Chapter 38
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 38
Chapter Title Facing the Final Boss
Only after thrashing them 31 did we finally face the endgame boss.
During halftime as we prepared for the second half, everyone on the bench was replenishing sugars, changing clothes, and listening intently to the coachs instructions. Dios, meanwhile, was off by himself, leisurely juggling the ball to warm up.
He toyed with it effortlessly, like it was nothing.
Yeah, thats the kind of performance youd expect from Dioshes been putting on shows like that since he was a kid.
Hey, Yoon! You listening?
Id been quietly watching him when the coach called out to me.
Of course, I hadnt heard a word.
Sure am. No dribbling or solo plays unless necessarykeep making runs behind the defense off passes into space along the lines. Right?
Yeah, thats it!
He gives the same instructions every day, so I dont really need to listen.
Alright, were winning. Lets show them the same dominance the senior team did. But no complacencythese guys are Real Madrid.
With that, the coach wrapped up, and the second half kicked off.
There he was, Dios, in his pristine white kit with number 7 on his back.
Exactly three years from now, at 17, hed boot the current Real Madrid firstteam number 7 off the roster and claim it for himself.
Then hed shatter every youngestever record, surpassing Raul and Ronaldo to reign as the greatest number 7 in history.
Hi? Im Dios.
The guy sauntered over from across the halfway line and greeted me.
Oh, no Spanish? My name is Dios. Okay?
I speak Spanish.
Oh, really? Impressive. That means you know at least three languages, right? Howd you learn? You a fan of our club?
If you speak Spanish, does that mean youre into Real Madrid?
Sorry, no interest in Spanish teams.
But youre that good? Dont tell me youre a Barca fan?
Nah. If I had to pick, Id say Betis.
Real Betisthe team Id played for in my past life.
Betis? Ha.
Dios snorted derisively just as the whistle blew.
Mocking Real Betis?
Hah, you little shit.
Thats how he was back then too.
His mindset In La Liga, only Real Madrid and maybe Barca are worth a damn.
And it was the same across Europe.
Real Madrid, maybe Barca, Munich, Man Citythat was it.
Even in his early interviews, hed drop comments with that vibe, earning him plenty of haters.
Time to fix that damn attitude early.
Hey! Block him! Cut him off!
Amid the shouts, the cocky Dios bastard passed the ball backward, then suddenly broke forward solo from around our midfield line.
Same age as me, but at 182cm with a fully developed physique, the guy had ridiculously long legs.
He strode forward with those legs, and somehow the ball never left his feet.
The scariest part was how he toyed with his step rhythm.
Hed mess with markers by speeding up or slowing his steps unpredictably, throwing off their timing.
From afar, it looked like he was just running and getting tackled easilybut it wasnt.
Above all, his burst speed was insane, so stepovers and offbeat rhythms dazzled the eyes, leaving no way to block his cut inside.
Even if you closed him down, hed bully you off the ball in a physical duel.
Thats what was happening to our guys right now.
One, two, three, four and even the keeper left standing.
Dios!!!
Real Madrids players erupted in cheers as Dios breezed past five in a row and slotted home.
What the hell is that guy?
Shallert rested his hands on his hips, staring at Dios in disbelief.
The others were the same.
They gawked at him like theyd been bewitched by a goblin.
The performance had shocked everyone.
Surprisingly, it was Saviolathe guy who only cared about moneywho snapped them out of it.
What? We got shredded by Sunny like that every day. Why freak out over one time?
Huh?
Whatre you talking about?
You let Sunny clown you daily, and one clowning from that guy breaks your spirit? Come on.
His words made the teammates glance at each other.
Yeah, when you put it like that.
Getting owned by Yoon feels worse, honestly.
Hey, why me?
Taeyang always targets the groin like a dickhead.
At least it doesnt hurt the pride as much as his frog jump breakthrough.
Better than getting soloed five times in a scrim with the same move.
Way to make me sound like the bad guy.
WhateverSaviolas pep talk seemed to steady the shaken team.
Right, guys! Crucially, were still up by one! Lets do this!
Late to the party, but our captain and center forward, Lian Keller, fired everyone up.
But mindset aside, stopping Dios was no easy task.
Picking up the ball centrally, Dios feinted wide, then drove back inside, ripping a powerful longrange shot into the halfspace between our defender and centerback to equalize.
Damn, now my hattricks for nothing.
I grumbled irritably, but inside, my gut twisted.
It felt like the curse from my past lifenever beating Dios or Real Madridwas creeping back.
That was a vanished futures record. No way was it carrying over to this life.
I approached the guy playing mezzala on the right side of central midfielder Saviola.
Adel, switch positions with me.
What? Well get chewed out by coach.
Just tell him I said to do it.
Then youll take the heat.
Its fine. Hattrick means he cant say shit.
So Im just following orders?
Yeah.
We swapped.
It wasnt my usual spot. In my past life, Id played deeper from Saviolas position, more like a regista.
But I chose it for one reason.
Dios.
To stop the monster Id failed against before.
It was the midfield spot with the most touches against him.
Plus, when I won the ball, it let me exploit halfspacesmy sweet spot nowperfect for blending defensive marking with attacking runs.
Youre marking me?
Dios clocked it and called out, grinning like it was the best thing ever.
Nah, youll be the one marking me.
Youre a fun one.
He said that, but it was obvious he was burning with rivalry after my hattrick against his team.
His eyes blazed.
He looked ready to die happy just beating me right then.
Anyway, play resumed.
What the?! Why?! Why there?!
The coachs screamlike shout rang out.
I felt a twinge of guilt, but now wasnt the time.
Dios was charging at me with the ball.
Yeah, Dios was that guyPTSDlevel terrifying. The Soccer God nickname fit.
But that was future Dios.
This Dios was different.
He was flashing godtier talent, but having faced him countless times in my past life, I spotted his rare habitual flaws crystal clearflaws a kid like him still had.
He wasnt the Dios Id battled at Betis yetjust the young version.
As he came at me confidently, messing with his step rhythm to confuse me, I stuck my foot in without hesitation.
Others might not get it, but Id read his steps perfectly back then, knew all his weaknesses.
My body just hadnt kept up to steal it.
His offbeat steps? Still just variations on rhythm.
To me, they broke down into simple A, B, C patterns.
Break the patterns, and
Huh?
I nicked the ball clean, leaving Dios stunned.
Brushing past his panicked self, I bolted forward.
Where you going!
Dios chased hard.
Id barely taken a few strides when he was right on me.
Yeah, innate physical gaps a bitch.
But the guy couldnt defend. No experience, no clue.
His clumsy shoulder barge? Id seen it a million times.
I turned my back to shield the ball, using his momentum to trip him up.
He dropped to one knee.
Thud!
It echoed in my head like a thunderclap.
The impact of Dios kneeling was massive.
And the thrill? Electric.
Grinning smugly, I tore toward the Real Madrid goal.
Whos that kid?
A boy scouted by Newcastle United. The top Premier League prospect, with big clubs drooling over him.
Ah, rightthe one whose name means Sol Sun in his language?
Yes.
The Real Madrid Juvenil A coach watched Taeyang.
Hed lost count, but since the kid dropped into midfield, Dios hadnt completed a single successful dribble.
He could just shift position, but Dioss pride wouldnt allow it.
He desperately wanted to beat that Asian kid.
The coach didnt intervene.
He wasnt blindhed seen Dios losing passion for soccer under his overwhelming talent.
Facing a rival of equalno, superiorskill right now would light a fire under him.
That aside
That ones a gem.
Every other La Liga team must be thinking the same.
Hm?
The coach turned at his assistants words.
The soccer press, gathered to cover Spains prodigy, were all zooming in on the Asian kid with their cameras.
Damn, hope Barca or some other Madrid side doesnt snatch him first.
Newcastle United wont let him go easytheyve got deep pockets.
True enough.
The coach glanced away.
Oh no!
Dios, chasing the ball recklessly to win it back, sprawled humiliatingly on the turf.
The sight of Real Madrids young prince eating dirt like that was a first even for him.
Meanwhile, the astonishing kid had set up his teams fifth goal.
Unlike his firsthalf hattrick, these two secondhalf strikes were assistsbut that made them shine brighter.
Finishing, defending, passing.
A flawless performance, no weaknesses.
Physique aside, his soccer talent seemed leagues above Dios.
Seriously impressive Their Newcastle scout must be a wizard.
Looking closer, several other standouts caught the eye, led by that boy.
One day, if those kids took Newcastle to the top, the club might finally grab what theyd always wanted. It was that kind of vibe.
Coach, maybe not the time to relax?
Well, my contracts up soon anywaydoesnt matter.
Ah.
With the chairman craving innovation, the aging coach was about to get the boot.
Perfect timingadult teams wanted him, so hed jump back to senior ball.
A sudden thought hit him, and he asked his everloyal assistant, whod followed him everywhere.
You speak any English?
Pardon? Oh, yes. My moms American.
Hm good. I should learn too. Someday, if the chance comes.
He trailed off, gazing at the pitch.
There was Taeyang in his Newcastle kit, looking down at the dejected Dios like an arrogant French nobleno, royalty.