**Chapter 14 – The Second Surge**
*October 20th, 2007 – Bundesliga Matchday 8 (Second Half)*
The break was short, but it was enough. Nico Valen emerged from the tunnel with his head raised, eyes locked onto the field. The thunder of Signal Iduna Park surged around him, but inside—he was focused.
Borussia Dortmund led Wolfsburg 2–1. Nico had orchestrated both goals. But he wasn't satisfied.
Coach Doll had pulled him aside before the players returned to the pitch.
"They're going to press higher now. They'll try to man-mark you again. I want you drifting wider. Pull them apart. Switch flanks if you have to. You're the conductor. Control the rhythm."
Nico nodded once. The fire in his chest never burned brighter.
> **System Notification:**
> *Stamina: 68%*
> *Match Rating: 8.5*
> *Midfield Control Perk Activated: +5 Passing, +4 Vision (10 minutes)*
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**Minute 46 – 55: A Tactical Chess Match**
Wolfsburg did exactly as expected. They brought on Christian Gentner to add muscle to midfield and doubled down on marking Nico.
Minute 48: Gentner clattered into Nico just inside the center circle. Free kick awarded. No card.
Signal Iduna booed. Coach Doll shouted from the sidelines.
Nico rolled up his sleeve. No protests. Only purpose.
Minute 50: Dortmund shifted shape. Tinga dropped deeper to cover, allowing Nico to float.
Minute 52: From the left, he received a long switch from Dede. He trapped it mid-stride, flicked it past Raggi with the outside of his boot, and whipped in a low cross.
Kuba met it—
Blocked by Costa!
Minute 54: Wolfsburg's Misimović attempted a through ball to Grafite. Hummels intercepted and played Nico immediately.
The break was on.
Nico surged forward. One touch to control. One to slice it right to Federico. The winger squared—Frei again!
Saved.
> **System Notification:**
> *Key Pass Registered – Match Rating: 8.7*
The crowd roared Nico's name now. Not chants. Just raw sound.
---
**Minute 56 – 70: The Architect Unleashed**
Minute 59: Dortmund recycled possession through Kehl. Nico dropped to receive. Josué closed him down.
Nico flicked it behind him with a Cruyff turn. Spun away.
Stadium gasped.
Minute 61: From the edge of the box, Nico lifted a perfect lob into the path of Kuba. The Polish winger volleyed—
**GOAL! Dortmund 3 – 1 Wolfsburg**
> **System Notification:**
> *Third Assist – League Total: 7*
> *Match Rating: 9.1*
Commentator: "This boy… this boy is terrifying. He's not just back—he's evolved."
Minute 64: Wolfsburg made a final gamble. Three attackers on. They switched to a 3–4–3. But it opened space.
Minute 67: Nico pulled wide left. Federico overlapped. Quick one-two. Nico ghosted into the box.
Curled shot—
**Crossbar!**
Groans filled the stadium.
Nico bent over, hands on knees.
> **System Warning:**
> *Stamina Dropping Rapidly (47%)*
> *Minor Muscle Tightness Detected*
Coach Doll looked ready to pull him.
---
**Minute 71 – 85: Closing the Book**
But Nico wasn't done.
Minute 73: Wolfsburg clawed one back. Gentner volleyed home from a corner.
Dortmund 3 – 2 Wolfsburg.
Minute 76: Substitution ready.
Coach Doll called out: "Nico, one more!"
Nico raised a tired thumb.
Minute 80: Counterattack. Frei to Nico. He dragged Barzagli out, faked inside—then slipped a no-look pass to Federico, who fired—
**GOAL! Dortmund 4 – 2 Wolfsburg**
> **System Notification:**
> *Fourth Assist – League Total: 8*
> *Match Rating: 9.4*
> *Stamina Critical: 35%*
Minute 82: Nico subbed off to a standing ovation. The entire **Südtribüne** chanted his name.
"NICO! NICO! NICO!"
---
**Full-Time: Borussia Dortmund 4 – 2 VfL Wolfsburg**
The whistle blew. Dortmund's players embraced. Coach Doll hugged Nico as he limped on the sideline.
"You just lit up the league again."
> **System Summary:**
> *Match Rating: 9.4*
> *Assists: 4*
> *Key Passes: 6*
> *Distance Covered: 10.1 km*
> *Stamina: 33% (Rest Required)*
> **Quest Update – Crown of Creation:**
> *League Assists: 8/17 (Midseason Goal)*
> *Current Bundesliga Assist Leader: Nico Valen*
> **Bonus Quest – Chase for Glory:**
> *Trophy Count: 0/1*
> *(Reward: ??? \[Broken Ability])*
> **Progress Toward Thierry Henry Template:**
> *Midseason Objective (Assist Leader) – On Track*
> *Season Goal (Top Scorer) – 4 Goals so far*
---
**Post-Match Interview – Sky Germany**
"Nico, you've returned from injury and registered four assists. How do you feel?"
Nico, drenched in sweat but calm: "I missed the pitch. I missed the pressure. Today felt right."
"Your vision was… otherworldly. Are you eyeing the assist record?"
A shrug. "I just want to win. If the passes come, they come."
He smiled faintly, then walked away.
> **System Notification:**
> *Trait Progress – Calm Under Fire (Level 1 → Level 2)*
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*To be continued in Chapter 15 — Road to Supremacy.*