Chapter Twelve: Advanced Course

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Finally over! Wei Lai felt utterly drained. During those forty minutes, he lost the ball countless times and was outplayed repeatedly. If it weren’t for that towering figure named Maguire holding the line, Manchester United’s defense would have collapsed. Yet, Wei Lai could sense how hard Maguire was struggling—each challenge felt like a gamble. With no defensive midfielder shielding him, Maguire was exposed directly to the relentless assaults of the opposing forwards. This constant pressure made his task all the more grueling. But there was nothing Wei Lai could do; he simply couldn’t do more.

“Congratulations, you’ve completed the assessment!” Casemiro’s voice rang out.

Wei Lai replied dejectedly, “Sorry, I messed up the match!”

He knew that compared to the other side, their team’s strength was a class above. Unfortunately, he was just a ‘decoration,’ turning Manchester United into nearly a ten-against-eleven situation. It was almost ten against twelve, considering the system’s forced intervention counted as a side effect.

Casemiro chuckled softly. “Next is the reward. Take it all in.”

“Ah?” Wei Lai hadn’t even grasped what was happening when his body moved involuntarily.

“Again, control?” Wei Lai panicked.

During a throw-in, as a teammate tossed the ball to him, Wei Lai clearly saw his head tilt to one side, observing intently. After locking onto a target, his body suddenly dropped back. Before controlling the ball, he first engaged in a physical duel. After pushing the opponent away, he secured the ball steadily, pulled it back, turned, and passed it sideways. Even after the pass, his body didn’t stop but drifted toward the center circle.

With a series of touches, he began to untangle the chaotic rhythm Wei Lai had caused.

“Is the coach a playmaking midfielder?” Wei Lai asked in surprise.

“No!” Casemiro’s voice came again. “I’m a defensive midfielder, but I have a fantastic partner from whom I’ve learned a few tricks.”

The next moment, the ball descended from the air. The foot relaxed to gently cushion it, the body’s center of gravity shifting to the right, then suddenly pulled left. The ball was expertly dragged away to complete the escape. The sequence was fluid and natural, lending even a stocky frame a hint of grace.

Casemiro said, “That’s my other partner’s skill. His escapes are world-class! He’s one of the few midfield masters in football. Though not tall, he’s incredibly impressive. If you keep improving, you’ll eventually learn from them too.”

“Now, the real focus begins. Watch closely and learn well!”

As Casemiro’s voice faded, he charged across the pitch like a wild beast. Wei Lai had never seen anyone like this before.

Under the impact of this body, the opposing attacks repeatedly failed—whether through physicality or skill. That ferocious presence truly dominated the field. With this outstanding performance, the cheers from tens of thousands of fans in the stands surged in waves.

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Wei Lai thought the crowd only roared when goals were scored. But he realized that each brilliant interception and tackle by Casemiro sparked fierce cheers from the audience. Not only that, the fierce offensive momentum of the team called Athletic Bilbao was gradually shattered.

At this moment, Casemiro resembled a tiger prowling the midfield. His piercing eyes locked onto the opposition, exuding an intimidating aura. He sprinted and howled across the pitch like an invincible iron warrior.

Another interception—this time in the attacking third!

“Great ball!” Wei Lai couldn’t help but cheer. From his first-person perspective, he understood just how critical that interception was.

“Time to pass!” he exclaimed excitedly.

But the next second, the body moved forward with a powerful step. The right leg swung fiercely, the thick thigh veins bulging, the foot striking the ball like a whip.

Boom!

The ball rocketed like a cannonball toward the goal, blasting past the goalkeeper’s outstretched fingers.

Wei Lai’s mouth fell open in astonishment.

“Incredible... amazing!”

The sounds on the pitch gradually became distant and then silent. Yet Wei Lai felt as if those exuberant cheers still echoed in his ears. Here, he had experienced the grandeur of Europe’s top football arenas—so many mesmerizing moments!

“My student, the courses over the past month are complete. Though brief, watching your growth brings me great comfort,” Casemiro’s figure slowly appeared. This time, it was no longer an illusion but clear and vivid.

“Your future holds many challenges. This is just the beginning. I hope you overcome all difficulties; I sincerely wish you success!”

Wei Lai gazed at Casemiro, gratitude etched deeply on his face. Though not a star of his own world, Casemiro was undoubtedly an exceptional player.

“I won’t let you down! I will train twice as hard!”

Seeing Wei Lai’s earnest expression, Casemiro smiled with satisfaction.

“My lessons are finished for now. Next comes the advanced course. Don’t slack off—I’ll be cheering for your future!”

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Casemiro’s figure gradually faded, dissolving into specks of light that vanished into the space.

Wei Lai exhaled slowly just as the system notification sounded:

[First stage course completed! About to enter advanced training: Defensive anticipation, defensive observation, defensive reading, and defensive coverage!]

[Instructor: ????]

A silhouette slowly emerged.

Wei Lai was stunned to find that the figure was shorter than himself—about 170 centimeters tall—with a slightly slender build, dressed in a blue tracksuit. The face was still shrouded in mist, but from the exposed hands, it was clear the person was Black.

“H-hello! I’m your second course instructor. My name is... um... I can’t tell you yet. Sorry!” The figure scratched his head, seeming quite shy.

Wei Lai scratched his cheek. “Then... how should I address you?”

“Call me Iron Wall! Coach Iron Wall! I like that!”

Iron Wall?

Wei Lai glanced at the figure, noticeably shorter and less muscular than Casemiro. Could this physique really belong to a defensive midfielder? It didn’t quite fit the name “Iron Wall.”

“So... shall we start the lesson?”

“Uh...” Wei Lai nodded. “Sure, no need to be so formal.”

“My personality is a bit shy, but I’ll teach this lesson as best I can, so don’t worry too much.”

Wei Lai nodded. “Where do we begin?”

“Anticipation. We start with anticipation!”

With that, the space morphed into a match scenario once again.

“My course is practical. Next, we’ll do live drills.” Coach Iron Wall glanced at Wei Lai, then after a moment said, “I’ll demonstrate first.”

He stepped onto the pitch. Among a group of players between 180 and 190 centimeters tall, Iron Wall looked like a little guy, lacking any imposing presence. Casemiro had felt like a fierce tiger just standing there; Iron Wall, however, was quiet and unassuming, almost easy to intimidate.

“Is he really a defensive midfielder?” Wei Lai scratched his head in puzzlement.