Three new technical sub-items appeared on the personal attribute panel. From a pessimistic point of view, the demand for base points increased again, creating a ridiculous feeling of being in high-interest debt. But from an optimistic point of view, as long as there were enough base points, each technical sub-item could be improved quickly, and his overall strength would naturally grow more comprehensively.
Fifteen base points. Lu Ke quickly scanned his attribute panel. After careful consideration, he made his choices.
First, he looked at his Injury Resistance, which went from 90 to 95 after adding five points. Now, this attribute was tied with Tactical Awareness as the two highest attributes. After experiencing arm muscle fatigue against the Giants and nine sacks against the Ravens, and most importantly, after experiencing a high level of mental stress against the Ravens and Rams, Lu Ke was starting to realize that the closer he got to the playoffs, the more intense the games would become. It wasn't just about physical confrontation, but a comprehensive test of his mental and physical strength, and his courage. Naturally, avoiding injuries and staying in shape was becoming more and more important.
Next, Tactical Area Accuracy, which was originally 75, reached 80 after adding five base points. This meant that all of his passing skills had now crossed the 80-point threshold. In crucial moments, the ability to control the tactical area was crucial, as was evident in the games against the Cardinals and the Ravens. This reflected the quarterback's precise understanding and effective execution of a tactic, as well as his ability to control the game's progression at critical moments.
Then, Lu Ke's eyes fell on Physical Fitness, Wrist Control, and Passing on the Run.
Physical Fitness was at 77. It's a direct improvement of his ability to withstand a hit. In the blink of an eye, he was only a step away from reaching 80, and this would play an unexpected role in his journey to the playoffs.
Wrist Control was at 81. Its practical effect on controlling interceptions and the landing spot of the ball was undoubtedly the most obvious, especially since he was about to face the Cardinals again this week. In the last game, Lu Ke had three interceptions. This time, he didn't want to repeat that.
Passing on the Run was at 72. This skill was a bit special. If the offensive line could provide a stable pocket, this skill would be useless. But if it was like the game against the Ravens, where the pocket was a constant threat, Lu Ke would have to pass the ball while running and moving most of the time, and his passing accuracy would be completely affected.
In addition, the effectiveness of Passing on the Run was also closely related to Running with the Ball in an actual game. Lu Ke's Running with the Ball sub-item was currently at 71. It could be said that these three sub-items were all the right and necessary choices. Even if it wasn't this week, it was bound to happen in the next week or the week after, once he had enough base points. The question now was, for the next game, which sub-item was the most urgent, the most pressing, and the most needed for a quick power-up.
After careful consideration, Lu Ke chose Passing on the Run over Wrist Control. The reason was simple: Wrist Control was already one of Lu Ke's strengths. Before the game against the Cardinals, Lu Ke had only one interception for the season. This week, facing the Cardinals on the road again, their defensive tactics would not remain the same because both sides would make adjustments, and the Cardinals would surely exploit the weaknesses from the 49ers' three losses. In that case, the pocket problem became obvious. The 49ers' offensive line was still not very stable and was far from being a top-tier unit in the league. This meant that Lu Ke had to rely on his own abilities to create more opportunities.
Undoubtedly, Passing on the Run was the top choice. The remaining five base points were all added to Passing on the Run. The score for this sub-item was now 77, ensuring that Lu Ke's passing skills would be put to their full potential while running and moving. As for Running with the Ball, that would have to wait until next time.
After all the base points were used up, Lu Ke let out a long sigh of relief. His strength had improved once again on a small scale, and he was sure that he was ready for the first true revenge match of his career. It wasn't a "revenge match" like the ones against the Washington Redskins or the St. Louis Rams. The so-called misses and being undrafted in the draft were just a matter of interests being weighed. For Lu Ke, there was no bad blood, so there was no revenge.
But it was different against the Arizona Cardinals. They were a divisional rival, a bitter one. A direct competitor for the playoffs. In their last meeting, the Cardinals broke the 49ers' undefeated home streak and humiliated Lu Ke, which indirectly led to a two-game losing streak. More importantly, the war of words on Twitter had escalated to a whole new level. All of this meant that this was a game they couldn't lose! This was the real revenge match! It was for victory, for the playoffs, and for pride and dignity!
It wasn't just Lu Ke himself. It was clear that, in the system's eyes, this was also a very special game. Before they officially headed to Glendale, Arizona, the system had already announced the game missions and the special missions—as expected. For Lu Ke, this game could be a turning point in his career. It wasn't just about winning the game; it was a battle of momentum, courage, and audacity. In a crucial moment, he had to be tough!
Against such a backdrop, if they lost this week's game again, it wouldn't just be a sweep for the season. The Arizona Cardinals could create a mental block for Lu Ke, and they would become his nemesis in the future. Losing would become a habit, and being soft in crucial moments would also become a habit. This was exactly the situation Lu Ke had to avoid. It was like rowing against the current; if you didn't move forward, you would be pushed back!
"Game Mission:
Complete a passing touchdown in the game. Requirement: None. Reward: +1 base point per touchdown.Achieve passing and running balance in the first half. Requirement: The running back must rush for at least 50 yards. Reward: +1 base point.Achieve passing yards in the first half. Requirement: The pass yards must be at least 100 yards. Reward: +1 base point.Complete a pass in a specific formation in the fourth quarter. Requirement: Gain at least 30 yards in a screen pass or a 2x2 formation. Reward: +1 base point.Win the game. Requirement: None. Reward: +3 base points."
There were a total of five mission items. After a detailed analysis, a conclusion could be drawn: they needed to go all out in the first half, with strict requirements for both rushing yards and passing yards. Not to mention that 100 passing yards was a test for the quarterback, but 50 rushing yards was even more so. In some games for some teams, they might not even be able to rush for 30 yards in the entire game. So, how could the running back rush for more yards? The prerequisite was to create more threats with passing, tie up the defense, and create more space for the run. In short, passing and running balance were needed to deliver more powerful blows to the opponent on a tactical level. Achieving a combined total of 150 yards in the first half was an unimaginable challenge for the offense.
In addition to that, there were specific offensive formation requirements in the fourth quarter. Clearly, he couldn't relax in the final moments of the game. It was not about controlling the game, but about continuing to attack. At least from an attitude perspective, it was something that needed to be taken seriously. Did this mean that this game would also be a close one that went down to the wire?
Besides the game missions, there were also special missions, and there were two of them.
"Special Mission: The Provocation from Patrick Peterson and the Disdain from Darnell Dockett.
Description: The Arizona Cardinals' defense is full of confidence that they can easily destroy the San Francisco 49ers' offense once again. They have strongly challenged the host's abilities and questioned the host's qualifications to be a starter on the field. Will you bow down or fight back? Will you compromise or retaliate?Requirements: Beat Patrick Peterson by completing two passes in his coverage area (0/2). Beat Darnell Dockett by making three breakthroughs with short passes or a running back's run (0/3). Limit interceptions to one or fewer.Rewards: +5 special points, +3 unknown special skill packs.Penalty for Failure: Your passing accuracy will decrease by 15% in the next game, and your Twitter rebuttal skill will have a one-week cooldown."
This was the first special mission, which was not just targeting Peterson and Dockett, but the entire Cardinals' defense. Clearly, the war had already begun. Then there was another special mission.
"Special Mission: The Crucial Battle for the Playoffs.
Description: After losing your undefeated home streak, you are once again facing the challenge of the Arizona Cardinals. This is not only a divisional rivalry but also a direct confrontation for a playoff spot and a battle of momentum between the two teams. This will play a decisive role in the outcome of the entire season and the seasons to come. The brave win in a narrow passage!Requirements: The offense must gain at least 250 yards. The defense must create at least one turnover. Win the game by a margin of at least three points.Rewards: +5 special points, +1 unknown special skill pack, +1 team training skill pack.Penalty for Failure: The team's overall strength will decrease by 20% in the next game, and the locker room harmony index will decrease by 20%."
When Lu Ke finished reading the second special mission, he was completely stunned. The defense must create at least one turnover? How could he accomplish that? As a quarterback, he couldn't just roll up his sleeves and go on the field to force a fumble, could he?
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