The Next Big Thing - Chapter 12: Day before the match

The great journey of an ordinary martial artist.“Once your habit is tainted, you have no choice but to live as a dog forever. Do not turn the wolf inside you into a dog.”

In the neon of blue and purple, under the thick steel sky, at the forefront of this surge of data, lies the world post-tech revolution.It’s also the dividing line between reality and illusion.Steel and flesh, past and future.In this place, the world outside and inside coexist. Everything in front of us feels like a wall of time within reach.The darkness is slowly creeping in.But hey, my friend, you gotta know, we can’t just counter darkness with softness.Gotta use fire.

Framed by her family, she had an accident, and found herself pregnant!Five years later, she came back strong, determined to crush those who wronged her and reclaim her child!Her genius son paves the way, swiftly bringing her to the top of the food chain, with influential figures bowing to her!But she never expected that the autistic little girl she unexpectedly met would bring her a troublesome big boss!Before marriage, he holds the little genius's hand, declaring, “Buy a kid, get a dad for free, no deception, unrivaled in punishing scumbags!”After marriage, he kneels on durians with the child, saying, “Sweetie, I'm sorry, our hidden identities have been all exposed...”

Manchester United, once a dominant force in world football, finds itself struggling under Erik ten Hag despite having the financial power to rebuild.Big-money transfers fail to restore the club’s glory, forcing Ten Hag to shift his focus to homegrown talent.Among the overlooked prospects in the U18 squad is Leo Calderon, a 17-year-old central midfielder buried deep in the pecking order.Lacking physicality and dismissed by teammates as weak, Leo endures constant ridicule from those who dominate with strength and athleticism.But during one ordinary training session, everything changes—Leo suddenly sees passing lanes no one else can, angles of play invisible to even the most talented prospects.Yet, there’s a problem. His vision surpasses his ability. The passes he attempts don’t connect, his technique unable to match his newfound awareness.Coaches dismiss his efforts as sloppy, and his struggles continue. But one unexpected observer—a visiting League One assistant coach—notices something different.He watches Leo’s movements, seeing potential where others see failure.As Leo fights to prove himself in an unforgiving system, the question lingers—can he refine his raw talent before the club moves on without him?