Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

The draw made Team-B play even harder against Team-A, and with more confidence than ever.

Javier was trying to play his part as captain and reorganize the team, to lift spirits. However, the frowns and furtive glances showed that not everyone was on the same page.

Ethan and Willian, in particular, barely exchanged words and avoided passing them on to each other.

As the Team-B players returned to their positions, Lucas exchanged a glance with Denis. They both knew that Team-A was vulnerable, but they couldn't underestimate them.

"Lucas, mark Javier more closely now!" shouted Felix, pointing at the opposing No10.

"Leave it to me!" replied Lucas, adjusting the cuff on his shin guard.

The ball was put into play, and Team-A quickly showed signs of impatience.

Javier dropped back to look for the ball, while Simon and Willian tried to push forward from the wings. Ethan, in the center again, seemed agitated, gesticulating non-stop to get the ball to his feet.

Willian seemed to want to return to the center, but Ethan had been there since the restart after Willian's second goal.

From the bench, Eddie was watching everything intently.

"They're getting disorganized. This is our chance," He commented to Alex, who nodded, arms folded.

On the pitch, Javier evaded Lucas for a moment with a skillful feint and passed the ball to Simon, who was advancing down the right.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Loki blocked Simon, who ran to the by-line, by sliding in to send the ball wide. The opposing full-back got up quickly, but the furious look he directed at Loki showed his frustration.

Javier took the short corner to Simon, who now positioned himself more offensively, almost like a left-winger, reversing the winger position he had at the start. He dominated with class and faced Denis, who quickly advanced to mark him.

"You can't pass!" teased Denis, but Simon just smiled in the corner.

With a quick flick to his right, Simon escaped his marker and advanced, now surrounded by Felix and Daniel. He faked a pass to Javier and suddenly pulled back to the by-line. The dribble was so unexpected that Felix slipped, allowing Simon space to cross.

The cross was high and hard, and everyone in the area prepared to contest the ball. Ethan rose with his imposing center-forward presence, but the ball went past him. It was Willian who ran into the area from behind, surprising everyone.

"Look out!" shouted Anton, stretching out his arms to position himself.

Willian leapt like a predator on the attack, his body arching in the air as his eyes followed the trajectory of the ball. He took a firm header, aiming for the top corner. His height was no asset, however, and the ball came out weaker than expected.

Anton leapt to his right and grabbed the ball with some ease. The goalkeeper fell to the ground, wrapping himself around the ball to make sure it didn't get away.

"Yes, Anton!" shouted Luiz Fernando, relieved.

Ethan kicked the air in frustration. "You're not a striker, Willian! Leave that to me!"

"If I wait for you, the game will end in a draw, Ethan," said Willian, coldly.

The words fell like a stone on the pitch. Javier looked at them both and shook his head, clearly annoyed.

"Enough! You two, pay attention!" Javier shouted, still in the B-Team area. "You're going to stop fighting now, otherwise you'll both leave, and we'll put in others who want to play for the team. You don't have a coach today, but you have a captain, and I'm really going to do that. Now, either you stop fighting, or you're out!"

Javier rarely got angry. As the son of Spanish immigrants, he had grown up in a home where respect and patience were fundamental values. His father, a former midfield player in Spain's minor leagues, always said:

"A captain isn't just a leader, Javier. He's the balance."

So seeing Javier raise his voice in the middle of the pitch was something no one dared ignore.

Ethan and Willian, whose tempers were already flaring, froze at the sound of the captain's shout.

"Did you hear that right?" Javier asked. "This isn't about you. It's about the team. If you want to prove something, do it by playing together. Otherwise, leave the field. Now choose."

Willian bit his lower lip, looking down at the floor. Ethan, for his part, took a deep breath, his jaw muscles tightening. Neither of them answered, but they didn't challenge Javier either. He knew he had succeeded.

With a sharp nod, Javier turned and ran back to his position in midfield, raising his arm to show that the game should continue.

On the bench, Alex smiled. "He'd be a grand coach one day, don't you think?" he asked Eddie.

"Maybe, but he's still too young to think about it," replied Eddie, without taking his eyes off the pitch.

Ethan ran past Lucas as he said this:

"Boy, that guy is scary..."

Lucas smiled, but the slight smile didn't detach him from the situation. He looked around, trying to reposition himself.

As he moved, something bothered him deeply. It wasn't Javier, or the A-Team itself. It was Willian. Or rather, Willian's ability. He couldn't explain it, but he had the impression that the opposing striker appeared out of nowhere, like a moving shadow. He was there, present on the pitch, and then he would disappear only to reappear where he was least expected.

Lucas pressed his fingers against his temples for a brief second. This was the tool that could turn the tide in a split second. It would be good to have this weapon in his hand too.

He felt the familiar hum of the system activating in his head. Messages floated before his eyes like translucent holograms.

[Condition for Skill <Partial Concealment>: Ethan must provide direct help to Willian].

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Lucas closed his eyes for a moment, trying to stifle the sigh of frustration that rose in his throat. "Of course, because nothing can be easy," he muttered.

It was practically impossible for Ethan to pass Willian a goal, and especially since it wouldn't be just any goal, but one that would seal Willian's hat-trick.

Lucas would also have to watch passively while Team-A scored a goal. He shook his head in disbelief. What kind of cruel system required that?

"Lucas, is everything all right?" asked Felix, noticing his expression.

"It's Willian," Lucas finally admitted, in a low tone. "He's... he's unpredictable. You know, one second he's there, and the next... puff! Gone. It's like marking a shadow."

Denis raised an eyebrow, pondering his friend's answer. He looked at the field, where Willian was positioned, but was always on the move, waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

"Listen," Denis said, squeezing Lucas' shoulder to emphasize his words, "you don't have to solve this alone. I'm going to play further back now. Felix, Daniel and I will keep an eye on him. You focus on the attack, understand? Leave Willian to me."

Lucas opened his mouth to protest, but Denis held up his hand, interrupting him.

"I know what you're going to say, but trust me. The A-Team is dangerous, yes, but if we're all worried about what they're going to do, who's going to worry about what we can do?"

For a moment, Lucas was silent. Denis' words made sense. He nodded slowly, feeling the weight on his shoulders ease a little.

"Thanks, Denis. I trust you."

"Good, because if we lose, it's your fault." Denis joked, offering a smile that, despite the tension, was sincere.

Lucas laughed, albeit briefly. He knew the pressure would continue, but now he felt he had an ally who shared the weight of the battle.

On the pitch, the game was intensifying.

Javier, more alert than ever after his previous outburst, commanded the A-Team midfield with precision. He received short passes, turned, found Simon or Willian easily on the edges. The passing was quick and efficient, forcing Team-B to chase the ball like predators in search of prey.

Simon advanced down the right once again, trying to repeat the dangerous cross that had almost resulted in the previous goal. This time, however, Denis was there. With a perfect shot, he disarmed Simon before the full-back could even raise his head.

"Nice one, Denis!" Felix shouted, stepping back to support him if necessary.

Denis looked up, searching for options to play out wide. Lucas was free in midfield, running towards the space. Denis threw the ball towards him, a long, precise pass that Lucas masterfully controlled.

Lucas raised his head, quickly scanning the field in front of him. He saw Miguel positioning himself on the right flank, waiting for a deep pass. With a deft touch, Lucas flicked the ball to the winger. He sprinted past the right-back, who was lost in Miguel's speed and ball control.

Time-B's attack was now fast and coordinated. Miguel crossed low into the area where Raphael was waiting. But Mark, the A-Team goalkeeper, anticipated the move and dived to intercept the cross, keeping a firm grip on the ball.

"Yeah, Mark!" shouted Kevin, clapping his hands to motivate the team.

Mark got up quickly and laid the ball off to Javier, starting another attacking move. The A-Team's No. 10 attracted Felix's marking, captain against captain.