaha!"
"Leo Lin scores again!"
"Folks, never believe victory will simply come knocking at your door!"
"But for Leo Lin, goals are like dandelions on a hillside—"
"—there for the taking!"
"This is total domination at the U17 World Cup!"
"Time is running out—barely ten minutes left including stoppage time!"
"Brazil have a mountain to climb if they want an equalizer!"
After scoring, Leo Lin sprinted toward the touchline, bringing his fists together in his trademark clasped-hands celebration.
All around the stadium, Spanish fans copied the gesture, returning the salute.
"A group of Spaniards using Chinese etiquette on a European football stage—something you almost never see," Jon Champion laughed.
Jim Beglin chimed in, "It reminds me of that time an Argentine led a group of Italians against… another group of Italians."
"Different story, same kind of irony."
Spanish teammates rushed over to celebrate, with Ferran Torres shining just as brightly.
Leo Lin wrapped an arm around him and gave his head a friendly pat.
Ferran Torres buried his face into Leo Lin's chest, looking like an embarrassingly shy newlywed.
"Great ball."
"Guys, we're running out of time!"
Thanks to his Spanish mother—and dedicated language training—Leo Lin spoke fluently, his instructions clear and direct.
"Don't drop back blindly!"
"Attack to defend! Keep the pressure on—don't give them a chance!"
He knew this better than anyone. In football, passive defending only leads to harsher punishment. Attacking was the real form of defense.
When play resumed, Spain looked like a completely different team.
They were sharper, more aggressive, bursting with intent and hunger.
The gentlemen were still dressed in suits—but beneath the fabric, lean frames had turned into coiled muscle. Clenched fists revealed unmistakable ambition.
Brazil couldn't find a single opening. Time slipped away until the referee finally raised his whistle.
"Beep."
"Beep."
"Beep!!!"
"It's over! Full time!"
"Spain win this heavyweight clash, take all three points, and finish top of the group!"
"A magnificent victory—a thoroughly convincing one!"
Leo Lin threw his arms into the air, hugging his teammates in celebration.
Denia rushed onto the pitch as well, ecstatic. Finishing first in the group was exactly what he'd hoped for.
The livestream chat exploded with excitement, comments flying past at lightning speed.
"Guys, I'm not a coward—I survived the Brazilian fans!"
"Top of the group is just the beginning. Spain's goal is always the title!"
"Leo Lin, if you see this, DM me. Every night after 9 p.m., I—"
"Get in line. People trying to meet Leo Lin are booked out three years in advance."
As the crowd celebrated and the players roared, a familiar system notification echoed inside Leo Lin's mind.
"Congratulations, Host. Your accumulated points have reached 300. You may draw a third skill."
"Proceed with the draw?"
"Yes!" Leo Lin replied instantly.
The golden skill pool began to churn, shimmering brilliantly. His anticipation soared.
Suddenly, the calm sea deepened into a dark abyss. From the unseen depths, a glow slowly rose—gold interwoven with white. Each skill radiated a distinct light, determined by the player it represented.
White-gold?
Leo Lin had never seen this color before.
His first skill, Riser Howitzer, had shone with pure gold. The second, Pirlo Passing, glimmered with black-gold light.
So who did this white-gold glow belong to?
The radiance gradually faded.
"Swift as a meteor, a white steed turned into starlight!"
"The embodiment of speed, the symbol of dribbling!"
"The dream man of countless female fans—the Prince Charming!"
"Graceful and fluid, his style makes him the most unique midfielder in football!"
"Congratulations, Host. You have drawn the Platinum Skill: Wind Chaser Kaka!"
Kaka?
Kaka!
Leo Lin was overjoyed.
He already had physical strength and passing ability, but in transitions, a midfielder needed explosive acceleration and forward drive—speed and burst.
Kaka filled that gap perfectly.
Platinum Skill: Wind Chaser Kaka:
"When the Host carries the ball forward in the midfield zone, acceleration increases by 10%, and top speed increases by 10%."
A full 10% boost to both acceleration and speed—Leo Lin was more than satisfied.
Even though his base attributes weren't yet elite, as training and matches pushed them higher, the bonus would only grow more impactful.
"Congratulations, Host. You have now acquired three skills."
"You may claim the next Star Path free of charge."
"The second Star Path has begun incubation and will be completed in thirty days."
"Once incubation is complete, it may be absorbed for free, without consuming points."
The second Star Path was on its way.
The first had given him the All-Round Midfielder foundation—what would the next one bring? Leo Lin couldn't wait to find out.
As he applauded the fans around the stadium, he kept an eye on the system interface.
Suddenly, a new button appeared in the lower-right corner.
Curious, he focused his thoughts and tapped it.
A massive sea instantly unfolded—vast, endless, far larger than the original skill pool.
The surface was pitch-black, the depth unfathomable, as if bottomless.
"Host has accumulated 2500 points and qualifies for one draw from the God-tier Hidden Grand Prize Pool."
"Each draw costs 500 points."
The God-tier Hidden Grand Prize Pool contains:
??? Skill
??? Skill
??? Skill
Leo Lin couldn't even see the names—only three question marks.
Clearly, his current level wasn't high enough to glimpse the true nature of these God-tier skills.
Still, the sudden appearance of this prize pool filled him with excitement.
Something this deep, this ominous, had to contain extraordinary rewards.
As his strength grew, the system was revealing deeper layers of itself.
What kind of player would he ultimately become?
Leo Lin was genuinely looking forward to it.
...
(60 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser