Minute 88.
Lohne struck back — desperate, sharp, dangerous.
Nico Thoben ghosted between lines, his Shadow Burst igniting as he vanished from sight, reappearing between Anssi and Luis like a phantom.
A flick — perfectly weighted — slid through the gap.
Felix Schmiederer broke forward, pure velocity tearing through the backline.
Julian's pulse jolted.
That tempo — Velocity Break.
Felix struck low, hard.
Hermann dove — right hand snapping out — crack!
Saved.
The ball deflected wide.
The entire stadium exhaled at once.
"Push! PUSH!" Mageed's voice tore through the roar.
And just like that — the counter ignited.
Julian moved first.
His body screamed, lungs clawing for air — but his rhythm was steady.
Stamina: 40%.
The flame awoke.
[Blood Furnace — Lv.2 Activated.]
It hit him like fire through his veins.
Not pain — power.
Heat spread from his chest to his limbs, reinforcing muscle, tendon, bone.
Every heartbeat sounded like thunder in his ears.
