My Football Legends Chat Group-Chapter 72: Welcome to the south coast

"Welcome to the south coast."

The security guard muttered as the Leeds United bus hissed to a halt outside St. Mary’s Stadium. The air was salty, damp, and smelled like tension.

Rio stepped off the bus, his headphones blasting techno music. He adjusted his collar, feeling the fabric of his club tracksuit against his neck.

"It’s quiet," Archie Gray whispered, stepping down behind him. "Too quiet."

"They are saving their energy for the booing," Rio grinned, grabbing his kit bag. "Don’t worry, Arch. Once we score, it will be even quieter."

"You’re cocky today, Skip."

"Not cocky. Focused."

They walked through the players’ entrance. The walls were adorned with pictures of Southampton legends. Le Tissier, Shearer, Mane.

Rio didn’t look at them. He was looking at his own reflection in the glass doors.

[System Active]

[Condition: Peak]

[Titan’s Core: Ready]

[Mission: The Creator (0/5 Assists)]

"Only five assists," Rio muttered to himself. "Easy work."

"Did you say something?" Piroe asked, walking alongside him.

"Just doing the math, Joel. Get ready to run today. I’m going to put the ball on a plate for you."

Piroe laughed, slapping Rio’s shoulder. "If you feed me, I eat. That is the deal."

They entered the away dressing room. It was smaller than Elland Road, cramped and designed to be uncomfortable. The heating was turned up too high—a classic "dark arts" trick to make the players lethargic.

Manager Farke walked to the center of the room. The chatter died down instantly.

"Listen to me," Farke said, his voice low and serious. "Southampton want the ball. They think the ball belongs to them. They will pass it backwards. They will pass it sideways. They will bore you to sleep."

He slammed his hand on the tactical board.

"Do not sleep! If you sleep, they kill you. We must suffer without the ball. We must chase shadows. And when they make one mistake... we punish them like wolves."

He looked directly at Rio.

"Rio. Kyle Walker-Peters is fast. He played for England. He thinks he is better than this league. Show him he is wrong."

Rio nodded. "He’s just another cone, Boss."

"Good. Now, get dressed. It is war."

Thirty minutes later, the teams were lined up in the tunnel.

The noise from the stands was filtering in—a low rumble of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Rio stood next to Archie. He looked across at the Southampton players. They looked relaxed, confident in their possession game.

Kyle Walker-Peters was standing opposite him, adjusting his captain’s armband (in the absence of Stephens). He caught Rio’s eye and smirked.

"Heard about your goal in training," Walker-Peters said, his voice dripping with Premier League arrogance. "Nice trick. Try doing that when I’m marking you."

Rio didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes.

[Skill Activated: The Scout’s Eye]

A transparent blue box appeared above Walker-Peters’ head.

[Target: Kyle Walker-Peters]

[Mood: Dismissive / Overconfident]

[Current Thought: "He’s just a kid with a hype train. I’ll push him onto his weak foot and he’ll crumble."]

Rio suppressed a laugh. Weak foot?

He leaned in close, whispering so only Walker-Peters could hear.

"My weak foot is better than your strong foot, mate."

Walker-Peters’ smirk faltered for a second. "Fuck off."

"Rio, leave him," Archie tugged at his shirt. "Ref is looking."

"I’m just making friends," Rio winked.

The referee blew the whistle. The teams walked out into the sunlight.

St. Mary’s was packed. The red and white stripes of the home fans created a wall of noise. But inside Rio’s head, another conversation was starting.

[Chat Room Active]

Hand_Of_King: Look at them. They are so neat. So tidy. They play football like they are doing taxes. Boring!

Total_Football_14: Possession is a tool, Diego. But Southampton uses it as a shield. They are hiding behind the ball. Rio, you must be the hammer that breaks the shield.

The_King: Walker-Peters is looking at his feet too much. He is scared of the press. Wait for him to turn, then bite.

Rio nodded to the empty air. "Understood."

PEEEP!

The match began.

As Farke predicted, Southampton started with a game of "keep-ball."

The center-backs passed to the keeper. The keeper passed to the full-back. The full-back passed back to the center-back.

"Olé!" The home fans cheered ironically after five passes.

"Fuck sake," Archie huffed, chasing the ball in midfield. "They aren’t even trying to attack!"

It was the 10th minute. Leeds had touched the ball maybe three times. The possession stats on the big screen read: Southampton 82% - Leeds 18%.

Rio tracked back on the right wing. He watched Walker-Peters receive the ball, take a touch, and pass it backward.

It was frustrating. It was hypnotic.

"Stay disciplined!" Cooper shouted from the back. "Don’t chase it alone!"

Rio gritted his teeth. His legs were itching to sprint. His Titan’s Core was vibrating with unused energy.

15th minute. Still 0-0.

Southampton grew more comfortable. They started pushing their line higher, thinking Leeds were too scared to press.

Bednarek, the center-back, received the ball near the halfway line. He looked up, scanned the field, and played a slow pass to Walker-Peters.

Rio saw it.

[Scout’s Eye Triggered]

[Target: Bednarek]

[Status: Complacent]

Walker-Peters took a lazy touch, thinking he had time.

"Now!" Cantona’s voice roared in Rio’s head.

Rio didn’t just run. He exploded.

[Skill: S-Grade Agility]

He covered the ten yards in a blink. Walker-Peters looked up, expecting Rio to be miles away. instead, he saw a white blur.

"Shit!" Walker-Peters panicked. He tried to turn his body to shield the ball.

Too late.

[Skill: Titan’s Core Active]

Rio slammed his shoulder into Walker-Peters. It wasn’t a foul. It was physics.

THUD.

Walker-Peters went flying. He hit the turf hard, rolling over twice.

"Play on!" The referee waved his arms, seeing the clean shoulder-to-shoulder contact.

Rio came away with the ball. The crowd gasped.

Suddenly, the boring game of chess turned into a knife fight.

Rio drove forward. He was in the Southampton half. The defense was disorganized, split wide open by their own possession shape.

"Piroe!" Rio shouted.

Piroe was making a run through the middle, splitting the center-backs.

Rio looked up. He could shoot. He had the range. The Leeds Missile was loaded.

But the mission...

[Mission: The Creator (0/5)]

He needed assists.

Rio chopped inside, faking the shot. The remaining defender, Harwood-Bellis, bit on the fake, sliding past him like he was on ice.

Rio was now centrally located, 20 yards out.

He saw Piroe pointing to the floor.

Rio slid a perfectly weighted through ball with the outside of his boot. It curled around the recovering Bednarek and landed right in Piroe’s stride.

"Finish it!" Rio screamed.

Piroe took one touch to steady himself and lashed it across the keeper.

SMACK.

The ball nestled into the bottom corner.

GOAL!

0-1.

The away end erupted. The silence of St. Mary’s was shattered by the roar of 3,000 Yorkshiremen.

"YES!" Piroe wheeled away, pointing both fingers at Rio. "What a ball!"

Rio jogged over, a smug grin on his face. He looked down at Walker-Peters, who was still sitting on the grass, complaining to the linesman.

"Told you," Rio said as he ran past. "Weak foot."

Archie Gray jumped on Rio’s back. "You stole his lunch money! That was brutal!"

"Possession is nothing if you don’t have strength," Rio laughed, high-fiving Summerville.

DING.

[Mission Update: The Creator]

[Progress: 1/5 Assists]

Rio checked the interface. One down. Four to go.

He walked back to the center circle. The Southampton players were arguing. Bednarek was shouting at Walker-Peters.

Rio activated Scout’s Eye again.

[Target: Southampton Team]

[Team Morale: Rattled]

[Current Thought: "They are too physical. We need to move the ball faster."]

"They are scared," Rio whispered to Archie. "Look at them."

"They should be," Archie grinned. "We’re just getting started."

The game restarted.

Southampton tried to go back to their passing game, but the rhythm was broken. Every time a Leeds player moved, the Saints flinched.

25th minute.

Rio received the ball near the touchline again. This time, Walker-Peters stood off him, giving him two yards of space.

"Oh? You learned?" Rio teased.

He put his foot on the ball. He stood still.

The ultimate disrespect.

"Come and get it," Rio gestured.

Walker-Peters hesitated. The crowd groaned. Their captain was being mocked.

"Don’t let him mug you off!" A fan screamed from the front row.

Walker-Peters snapped. He lunged in, trying to win the ball back aggressively.

Rio smiled.

[Skill: Elastic Limbs]

He rolled the ball back with his sole, let Walker-Peters kick the air, and then flicked it through the defender’s open legs.

A nutmeg. Clean as a whistle.

"Olé!" The Leeds fans cheered.

Rio burst down the line. He was free.

He looked into the box. Summerville was making a back-post run.

"This is too fun," Rio thought.

He whipped a cross in. It was a beauty, dipping right onto Summerville’s head.

Summerville jumped. He connected.

But the Southampton keeper, Bazunu, made a world-class save, clawing it off the line.

"Argh!" Summerville punched the ground.

Rio clapped his hands. "Next time, Crys! Next time!"

The corner was given.

Rio walked over to take it. He looked at the Southampton box. They were marking zonally.

He saw Rodon making a signal.

[Chat Room Active]

Zizou_5: The near post is open. Their keeper is weak on high balls. Put it right on his nose.

Total_Football_14: Chaos creates opportunities. Whipped delivery.

Rio placed the ball. He raised one arm.

He whipped it in with venom.

The ball curled towards the near post. It was low, hard, and dangerous.

A Southampton defender, Manning, panicked. He tried to clear it but sliced it.

The ball flew backward... towards his own goal.

CLANG.

It hit the post and bounced out.

Scramble.

Bodies flying everywhere.

Archie Gray poked a toe at it. Blocked.

The ball rolled out to the edge of the box.

To Rio.

He had moved from the corner flag to the edge of the area in seconds.

"Shoot!" The crowd screamed.

Rio wound up his leg. The entire defense rushed out to block the Leeds Missile.

But Rio didn’t shoot.

He saw Rutter standing all alone on the penalty spot, everyone else distracted by Rio’s shooting threat.

Rio faked the shot—sending two defenders sliding to the shops—and chipped a delicate pass to Rutter.

"Put it in," Rio whispered.

Rutter volleyed it.

GOAL.

0-2.

29th minute.

St. Mary’s was stunned into silence. Leeds were tearing them apart.

DING.

[Mission Update: The Creator]

[Progress: 2/5 Assists]

Rio stood there, arms crossed, looking at the Southampton bench. Russell Martin was sitting down, head in his hands.

"Two assists in thirty minutes," Rio said to himself. "I might finish this mission today."

Archie ran over, laughing hysterically. "You faked the shot! They were terrified! You played them like puppets!"

"That’s what a Creator does, Arch," Rio winked. "I paint the picture. You guys just sign it."

He looked at the scoreboard. Southampton 0 - 2 Leeds.

But as the team celebrated, Rio felt a vibration.

The_King: Don’t get comfortable. You humiliated their captain. You humiliated their tactics. Now, they will try to break your legs. Be ready.

Rio looked at Walker-Peters. He was staring at Rio with cold, dead eyes.

"Let them try," Rio thought, clenching his fist.