The Football Legends System

Chapter 10 - LEEDS VS BURNLEY (3)

The second half didn't start.

It detonated.

BOOM!

Burnley surged forward from the kickoff, reckless and furious, like a dam had burst and loosed a tidal wave onto Elland Road.

Nathan barely had a second to react before the storm engulfed him.

Leeds' midfield crumbled under the pressure, and Nathan found himself retreating, deeper and deeper into his own half.

Tracking runners.

Closing down passing lanes.

Throwing himself into tackles like a man possessed.

His heart pounded against his ribs.

His lungs burned.

Every step felt like sprinting through a hurricane.

Thud! Bam! Crack!

Bodies collided.

Boots thudded into shins.

The ball skittered like a mad thing across the soaked grass.

Nathan could almost laugh if he wasn't so busy trying to survive.

Feels like a polar bear's chasing me!

Still, the System continued its silent work, rewarding his grit:

[Ding!]

[+1 Legend Point – Successful Tackle]

[Ding!]

[+2 Legend Points – Interception]

Not glamorous.

Not flashy.

But vital.

And minute by brutal minute, Leeds held the line.

Burnley grew frustrated, their play becoming sloppy, desperate.

Then —

The 67th minute.

The match tilted.

It started with a Leeds clearance — a hacked ball spinning upfield like a wounded bird.

Most of the players were caught too high up.

The field stretched wide, empty, a yawning green ocean before Nathan's eyes.

The ball bounced once — twice —

And dropped perfectly at his feet.

Nathan looked up.

No one ahead but grass, the Burnley goalkeeper, and a whole lot of roaring, disbelieving fans.

This is it.

Your moment.

His legs moved before his brain did.

He sprinted, tearing down the left wing like the devil himself was chasing him.

Tap tap tap!

The ball danced ahead of him.

The wet grass slick under his studs.

Every stride was a prayer, a scream, a lifetime.

He reached the edge of the penalty box—

Time to shoot.

But a voice whispered in his skull:

Darwin Núñez's finishing...

And with it, a sudden, cold panic.

What if he launched it into the parking lot?!

What if he shanked it so badly the coach pulled him off the pitch immediately?!

Nathan clenched his jaw, forcing the fear down.

No. Trust yourself. Even Darwin scores. Even Darwin dreams.

He planted his left foot—

SPLASH!

It slipped slightly on the wet turf!

Nathan's eyes widened.

His right foot swung through wildly —

CRACK!!

The ball took off like a drunk pigeon — spiraling up, then dipping sharply mid-air.

The Burnley goalkeeper — who had braced for a rocket — was completely wrong-footed, frozen as the bizarre shot twisted past him.

Swoosh—THUNK!

The ball slammed into the back of the net.

GOOOOOOAAAAAL!!

The stadium erupted in chaos.

Fans screamed, laughed, hugged strangers.

Even the commentators couldn't keep a straight face:

"HAH! Would you believe it?! Don't ask me how that went in... Nathan Perry, you're officially a wizard!!"

Nathan stumbled toward the corner flag, mouth agape in disbelief.

Before he could even react properly, his teammates mobbed him — tackling him, smacking the back of his head, shouting in his ears.

"Beast!"

"You mad lad!"

"You're banned from doing that again, you nearly gave us all heart attacks!"

Someone — probably Roberts — wrapped an arm around his neck, dragging him into a headlock and laughing hysterically.

Nathan, panting, grinning, simply let it happen.

Inside, his heart soared.

Even luck... sides with the brave.

The System chimed sweetly:

[Ding!]

[+30 Legend Points ]

With the score at 2-0, Leeds finally wrested control of the match.

Burnley's fire sputtered out, their legs growing heavy with frustration.

Now, Nathan began to breathe properly.

And he played.

Oh, how he played.

His dribbles grew sharper.

His passes found teammates with ease.

He darted into space, offering options, dragging defenders wide.

Each little touch, each smart decision, piled up inside him like invisible armor.

The Legend System buzzed gently with small rewards:

[+1 Legend Point – Effective Dribble]

[+2 Legend Points – Key Pass]

By the 85th minute, Nathan was no longer surviving.

He was thriving.

Enjoying the rhythm of the game.

So this is what it feels like, he thought, chest swelling.

To belong.

The final whistle blew at 90 minutes, a sharp blast that shattered the night air.

Pweeeeeet!

Leeds 2 – Burnley 0.

Elland Road was a madhouse.

The fans roared Nathan's name — not mocking now, but chanting, singing, claiming him as one of their own.

Nathan jogged toward the stands, clapping above his head, soaking in every second of it.

The floodlights burned hot and bright, a thousand stars above his head.

He would never forget this feeling.

Not for as long as he lived.

The locker room was chaos.

Laughter.

Shouts.

Towels flying through the air.

Nathan was dragged into the center, someone tossing him a towel and another clapping him hard on the back.

"If Darwin Núñez saw that goal," one of the defenders hooted, "he'd be jealous!"

Nathan laughed along, cheeks flushed, happiness flooding every corner of him.

No mocking now.

No sneers.

Only respect.

Earned the hard way.

The only way that mattered.

As he flopped down onto a bench, muscles aching, heart full, the Legend System popped up once more:

Today had been the first step.

But he wasn't satisfied. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Not even close.

I'm just getting started.