Breakthrough

FWEEEE!

After a dogged defensive display, team Brazilian Wall was able to survive the onslaught from the opposition forwards till 15 minutes finally elapsed.

It was half time.

{Game Stats: First Half!}

{Team Brazil Best vs Team Brazilian Wall}

{Ball Possession: 62% - 38%}

{Shots on Goal: 8 - 0}

{Attacking Shots: 12 - 2}

{Total Damage Dealt: 18 - 285}

{Scoreline: 1 - 0}

According to the scoreline, Team Brazil Best completely dominated the first half of the 2nd round game. Team Brazilian Wall were now pushed to a wall.

Seated in the stands of the stadium, Anthony had a fearsome frown on his face. "You guys are so useless, I thought you said Endrickdinho was the weak point of team Brazil Best?"

The defenders did not take the insult kindly, they defended themselves.

"You're even more useless, 0 shots on goal and you call yourself a Speed God! Speed God my ass!"

One of them explained. "Endrickdinho was previously the weak point but like what we just saw, that guy is no longer the same, he is changed".

"Compared to the first game, his killer instinct has improved massively".

"Not just that, when he plays alongside Legion, they seem unstoppable".

Anthony gritted his teeth. "Our chances at becoming pro players are slipping away". He closed his eyes to quell his anger, when he opened them, they glowed.

"If we're losing, let's bow out gracefully".

"In the 2nd half, defend like your lives depend on it".

"All I need is one chance". He clenched his fists. "One chance to run at their defense uninhibited, I will score!"

"Let's make this a match to remember".

…

The mood among the Brazil Best team in the stands was different.

Maria202 looked at Endrick. "How did you do it?"

"I told you I was a forward. All it took was a bit of training to rediscover my touch, the rest is history". He tried not to but he still felt smug.

"Ok, so, we don't have time, what's our strategy for the 2nd half?"

All eyes turned to Endrick who smiled. "We play the same way; the only difference is that we'll be far more focused on dealing damage this time".

"Our priority should be dealing as much damage as possible".

"Afterall, it's the requirement for teams in the loser bracket like us to advance, let's play our hearts out once we enter the pitch".

He grinned. "Let's play a game of lethal football".

A few minutes later, both teams were on the pitch again.

Anthony glared at Endrick who smiled back at him.

FWEEE!

Endrick kicked the ball to Legion before charging forward. Instantly, Anthony charged after Endrick, his aim was clearly to man-mark him.

He barely moved when the ball was hit.

BAM!

Legion kicked the ball with force.

Anthony's danger instincts screamed. 'It's shot at me!'

Instinctively, the speedy forward ducked and rolled in a bid to dodge the ball but for a brief moment, he forgot about Legion's true specialty.

Legion's passive ability triggered as the Shadow ball disappeared into the shadows. Under his control, when the ball reappeared, it was a direct head-shot at the speedy forward despite the fact that he dodged.

It hit!

{+20 Damage!}

The ball bounced towards the opposition side after hitting Anthony but unfortunately, no midfielder was there, team Brazilian Wall fielded 4 defenders.

Endrick was completely free in the midfield of the opposition.

He jumped up and cushioned the ball with his chest.

By this point, Anthony already recovered from the damage as while gritting his teeth, he tried to escape but still, he was not fast enough.

After controlling the ball with his chest, Endrick did not let his legs touch the pitch before unleashing his attack. Inclining his body mid-air, he unleashed a powerful mid-air attack volley against the enemy striker.

"Special Skill: Electricity Shock!"

Bzzz!

Electricity cackled!

Anthony tried to dodge at the last moment but the electricity erupting from the ball affected him, his reflexes were dulled, the attack hit.

Compared to before, Endrick's attack power and shot force was now crazy.

BAM!

{+42 Damage!}

{+17 Additional Electricity Damage!}

Due to Anthony's efforts to dodge, after hitting him, the ball launched towards the Brazil Best side of the football pitch where Maria202 lurked.

Having been told their plan ahead of time, this midfielder was alert. As soon as she saw the ball's trajectory, she exploded into action.

"Special Skill: Multiple Flower Shot!"

Maria202's Special Skill involved increasing the number of flower balls, and hiding 4 real balls among the decors. When shot at goal, any of those 4 real balls entering the goalpost meant a goal.

When shot at an opponent, all 4 balls could deal damage.

Again, Anthony tried to dodge but he was cornered.

He managed to dodge only one of them, the 3 other flower balls hit him.

Bam!

{+7 Damage!} ×3

{Total Damage Dealt: +21 Damage!}

Less than a minute after the 2nd half started, Anthony already lost more than half of his health points, his teammates were stunned into action.

2 of the defenders broke out of the perfect defense that they set up.

By the time that they arrived, Anthony's health points were already draining to the critical level. Attacked by 3 opposition players, he could not resist.

It was only when his teammates arrived that he got time to breath.

The only problem though was that as soon as both defenders charged out, Endrick and Legion charged in. Spotting their runs, Maria202 shifted the ball to the right before playing a through ball towards Legion.

The counterattack was on.

The opponents felt the danger but they could do nothing about it.

With the ball, Legion charged into the opposition side of the pitch.

"Defend!" A livid Anthony yelled as he retreated.

In no time, Legion was before the left center back of Team Brazilian Wall. This defender had a look on his face like he was defending Planet Earth, letting the enemy through meant letting millions of aliens through to destroy his home.

"You're not going anywhere!" He roared as he charged closer.

Remembering the basics that were taught by Endrick, Legion shifted the ball to the right before kicking it back to the left, executing a faint la croqueta.

The tall defender read it, he went for a full body sliding tackle.

Feeling himself losing balance, Legion gritted his teeth. 'I can't do this'.

He no longer hesitated; he kicked the ball to the left side of the pitch where Endrick lurked. Endrick executed another inch perfect control of the ball with his legs as he executed an instant feint, making the last defender to lose balance.

Before he could shoot, his killer instinct warned him.

'Enemy!'

The speedster was here!

At the last moment, instead of shooting, he drew the ball back, executing a fake shot as Anthony's last ditch sliding tackle defending failed.

Endrick obliterated him with a perfect reaction.

Instead of shooting though as Anthony rushed back up like a warrior desperate to defend his home, Endrick laid off a perfect pass back to the right side of the pitch where Legion was left one on one with the goalkeeper.

Legion did not hesitate, he bent his leg before swinging it powerfully.

BAM!

At such range, there was no missing.

The keeper couldn't even move, the ball homed into the back of the net.

"GOALLLL!!!"

For the first time, Legion showed emotion as he jumped up and pumped his fists in the air. He rushed towards Endrick before hugging him.

"Goal!" Endrick also celebrated.

This play finally unlocked a trait that Endrick had previously but was suppressed on being reincarnated by Tokyo Sexwale, he regained his confidence.

After reincarnation, the new environment, the unfamiliar elements, Unity and its crazy mode of football, they all eroded his game mentality with time.

It was the crazy daily notifications from his system that motivated him and told him what was at stake and pushed him into seeking Legion out.

It was his system that motivated him into giving his absolute best into acclimatizing into this new world, and now, he gained one of his traits back that made him the game winning goal scorer of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in U.S.A.

At this moment, Endrick experienced a breakthrough.

Endrick's eyes gleamed. "I… am back!"

~_______________~

~Strongest System~

[System User Menu:]

[Congratulations! Double Breakthrough detected!]

[Your Mental Ability has improved to A+ Grading]

[Your Football I.Q has improved to A Grading]

~___________~