Chapter 8: From Center-Back to Center Stage
"Su, what's your usual position?"
The makeshift coach eyed Su Dong skeptically from the sidelines.
"Striker."
The coach frowned, scanning the squad.
"We've got two strikers and three wingers already."
Typical youth football—everyone wants glory.
"You're decently built. How about center-back today?"
"Center-back?!"
Su Dong blinked. From predator to prey in one sentence?
Before he could protest, the coach waved him off.
"Just do your best. It's about participation, not results."
Participation?
Su Dong's jaw tightened. They've already written us off.
System Cheat Codes Activated
[Titan Potion consumed: +10% Strength (37 → 41)]
[Swiftness Tonic: +10% Speed/Acceleration]
[Stamina Booster: +10% Endurance]
Individually meager, but stacked? A different beast entirely.
"Hey! Stop dawdling!"
The coach's shout drew stares.
Su Dong chugged his knockoff energy drink (50 KP well spent) and strode onto the pitch.
Center-back? Fine. I'll make them regret it.
The Match: From Zero to Hero
First 10 Minutes:
Yellow Bibs (Su's team): A defensive disaster.
First goal conceded: Blamed on Su Dong despite his partner's positional blunder.
"That was YOUR zone!" the coach screamed.
Su Dong bit his tongue. Prejudice tastes bitter.
The Turning Point
Opposition striker (overconfident after scoring) tried to dance past Su Dong.
Su's muscle memory from facing Ronny kicked in—a razor-sharp tackle stole the ball.
70-yard solo run → BATIGOL activated → Top bins. 1–1.
The sideline erupted.
"Did that just happen?!"
Coach's verdict:"Fluke."
Gorba's eyes narrowed.
That first touch... too clean for luck.
Position Change: Unleashing the Beast
Gorba's orders:
Move Su to striker.
Feed him the ball.
Results:
36' → Turn-and-shoot from 20 yards (2–1)
44' → Volley after a botched clearance (3–1)
52' → Breakaway speed + near-post rocket (4–1)
Each strike carried Batistuta's signature fury—the net billowing like a sail in a hurricane.
Sideline Reactions
Fans:"GOLAZO!"
Teammates:"Who IS this guy?!"
Gorba:"We've struck gold."
Post-Match: The Vultures Circle
Final Score: 4–2
Gorba intercepted Su Dong, oozing sudden charm:
"Your contract expires soon. Let's discuss... improvements."
Improvements?
Su Dong almost laughed. You mean my market value.
The Unspoken Truth
Portugal Sporting Club was a stepping stone.
Belenenses (their Primeira Liga affiliate) would come sniffing.
Gorba just wanted a fat sell-on fee.
"I need them... for now." Su Dong thought.
Somewhere in Madeira, Ronny felt a chill—his personal punching bag just evolved.
Chapter 9: From Zero to Hero
"Arrived as a nobody. Left with his head held high."
Su Dong savored the envious stares—the same looks he'd once given his teammates.
For the first time since coming to Portugal, he tasted real recognition.
From fans. From coaches. Even from that snake Gorba, who'd suddenly promised him the moon.
It made him want to roar like Batistuta after a goal.
And there was only one person he wanted to share this with.
The Reunion
Edward VII Park – Noon
Su Dong sprinted two kilometers to their usual pitch—and froze.
There, leaning against the chain-link fence, was Ronny.
"When did you get back?!"
The Portuguese teen turned, grinning.
"Late last night. Overslept."
Their hug lasted three seconds too long for macho footballers.
"Slacking off?" Ronny eyed Su Dong's late arrival.
"Had trials this morning."
"And?"
"They offered me a contract."
Rony's eyes lit up. "About damn time!"
The Duel
Their 1v1 sessions had new stakes now:
Su Dong's BATIGOL → A thunderous strike that nearly tore the net.
Ronny's counter → An identical rocket. "Please. I invented this."
System Alert:
[+300 King Points per match]
300?
Su Dong's pulse spiked. That means Rony's even stronger than I thought.
What he didn't notice: Rony's subtle raised eyebrow every time Su Dong pulled off a move that'd been impossible a week ago.
The Talk
Post-match hydration (courtesy of System Store "Red Bull"):
Rony:"Your BATIGOL needs work. Power's at 60%. Accuracy? 50."
Su Dong:"Our gym's a joke. Scared of injuring myself."
Rony:"I know a place. Professional coaches. No bro-science."
A pause. Then—
Su Dong:"Your trip home… everything okay?"
Rony's smile flickered.
"Sorted."
The Offer
Gorba's deal:
€50/month stipend (standard for Portuguese 3rd division)
First-team minutes (read: shop window for bigger clubs)
€100 signing bonus (the olive branch)
Rony's verdict:"Take it. Game time > glory."
Then, casually he said."Maybe we'll be teammates soon."
Su Dong choked on his drink "Benfica? Sporting? Belenenses?"
Rony just winked "Guess."
The Signing
That evening, Gorba's call came:
"Sign tomorrow. First-team training starts Monday."
Su Dong agreed—no agent, no fuss.
As he hung up, his fingers traced the Quaresma Card in his system inventory.
This is just the beginning.