The moment the ball hit the net for the equalizer, the stadium erupted. The crowd, once restless and disappointed, was now a roaring wave of cheers. Richard barely had time to celebrate before his teammates rushed him, hands grabbing his jersey, shoving him playfully.
"Bro, what the hell was that pass?!" Femi, their striker, had wide eyes, still in disbelief.
"Elite vision, man," Kelechi, the right-winger, clapped him on the back. "That was some European-level stuff."
Richard just nodded, trying to catch his breath. He wasn't about to tell them that some mysterious system had just blessed him with De Bruyne's abilities. But even as his teammates hyped him up, a cold realization hit him—
The system's boost was running out.
He glanced at the blue screen hovering in his vision.
[Time Remaining: 6 minutes]
Six minutes. That was all he had left before the effect wore off. Could he close the game before that happened?
The referee's whistle blew, snapping him out of his thoughts. Game on.
Lagos Blue Strikers looked shaken. They had dominated most of the match, but now they were scrambling, nervous. They still had firepower, though. Their captain, Azeez, was a beast in midfield, and their striker, Dayo, was lightning-fast.
Richard could feel the shift. This wasn't the same game anymore.
But he wasn't the only one adjusting.
From the stands, the Beerschot VA scout leaned forward, intrigued.
Before the game, Richard had been just another decent player—good footwork, solid passing, but nothing exceptional. The kind of player who might get a tryout but wouldn't turn heads.
Now?
His movements were different. More precise, more confident. His vision was sharper, his passes cleaner. It was like something had clicked inside him.
The scout stroked his chin, eyes locked on the boy wearing the number 10 jersey.
Maybe this was worth investigating.
---
The game restarted, and Lagos came at them hard. Richard tracked back, pressing Azeez as he tried to launch a counter.
Azeez smirked. "You think you can stop me now?"
Richard didn't answer. He just read the play before it even happened.
Azeez shifted his body, ready to pass—Richard lunged in before the ball even left his foot.
A clean interception.
He exploded forward, ignoring Azeez's frustrated curse behind him. Three defenders were in his way.
Femi made a run into the box.
Richard didn't think. He just saw the pass in his head before he even played it. A split-second later, the ball curved perfectly around the defense, landing right at Femi's feet.
One touch. Shot.
GOAL!
3-2. Phoenix Academy had completed the comeback.
The stadium went into chaos. Fans screamed, the coach nearly lost his mind, and Richard felt himself drown in the energy of it all.
But as his teammates tackled him in celebration, his vision flickered.
[Star Card Expired.]
A sudden wave of exhaustion hit him like a truck. His legs felt heavier, his breathing rough. He hadn't realized how much the boost had been masking his fatigue.
For the first time since the system activated, Richard felt normal again.
---
After the final whistle blew, sealing their win, Richard sat on the bench, gulping down water.
He barely had time to process what had just happened before the coach clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Incredible, Blake. You played like a man possessed out there."
Richard forced a smile. If only he knew.
As he turned back, he noticed someone walking toward him from the stands.
The scout.
Richard felt his pulse quicken.
"Richard Blake, right?" The man's voice was deep, accented. European. "That was… an interesting performance."
Richard wiped sweat off his forehead, forcing himself to stay calm. "Thanks."
The scout studied him for a second before handing him a card. "Beerschot VA is always looking for new talent. If you're interested, give me a call."
Richard took the card, staring at the logo. His heart pounded.
Europe. A chance to go pro.
He looked back up, nodding. "I will."
The scout smirked slightly before walking off.
Richard exhaled, gripping the card tightly.
This was just the beginning.
---