LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 96: 96
Hearing the shouts from outside, Gu Ran immediately perked up and walked out of the therapy room.
"Gu," Coach Carter called, holding a stack of data sheets. "Your first-half stats are out. Want to see them?"
"Of course!" Gu Ran responded eagerly.
The last time he played against the Pirate Ship team, his halftime rating was 7.1.
This time, starting as part of the main squad, Gu Ran felt he had performed much better—covering more distance, making longer sprints, and engaging in more physical battles. Logically, his rating should be higher than 7.1 this time.
More than just his own rating, Gu Ran was also curious about the rating of Wild Boar Jazz's star captain, Belward.
Coach Carter glanced down at the stats, then quickly put them away. "Hmm... No time for that now. Let's talk after you play the full 90 minutes—just know this, you still have a long way to go."
Gu Ran: "..."
What?
A long way to go?!
How much lower is my score?!
Come on, Coach, give me a number!
I was clearly playing well… Wait.
Carter, you're PUA-ing (manipulating) me again, aren't you?!
Fine. I'll play along with you.
Gu Ran immediately put on his most determined face and said, "Yes, Coach! I'll do my best in the second half!"
Coach Carter smirked slightly, though barely noticeable. "Good. In the second half, I'm giving you full freedom. If you want to push forward, push forward. If you want to cut inside, do it. My only demand—show your strongest form."
"Yes, Coach!"
"Alright," Carter clapped his hands. "Gather up!"
All the starting players quickly huddled together, hands on each other's shoulders.
"Bucks Steel Horns—"
"Unbeatable—"
"Destroy them!"
"OOOHHH!!!"
"LET'S GO!"
The team, fired up and ready, marched out of the locker room!
With the 15-minute halftime break over, both teams returned to the field, switching sides for the second half!
As the Bucks Steel Horns walked back onto the pitch, the Tonbridge students in the stands booed wildly, some making racist gestures, pulling their eyes and pinching their noses.
Gu Ran ignored them completely.
But he could feel it—opposite him, Wild Boar Jazz's No. 7 star, Belward, was glaring at him with murderous intent, as if he wanted to eat him alive.
Not just Belward—almost the entire Wild Boar Jazz squad was giving Gu Ran death stares.
Huh...?
All that… just because I assisted a goal?
Seriously?
What the hell triggered them so much?
Whatever. If they don't like it, I'll just keep wrecking them.
BEEP—
The second half kicked off!
Wild Boar Jazz took possession and immediately increased the tempo of their central attacks.
Their star captain, Belward, was repeatedly launching through balls into the attacking third.
No. 10 striker Quinlan was aggressively making runs, looking for gaps.
Their offense was fierce.
But the Bucks Steel Horns' defense wasn't weak either.
Gu Ran's positioning was spot on, sprinting back to mark Quinlan and cutting off multiple through balls.
The Wild Boar Jazz became visibly frustrated after several failed attacks.
They switched tactics, attempting to attack the right flank of the Bucks Steel Horns.
Farlow's defense wasn't as strong, but Rusty stepped up, double-teaming Quinlan with him.
Meanwhile, Bread dropped back to cover Rusty's space in central defense.
For the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Wild Boar Jazz's relentless attacks were completely nullified!
Their two biggest offensive threats were completely shut down by Gu Ran.
With Wild Boar Jazz's offense fizzling out, the Bucks Steel Horns immediately launched a counterattack!
65th minute—
Bread intercepted the ball and sent a direct pass down the left wing!
Gu Ran sprinted forward to receive it!
As Gu Ran burst forward, the stadium erupted with deafening boos!
But he didn't care at all.
Instead, he used the boos as fuel, running even faster!
The entire Bucks Steel Horns squad surged forward in a synchronized offensive wave.
The Wild Boar Jazz's defensive shape immediately collapsed toward Gu Ran's side.
7th-ranked star Belward sprinted like crazy to block him, while their right-back rushed up under their coach's instructions.
Belward reached Gu Ran first and delivered a brutal shoulder check!
Gu Ran, however, was too smart to get into a physical duel.
Instead, he suddenly stopped, pulled the ball back, and pivoted—executing a lightning-fast dribble!
Belward missed completely, stumbling forward and nearly falling!
By the time Belward turned around, Gu Ran had already blown past him, sprinting forward with the ball!
Belward was stunned!
This dribbling technique—it was too familiar!
Belward chased with all his might, but he couldn't catch up!
His mind was breaking down.
Their first encounter—Gu Ran had fed him grass.
This time—Gu Ran had beaten him using HIS OWN SIGNATURE HIGH-SPEED DRIBBLING!
That was the ultimate disrespect.
It was like riding Belward's face while slapping him!
The Tonbridge student section, which had been booing nonstop, suddenly fell dead silent.
Every single one of them was slack-jawed, eyes wide, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
On the sidelines, Coach Carter clenched his fists, roaring, "YES! JUST LIKE THAT! DESTROY THEM!"
In the stands, Maria was trembling in excitement, muttering, "Ahhh... this is all thanks to my therapy…!"
Ding~
A new blue skill bubble dropped from Belward, who had been left behind by three strides!
Gu Ran didn't even look back—he just kept sprinting forward!
At that moment, the Wild Boar Jazz's right-back was closing in, while two midfielders were rushing to cut off his path.
Gu Ran scanned the field—Ximei was in a perfect open position in the half-space!
He immediately sent a through ball!
A beautifully curved pass, threading through two Wild Boar Jazz defenders, landing 10 meters behind them!
Not just your star Belward can send through balls!
I, Gu Ran, can do it too!
And mine was even better!
The two Wild Boar Jazz defenders panicked, turning to chase the ball.
Ximei reached it first, adjusted his stride, and crossed into the box!
Unfortunately—Watergate's late run was read by the opposing center-back, and the cross was cleared away.
A golden chance, wasted…
The Bucks Steel Horns' attackers groaned, covering their faces.
On the sidelines, Coach Carter stomped in frustration. If this wasn't a real game, he'd be screaming, "Even my grandma could've scored that!"
Even though the attack didn't result in a goal, Gu Ran's breakthrough down the wing was spectacular!
Watergate clapped. "Gu, that was amazing!"
Gu Ran jogged back. "We go again!"
"YES! AGAIN!"
"DESTROY THEM!"
The Bucks Steel Horns could taste victory!
As Gu Ran jogged back, he glanced at the blue skill bubble Belward had dropped.
It read: "Knee-slide celebration +1."
...Trash.
Ignored.
He wasn't done farming Belward yet.
As time ticked down, both teams were running out of stamina.
But Gu Ran, thanks to Maria's therapy and his stamina boost, was still going strong.
Then, in the 77th minute—
Gu Ran pulled off the impossible.
He passed… to his future self.
And at that moment—the entire stadium gasped.
Even in the VIP box, an old man's hands trembled.
Because what they had just witnessed…
Was a black-haired Gareth Bale.
(End of Chapter.)
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