On the morning of January 5, 2020, match day,
it was the 22nd round of the Segunda División.
Vallecas Stadium was still shrouded in morning mist,
the seats in the stands empty and silent.
Lu Chuan stepped into the players' tunnel, his footsteps echoing between the concrete walls.
He took a deep breath, the air filled with a mix of grass dew and disinfectant.
In the locker room, his teammates were preparing their gear.
Óscar Trejo's number 10 jersey hung neatly in the most prominent position, the captain's armband folded tidily beside it.
Lu Chuan found his locker; the number 19 jersey quietly awaited him.
The system panel flickered slightly in his mind, the words "Adaptability Enhancement" glowing with a light blue hue.
Lu Chuan could feel the changes in his body; his muscles were firmer, and his reaction speed had significantly improved.
He stretched his arms, savoring this unprecedented state.
His heart, however, was still racing.
The Segunda División, this was the stage he had always dreamed of.
"Gather!"
Paco Jémez's voice boomed in the locker room.
The players quickly gathered, the coach's tactics board filled with arrows and symbols.
"Girona!" Paco tapped the tactics board heavily with a marker pen,
"Their formation is like a sturdy square fortress! Look here!"
He pointed to a spot on the tactics board, "Stuani! This Uruguayan is a monster in the box!
One meter ninety tall, eighty-five kilograms, top-tier heading ability! Catena, Savić!"
The two center-backs immediately straightened their backs.
"Your task is to lock him down! Bite him like two mad dogs! Don't let him get the ball comfortably in the box!"
Paco's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Lu Chuan.
"chinese kid, watch carefully from the bench! See how their full-backs push up, see how our wings are suppressed!"
Lu Chuan nodded vigorously.
"Any questions?"
"No!" the whole team replied in unison.
[Rayo Vallecano
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Goalkeeper: Stole Dimitrievski
Defenders: Luis Advíncula (Right-back), Alejandro Catena (Center-back), Esteban Saveljich (Center-back), Antonio Luna (Left-back)
Defensive Midfielders: Mario Suárez, Santi Comesaña
Midfielders: Isi Palazón (Right Winger), Óscar Trejo (Attacking Midfielder), Álvaro García (Left Winger)
Forward: Leonardo Ulloa
Girona - Coach: Josep Lluís Martí
Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Juan Carlos
Defenders: Pablo Maffeo, Juanpe, Ignasi Miquel, Johan Mojica
Midfielders: Álex Gallar, Gerard Gumbau, Álex Granell, Borja García
Forwards: Cristhian Stuani, Jonathan Soriano]
During warm-ups, Vallecas Stadium was already packed.
In the South Stand,
the giant skull banner of the "Bukaneros" fan group fluttered in the wind, and red and white scarves undulated like waves.
Deafening chants and drum beats surged from all directions, the entire stadium resembling a giant boiling cauldron.
Lu Chuan was shaken by this almost savage passion.
Leganés fans, though enthusiastic, were more about rational support.
Here, it was completely different; every shout carried ferocity, every flag spoke of working-class pride.
"Not used to it?" Trejo ran up beside him, a smile on his face.
"This is the charm of Vallecas! They will go crazy for your every touch and be angry for your every mistake!"
"I like it." Lu Chuan responded softly, not looking at Trejo, but his gaze was firmly drawn to the giant skull banner in the South Stand.
The match began.
Rayo Vallecano tried to use their home advantage to suppress Girona, but the opponent's defensive system was exceptionally solid.
Cristhian Stuani and Jonathan Soriano constantly dropped back, forming a compact defensive block with the four midfielders.
Rayo Vallecano's attacks repeatedly came to naught.
Álvaro García attacked furiously down the left wing, but Girona's right-back Pablo Maffeo was always on him.
Isi Palazón encountered the same predicament on the right wing.
In the 32nd minute, Girona launched a sharp counter-attack.
Maffeo, like an arrow released from a bow, sprinted past the halfway line, and without waiting for the ball to settle, he swung his right foot, delivering a powerful cross.
The ball, with strong inward spin, flew towards the penalty area.
The ball traced a perfect arc in the air, heading straight for the center of the box.
Stuani!
The Uruguayan striker overpowered Alejandro Catena, his robust body rising like a mountain, to complete a powerful header towards goal.
Dimitrievski made a heroic save!
The goalkeeper's body stretched out in the air, his fingertips touching the ball, deflecting a certain goal.
"Ha!" A gasp of surprise came from the stands.
The first half ended, score 0-0.
Rayo Vallecano had 62% possession, but there were very few shots that truly threatened the goal.
Trejo was repeatedly restricted by Girona midfielders Álex Granell and Gerard Gumbau, appearing to struggle alone.
In the locker room, Paco Jémez was furious.
"Our passing is like we're taking a stroll!" He slammed the tactics board onto the ground.
"Álvaro, Isi, where are your breakthroughs? Do you only run along the touchline? The opposing defenders are happy to see you do that!"
Álvaro García hung his head, beads of sweat dripping onto the floor.
"Trejo! You are the captain! Step up and organize the attack! Don't always expect others to pass to you!"
Trejo's face was flushed red, his fists clenched.
Paco's gaze finally fell on Lu Chuan, "Get ready, I need to see a change in the second half!"
Lu Chuan felt an unprecedented pressure.
In the 58th minute of the second half, Girona scored from a corner kick opportunity.
In the scramble, center-back Juanpe got to the ball first, and it found the back of the net.
Rayo Vallecano trailed 0-1.
The singing at Vallecas Stadium paused for a moment, and disappointment was etched on the fans' faces.
Immediately after, even angrier boos erupted, aimed directly at the players on the field.
Jémez finally made a change.
He turned sharply and shouted at Lu Chuan: "chinese kid, get on! Replace Ullóa! Go and attack their defense, use your running to tear open space! Don't just stand there like a damn log!"
Lu Chuan's heart pounded.
He quickly took off his jacket and adjusted his jersey.
The fourth official raised the substitution board: number 11 off, number 19 on.
As the substitution board was raised, Lu Chuan ran onto the field, and at the same time, a system mission was issued:
[Ding! Main Quest issued: Proof of the segunda división.]
[Quest Objective: Score your first goal in the segunda división.]
[Quest Reward: 500LP, one random skill card.]
The fans in the stands began to applaud, some shouting: "Go, chinese kid!"
Lu Chuan immediately felt the intensity of the Segunda División.
Girona defender Ignasi Miquel was always on him, his close marking exceptionally fierce.
On his first touch, Lu Chuan tried to break free with a nimble drag-back and turn, but Miquel reacted faster, colliding with him and the ball, knocking him down.
The referee made no call.
These were the rules of the segunda división.
Lu Chuan got up from the grass, rubbed his numb shoulder, and let out a soft "hiss."
He ignored the opponent's provocation, instead quickly scanning the situation on the field, his gaze finally meeting Trejo's.
Trejo understood and nodded slightly.
On the sidelines, Girona coach Martí frowned and whispered to his assistant: "Keep an eye on that number 19, his movement is strange, not like a traditional center-forward."
The assistant nodded and made a note.
Lu Chuan, however, had already begun his performance.
His movement trajectory seemed casual, but in reality, every step was carefully calculated.
His body, enhanced by the system, made him more composed in duels, and the effect of [Adaptability Enhancement] began to show.
He was waiting, waiting for his moment.