You question my ability? Let me prove my worth.

[ A Chance Encounter ]

[ True success lies in knowing your weaknesses and playing to your strengths. ]

[ Task: Discover your style of football. Don't imitate, but innovate. ]

~~~

Lucas had a stature similar to Dan, a well-built physique that screams strength. His charismatic smile had a special ability to make people hate him. Especially the unamused Christopher that is standing in the centre circle. Kai was certain a vein might pop in Christopher's head if he is provoked just a little bit more.

He kept these thoughts to himself though. These players around him seem to have an agenda to accomplish, and Kai certainly hope he will do his best in this match.

After all, Kai liked the feeling of winning. Everyone liked the thought of winning. Who would want to lose?

Within a moment's notice, Christopher squared the ball from the centre circle as he passed it all the way back to none other than big man Dan. Positioned as the last line of defence, Dan decided to play it safe as he laid the ball off to Kai.

"Just a game. Calm and steady, mate." Dan encouraged the scrawny teenager before calling for the ball.

Kai complied with the request and played a simple one-two with Dan. He didn't know much about these players anyway, he's not here to be the protagonist, he's just a substitute for a grudge match.

Kai knew his place. He played simple football and he obeyed Dan's benevolent commands behind him. When Dan wants the ball, Kai would give it. When Dan asks Kai to mark his player, he would willingly comply.

Not that Kai is any good at defence though. A few minutes went by as Kai was nothing more than a guinea pig for Dan's orchestrating purposes. Kai wished he could do more, particularly given he could see openings… numerous openings… hundreds and thousands of attacking patterns right before his eyes.

But from the numerous options that were available to him, there was hesitancy from Kai as he objectively viewed his chances. It's good that he can see the openings in the defence, but executing the attack is another matter. His creative imagination is easier said than done.

Kai knew what this was. [ Vision De Bruyne ] is doing its magic. Even though Kai had experienced this surreal feeling before, he is still amazed by his newfound perspective on football.

Perhaps… perhaps he should be more courageous, whilst knowing his limitation.

Dan had a halfhearted smile as he observed the scene in front of him. He questioned if he is having a headache from this stubborn defensive mentality of Lucas's gang.

Christopher is playing on the left wing, trying his hardest to find a breakthrough. Tugging and aimlessly running around his zone to lose his marker. This would normally work… but he is against no ordinary football scrub. He is against an academy player. A football academy youth player that is so highly regarded, fans even protest the club manager give Lucas his debut.

Dan shook his head. Christopher is being harassed non-stop by Lucas, so much so that Dan couldn't find a way to pass the ball to him.

Even as he is keeping a smile on his face, inside he is perturbed by such a challenge. Dan himself is a defender by trade. Simple passes, tackling, and interceptions are his bread and butter. He can't be a creative force… not confidently.

Dan shook his head. If only Boubakary is here.

'Wait… isn't Kai a midfielder?'

Dan eyed the scrawny player that is near invisible on the right wing. There were still doubts in Dan's mind. He clearly remembered how awkward Kai had been dribbling, he doubted the man could pass at all.

Getting increasingly frustrated. Dan stopped eyeing his teammate. He narrowed his eye-slits and stared at the small goalpost behind a sea of bodies. If Christopher can't score… I will do it myself!

Suddenly, the once tranquil and peaceful demeanour was wiped off Dan's face as he took everyone by surprise. He was no longer passive but was now a proactive threat. He charged forward, and the slow-moving giant charged with speed as he intended to dribble past all the opponents before himself.

It was only himself and the goal. Tunnel vision was in Dan's gene as he charged forth. He wasn't fast, but his large stride and muscular build were enough to take everyone by surprise. Who would have thought? No one, no one expected the towering defender to suddenly go on the attack.

One of the players finally responded. Lucas's teammate awoken from his half-dazed state as he became aware of the threat that was posed by Dan. The enemy closed down the distance, fully intending to stop the attack that would never come to fruition. Seriously, a central defender trying to score himself? There's a higher chance of me winning the lottery!

Closing the distance down, yet at a leisurely pace, the player blocked Dan's pathway to the goal. But to the player's surprise, he was sure of it, he was sure there was a slight chuckle from Dan.

*Peng*

He released it. Dan passed the ball the second before the two players would collide. The ball rolled with speed toward the side of the field, to none other than the much-forgotten Kai playing on the right wing.

The ball came Kai's way. A quick and direct pass too. Kai was half contemplating what option he should choose. Normally, Dan would always voice his thoughts, asking for the ball to be passed back to him or just hitting the ball long to try and find Christopher.

There were no orders. Then should he….

But Kai noticed something from the corner of his gaze. Dan had never stopped eying him. His firm gaze was like a lion staring down its prey. He was sending a message. A clear and obvious message any ordinary player would instantly decipher. A silent non-verbal message: to do a devastating one-two and unlock the stubborn defence!

Kai was about to pass. He was about to follow his intention down to the minute detail. But something changed his mind last second. He saw something else. A different direction to the goal that would turn the table to their side.

'Be courageous. Play your football.' Kai whispered before hitting the ball with all his might.

'Did he read my thoughts?' Dan questioned as he noticed the ball returning to his path at devastating speed.

'Did he have a heavy touch? No matter, I will control it.' The defender cast himself a wave of self-confidence as he outstretched his long beefy legs, trying his best to get the slightest touch on the ball.

But the ball was overhit, far too quickly was the pass that Dan could only watch the ball roll right before his foot. Kai overhit the pass… or did he?

Out of nowhere, luck or coincidence, the ball was sent to none other than Christopher. There were simply no words in the attacker's mind as he instinctively caressed the ball with the outside of the sole, directing the ball towards his destination.

Goal. He must score a goal!

"You think it's going to be this easy?!" A heavy force nearly sent Christopher to the ground as he resisted with all his might. Lucas wasn't going to make his day easy, and he certainly won't give Christopher a direct shot on goal.

The attacker gritted his teeth, using his arms as he tried to power his way through his only obstacle. If he can dribble past Lucas, it would be an open goal.

Christopher called on all his power as he struggled his way through, but nothing… Lucas was like an immovable wall. His puny strength won't be enough… he couldn't do it. Christopher couldn't break through.

"~hey."

That was the only thing Christopher heard. He didn't realise when he got there, how he got there, and why he was there. Christopher had plenty of questions as he unwillingly passed the ball back to him, to that guy, the stranger.

"Maxwel!? Why is he––"

Mysteriously, unnoticeably, magically Kai appeared in the shadow. The entire enemy team was dragged into chaos by this series of unexpected movements. From Dan's unaccounted dribble attempt to Kai's overhit pass. Nothing that happened made any sense. This chaos… was confusing… except for him.

Kai was focused. He doesn't have the most impressive passing range. He isn't confident in his ability to control the ball. But if there is one thing he can account for, it is that he can at least strike a ball to a person 5 metres in front of him.

A one-touch pass. No unnecessary deliberation. Quick interchanging play that focuses on delivering an element of surprise.

Everyone's focus was on Christopher. He's the forward, the attacking threat, the dangerman that must be stopped. The players all had their attention on the flashy forward, but unconsciously, this moment of unfocus was what Kai was counting on. This psychological behaviour of expecting the expected. This was what he took advantage of.

The ball wasn't a shot on goal. It was a pass. A pass to the most harmless player on the field. It was a perfect series of play, no words could describe the elegance in the attacking combination they had witnessed.

Dan was half-speechless himself, to find the ball delivered to none other than himself.

He had already lost his marker.

An open net, a simple tap-in, and a mixture of shock and gleaming.

Goal.