99: Chapter 99: Dribbling skill rises to 94! The do-or-die battle at Stanford Bridge and the "King of Dribbling" challenge.

System Space.

The two 'Free Definition Points' just earned from the bloody battle at the Etihad Stadium were emitting an alluring glimmer in Yu Bai's hand.

They were the keys to breaking the 90-attribute barrier and ascending to a higher hall of fame.

Shooting (91)? Passing (92)?

These two attributes were already dazzling enough to support him as a core attacker in any team.

But Yu Bai did not hesitate.

His gaze fell upon the attribute that had accompanied him from the beginning, witnessed him tearing through defenses time and again, and best matched the obsession in his heart to 'be the most special if I'm going to do it'—

[Dribbling 92 → 94]

"Deep Blue, add the points!"

In an instant, a more subtle and fluid sense of ball control spread from his feet to his entire body.

It was as if the connection between the ball and his feet had been reinforced and optimized by invisible threads, and his state of man-ball combination had elevated once more.

A Dribbling of 94 was already a symbol of the top tier in the Premier League and even the entire European football scene.

Combined with his Vision of 95 and his Passing of 92, and various god-level skills... Yu Bai could feel the dimensions of his threat on the pitch being infinitely expanded.

He didn't want to be a mere shooter, nor a traditional playmaker.

He wanted to become a one-of-a-kind 'Demon of Dribbling' who could change the rhythm of a game single-handedly and destroy defenses in the most gorgeous and lethal way.

Yu Bai: Dribbling past people like it's nothing is my romance.jpg

December 5, Wales, Liberty Stadium.

Leicester City challenged Swansea City away.

Facing this mid-table team, Yu Bai, with his Dribbling raised to 94 and in hot form, completely entered 'berserk' mode.

Swansea's defense appeared slow and clumsy before him.

He no longer needed excessive feints and direction changes; often, just a simple drop of the shoulder, a change of rhythm, and the improvement in his initial explosive power were enough to easily brush past defensive players.

He became the absolute master of the pitch.

In the 18th minute, after breaking through two players on the left, he cut inside and fired a cold shot from the edge of the penalty area, straight into the dead corner! 1:0!

In the 34th minute, his scalpel-like through ball found Mahrez, who had beaten the offside trap, and the latter easily pushed the ball into the net. 2:0!

In the 51st minute, after breaking through to the byline on the right, he delivered a precise cut-back, assisting Vardy for a powerful shot into the goal! 3:0!

In the 77th minute, he staged a solo show, carrying the ball from midfield, Dribbling past four players, storming into the penalty area, and calmly Shooting into the far corner to complete his brace! 4:0!

In the end, Leicester City thrashed Swansea City 5-0 away, took all three points, and continued to lead the standings strongly!

Yu Bai, two goals and two assists, creating four goals alone, was once again named Man of the Match!

The media exclaimed: 'Premier League King of Dribbling! The Demon of Dribbling has awakened! Yu Bai has entered an unstoppable mode!'

However, after the carnival would come a harsher test.

December 15, Premier League Round 16, the final match, and the focus of all attention—Leicester City would visit Stamford Bridge to challenge the Blues, Chelsea.

This match, long before kickoff, was already wrapped in complex, heavy, and even tragic emotions.

Chelsea, the defending champions, had fallen into an unbelievable slump this season.

They were only in the middle of the table, rumors in the dressing room were constant, and they had lost their sharpness and stability on both the offensive and defensive ends.

And all fingers pointed to the man who had once created glory here, known as 'The Special One'—head coach Mourinho.

This was highly likely the life-and-death battle, the final stand of Mourinho's second tenure at Chelsea.

British media generally revealed: Chelsea's top management had issued an ultimatum; if they could not take points from the League leaders Leicester City at home in this round, Mourinho would be dismissed immediately.

An ordinary League match was thus endowed with heavy tragic colors and a sense of destiny far beyond the competitive level.

Public opinion before the match exploded completely.

[Chelsea side]

When Mourinho appeared at the press conference, his face was rarely tired and heavy, his usual arrogance and sharpness seeming to have been worn away.

His voice was a bit hoarse: "The team has many problems now, some are technical, some are psychological, some..."

He paused, not continuing, "We need unity, we need to find the feeling of victory, at Stamford Bridge."

When mentioning the opponent, he was not stingy with praise, and his eyes became serious:

"Leicester City has played phenomenal football, they deserve the top spot. Defending against Yu Bai will be the key of keys; this young man has quickly grown into their absolute core, his Dribbling, Passing, and Shooting are all at the highest level. Of course, Vardy's movement and finishing, and Mahrez's creativity are also extremely dangerous."

He even specifically mentioned: "NGolo Kanté, his performance has been severely underestimated. In my opinion, he might be the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League this season, bar none."

When asked sharply by a reporter "Are you aware that you will be sacked if you can't take points in this battle?", Mourinho twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a complex, almost self-deprecating smile, and waved his hand:

"Nothing to say. The football world has always been like this."

[Leicester City side]

Claudio Ranieri appeared cautious and humble, but there was a hint of gravity in his brows.

He first responded to the most sensitive topic:

"Regarding whether Yu will return to Tottenham in the winter window... We are still communicating with the Tottenham Hotspur club. Our attitude is very clear: we don't want him to go back, the club doesn't want it, the coaching staff doesn't want it, the players don't want it, and the fans want it even less. But the decision is not entirely in our hands."

Speaking of the opponent, he gave enough respect: "Chelsea has encountered some difficulties this season, but they are still Chelsea, possessing world-class players and a world-class head coach. Playing at Stamford Bridge is never easy. We will not have any underestimation because of the gap in the standings; we will go all out."

Asked about the title prospects, Claudio Ranieri laughed: "Premier League title? That's too far away. We just want to play every game well now. 'Do our best and leave the rest to fate'! I know, this will be very, very difficult!"

Yu Bai was surrounded by guns and cannons in the mixed zone, and the questions naturally could not bypass Tottenham and Chelsea.

"Return to Tottenham?"

Yu Bai smiled, his tone relaxed, "I can't think about that much. I am a Leicester City player now, and I only want to give everything for the blue jersey on my body."

"The upcoming schedule?"

He looked at the reporter, a flash of excitement and challenge in his eyes, "Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City..."

He paused, the corners of his mouth hooking into a slightly teasing arc:

"I must say, the person who made this schedule is truly a 'genius'."

"However," he put away his smile, his eyes becoming sharp, "I 'love' this schedule."

"Only the strongest opponents can test the true quality."

London, Stamford Bridge.

The overcast sky, the oppressive atmosphere.

Although the match had not yet started, this famous 'fortress' stadium was filled with a different kind of tragic and anxious emotion than usual today.

Blue flags still fluttered, but the singing seemed to lack some certainty and had more roars and expectations.

For Chelsea fans, this was not just a match.

This was a desperate fight for dignity, for the man who had brought them countless glories, and for the slim hope of the season, even... a farewell battle.

Yu Bai stepped onto the turf of Stamford Bridge with his teammates and immediately felt the heavy pressure and hostility.

The gazes cast from the stands were extremely complex—there was scrutiny, wariness, and cold hostility, viewing him as the 'last straw that ends the Mad One's era.'

"So this is Stamford Bridge..."

Yu Bai took a deep breath; the air seemed to be permeated with the smell of iron and blood and competition.

Unlike the grandeur of Old Trafford and the modernity of the Etihad Stadium, there was an old-school, tough, and even somewhat 'xenophobic' fortress temperament here.

Just as he looked around this stadium full of stories, adjusting his breathing and heartbeat—

[Ding—!]

The familiar prompt tone arrived on schedule, as if it were his exclusive BGM for invading the home grounds of giants.

[At 32 years old, you have stepped into the iron-blooded Blue Bridge for the first time—Stamford Bridge.]

[Exclusive scene task triggered—The Trial of the 'King of Dribbling'!]

[Task Description: In this match, the number of your successful dribbles must exceed the number of successful dribbles by Chelsea player Eden Hazard.]

[Reward Rules: For every successful dribble more than Hazard, you will receive 1 Free Definition Point.]

[Reward Cap: 10 points.]

[Task Message: This is an iron-blooded fortress and a touchstone for geniuses. In front of the real 'King of Dribbling,' prove who is the King of Dribbling tonight? Or, become the background board for his return to the throne.]

Yu Bai: "!!!"

His pupils shrank slightly, and his heart jumped violently.

Dribble count... exceed Hazard?

And it gives rewards based on the difference, with a cap of 10 points?!

This task was too direct, too rough, and too damn much to his liking!

Who is Hazard? The Premier League Player of the Year last season, PFA (Professional Footballers' Association) Player of the Year, one of the top Dribbling masters and explosive points in the Premier League and even the world!

Although he had been troubled by the team's overall slump and personal form this season, and his performance had declined, a lean camel is bigger than a horse; he was still a nightmare for any defender.

At Stamford Bridge, on Hazard's home turf, under the gaze of tens of thousands of Chelsea fans, the system wanted him to complete a head-on transcendence in the field this 'former King of Dribbling' was best at!

This was not a simple stat-padding task.

This was a potential preview of a power shift with strong symbolic significance, and the ultimate test for his Dribbling attribute that had just been raised to 94!

In an instant, excitement, desire for challenge, longing for the reward, and a trace of imperceptible awe in the face of a legendary opponent intertwined in Yu Bai's heart.

He subconsciously raised his eyes and looked at Chelsea's half.

There, that Belgian with a short but sturdy and powerful build and fluffy curly hair—Eden Hazard—was doing final Passing and receiving practice with his teammates.

His expression didn't show much emotion, but deep in his eyes, a ball of fire seemed to be suppressed.

The team's predicament, the coach's pressure, personal form... he also needed an explosion to prove himself.

"Hazard..."

Yu Bai whispered the name, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the hem of his jersey.

The cap of 10 Free Definition Points meant that if he could crush Hazard in dribbles, he would get a huge 'windfall'!

Enough to push one of his key attributes to another level.

But the premise was that he had to win, and win beautifully in a direct head-to-head of personal stats.

This would undoubtedly increase his burden and risk in the match.

He needed to hold the ball and break through more, which might lead to more double-teams and fouls, and might even affect the team's overall offensive choices.

Is it worth it?

Yu Bai only thought for less than three seconds.

Worth it!

Why wouldn't it be worth it?

Improving himself was his biggest goal anyway.

And defeating a powerful opponent, especially in the way the opponent was best at, wasn't that the most thrilling challenge on the road to the top?

As for the team's interests... Yu Bai's eyes focused.

He had confidence that his breakthrough was one of Leicester City's sharpest weapons.

Combining personal tasks with team tactics, tearing through Chelsea's defense with successful dribbles, creating opportunities for teammates, or finishing by himself—this was 'win-win'!

"However..."

Yu Bai licked his slightly dry lips, his eyes flashing with calculation and excitement, "Need to plan well. Can't blindly rush hard. Need to find the right time, improve the success rate. Also need to keep an eye on Hazard's stats... although I can't see real-time statistics, I feel it can't be too far off."

He seemed to have already seen, on the post-match statistical sheet, behind his successful dribble count, that eye-catching '(+ X)' and the Free Points that would arrive accordingly.

"Eden Hazard..."

Yu Bai looked towards the Belgian again, the corners of his mouth slowly hooking into an arc full of fighting spirit.

"Sorry."

"Tonight's 'King of Dribbling'..."

"I'll take it."

Just then, captain Wes Morgan walked over, slapped him hard on the back, and asked in a rough voice: "Yu, are you ready? These guys are definitely going to fight for their lives today."

Yu Bai withdrew his gaze, looked at Wes Morgan, his face having returned to his usual calmness and focus.

He nodded, his voice not loud, but carrying a tone of ironclad determination:

"Ready, Captain."

"If they want to fight for their lives, then let's see..."

"Whose life is harder."

Not far away, NGolo Kanté, who was stretching, seemed to feel something.

He raised his head, looked at Yu Bai, then looked at Hazard in the distance.

A thoughtful expression appeared on that honest face.

He walked to Yu Bai's side and whispered in a voice only the two could hear:

"Yu, you seem... especially 'hostile' to Eden Hazard today?"

Yu Bai glanced at his best partner, did not hide it, blinked, and whispered: "NGolo, if I say, I want to beat that best guy on the opposite side in the Dribbling stat tonight... will you help me?"

NGolo Kanté was stunned for a moment, then, a clean and firm smile slowly appeared on his usually expressionless face.

He nodded vigorously:

"Of course."

"I will try my best to grab the ball and give it to you."

"Whoever you want to dribble past, I will help you block the others who want to disturb you."

Yu Bai felt a warmth in his heart and hugged NGolo Kanté's shoulder hard: "Thanks, brother."

NGolo Kanté shook his head, his eyes looking towards Chelsea's half, at the number 10 surrounded by teammates, his eyes as sharp as when he first arrived in the Premier League to mark those famous superstars:

"He is very strong."

"But you are the strongest on our side now."

"Then let's..."

"Start with him."