During preseason training, Chen Hero would conduct "dungeon training" in his residence almost every night. His experience was growing rapidly. By the start of the season, he had leveled up two and a half times, gaining two talent points which he invested into the "Knockdown" talent. Originally, he intended to max this out, but he suddenly found himself in a predicament where he could only score with headers, making his attacking methods too limited. Helplessly, he had to put all the talent points into "Heavy Artillery."

Now that Heavy Artillery was maxed out, Chen Hero experienced what it felt like to have a talent skill maxed out, and he wanted to max out the "Knockdown" talent even more.

Whether in friendlies or in training, when he used his body to compete for the ball, he would often be called for fouls. His diving header, taking down both people and the ball, really did look like a foul.

But sometimes, when facing tight defense, if you don't toughen up, you can only be frozen by the opponent.

Chen Hero didn't want to be the kind of "fake center forward" who becomes soft and useless the moment an opponent's defender marks him closely. In his understanding, a center forward should be an indestructible attacking weapon, and it should be a heavy weapon, like the once-glorious heavy battleships of World War II.

The center forward he understood should be a symbol of strength, an unparalleled representation of might. Especially the aerial threat center forwards—any player who dares to block them will come to a bad end!

Think of Vieri in the 2002 World Cup group stage, charging forward with an Ecuadorian defender hanging on his back. Another Ecuadorian defender, not knowing any better, wanted to knock Vieri away. What happened? He was the one who got knocked away!

That's the kind of center forward Chen Hero had in mind.

My skills may be simple, but I can overcome all with brute force. Power to a certain extent is a terrifying weapon. No fancy moves, just one heavy punch after another. You can withstand it once or twice, but can you withstand ten or eight such powerful blows?

Chen Hero knew that his style of play would involve a lot of physical contact in matches. He wasn't afraid of the opponent's fouls, but he was afraid of his own attacks being called for fouls… Scoring opportunities in a match are already limited, so it would be a shame if they were all blown away because of fouls.

So Chen Hero decided to max out the "Knockdown" talent.

He invested the two talent points he gained from leveling up during preseason training, and now there was only one point left before the "Knockdown" talent was maxed out.

When that time came, Chen Hero would have a very good chance of not committing a foul when colliding with opponents in matches. For a center forward like him who relies on his body, this would be like having another scoring weapon.

In fact, as he leveled up the talent to the fourth level, the effect was already very obvious. Before, when he knocked down defending players during an attack, there was a high chance he would hear the whistle blowing against him, but now the referee remained silent, and the players who fell were out of luck…

In the team, some teammates envied Chen Hero's physique: "Hero, you've gained a few pounds this winter, and you feel different!"

"I said, it's not fat! It's strong! Strong!"

Before the start of the new season of the Russian Premier League, Russia's national TV station produced a promotional video. To shoot this video, the TV station sent multiple film crews to various locations to capture footage.

The opening part of the promotional video was a collection of highlights from last season's league, interspersed with some players speaking their outlook for the new season in front of the camera.

Overall, it was a conventional promotional video, but one that would make any football fan feel excited.

Especially those wonderful goals, beautiful saves… and the commentators' passionate roars, these were all elements that could stimulate the fans' adrenaline.

When Chen Hero and Arshavin were called down from the training ground, he saw some unfamiliar faces, and… the cameras they were carrying.

Chen Hero didn't understand what was happening.

Coach Advocaat introduced them to the two: "This is a production crew from the national TV station, they're here to shoot a promotional video for the new season." Then he left to attend to team training matters.

The reporter holding the microphone further explained to Chen Hero and Arshavin: "It's actually very simple, you just need to say your outlook for the new season to the camera lens, don't make it too long, just a few sentences."

Arshavin understood. They do this kind of thing every year before the new season starts, except that this year there's a part where players speak in front of the camera. In the past, they just edited together highlights from last season, made a compilation, and added exciting music.

He nudged Chen Hero next to him: "Your influence is not small now, Hero."

Obviously, the players who could be in this promotional video must be representative. Not just anyone could be selected.

Arshavin was Russia's Footballer of the Year and best player last season.

How could such an awesome figure not appear in the promotional video? He represents the highest level of Russian football!

Chen Hero was able to appear in the promotional video alongside Arshavin, so Arshavin was telling the truth when he said he had a lot of influence.

Of course, Chen Hero was able to enter the promotional video not just because he was Chinese and his presence would help Russian football attract attention from the Chinese market. In fact, the Russian Football Association didn't consider this factor too much when choosing him, because for Russian football, China is still too far away…

The reason Chen Hero was able to be selected was simple—he scored an amazing ten goals in eleven league games at the end of last season! This achievement made him a hot new star in the Russian league, so what's wrong with appearing in this promotional video?

Arshavin's outlook for the new season was naturally that he hoped his team could win the league title. This season, Zenit has added many outstanding new players, and their goal is not just to obtain a spot in European competitions.

The recording of Arshavin's segment went smoothly. He can be considered a household football star in Russia, so he seemed at ease in front of the camera.

After Arshavin's was finished, it was Chen Hero's turn.

The reporter seemed a little worried that Chen Hero wouldn't know what to say, and was about to guide him on how to perform in front of the camera, such as having a natural expression, and not having the tone of his voice go up and down…

But when the camera lens turned over, Chen Hero was already pointing at the camera lens and saying coolly: "In the new season, I will win the league's top scorer!"

The reporter who kindly wanted to remind Chen Hero was dumbfounded, and so was the cameraman watching the camera. Arshavin naturally didn't expect Chen Hero to say such a thing either.

Everyone present was shocked by Chen Hero.

After striking his pose, Chen Hero proudly asked the cameraman, "How was my performance just now?"

The cameraman looked down at the camera, then shook his head and shrugged: "It wasn't turned on just now…"

Seeing Chen Hero's stunned expression, Arshavin burst out laughing next to him.

"Okay, let's do it again, I know… even big stars encounter NGs…"

Chen Hero ridiculed himself.

The cameraman adjusted the machine, picked it up again, and aimed the lens at Chen Hero.

The reporter gestured to Chen Hero that he could come, now he wasn't worried that this big Chinese guy would be so nervous in front of the camera that he couldn't add anything. Because his previous performance had already proved that this person… simply didn't know what nervousness was!

Chen Hero struck that very arrogant pose again—pointing at the camera lens and saying: "In the new season, I will become the league's top scorer!"

Saying it once might be understood as a joke. But if he said it twice in a row, then it means he's serious.

Arshavin looked at Chen Hero with surprised eyes: "Hey, Hero. This is going to be broadcast nationwide, is it okay for you to say that?"

Chen Hero shook his head: "This is my true thought, I just want to be the league's top scorer!"

The two reporters also felt surprised, and the reporter holding the microphone couldn't help but remind Chen Hero: "It's not something you can do just by wanting to. The top scorer not only needs ability, but also needs luck…"

Chen Hero suddenly realized: "Ah, right, I forgot something! Then let's do it again?" He looked at the two reporters with a questioning gaze.

The reporter exchanged a look with the cameraman next to him, and the cameraman turned on the camera again, aiming the lens at Chen Hero.

The reporter handed over the microphone, indicating that Chen Hero could start.

Chen Hero still struck that very irritating pose, and said to the camera: "In the new season, I will become the league's top scorer! Also, I want to create an era that belongs to me!"

Everyone around was going crazy…

What's this kid's brain made of!

Does he even understand what the problem is!

An eighteen-year-old kid vowing to become the top scorer is already shocking enough, but now he's shamelessly saying he wants to create an era that belongs to him! Standing next to him is Andrei Arshavin, the Russian Footballer of the Year for the 2004 and 2006 seasons. Even a player as great as him hasn't said such a thing, what confidence and qualifications does an eighteen-year-old have to say that?

The two reporters looked at each other, feeling that this big Chinese guy's brain was definitely not developing normally. Let's just leave it at that… if they let him do it again, who knows what sensational things he would say?

As for the segment about him… the first half of the sentence can barely be considered ambitious, and it's understandable for a striker to want to be the top scorer. But the second half is a bit… crazy!

So let's just cut the second half!

Yes, cut it!

If that sentence is broadcast, I'll become a laughing stock too!

The two reporters hurriedly bid farewell to Chen Hero and Arshavin, without even talking to Advocaat, they simply left, which made Advocaat feel a little strange.

Arshavin watched the two reporters leave in a hurry, and smiled at Chen Hero beside him: "Look at how scared you made them, Hero."

Chen Hero grinned. He didn't think there was anything scary about what he said, he really wanted to create an era that belonged to him this season… He wanted to score many, many goals, he wanted to make all his enemies tremble at the sound of his name, and this season there's also the UEFA Cup, he wanted to let the whole of Europe know that there's a guy like him in distant Russia.

He's only eighteen years old, his career has just begun, he has more than ten years to create an era that belongs to him, is there anything wrong with that?

"Also, you scared me too, Hero. I can help you with becoming the top scorer. But creating an era that belongs to you… hehe, I can't help you with that." Arshavin patted Chen Hero's back, "Let's go, let's go back to training!"

Chen Hero turned around and ran back with Arshavin.

Denisov and the others saw Chen Hero return to the team, and they all winked at him enviously: "You kid! You've only been with the team for half a season, and you're already in the season preview! With Shava!"

Chen Hero pretended to be calm on the surface, as if he'd seen the world and didn't take it too seriously. In fact, he was also happy inside, being able to appear in the promotional video with Arshavin meant that his fame was even greater!

To become a hero on the pitch, how can you be a hero without being famous?

Appearing in the new season's promotional video with Arshavin is just the first step!