**Valencia, Spain, August 1, 2022**
The Valencia Regional Youth Tournament was a crucible of ambition, a battleground where Spain's brightest young footballers clashed under the searing summer sun. The Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia CF's iconic stadium, loomed like a coliseum, its stands packed with thousands of fans, scouts from La Liga clubs, and even a few international agents, their eyes trained on the pitch below. Lin Feng stood at the tunnel's edge, his orange-and-white Valencia youth kit gleaming, his hazel eyes—sharp with the intensity of his Chinese-Spanish heritage—scanning the field. At 17, he was no longer the forgotten benchwarmer of his past life. His five-goal massacre against Deportivo and dominant performance against Atlético Madrid's under-18 squad had ignited whispers of a prodigy, a "half-breed" who was rewriting the rules of football.
The [**Supreme Football System**] pulsed in his mind, a divine secret known only to him. Its [**Causality Power**]—[*All shots within the 18-yard box score with 100% accuracy*]—had made him untouchable in the penalty area, while his purchased skills, [**Agile Footwork (+20% Dribbling)**], [**Steel Body (+30% Physical Resilience)**], and [**Charisma Aura (+50% Persuasion)**], had elevated him beyond his D-Grade talent. His [**Eagle Vision (+20% Passing Accuracy)**], bought after his dinner with Elena Voss, sharpened his playmaking, bringing his [**System Points**] to 900. Last night's dinner had also earned him 800 points, 2 [**Charisma Points**], and a [**Family Bond Point**], leaving him with 1,700 points and a burning hunger to dominate.
Today's match was the tournament's quarterfinal, pitting Valencia against Real Betis's under-18 squad, a team known for their flair and ferocity. Betis's captain, Alejandro "El Toro" Castillo, was a 6'2" midfielder with a reputation for controlling games like a maestro, his dark eyes and chiseled features making him a fan favorite. In Lin Feng's past life, Alejandro had been a rising star who'd mocked him during a friendly, calling him a "nobody with no future." Today, Lin Feng would make El Toro kneel.
The [**System**] screen flickered in his mind, invisible to all:
[**Mission: Lead Valencia to Victory in the Tournament Quarterfinal.**]
[**Reward: 300 system points, +1 Prestige Point.**]
[**Hidden Mission: Outshine Alejandro Castillo with a Match-Defining Play.**]
[**Reward: 500 system points, +1 Skill Point.**]
Lin Feng's lips curled into a predatory grin. Outshine El Toro? He'd do more than that—he'd make the pitch his kingdom, leaving Betis in ruins. But he'd be careful; the [**System**]'s power had to remain hidden. His dominance would seem like raw talent, a prodigy's rise, not a divine cheat.
As the Valencia squad gathered in the tunnel, Lin Feng felt the weight of his teammates' gazes. Javier Morales, the blond-haired striker whose star had dimmed since Lin Feng's emergence, stood at the back, his blue eyes burning with resentment. "Don't choke, Chino," Javier muttered, his voice low but venomous. "This isn't your little Deportivo game."
Lin Feng turned, his [**Charisma Aura**] giving his words a cutting edge. "Worry about yourself, Javier. I'm not the one fading into the shadows." The other players snickered, Javier's face reddening as he turned away. Lin Feng's rise had shifted the team's dynamic, and he relished the power it gave him.
Coach Martinez, his grizzled face etched with cautious optimism, clapped his hands. "Lin Feng, you're starting as striker. Betis is tough—Castillo's a beast in midfield. Stay sharp, or he'll eat you alive."
Lin Feng nodded, his voice steady. "He'll be the one choking, Coach." Martinez blinked, surprised by the confidence, but said nothing. In his past life, Lin Feng had been invisible to Martinez. Now, he was the team's spearhead.
The teams took the field, the crowd's roar shaking the Mestalla. Betis's green-and-white kits gleamed, their players moving with swagger. Alejandro Castillo stood at the center, his presence commanding, his eyes locking onto Lin Feng with a smirk. "So, you're the hotshot," he called across the pitch. "Let's see if you can handle a real team, half-breed."
The slur hit like a blade, but Lin Feng's expression remained cool, his hazel eyes glinting with defiance. He'd faced worse in his past life—today, Alejandro's arrogance would be his downfall.
The whistle blew, and the match exploded into action. Betis controlled the early pace, their midfield, led by Alejandro, dictating play with precise passes and relentless pressure. Lin Feng sprinted up top, his [**Steel Body**] letting him shrug off rough tackles, his [**Eagle Vision**] spotting gaps in Betis's defense. In the 10th minute, a Valencia counterattack surged forward. A teammate lobbed a high ball into the box, and Lin Feng leaped, his [**Agile Footwork**] letting him twist past a defender. He was in the 18-yard box, the [**Causality Power**] igniting like a furnace. His volley was a rocket, curling impossibly to slip past the goalkeeper's fingers.
1–0.
The Mestalla erupted, fans chanting "Lin Feng! Lin Feng!" Alejandro's smirk vanished, his eyes narrowing as he barked orders to his team. Lin Feng jogged back, his expression calm, the [**System**]'s power invisible to all. To the crowd, it was a moment of genius; to him, it was the [**Causality Power**] at work.
Betis fought back, Alejandro orchestrating a relentless assault. In the 18th minute, he threaded a pass through Valencia's midfield, setting up a Betis winger for a clinical strike. 1–1. The crowd groaned, but Lin Feng's resolve hardened. He remembered the [**Hidden Mission**]—outshine Alejandro with a match-defining play. A goal wasn't enough; he needed something unforgettable.
In the 25th minute, Lin Feng saw his chance. Valencia won a free kick 30 yards out, a distance too far for the [**Causality Power**]. But his [**Eagle Vision**] lit up the pitch, revealing a gap in Betis's wall. He took the kick, his foot striking the ball with precision, sending it soaring in a perfect arc. It dipped at the last second, grazing the post before nestling in the net.
2–1.
The stands exploded, scouts scribbling furiously. Alejandro's face twisted in fury, his composure cracking. "Fluke!" he shouted, but his voice was drowned by the crowd's cheers. Lin Feng met his gaze, his smirk subtle but cutting. The [**System**] chimed:
[*Ding!*]
[**Hidden Mission Progress: Outshine Alejandro Castillo (50% Complete).**]
The first half ended with Valencia clinging to their lead, Betis's pressure relentless. In the locker room, Martinez was animated, his usual scowl replaced by excitement. "Keep it up, Lin Feng! You're tearing them apart!" Javier sat silently, his head bowed, his relevance fading. Lin Feng said nothing, his focus on the second half. He needed to seal this victory and crush Alejandro completely.
The second half was a war. Betis pushed forward, Alejandro driving their attack with a ferocity that tested Valencia's defense. But Lin Feng was a storm, his [**Steel Body**] absorbing brutal tackles, his [**Agile Footwork**] letting him dance through tight spaces. In the 62nd minute, he intercepted a loose pass, sprinting past Alejandro, who lunged desperately. Lin Feng entered the 18-yard box, the [**Causality Power**] flaring. His shot was a low, screaming drive that tore through the goalkeeper's dive, shaking the net.
3–1.
The crowd was on its feet, the Mestalla a sea of orange and white. Alejandro slammed the ground, his pride in tatters. Lin Feng jogged back, his expression cool, but inside, he was electric. The [**System**] chimed again:
[*Ding!*]
[**Hidden Mission Complete: Outshine Alejandro Castillo with a Match-Defining Play.**]
[**Reward: 500 system points, +1 Skill Point.**]
[**Total System Points: 2,200**]
The match ended 4–2, Lin Feng assisting the final goal with a pinpoint pass from his [**Eagle Vision**]. The crowd chanted his name as he left the field, scouts swarming Martinez with offers. Alejandro approached, his face flushed with defeat. "This isn't over, Chino," he spat.
Lin Feng's eyes glinted, his [**Charisma Aura**] making his words cut deep. "It's over for you, El Toro. Better get used to losing." Alejandro stormed off, the crowd's laughter echoing in his wake.
[*Ding!*]
[**Mission Complete: Lead Valencia to Victory in the Tournament Quarterfinal.**]
[**Reward: 300 system points, +1 Prestige Point.**]
[**Total System Points: 2,500**]
Lin Feng opened the [**System Shop**], the invisible screen glowing. He typed "attack" into the [**Search Bar**]:
- [**Thunder Strike (+30% Shot Power)**]: 700 points.
- [**Phantom Dribble (+25% Flair)**]: 600 points.
He chose [**Thunder Strike**], spending 700 points. A surge of power flooded his legs, his shots now carrying a devastating force. With 1,800 points left, he was ready for bigger battles.
---
After the match, Lin Feng returned home to El Carmen, the scent of his father's stir-fried noodles filling the apartment. His mother, Sofia, greeted him with a hug, her hazel eyes gleaming with pride. "You're everywhere, mijo," she said, showing him a local newspaper with his face on the sports page. "They're calling you Valencia's new star."
His father, Wei, set a steaming plate before him, his stern face softening. "You're making us proud, Feng. But stay grounded. Fame can be a trap."
Lin Feng nodded, his heart warm. In his past life, he'd ignored his family's wisdom, chasing fleeting dreams. Now, he'd build an empire for them. "I'm just starting, Papá," he said, his [**Charisma Aura**] making his voice resonate. "I'll give us a life we never dreamed of."
As they ate, Lin Feng's phone buzzed—a text from Elena Voss: "Another match, another legend. Meet me at the tournament semifinal party. We need to talk." His pulse quickened, but he kept his cool, not wanting to worry his parents. He replied, "I'll be there," already planning his next move.
The [**System**] chimed as he lay in bed:
[**Hidden Mission Unlocked: Impress at the Tournament Semifinal Party and Secure a Scout's Attention.**]
[**Reward: 700 system points, +1 Influence Point.**]
Lin Feng's eyes burned with ambition in the dark. Alejandro was just the latest to fall. The [**System**] was his secret, his empire his destiny. The semifinal awaited, and with it, the world.