For Advance/Early Chapters:
patreon.com/Shadownarch_
The morning sun glinted off the glass facades of the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. On the pitch, the high-intensity tactical drill had just concluded, leaving several veterans doubled over and gasping for air. The pace Tata Martino demanded was relentless, a vertical evolution of the classic Barcelona style.
Lorenzo stood near the center circle, his chest heaving but his legs feeling remarkably stable. The 85kg frame he had built under Pintus was proving to be an engine of pure efficiency.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the Side Quest: Journey to La Liga!]
[Quest Reward Settlement in Progress...]
[Congratulations! You have received the reward: "Iron Body" (Permanent Injury Immunity Physique).]
[Effect: Your resistance to muscular tears, ligament strains, and bone fractures is increased to the absolute human limit. While extreme malicious fouls may still cause temporary bruising or shock, your body will recover at a superhuman rate. You are now the "Indestructible Beast."]
Lorenzo felt a subtle, metallic hum vibrate through his skeleton, a sensation of profound structural integrity. In a league as physical as La Liga, where defenders like Pepe and Sergio Ramos were known to leave their marks, this was the ultimate insurance policy.
Lorenzo wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind briefly checking the status of the Stadium Codex. He knew that the training ground, despite its prestige, didn't count toward the illumination of legendary stages. His progress remained at (1/3), with only the Alfredo Di Stéfano lit up. He needed the pressure of a real matchday to unlock the next piece of the puzzle. His eyes drifted toward the horizon, perhaps the upcoming trip to Germany or the future clash at the Bernabéu would provide the next spark for that La Liga Legendary Chest.
Tata Martino gathered the squad at the touchline. The air was thick with anticipation. With the preseason matches looming and the official season opener against Levante just a week away, everyone knew that the "experimentation phase" was over.
Martino held a tactical clipboard, his expression grave and professional. Beside him, Jorge Pautasso looked over the physical data one last time.
"Listen up," Martino's voice carried across the silent pitch. "The work we've done this morning has clarified the hierarchy. For our preseason trip to Germany and the upcoming season opener, I am finalizing the starting eleven."
The players stood straight, their gazes fixed on the manager.
"In goal: Valdés. The backline: Jordi Alba, Piqué, Puyol, and Dani Alves."
Puyol gave a sharp nod, his veteran eyes flashing with a renewed hunger.
"The midfield remains our heart: Busquets, Xavi, and Iniesta."
"And the front three," Martino paused, his gaze sweeping over Alexis Sanchez and Pedro before settling on the center of the line. "On the left: Neymar. On the right: Leo. And in the center... Lorenzo."
A heavy silence followed the announcement. Alexis Sanchez's face tightened, his jaw set in a mask of visible frustration. He had spent the last season oscillating between a winger and a makeshift nine, hoping to finally claim the spot. To be unseated by a seventeen-year-old debutant was a bitter pill.
Pedro, ever the professional, simply lowered his head, knowing he would have to fight for his minutes from the bench.
Cesc Fàbregas leaned toward Iniesta, whispering quietly. "The 'LMN' trio. Lorenzo, Messi, Neymar. It's the most aggressive frontline we've fielded since Eto'o left."
Iniesta nodded. "It's not just aggressive; it's balanced. Lorenzo gives Leo the freedom to roam without being swamped by two center-backs. It's a tactical nightmare for any defense."
"LMN, huh?" Neymar said, walking over to Lorenzo and Messi as the group dispersed. The Brazilian superstar was beaming, his energy infectious. "I like the sound of that. After Bale joined Madrid, the media there started talking about the 'BBC.' Bale, Benzema, Cristiano."
Neymar raised an eyebrow, looking at Lorenzo. "They think they have the best attack in the world. I think we need to show them that a Beast and a King are more than enough to silence the Galacticos."
Messi laughed, clapping Lorenzo on the shoulder. "The 'LMN' trio will only work if we stay connected. Lorenzo, you're the pivot. You hold them off, Neymar stretches them wide, and I'll find the gaps."
Lorenzo looked at the two legends beside him. In his previous life, he had watched the "MSN" era (Messi, Suarez, Neymar) dominate world football. Now, because of his presence, history had shifted. He was the "S" in this timeline.
"As long as you two keep the service coming," Lorenzo said with a predatory grin, "I'll make sure the Madrid defense regrets ever hearing our names."
Three days of intense tactical integration followed. Under Martino's guidance, the LMN trio began to develop a terrifying telepathy. Lorenzo's Inzaghi positioning allowed him to create "ghost lanes" for Neymar's dribbling, while his Drogba physicality ensured that any ball played into the box was either scored or recycled.
On the fourth day, the squad reassembled at El Prat Airport. They were boarding a private jet bound for North Rhine-Westphalia.
"Westfalenstadion," Xavi remarked, looking at the travel itinerary. "The Yellow Wall. It's known as the most intimidating atmosphere in Europe. It's a good place to see if the young ones have the nerves for the Champions League."
Busquets leaned back in his seat, looking toward Lorenzo. "It's just a friendly, but Klopp doesn't know the meaning of the word. They play 'heavy metal' football. They'll press you from the moment you step off the bus."
Lorenzo checked the opponent: Borussia Dortmund.
Last season's Champions League runners-up. The team that had destroyed Real Madrid 4-1 in a single night. Though they had lost Mario Götze to Bayern Munich over the summer, they still possessed a squad of terrifying quality.
"Robert Lewandowski is still there," Lorenzo noted to himself. "Marco Reus, Hummels, Subotić, and the new guy, Aubameyang."
This wasn't a B-team scrimmage anymore. This was a clash against the elite.
"Lorenzo," Tata Martino said, walking down the aisle of the plane and stopping by the boy's seat.
"Dortmund's center-backs, Hummels and Subotić, are arguably the best defensive pairing in the Bundesliga. They are tall, they are smart, and they are brutal. This is your true entrance exam."
Martino leaned in, his voice dropping. "If you can score in the Westfalenstadion, you won't just be a Barcelona player. You'll be a world-class threat. Don't let the 'Yellow Wall' swallow you."
Lorenzo looked out the window as the jet began its taxi. He felt the "Iron Body" humming in his muscles and the Batigol cannons ready in his legs.
"Let them press," Lorenzo whispered.
[System Note: Preseason Friendly - FC Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund.]
[Status: Traveling to Germany. LMN Trio Debut Confirmed.]
If you're enjoying the story, consider dropping some Power Stones.
(Stay up to 25 chapters ahead on Patreon)