On the stands of Lasesarre Stadium, Barakaldo fans waved tattered scarves, and boos surged like a tide.
The barbed wire fence at the edge of the field was rusty, and the turf still bore traces of mud from the previous match.
Lu Chuan stepped onto the grass, feeling a hard, rough texture under his feet; the turf density here was far inferior to that of Vallecas Stadium.
He took a deep breath of the air, which carried the salty smell of the sea, a unique scent of the Basque region.
In the locker room, Paco Jémez slammed the tactics board against the wall.
"Lu! Today, you are the sole arrowhead!"
His finger heavily jabbed at Lu Chuan's name, leaving a deep ink mark on the whiteboard.
"Bebe and Andrés will create space for you, and Trejo will pass to you.
I don't care how you do it—run, charge, tackle! Get the ball into their goal!"
The teammates' gazes all turned to Lu Chuan, the tense atmosphere making it hard to breathe.
Lu Chuan stood up, the rustle of his uniform exceptionally clear in the quiet locker room.
"Understood, Coach."
His voice was calm and firm, with no trace of fear in his eyes.
The match began, and the home team players charged at every ball like enraged beasts.
Félix Cala and Óscar Platz marked Lu Chuan closely, their breathing as heavy as bellows.
In the 8th minute, Lu Chuan received the ball near the center circle, and Platz quietly approached from behind.
Just as he was about to shield the ball, his ankle was firmly stepped on by an opponent's studs, causing him to stumble and almost fall.
"Beep!"
The referee pointed at Platz, blowing his whistle and waving his arms in exasperation.
"Watch your actions!"
The referee's Spanish had a distinct Basque accent, but he did not issue a card.
Lu Chuan stood up from the grass, shaking his painful ankle. He didn't complain, but silently noted Platz's number—4.
The pain made him even more alert, and facing this excellent opportunity, his heart remained unusually steady.
The goalkeeper's weight was shifted to the left, leaving the far corner open—he caught this detail.
In the 15th minute, Trejo sent a diagonal pass from midfield, the ball arcing perfectly through the air.
Lu Chuan controlled the ball at the top of the Penalty Box, without the slightest hesitation, and unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot!
The ball whistled through the air, and fans in the stands could even hear a dull thud.
Javi Ruiz's pupils instantly dilated, and his body instinctively dived to the left.
"Bang!"
The ball crashed heavily against the post, making a dull thud. The sound of the entire stadium instantly ceased, even the birds stopped chirping.
Javi Ruiz slumped to the ground, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead. He knew that this chinese kid's right foot possessed terrifying power.
The Barakaldo fans in the stands also quieted for a moment, beginning to realize that this number 19 was no pushover.
The match continued, and Lu Chuan's positioning became more cunning. He didn't engage in physical battles with defenders but used his speed and awareness to find gaps in the defense.
In the 22nd minute, Tiago Bebe received a pass from Mario Suárez on the right wing.
Facing the pressing left-back Picuín, Bebe executed two quick stops and changes of direction, completely unbalancing Picuín.
Bebe then drove to the byline and sent in a cross, the ball flying into the Penalty Box in a high arc.
Óscar Platz jumped high, attempting to head the ball clear. But his touch was too far forward, and the ball was headed towards the center of the Penalty Box.
The moment the defender cleared the ball, Lu Chuan had already started. He didn't look at the ball but charged directly towards the predicted landing spot, one step faster than everyone else.
The effect of [Penalty Box Finisher (Trial Card)] was fully activated at this moment!
Time seemed to stand still. Lu Chuan could clearly see the ball's descent trajectory, Javi Ruiz's body's center of gravity, and the optimal shooting angle.
He didn't choose a powerful shot but a delicate chip with the inside of his foot, sending the ball rolling along the ground towards the far corner of the goal!
Javi Ruiz desperately stretched his body, his fingertips brushing the surface of the ball, but it was already too late.
"Goal!"
The away fans' stand instantly erupted in deafening cheers! Lu Chuan's first professional League goal had arrived!
1-0!
Lu Chuan stood still, taking deep breaths of the air on the pitch, his heartbeat deafening.
He turned to the bench and made a "treat" gesture towards Álvaro García.
Álvaro on the bench shook his head helplessly, giving him the middle finger, but couldn't help but smile.
Teammates swarmed him, surrounding Lu Chuan. Trejo's hug was the strongest; he could feel the warmth and sweat from his captain.
"Kid, this is what we want!"
Mario Suárez shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the empty stadium.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the main mission: Proof in the segunda división!"
"Reward: 500LP, Random Skill Card: [Heading Expert (Trial Card)] x1"
His thinking pattern underwent a marvelous change. Now, when he saw a high ball,
his first reaction was no longer to jump with brute force but to calculate the landing spot, observe the opponent's center of gravity, and find the most advantageous jumping timing.
The match restarted, and Barakaldo's players were visibly agitated. Their passes started to go astray, and their defensive actions became rougher.
In the 35th minute, Carles Martínez fouled Santi Comesaña near midfield, earning the first yellow card of the match.
In the 38th minute, Rayo Vallecano earned a corner kick on the right side of the attacking third.
Trejo stood at the corner flag, his eyes scanning the Penalty Box, looking for the best passing target.
Lu Chuan was locked in a struggle with Óscar Platz in the center of the Penalty Box, Platz's elbows constantly hitting his ribs.
Trejo took a short run-up and precisely sent the ball into the center of the Penalty Box with the inside of his right foot.
The ball flew through the air towards Lu Chuan, and Platz jumped to try and intercept it.
But Lu Chuan's jumping timing was more precise; the effect of [Heading Expert (Trial Card)] allowed him to accurately judge the ball's landing spot.
He stretched his body in the air, forcefully flicked his neck forward, and his forehead met the ball squarely!
"Bang!"
The ball shot towards the goal like a cannonball. Javi Ruiz didn't even have time to react before the ball crashed into the net!
2-0!
The moment Lu Chuan landed, he clenched his fists and rushed towards the corner flag. This was his first header in his professional career, and his second goal!
Teammates surrounded him again, this time the celebration was even crazier. Tiago Bebe jumped onto his back, almost knocking him down.
The Barakaldo fans in the stands began to stir, some angrily waving their fists, others shaking their heads in resignation.
Two goals down, their team had been pushed to the brink.
The Barakaldo players on the field completely lost their composure.
In one defensive play, Carles Martínez deliberately pushed Trejo, who was on the ball, heavily from behind.
"Beep!"
The referee's whistle blew again, but this time not for a foul, but for a clash between players from both sides.
Lu Chuan was the first to rush over. He shielded Trejo with his body, helping his captain up from the grass.
Facing the aggressive Martínez, Lu Chuan did not retreat a step. He looked at the opponent calmly, with no provocation in his eyes, only composure.
"Enough!"
His voice was not loud, but enough for all the surrounding players to hear.
Mario Suárez also rushed over, casting an approving glance at Lu Chuan.
Protecting teammates, this is what a true Rayo Vallecano player should do.
The referee showed Martínez a second yellow card, and Barakaldo's midfield maestro was sent off with a red card!
During halftime, the atmosphere in the locker room was much more relaxed.
Teammates chatted in small groups, some rehydrating, others adjusting their shin guards.
Paco Jémez, however, had no smile. He walked up to Lu Chuan, his gaze serious.
"Are you satisfied with two goals?"
His voice was low, but enough to silence the entire locker room.
"I'm telling you, a true striker is like a shark—once he smells blood, he won't stop!"
Paco's fist slammed heavily on the tactics board, making a dull thud.
"In the second half, I'm giving you unlimited shooting rights. Go get your hat-trick!"
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Lu Chuan, awaiting his response.
Lu Chuan slowly stood up, an even stronger fighting spirit burning in his eyes.
"Understood, Coach."
His voice was as calm as water, but everyone could feel the energy contained within it.
A hat-trick, this is an achievement every striker dreams of. And now, the opportunity was right before him.
Outside the window, the Basque sea breeze howled against the stadium walls, as if playing a battle song for the upcoming second half.
Lu Chuan closed his eyes, and images of the ball entering the net flashed through his mind. Not once, not twice, but a third time, a fourth time, and even more.
Tonight, he would complete his own slaughter on this humble stadium.