The Glory Ability Card allowed Su Dong to acquire a specific ability from a football star. Upon entering the Glory ability card section in the mall, one name immediately caught his attention—his idol, Ronaldo.
"Ronaldo possesses several ability cards," the system explained. "These include his powerful shooting, his explosive bursts past defenders, and his iconic step-over dribble, which he uses to destabilize opponents."
Each of Ronaldo's ability cards represented a different aspect of his playing style, from his finishing to his dribbling finesse. But Su Dong quickly realized that simply owning one of these cards didn't guarantee an instant transformation in his game. The effectiveness of any ability card depended on his own underlying attributes.
For example, Ronaldo's famous step-over was a move feared by defenders around the world, but for Su Dong to use it effectively, his own speed, acceleration, dribbling, flexibility, and change of direction had to be up to par. If any of these attributes were lacking, the step-over might look flashy but wouldn't yield much impact on the pitch. At best, it would impress casual onlookers without influencing the game.
Another critical point was the system's tiered pricing structure for the Glory ability cards. The first card would cost 100,000 Glory Tokens, a significant investment. The second card, however, would cost a steep 500,000 Tokens, with the price escalating to 1 million Tokens for the third card, and continuing to increase with each additional card. This made the selection process crucial—there was no room for impulsive decisions.
However, at special moments—such as this one, when Su Dong had just upgraded to semi-pro footballer status—the system provided extra rewards. In this case, the mall had given him a Glory ability card as a bonus for reaching a new level, a substantial reward that Su Dong was keen to make the most of.
"Given the characteristics of the Glory ability card," the system reminded him, "Su Dong should identify his personal strengths and focus on abilities that complement them. Every Glory Token should be spent wisely to maximize his potential."
Su Dong considered this advice carefully. As things stood, his strongest attribute was his speed. He had a current speed rating of 51, and his potential could go as high as 73. His acceleration was also decent, currently at 46, with a potential of 71. Clearly, speed was a significant advantage for him.
But should he choose a speed-focused ability card?
Su Dong quickly dismissed this idea. He knew that speed alone wasn't enough to set him apart. Even though he had trained alongside Cristiano and Jose Semedo outside of his club, both of whom were faster and more explosive, he realized that many players within Clube Atlético de Portugal also possessed exceptional speed. Competing purely on speed would be an unwise strategy when others were naturally quicker or more physically imposing.
What Su Dong needed was an ability that could provide an immediate impact on the field. His goal was clear—he wanted to secure a spot in European football. On the pitch, nothing attracted attention more than scoring goals.
His shooting ability, while not his strongest attribute, was still his second-best. With a rating of 47 and a potential of 64, his shooting had room for improvement. If he focused on enhancing this area, it could become a key weapon in his game.
The mall offered plenty of Glory ability cards focused on shooting: powerful left-footed shots, clinical right-footed finishes, deadly headers. Legends like Pele, Maradona, Van Basten, and Ronaldo all had cards available. Each one was tempting, each one capable of transforming Su Dong's goal-scoring prowess.
He felt like an emperor in a vast palace, faced with the daunting task of choosing from among 3,000 beauties in his harem—each one stunning in her own way. The sheer abundance of choices was overwhelming.
No matter what he chose, there was a sense of potential loss. Each decision carried weight, and Su Dong couldn't shake the feeling that any choice could come with regret.
But after much deliberation, Su Dong finally made his decision.
Batigol!
Gabriel Batistuta, the Argentine striker known as El Ángel Gabriel, was one of Su Dong's personal favorites. Batistuta embodied the aesthetics of pure, violent power in front of goal. He wasn't just a goal scorer—he was a force of nature. When Batigol struck the ball, it was with a ferocity that sent shivers down the spines of defenders and goalkeepers alike. Watching him play was like witnessing the beauty of destruction, a perfect fusion of grace and force.
But it wasn't just admiration that led Su Dong to choose Batigol. Even though Batistuta's abilities demanded physical strength—a weakness for Su Dong—there was something else that drew him to the Argentine forward.
So, why Batigol? Why choose a player whose physicality seemed out of reach for someone with Su Dong's current strength limitations?
As an Argentine player, Batistuta's technique was not characterized by finesse. He wasn't known for flashy dribbling or intricate footwork. Instead, he was like a powerful, unyielding sword—simple but deadly effective.
Batistuta's greatest strength lay in his ability to execute ferocious volleys, especially near the edge of the penalty box. His powerful strikes after shaking off defenders, combined with his ability to turn and shoot with his back to goal, were iconic. He had the rare gift of scoring from almost any angle with devastating force.
Su Dong knew that his own technical skills weren't refined enough to emulate players like Ronaldo, Van Basten, or Van Nistelrooy—players whose shooting relied on not just power but also precise technical abilities. These legends needed superb ball control, immaculate first touches, and delicate footwork to unleash their shots effectively.
In contrast, Batistuta's approach to shooting was more straightforward, requiring less finesse but still delivering results. For Su Dong, this made Batigol's Glory ability card a more practical choice. The technical requirements were lower, making it an ideal fit for someone still developing their skills.
As for his lack of physical strength, Su Dong was confident that it could be improved with training—and quickly at that.
Understanding the practicality of his decision, Su Dong no longer hesitated. He selected the [Batigol] Glory ability card without further delay.
"Congratulations! You have acquired the Glory ability card [Batigol]!"
As soon as the system message appeared, Su Dong felt a sudden warmth coursing through his body, spreading from his mind to every limb. It was a strange yet exhilarating sensation, like something inside him had shifted, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what had changed.
With the Glory ability card now in his possession, Su Dong turned his attention to the store. Knowing how crucial tomorrow's assessment would be, he prepared himself by purchasing a few items.
He grabbed several bottles of Barbarian Drink to keep his energy levels high, along with a nutritious breakfast. In addition, he bought one bottle of Titan Mixture for a temporary strength boost, one bottle of Energy Mixture to sustain his endurance, and one bottle of Swiftness to sharpen his speed and acceleration.
These purchases cost him over 30,000 Glory Tokens, leaving him nearly broke.
But Su Dong knew he had no choice. Tomorrow's assessment was the most important event in his young career so far—there was no room for failure. If he didn't perform well, it could mean the end of his European football dream, forcing him to return home. He was determined to go all out, using every resource at his disposal.
After all, Glory Tokens could always be earned again—especially once Cristiano returned, allowing Su Dong to gain more through their intense training sessions. But missing the chance tomorrow would mean the end of his current journey.
So, with his gear and potions ready, Su Dong was prepared to face his assessment with full buffs, ready to give it his all.
...
...
Clube Atlético de Portugal was not a powerhouse in Portuguese football, but it had a rich history spanning several decades. Its home base was in the heart of Lisbon, close to iconic landmarks such as the marina, the Belém Tower, and the Monument to the Discoveries.
The club's home stadium, Estádio da Tapadinha, sat just west of a gymnastics center, with an indoor swimming pool to the north. Between these two facilities was a small field, modest in size, but vital to the club's youth training program. This was where the next generation of players honed their skills, dreaming of making it to the senior team—or even beyond.
Su Dong arrived almost exactly on time, stepping onto the youth training ground where several players, coaches, and parents had already gathered. Portuguese youth training had its own distinctive culture—parents were deeply invested in their children's football development, attending nearly every session with the same level of commitment as their sons. The presence of so many onlookers was not unusual.
Although he wasn't late, Su Dong's arrival immediately drew the attention of the crowd. He hadn't set foot on this training ground in over a month, and his absence had not gone unnoticed. Many within the club had speculated that he had given up, assuming the hardships of training were too much for him, and that he had quietly returned to China.
"Hey, Su, over here!" Gorba, the head coach of the youth team, called out from a distance, waving him over.
Su Dong noticed the curious stares from the players and parents around him, but he ignored them. He kept his head down, walking briskly toward Gorba.
"Why haven't you been coming to training?" Gorba asked as Su Dong reached him, his tone curious but with a hint of skepticism.
"I've been training in the park to the north," Su Dong replied, keeping his voice steady.
"By yourself?" Gorba raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.
"Yes, alone."
Gorba eyed him suspiciously, clearly unconvinced. To him, this sounded like a flimsy excuse to cover up laziness. The idea of a youth player choosing to train alone rather than with the team seemed hard to believe. Gorba probably imagined that Su Dong had been slacking off, possibly even sightseeing around Lisbon.
But whether or not Su Dong had been slacking wasn't Gorba's main concern. He shrugged off the matter quickly—it wasn't something that concerned Clube Atlético de Portugal all that much.
"Alright then, let's see the results of this 'park training' of yours," Gorba said with a smile that seemed encouraging on the surface, but the amusement in his eyes betrayed a different sentiment.
Su Dong could feel the subtle condescension, but he didn't let it bother him. It wasn't the first time he had sensed disdain from people at the club. Many here clearly doubted him, and that wasn't a surprise.
But Su Dong had already decided—today, he would prove them all wrong.
That very morning, he had woken up at five and headed to Edward VII Park for his usual early training session. The upgrades in his strength and the boost from Batigol's Glory ability card had left him feeling confident. His skills had sharpened, and his body felt powerful. He was more prepared than ever to face today's assessment.
And now, with his potions ready to be used and his mind focused, Su Dong was ready to bring his full potential to the game.
...
Although Clube Atlético de Portugal was only a small club, there was no shortage of players participating in the assessment that day. Most of them were players from summer camps and training programs, along with a few, like Su Dong, who had fallen victim to football scams promising opportunities abroad.
The assessment itself was straightforward: a team competition.
Each game was a full eleven-a-side match. For the youth team, the total game time was 60 minutes, split into two halves of 30 minutes each. The coaching staff, led by Gorba, would evaluate each player's performance from the sidelines, noting everything from technique to decision-making under pressure.
Before the team competition, the players went through a series of warm-up drills. These included passing exercises, ball control, sprints, and shuttle runs over distances of 10 meters and 30 meters. Su Dong, mindful of the upcoming game, didn't push himself to his limits during these drills. As a result, his performance was unremarkable, failing to attract much attention.
In the passing drills, his touches were not as sharp as they could be, and his ball control lacked precision. During the sprints, his speed was average, and when compared to some of the faster players—many of whom were of African descent and had impressive speed and endurance—Su Dong's explosiveness didn't stand out. His limitations in these drills were plain to see, especially in passing, where he exposed some weaknesses.
Head coach Gorba watched from the sidelines, his expression giving little away. Initially, he had been somewhat curious about Su Dong, especially since the young player had been absent for over a month. But as he observed Su Dong's performance in the warm-up drills, Gorba's interest quickly faded. He found himself shaking his head in disappointment.
In his eyes, Su Dong was nothing special. Just another mediocre player.
The truth was, Su Dong had made significant progress over the past month, but Gorba, having forgotten Su Dong's previous performances, had no frame of reference to compare. All he saw now was an unremarkable player who seemed out of his depth.
For Gorba, youth football assessments were routine, and he had seen countless players pass through his team. Most were forgettable. In a good year, if even one or two players from the youth academy stood out, it would be considered a success. The rest, like Su Dong, were often quickly written off.
Su Dong's indifferent performance during the warm-ups had already sealed his fate in Gorba's mind. The head coach had mentally placed him on the purge list, dismissing him as another player with no future at the club.
When the warm-up session ended, the real assessment began.
Based on their performances during regular training, the coach divided the players into different groups for the team competition. Su Dong was placed on the yellow vest team—the weakest team in the competition. It was a team made up of players with little chance of impressing the coaches, a group largely expected to fail.
But Su Dong didn't care.
He knew what he was capable of, and he had no intention of letting anyone's expectations—or lack thereof—affect his performance. If anything, being placed on the weakest team only fueled his determination to prove them wrong.
...
...
"Su, what position do you usually play?" the coach asked from the sidelines, his tone casual as he looked over the players.
"Striker," Su Dong replied confidently.
The coach frowned, scanning the rest of the team. When his gaze returned to Su Dong, his expression was uncertain. "I'm afraid we don't have space for another forward today. We've already got two strikers and three wingers."
This was a common issue in youth training—everyone wanted to be an attacker. Most players had their sights set on scoring goals, and it often led to an overload of forwards.
The coach paused for a moment, then added, "You seem to be in good physical shape. How about filling in as a central defender today?"
Su Dong was taken aback. "Defender?" he repeated, surprised.
He was a striker through and through. How could he suddenly be slotted into central defense? The two positions couldn't be more different, with one focused on attacking and the other on preventing goals.
"Coach, I..."
"Alright, it's decided," the coach cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It's just for today. We need someone there."
It was clear the coach wasn't interested in hearing Su Dong's thoughts on the matter. His decision had been made, and there was no room for discussion. After all, they were the weakest team, and in the coach's eyes, their focus should be on participation, not performance.
Su Dong felt a fire ignite within him. He wasn't here just to participate. He wasn't willing to be dismissed or placed out of position simply because others didn't see his potential. This wasn't what he had worked so hard for.
But he didn't argue.
The refusal burned in his mind, but outwardly, he complied. He wouldn't let the coach's decision affect him—he would find a way to prove himself, even from an unfamiliar position.
...
In the Mall of the Path to Glory system, Su Dong selected the Titan Mixture.
As soon as he used it, he felt a warm sensation rush through his veins, spreading quickly throughout his body.
"Using the Titan Mixture, the host's strength is increased for 120 minutes," the system announced.
Su Dong couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed. The system always kept him in the dark about the exact effects, leaving him guessing. It hadn't specified how much the potion would improve his strength. However, when he checked his personal attribute panel, the answer became clear: his strength had increased from 37 to 41 points.
In other words, the potion had boosted his strength by about ten percent.
Without wasting time, Su Dong immediately used the Swiftness Mixture and the Energy Mixture, both of which also lasted for 120 minutes. These potions enhanced his speed, acceleration, and endurance by another 10%.
On their own, the boosts didn't seem like much. But when combined—fully buffed—the overall improvement was noticeable.
"Hey! Hurry up!" the coach shouted from the sidelines, growing impatient. "What are you doing, dragging your feet?"
Everyone nearby turned to look at Su Dong, their expressions showing frustration. To them, the Chinese boy seemed like he was wasting time.
Ignoring their stares, Su Dong calmly grabbed a bottle of Barbarian Drink and took a few sips. He knew from earlier practice that this drink sped up his recovery, allowing his body to recover faster than usual.
Central defender, huh?
We'll see about that, Su Dong thought to himself, his resolve hardening.
As he stepped onto the field, he made a silent promise: they would all see what he was capable of, no matter what position they put him in.
...
...
Game start.
Though all the players were around fifteen or sixteen years old, there was a noticeable gap in their abilities. Su Dong's yellow vest team was clearly weaker and found themselves on the back foot right from the beginning.
It didn't take long before the opposing team scored, much to the frustration of the coach on the sidelines.
"Su, what are you doing? That was your defensive position!" the coach barked.
Su Dong glanced at the coach but held back the urge to argue. It wasn't his fault. His defensive partner had drifted out of position, leaving Su Dong to cover the space. Yet, somehow, the blame fell squarely on him. He knew it was just bias—the coach had already made up his mind about him.
So, he let it go and focused on the game.
The red vest team was indeed stronger, not just in individual skills but also in their ability to work together. Meanwhile, Su Dong's team struggled. Their passing was sloppy, and players constantly misread each other's movements. Under the pressure of the opposition's high press, the yellow vests couldn't keep possession.
It wasn't long before their midfielder made a critical mistake—a poor pass that went straight to the feet of the opposing forward.
Su Dong's frustration deepened. Isn't this just handing them an assist?
The forward, already full of confidence after scoring the first goal, turned and drove toward Su Dong, clearly intent on beating him one-on-one to score again.
Su Dong watched closely, keeping his distance and tracking the forward's movement. As the opponent approached, something clicked. After spending the past month training with Cristiano, Su Dong felt a sense of clarity. Compared to the intensity of facing Cristiano one-on-one, this forward seemed predictable and sluggish. Every move the opponent made felt exaggerated and easy to read.
He's too weak, Su Dong thought to himself.
The forward came closer, trying to outmaneuver him, but Su Dong had already seen enough. He had a clear idea of what to do. As the forward entered his defensive zone, Su Dong suddenly stepped forward, closing the gap.
They brushed past each other, the forward stumbling awkwardly—his balance lost—but more importantly, the ball was gone. Su Dong had cleanly stolen it.
A collective gasp rippled through the field.
Beautiful tackle!
Without hesitation, Su Dong launched into a run, dribbling forward. His sudden surge caught the red vest team off guard, and their defensive structure quickly unraveled. It was rare for a central defender to dribble into the midfield, and it disrupted the flow of the game.
Before an opposing defender could close him down, Su Dong sent a quick pass to a teammate in midfield and immediately pointed forward. "Pass it up!" he called.
The teammate, under pressure and eager to avoid losing the ball, barely hesitated before sending a long pass toward the front.
Su Dong, who had already started sprinting as the ball was played, burst through the opposing team's defensive lines like an arrow, leaving defenders scrambling to catch up. With his enhanced speed from the Swiftness Mixture, he was the first to reach the ball, controlling it just outside the penalty area.
It was now one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Su Dong didn't waste time. After settling the ball, he charged forward while keeping a close eye on the goalkeeper's positioning.
Step by step, he edged closer, forcing the keeper to react. As soon as the keeper began to move, Su Dong shifted the ball to his right and unleashed a powerful shot.
The sound of the ball hitting the net was like the crack of a cannon, the ball flying past the helpless goalkeeper and into the goal.
For a moment, the field was silent. No one, not the players or the spectators, had time to react.
Then the sideline erupted into applause.
"Wow, what a beautiful goal!"
"Too fast, too strong!"
"I didn't expect him to pull off a shot like that."
The surrounding spectators and even players on both teams were stunned by the sheer speed and power of Su Dong's play. Even the coach and head coach Gorba on the sidelines looked equally shocked.
"That was Su Dong?" the coach muttered, unable to believe what he had just seen.
"It had to be a fluke, right?" Gorba asked, though he didn't sound as certain as he wanted to be.
The coach nodded, still in disbelief. "It must be. There's no way he has that kind of ability."
Gorba replayed the sequence in his mind: the tackle, the run, the precise movement into the box, and the clinical finish. It didn't match the Su Dong he remembered. In fact, it was the kind of play many first-team players would struggle to replicate.
"Let him play forward," Gorba said, wanting to see if Su Dong's brilliance had been a mere coincidence.
Before the coach could respond, Gorba added, "And tell the team to pass him the ball more."
The instructions were quickly relayed onto the pitch.
As the red vest team prepared to kick off again, Su Dong positioned himself as a forward, ready to show that his previous performance was no fluke.
...
Another offensive play by the yellow vests was unfolding. Su Dong, stationed just outside the penalty area, used his body to block the opposing central defender. As the ball arrived at his feet, he briefly paused, absorbing the pressure. But in a quick burst, he turned, chased after the ball, and unleashed another powerful shot.
Once again, the ball rocketed into the net like a cannonball.
"Wonderful!" Gorba shouted from the sidelines, unable to contain his excitement.
It wasn't just the goal that thrilled him; it was the power and precision that Su Dong displayed—an almost violent beauty in the way the ball was struck.
The crowd around the field erupted, swept up by the sheer force of Su Dong's performance. His goal had ignited something in the spectators, leaving them in awe of the raw athleticism and energy he was showcasing.
"That shot reminds me of Batistuta," Gorba said excitedly, his eyes wide with realization.
Once could be an accident, but twice? That was no coincidence. Su Dong's goals were no fluke.
Gorba was now 100% certain that Su Dong had transformed into something special. But how had this kid improved so much in such a short time? Was it really due to a month of intense training on his own?
Gorba didn't dwell on the question for long. What mattered was that he had just witnessed the emergence of a sharp talent at Clube Atlético de Portugal—a young player who had outshone his peers.
And Gorba knew better than anyone what that meant.
...
In the span of just sixty minutes, Su Dong scored four goals—two in each half.
While scoring in youth team games was common, it was rare for a player at Clube Atlético de Portugal to net four goals in a single match. Gorba couldn't even remember the last player who had achieved that feat.
But one thing he knew for certain: that player hadn't stayed at the club for long.
Clube Atlético de Portugal simply couldn't hold on to talents like Su Dong. Players with such potential were quickly noticed by bigger clubs, especially Belenenses, who had a partnership agreement that gave them priority access to Atlético players.
Of course, when a player left, they usually left behind a considerable transfer fee. For top teams, 100,000 euros or even as little as 30,000 or 40,000 euros was pocket change. But for a small club like Clube Atlético de Portugal, that kind of money was a lifeline.
Gorba had seen this cycle repeat countless times, and he knew what was coming next.
...
As soon as the game ended, Gorba wasted no time. He approached Su Dong directly, a warm smile now on his face.
"Su, your performance today was incredible!" Gorba praised, his tone far more friendly than before. "If I remember correctly, your training contract with us is about to expire, right?"
Su Dong nodded. His contract was due to expire in two days.
"Are you interested in renewing the contract?" Gorba asked, his voice filled with concern.
The coach's courteous tone was a stark contrast to the way he had treated Su Dong earlier, and it didn't take long for Su Dong to understand why. After seeing his performance on the pitch, the club wanted to keep him.
This was exactly what Su Dong had expected, but that didn't stop the feeling of satisfaction that came with it. Though he didn't have any real attachment to Clube Atlético de Portugal, nor to Gorba or the other coaches, he knew that he needed a team—a stage where he could continue to prove himself.
"Of course, you don't need to answer me right away," Gorba continued, sensing Su Dong's hesitation. "Come to my office when you're ready, and we can go over our plans for you. We'll make sure you understand our commitment to your development. Then, you can discuss it with your family and agent. Take your time; there's no rush."
Gorba's words were meant to reassure him, and in a way, they did. But at that moment, Su Dong knew he couldn't make any decisions just yet. There was still too much to consider.