September 13, 2014. Sinsheim, Germany.
The 300-kilometer journey from Wolfsburg to Sinsheim took nearly four hours. On the team bus, the atmosphere was a mix of quiet focus and the lingering hum of the international break. Qin Ming sat by the window, watching the German countryside blur into a mosaic of green and gold.
In his mind, he was still replaying the tapes of Hoffenheim's recent matches. He saw the familiar, toothy grin of Roberto Firmino—the "atypical center" who would one day conquer Europe. He saw a young, towering NiklasSüle, a mountain of a defender still finding his footing. Hoffenheim, affectionately known as Huo Village by Chinese fans, was a club built on a "triple jump" miracle from the bottom tiers to the Bundesliga. They were small, rural, and incredibly dangerous.
"Luis," Qin Ming whispered, turning to Luiz Gustavo. "Is it true? Did Ralf Rangnick really resign because the board sold you to Bayern without telling him?"
Gustavo offered a wry, bittersweet smile. "I guess so. Mr. Ralf is a perfectionist. He built that team around a specific philosophy, and when the management went behind his back to take the Bayern money... he couldn't stay. He's the godfather of the high press, Qin. To him, every player is a vital gear."
Qin Ming nodded. He looked at Gustavo and Olić—two former Bayern warriors now wearing the green of Wolfsburg. They were veterans who had given their best years to the Bavarian giants. They weren't "broken flowers" yet, but the fire was no longer a wildfire; it was a steady, flickering hearth.
The bus pulled up to the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena. Outside, the "Huo Village" faithful were out in force, waving dark blue flags and singing about their "Happy Home."
Inside the locker room, the air was thick with the scent of wintergreen and anticipation. Dieter Hecking stood at the front, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on the No. 13.
"The configuration changes today," Hecking announced, his voice echoing off the tiled walls. "Marco on the right, Kevin in the hole. And on the left... Qin. This is the opportunity I promised you."
The room went silent for a heartbeat. Starting. It was one thing to come on as a tactical chaos factor against a tired defense; it was another to carry the burden of the opening whistle.
"I won't betray your trust, Boss," Qin Ming said, his voice steady even as his heart performed a Samba rhythm against his ribs.
Hecking nodded. "Hoffenheim is 'strong attack, weak defense.' They play through Firmino. He's the hub. We limit him, we stabilize the back, and then we let Kevin organize the counter. Do your job, and the magic will follow."
The pre-match warm-up was a blur of emerald turf and the roar of the crowd. As the teams gathered in the tunnel, Qin Ming found himself at the back of the queue, standing near Firmino and the towering Hummels.
A small boy stood beside him, clutching his hand.
"What's your name?" Qin Ming asked, looking down at the caddy.
"Bernhard," the boy answered softly, his eyes wide.
"Brave Bear," Qin Ming translated with a grin. "A strong name. Do you know what mine means?"
Bernhard shook his head. "No."
"The Mighty Dragon," Qin Ming lied smoothly, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Then... can you show me the dragon?" Bernhard's eyes lit up. He had seen bears at the zoo, but a dragon was something from the storybooks.
"Tell you what," Qin Ming leaned down, whispering as if sharing a secret. "If I score a goal today, look up at the sky immediately. If you're lucky, you'll see the dragon flying over the stadium."
Bernhard nodded vigorously, his grip on Qin Ming's hand tightening. "Then you must score! You have to!"
Next to them, Roberto Firmino couldn't stay silent. "Kid, don't listen to him," he said in his accented German, looking at Bernhard. "There are no dragons. He's just a storyteller."
Bernhard looked at the Brazilian star and then back at Qin Ming. "You're the one lying!" he shouted at Firmino. "I believe the Dragon!"
Qin Ming let out a joyful laugh, shrugging his shoulders in a perfect imitation of Ronaldinho's carefree arrogance. Firmino stared at him, his brow furrowed. Why does this kid's smile feel so annoying? the Brazilian wondered.
The referees signaled the start. The music began to swell—a deafening, orchestral anthem that shook the foundations of the arena. Qin Ming stepped out of the tunnel, the sunlight hitting his face as 30,000 fans erupted into a wall of sound.
He looked up at the sky, just for a second. He didn't see a dragon, but he saw the 70% fusion bar in his mind, glowing with a new, golden intensity.
• [Skill: Poké Ball Sense] — 75%
• [Skill: Devil's Shot] — 52%
"Ready, Brave Bear?" Qin Ming asked, looking down at the boy.
"Ready, Dragon!" Bernhard chirped.
The whistle blew. The debut was over. The "Samba Elf" was no longer a guest; he was the protagonist. And in the village of miracles, he was about to prove that some stories are true.
Author's Note:
Qin Ming is officially a starter! The 'Battle of the Asian Stars' begins as he faces off against Firmino's brilliance and Süle's defensive wall. If you want to see the Dragon take flight, don't forget to drop your Power Stones and add the book to your Library!