The System Makes Me a Player

Rodrigo placed the ball on the corner mark, his sharp gaze scanning the crowded penalty area where a swarm of bodies pushed, grabbed, and fought for space like gladiators in an arena. Oliveira and Mateus exchanged discreet elbows, Kazana slipped between Biel and Diego, and Felipe tried to break free from tight marking.

But Rodrigo already had a plan in his mind.

He took a deep breath, felt the sweat rolling down his face, and instead of lifting his leg for the expected cross, he leaned his body forward and stunned everyone with a low, fast, venomous pass, cutting through the grass like an arrow.

The entire stadium was caught off guard.

The ball skipped past the penalty spot, escaping the aerial chaos, and found Kelvin, who had surged forward at full speed, appearing like a ghost in the empty space.

Kelvin, with his back to goal, let the ball come. He knew very well that from his position the goal was impossible to see, but that was for the old Kelvin, not the new one.

[Skill Activated: Precision Reading]

His vision revealed a path where the play could continue and reach the goal, because amid the chaos, there was only one player unmarked, waiting for the perfect pass.

He didn't think twice: with the cunning of a street footballer, he flicked a backheel pass, unexpected and brilliant, letting the ball slip smoothly under one of his markers' legs.

The bold, unpredictable touch completely dismantled Zenkai's defense.

And there was Dante.

Alone, free at the edge of the box.

The stadium roared in a single electrifying wave, a thunder of thousands of voices that seemed to push time forward.

"My God, this is it!", shouted Samuel from the stands, throwing his arms up.

"This is the chance they wanted!", screamed Samuka, almost jumping out of his seat.

Matheus Rios clenched his fists, as if he were back on the field.

"Shoot, boy, just shoot already..."

Rafael Duarte laughed nervously, his hands trembling.

On the pitch, Dante received the pass. The ball rolled gently, inviting, stopping in front of him as if saying: "Decide the game."

But Dante's mind was torn.

He glanced quickly to his left: Felipe was moving, asking for the pass, completely unmarked as the defense shifted toward him. Kazana had shaken off Biel and was now a viable option.

But at the same time, the goal was right there, exposed. Zenkai's goalkeeper was still recovering his position after being caught off guard by Kelvin's pass.

Dante took a deep breath, heart racing, mind split between two voices.

"Pass, pass, pass...", said one.

"Shoot, shoot, shoot!", screamed the other.

Time seemed to stretch, each second turned into eternity.

Then Dante decided.

He pulled back his leg, eyes locked on the target, and struck.

The sound of impact echoed through the stadium like an explosion. The ball skimmed low, strong, violent, tearing through the air with terrifying speed.

Zenkai's goalkeeper, running on pure reflex, dived to the side, stretching every muscle, his fingers desperately reaching for the ball's path.

The entire crowd rose to its feet, screams bursting with anticipation.

"It's in, it's in, it's in!", Samuel shouted, his voice breaking.

Samuka was already jumping, unable to contain himself.

"It's over! It's over!"

Matheus Rios, stunned, widened his eyes.

"What a shot..."

Rafael Duarte pulled his shirt over his face, too scared to look.

The ball flew. The goalkeeper flew. The stadium held its breath.

And at the last instant, with the tip of his glove, Zenkai's keeper deflected it.

The ball grazed his outstretched fingers, changed its path slightly, and smashed against the crossbar with a metallic crack that made the stadium tremble.

The noise echoed all around.

The ball bounced back alive, skipping inside the area amid total chaos.

Felipe tried to reach it, but Biel slid in desperately, partially clearing it. The ball fell again to Rodrigo, who attempted another shot but was blocked by Mateus, who threw himself in front as if his life depended on it.

It was hell inside the box.

Kelvin fought for the rebound, Kazana battled for position, Oliveira surged forward like a wall to contest the loose ball.

On the other side, Diego came charging back furiously to help the defense, while Luquinhas screamed at everyone to stay alert.

The stadium was a boiling cauldron.

"I can't believe that didn't go in!" Samuel yelled.

Samuka punched the air, furious.

"Stupid crossbar! The keeper doesn't even know how he saved it!"

Matheus Rios, taking a deep breath, muttered:

"This isn't bad luck. This is a test. If they keep the pressure, they'll score"

Rafael Duarte, laughing and shaking, shouted:

"I'm going to have a heart attack here! I swear I can't take it anymore!"

On the pitch, the ball was still up for grabs. But while everyone scrambled for it, Dante stood frozen. Completely still.

He stared at the goalkeeper, then at his own leg, his gaze fixed. That's when his mind made him remember.

"Man, you're good, but not good enough for the front line"

The words he was starting to believe even more. His head began criticizing himself for shooting instead of passing.

But in the chaos inside his head, the game was still going on. And for those seconds he completely forgot about it, until Kelvin reminded him.

Sanu's team reset, and the ball was at Kelvin's feet.

"HEY, DANTE. ONE MORE TIME!"

He shouted as the ball was sent to his teammate.

"Why do you still insist on me, Kelvin? I failed at my role out here."

Kelvin gave a smile.

"You're the only one on the field who understands me, Dante. You knew perfectly well I would make that pass there, didn't you?"

Dante, caught off guard by Kelvin's question, just nodded.

"Then I'm going to show you the world only the two of us can see, to reach Zenkai's goal!"