Chapter Five: A Goal Defended by Nine

Gu barely challenged. Dragging his bad leg, he screened the left of Red River's pivot, forcing every attack toward the side Wei commanded. “Near post is mine! Luo, take the back!” Wei's voice beat twenty thousand supporters. In the seventy-seventh minute, only Gu lacked an action. A center back carried the ball toward him. Gu retreated half a step, waited for a heavy touch, then shouldered into the path. The ball crossed the line. [9/9. Condition complete.] The Echo unlocked, but Shen waited. In the eighty-third minute, Red River pushed everyone forward. Wei caught a cross and immediately threw beyond halfway. Shen activated the Echo.