Every Liverpool fan in the stadium was singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" in unison, all eyes fixed on the pitch.
After interacting with the supporters, the Liverpool players returned to the locker room to change into their championship attire.
At that moment, a system notification rang out in Leo Lin's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, on reaching a career championship trophy milestone. Reward: 150 points. Total points: 315. You may now draw your next skill!"
The familiar image of a calm sea surfaced once again. Leo Lin waited expectantly to see what skill he would obtain.
With Laudrup's Vision already enhancing his game, his attacking play had become far more complete.
Pirlo Passing combined with Laudrup's Vision, supported by tremendous strength and explosiveness, had made Leo Lin increasingly well-rounded in attack.
But he knew that as a Midfielder, there was one especially crucial special skill he still lacked.
The tranquil sea rippled as the draw began.
A blue glow rose slowly from the depths.
The higher it climbed, the brighter it became.
A blinding burst of light pierced through the surface.
A blue team crest flashed by, and in Leo Lin's ears, a thunderous chant seemed to erupt.
"Stamford Bridge!!!"
"Stamford Bridge!!!"
...
The blue light flared to its peak before gradually fading.
The chant in his ears shifted—no longer just a stadium name, but a player's name growing clearer and clearer.
"Zola!!!"
"Zola!!!"
"Zola!!!"
"Ding!!!"
"Congratulations, Host, you have drawn Zola's skill: Rainbow Free Kick!"
Leo Lin was overjoyed. The free-kick ability he had long wanted to strengthen had finally arrived.
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola—Leo Lin had studied his footage more than once, specifically to learn his free-kick technique.
The diminutive Chelsea maestro was known for striking the ball with the inside of his foot, lifting it into the air like a rainbow.
The ball would rise, then dip sharply before dropping into the net.
That trajectory made it extremely difficult for goalkeepers to judge the flight path and react in time for a Goalkeeper Save.
If the inside-back spin wasn't struck perfectly, the ball would produce a strange arc and fierce rotation—combining angle and power in a way that left keepers guessing.
Leo Lin immediately fused with and absorbed Zola's free-kick skill.
As the blue light merged into him, a subtle, exhilarating sensation coursed through his body. He couldn't wait to test his new free-kick technique.
But for now, there was something more important—celebration.
Inside the locker room, the Liverpool players were belting out the club anthem at the top of their lungs.
Staff, coaches, and players gathered together, celebrating as one.
Shimmering golden championship outfits lay on the table, alongside bottles of champagne waiting to be popped.
The award podium had already been set up inside the stands at Wembley for the EFL Cup ceremony.
The players would walk up from the right side of the stand, accepting applause and cheers from the supporters.
The stadium DJ's voice boomed as Liverpool's players made their way back onto the pitch one by one.
The Liverpool fans erupted instantly.
Wembley Stadium had completely transformed into a red sea of celebration.
After a full season of hard work—rotating the squad in earlier EFL Cup rounds to eliminate multiple opponents, then fielding the strongest lineup in the crucial knockout matches—Liverpool had finally secured the trophy.
Some might argue that the EFL Cup didn't carry the greatest prestige.
But Leo Lin cherished this title deeply.
Not only was it the first club trophy of his career, it was the result of the entire Liverpool squad's collective effort.
Every first-team member had played a part.
As Liverpool's players stepped onto the podium one by one, the fans roared their approval.
Captain Henderson received the trophy from the chairman, and another deep roar surged through the stands.
The players broke into celebratory dances. Holding his medal, Leo Lin bounced in front of the camera, pulling a different goofy face each time he jumped. Everyone waited for the moment the trophy would be lifted.
On the ESPN broadcast, Jon Champion's passionate voice rang out as Henderson raised the trophy.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we can now confirm the champions of this season's EFL Cup are…"
"Liverpool!"
"Congratulations to Liverpool on becoming another English side to lift silverware this season!"
Fans in the livestream celebrated just as wildly as those in the stadium.
Henderson hoisted the trophy high. The players erupted, and Wembley became a sea of red.
"Congratulations to Liverpool on lifting their first trophy of the season!"
"They absolutely deserve this championship—they've earned it!"
"Lin gives us hope for the future—he could be the one to succeed Gerrard!"
The players took turns lifting the trophy, interacting with the supporters.
The Liverpool fans cheered tirelessly, responding to each player in turn.
When Leo Lin raised the trophy high above his head, the noise surged again. He then walked toward the supporters' section to celebrate with them.
The unconditional love and support from the Liverpool fans moved him deeply.
At Liverpool, he felt the purest form of football.
Facing the stands, Leo Lin patted the club crest on his chest again and again, waving and applauding to show his gratitude.
The fans responded with overwhelming passion. In their eyes, this young man had already become Liverpool's future.
Reporters began interviewing the champions on the spot. An official Premier League journalist quickly approached Leo Lin—an interview that would undoubtedly draw significant attention.
"Lin, congratulations!" The reporter gave him a big hug.
Leo Lin smiled and returned it. He respected the journalist, who reportedly held a prominent position within the Premier League.
Holding up the microphone, the reporter asked:
"Lin, fans are expecting even greater things from you this season. Is the EFL Cup just the first step?"
"Can we expect more trophies?"
An interesting question.
After a brief pause, Leo Lin replied:
"I won't predict what the future holds. But I can promise every supporter who believes in us that we'll give everything we have in every single match."
Facing the camera, Leo Lin smiled confidently and tapped the club crest on his chest.
"I promise."
"This is the club I love most. I will always fight to defend Liverpool's honor!"
...
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