The Football Legends System

The scent of fresh-cut grass at Carrington felt different now. It smelled of victory, of hard-won trophies, of a season where the impossible had become reality. Nathan, an Overall Rating: S+ player and a double champion, felt a quiet confidence, but also a new kind of hunger. Being the GOAT wasn't about reaching the summit; it was about staying there, continuing to climb, and pushing the boundaries of what was possible.

His Masterful Dribbling and Unparalleled Agility from the Glide of Messi (48%) mastery were a joy to experience in training. The ball moved with him as if tethered, his changes of direction breathtakingly sharp. He was so close to that 50% milestone. He spent extra time in the "Iconic Free-Kicks and Long Shots" section of the Legacy Archive, studying the subtle movements of legends like Andrea Pirlo and Juninho Pernambucano, the way they caressed the ball to bend and dip. It was a whole new level of understanding the game.

One afternoon, after a particularly demanding session, Lisandro Martinez clapped Nathan on the back. "You're moving differently now, Nathan. So... smooth. Like a ghost sometimes."

Nathan grinned. "Just trying to get better, Licha."

"Better?" Lisandro shook his head. "You won us the Champions League final with that last goal! What's next, flying?"

Nathan just laughed, but a thought lingered: What IS next? How do you get better than S+? The Legacy Archive suggested it wasn't just about raw stats, but about deepening his understanding of football itself.

The first domestic cup match of the season arrived quickly: the FA Cup Third Round. It was a home tie against Fulham. The magic of the FA Cup meant anything could happen. Lower league teams often raised their game against Premier League giants, hoping for a famous upset.

The atmosphere at Old Trafford was festive, but tinged with the quiet respect of a cup tie. A smaller crowd than a Premier League clash, but just as passionate. The FA Cup, with its rich history, always felt special.

Nathan took a moment to observe Fulham's key players during the warm-up, his "Talent Scout" vision activating.

Bernd Leno – Ability: A | Potential: B | Overall Rating: A-

Solid keeper. Good shot-stopper. Will be tough to beat.

João Palhinha – Ability: A | Potential: B+ | Overall Rating: A-

Midfield destroyer. Tenacious, incredible at winning the ball back.

Andreas Pereira – Ability: B+ | Potential: A | Overall Rating: B+

Creative, can cause problems with his passing and set-pieces.

"They'll be compact," Bruno Fernandes warned the team in the tunnel. "They'll try to frustrate us, hit us on the break."

Nathan nodded. "We need to be patient, but clinical."

Pheeeeeep! The whistle blew, and the FA Cup journey began.

As expected, Fulham sat deep, forming a compact, disciplined block. Their midfield, led by the relentless João Palhinha, was a wall, snuffing out United's attacking moves. They flooded the central areas, making it incredibly difficult for Nathan, Bruno, and Rashford to find space.

United dominated possession, passing the ball around, trying to find openings, but Fulham's defense held firm. They were well-drilled, frustrating every attempt to penetrate. Nathan tried a couple of his trademark dribbles, using his Masterful Dribbling, but he was constantly met by two or three Fulham players, forcing him to pass backward or sideways.

Minute 25. Still 0-0. Old Trafford started to stir, a low hum of impatience spreading through the stands. Fulham, meanwhile, grew in confidence, launching a couple of quick counter-attacks that forced David de Gea into action.

Nathan felt the frustration building. They needed a spark, a way to cut through this solid defense without resorting to desperate long shots. They needed to find space where there seemed to be none.

Just then, the familiar System chime cut through the air, clear and insistent.

Ding!

[System Notification]

[Your team is facing a deep, compact defensive block, requiring elusive movement and intelligent positioning to create and exploit pockets of space.]

[You may request one random legendary elusive movement skill in the style of a football icon to ghost past defenders and appear in dangerous areas seemingly out of nowhere.]

[Do you wish to activate it?]

Nathan's eyes widened. Elusive movement? Appearing out of nowhere? This was exactly what they needed. Against a packed defense, pure power or dribbling sometimes wasn't enough. You needed to disappear, and then reappear in the perfect spot.

Yes! Activate!

Ding!

[Random Skill Activated: Phantom Run of Cruyff]

[Effect: For the next 5 minutes of in-game time, your off-the-ball movement, ability to find pockets of space, and intuitive understanding of defensive weak points are significantly enhanced. Defenders will struggle to track your runs, making you seemingly invisible before appearing in dangerous positions.]

A strange, almost ethereal feeling settled over Nathan. It wasn't a physical boost like strength or speed, but a mental clarity about movement. He suddenly saw the subtle shifts in Fulham's defensive line, the tiny gaps that appeared for a split second when a defender stepped out of position. He felt an urge to drift, to pull defenders, to open up space for others, and then exploit it himself.

He immediately began to move differently. He wouldn't always go for the ball directly. He'd drop deep, drawing a midfielder, then suddenly burst into the space behind. He'd feign a run to the left, then ghost to the right, creating confusion among the Fulham backline.

In the 32nd minute, Bruno Fernandes had the ball in midfield, looking for options. Nathan, with the Phantom Run of Cruyff active, made a subtle movement towards the right wing, drawing Kenny Tete, Fulham's right-back, slightly out of position. Then, with a sudden, almost imperceptible burst, he cut sharply into the channel between Tete and Tim Ream, Fulham's center-back. It was a tiny, invisible gap, but he saw it, and exploited it.

Bruno, his vision already enhanced by playing with Nathan, saw the movement and threaded a perfect through ball. Nathan was in! He received it just inside the box, having appeared from nowhere, leaving the Fulham defense scrambling.

He took one touch to control, then unleashed a powerful shot towards the far post. Bernd Leno, with a fantastic diving save, managed to tip it wide for a corner. It didn't go in, but it was the clearest chance of the game so far, created purely by intelligent movement.

The pressure from Nathan, the Phantom Run of Cruyff working its magic, had finally broken Fulham's defensive resolve. For the next five minutes, Nathan was a constant menace, always finding space, making unmarkable runs that pulled Fulham's defense apart.

The Phantom Run of Cruyff faded, but it had created the chaos United needed. Just before halftime, United finally scored. A brilliant cross from Marcus Rashford was headed home by Harry Kane, making it 1-0.

The second half saw Fulham try to rally, but United, now with the lead, played with more confidence. Nathan continued to make intelligent runs, constantly pushing his Glide of Messi (48%) mastery, trying to beat defenders and create more chances.

Ding!

[System Notification]

[Skill Mastery Progress: Glide of Messi (50%)]

[Permanent Benefit Unlocked: Unparalleled Agility (Your base agility is dramatically and permanently improved, allowing for incredibly rapid changes of direction and seamless movement with the ball).]

[Next Mastery Milestone: 75% (Requires extremely complex and successful solo runs in high-pressure scenarios).]

Nathan felt the familiar jolt, a new layer of nimbleness settling into his movements. He grinned. He'd done it! Fifty percent on Glide of Messi. His dribbling was now truly top-tier, a permanent part of his S+ arsenal.

United scored again in the 70th minute, a beautiful team goal finished by Bruno Fernandes, making it 2-0. The final whistle blew, and United progressed comfortably to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.

In the changing room, Erik ten Hag praised their patience. "Good win, lads. Fulham made it tough, but we found a way." He looked at Nathan. "That run for the first chance, Nathan. You just... disappeared and then reappeared. Brilliant."

Nathan just smiled, knowing the System was working its magic.

He checked his system. His Overall Rating was still S+. The Glide of Messi was at a solid 50%. And now, the Phantom Run of Cruyff had given him a taste of how strategic movement could unlock defenses.

As he walked out of Old Trafford, the cheers of the fans feeling warm and familiar, a new notification flashed from the Legacy Archive.

Ding!

[Legacy Archive Update: New Category Unlocked - "The Art of Space Creation"]

[Description: Delve into the intricate world of offensive movement, decoy runs, and positional intelligence that defines the greatest off-the-ball players in history.]

Nathan's eyes widened. "The Art of Space Creation." This was exactly what the Phantom Run of Cruyff had hinted at. The Legacy Archive was continuing to evolve with him, guiding his path even after reaching S+.