CHAPTER 2: Cheat

Victor sat at his desk, staring at the room around him. The headache had subsided, but the sensation of being in a completely different world was still overwhelming. He had inherited Victor Kane's memories, but this world wasn't quite the one he knew. It was parallel—similar, yet different.

The calendar read August 2018.

But none of that mattered now. He had a far more urgent task: saving Burton Albion.

Victor scanned the dingy room. It was clear from the peeling paint and scattered files that the office belonged to a team teetering on the edge of collapse. A single file on the desk confirmed his worst fears: Burton Albion, a club from Staffordshire, was battling relegation in League One. The team played at the Pirelli Stadium, a modest ground with a seating capacity of just over 6,900.

For a club like Burton Albion, every single match was a fight for survival. And Victor, armed with nothing but desperation and a pile of unpaid bills, was now the head coach.

"It's okay," he murmured to himself. "Take it one step at a time. Now that I have a system, it's time to explore how it really works."

He spent hours tinkering with the system, trying to understand it better. Soon, he realized the system wasn't exactly what he had imagined. It wasn't one of those all-powerful, intelligent systems that main characters in novels always seemed to have. The system had granted him a gift package, but that didn't mean it would always be so generous.

Instead, it would occasionally offer tasks. Completing these tasks would yield rewards, but beyond that, the system remained quiet and passive. No advice. No guidance.

"Now, onto the main course!" he said aloud, excited. "Let's open that newbie gift package."

He focused his mind, and a golden box appeared in his vision. With a thought, he clicked it. The box burst into brilliance, and from its light emerged a book with flowing snake-like letters emblazoned on the cover.

The moment his eyes fell on it, information flooded his brain. This was the Snake Tactics Manual, a creation of a legendary tactician from another universe where football was the central theme of life. The tactician, known only as "The Serpent," had revolutionized football with his cunning playstyle, earning his nickname because of how snake-like his strategies were. His methods were deceptive, unrelenting, and awe-inspiring, leaving opponents in absolute disarray.

Victor's excitement grew as he processed this information. The book also bestowed him with a skill called Predatory Eyes, which allowed him to emit an oppressive, predator-like aura. Anyone he targeted with it would feel a deep sense of intimidation, forcing them to obey or clouding their mental clarity.

"This is perfect," Victor whispered, clenching his fists. "Exactly what I needed."

Unable to contain his excitement, he turned the page of the manual. The content laid out in front of him was a treasure trove of formations, tactics, and strategies—each inspired by the movements and traits of snakes. Everything was categorized from Grade E to Grade S. The formations appeared as follows:

1. Python Formation (Rank: A)

Inspiration: Pythons constrict their prey, slowly suffocating them.

Tactic: High pressing and possession-heavy gameplay designed to crush opponents by denying them space and forcing errors.

Formation: 4-1-4-1 (Compact midfield and defense that stifles attacks while dominating possession).

Variations:

Coil Lock: Tight pressing in the opponent's half, forcing turnovers.

Suffocation Mode: Gradual intensity increase to wear out opponents.

2. Black Mamba Counter (Rank: S)

Inspiration: The black mamba's speed and precision in striking.

Tactic: Rapid, high-intensity counterattacks that punish overcommitting opponents.

Formation: 4-3-3 or 3-4-3.

Variations:

Fang Strike: Direct long balls to lightning-fast attackers.

Double Mamba: Two forwards ready for breakaway counterattacks.

3. Cobra Stare (Rank: B)

Inspiration: Cobras hypnotize prey with their hooded stance.

Tactic: Lure opponents into traps and strike when they overextend.

Formation: 4-2-3-1 (Compact midfield setup for counterplay).

Variations:

Venom Feint: Fake an attack on one flank, then switch play.

Hood Bluff: Alternating bursts of pressure to confuse opponents.

4. Anaconda Wrap (Rank: A)

Inspiration: Anacondas overwhelm prey with strength and persistence.

Tactic: A physically dominant style with relentless midfield battles.

Formation: 3-5-2 or 4-4-2.

Variations:

Crush Zones: Overload specific zones with extra players.

Endurance Grip: High work rate to exhaust opponents.

5. Viper Strike (Rank: S)

Inspiration: Vipers deliver quick, venomous attacks.

Tactic: Explosive, sharp offensive play that overwhelms defenses.

Formation: 4-4-2 diamond or 4-1-2-3.

Variations:

Venom Dart: Deadly long passes to attackers.

Ambush Play: Sudden switch from slow buildup to high-speed attacks.

6. Boa Squeeze (Rank: B)

Inspiration: Boas immobilize prey through constriction.

Tactic: Slow possession-based buildup, pinning opponents in their own half.

Formation: 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-2-1.

Variations:

Half-Field Cage: Keep opponents locked in their half.

Squeeze Counter: Drop back defensively, then counter with precision.

7. Rattlesnake Ambush (Rank: A)

Inspiration: Rattlesnakes rattle to unnerve prey before striking.

Tactic: Unpredictable patterns to force defensive mistakes.

Formation: 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-2.

Variations:

Rattle Bluff: Short passes to lure defenders before exploiting gaps.

Tail Sting: Repeatedly pressure a specific weak defender.

8. Sidewinder Drift (Rank: C)

Inspiration: Sidewinders move diagonally for speed and stability.

Tactic: Diagonal passing and runs to disorient the defense.

Formation: 3-4-3.

Variations:

Drift Pass: Exploit spaces with diagonal runs from the wingers.

Ripple Effect: Rotating midfielders create passing options and confusion.

9. Sea Krait Flow (Rank: D)

Inspiration: Sea kraits' smooth, wave-like movement.

Tactic: Constant ball movement to frustrate and wear out opponents.

Formation: 4-3-3.

Variations:

Ocean Swell: Gradual, rhythmic passing to control the game.

Wave Collapse: Fake buildup on one side, then switch to the other.

10. King Cobra Formation (Rank: S)

Inspiration: The King Cobra's dominance and decisiveness.

Tactic: High-pressure attacks in the early game to secure control.

Formation: 4-3-3 or 3-5-2.

Variations:

Regal Strike: Intense attacking focus in the opening 15 minutes.

Crown Defense: Shift to a defensive stance after gaining the lead.

Victor's eyes scanned the formations, excitement bubbling within him. Most were grayed out, locked behind specific conditions. Even their buffs were listed as "entry-level," implying far more potential waiting to be unlocked.

But his enthusiasm dimmed slightly when he realized his newbie gift had only unlocked a single tactic: a C-level formation.

"Damn… if only I had access to the S-level ones. I'd solve all my problems in an instant."

Still, it was a start. Victor leaned back, determination burning in his eyes. He had a tool now. It was up to him to use it.