Chapter 1 The Champions League final is fast approaching.

On May 25th, Chen Hero's forty-first birthday, the final arrived.

The Camp Nou, decked out in all its finery, seemed to be waiting for an opportunity to revel.

Every Barcelona fan who entered the stadium had a cheerful smile on their face. They were eagerly discussing the upcoming final, but there was not a hint of worry on their faces.

Clearly, Chen Hero and Liverpool's previously displayed attitude of weakness and vulnerability had led many Barcelona fans to believe that they were sure to win this final!

What a wonderful thing it would be to win the Champions League title on their home ground!

Everyone in Barcelona was eagerly anticipating it.

When reporting on off-field situations, the Barcelona media also focused on the expressions of the Barcelona fans.

They even randomly interviewed several Barcelona fans.

These fans shouted the slogan "Barça will win," which pleased the media.

In stark contrast to the Barcelona fans, the Liverpool fans mostly wore worried expressions on their faces.

Liverpool was playing a true away game this time, and they were very concerned about what Liverpool had shown before the game.

For so many years, Barcelona fans have hated Liverpool, and Liverpool fans have hated Barcelona just as much, haven't they?

They were very upset at the thought of Barcelona becoming smug.

The Camp Nou stadium can accommodate more than 100,000 fans. Although, in the eyes of UEFA, the Camp Nou was initially supposed to host the final as a neutral venue, according to the rules, 30,000 tickets were reserved for the fans of each team.

However, after Barcelona entered the final, all the tickets that were supposed to be for neutral fans were snapped up by Barcelona fans.

Even the tickets reserved for sponsors were collected by Barcelona fans through various channels.

As a result, the number of supporters on both sides of the final was no longer balanced.

Liverpool only had a mere 30,000 fans, while Barcelona had nearly 80,000!

With 30,000 against 80,000, Liverpool fans were at an absolute disadvantage in terms of numbers. The neutral status of the Camp Nou was lost, and Barcelona was effectively playing at home.

With the team's morale low and the game being played away, Liverpool fans were filled with worry about their team's prospects.

※※※

When Barcelona's team bus arrived outside the stadium, a deafening cheer erupted outside the Camp Nou.

But when the Liverpool bus arrived, all that could be heard was booing.

Thirty thousand Liverpool fans were simply no match for more than seventy thousand Barcelona fans!

Listening to the booing, which was enough to scare someone into a heart attack, the Liverpool fans' faces didn't look good. They were worried about what kind of level the team, which already had low morale, would be able to perform at in such an environment.

However, Chen Hero in the car was not worried about this problem, because he was very clear about the team's condition.

He seized the time to add fuel to the fire.

He pointed at the arrogant Barcelona fans outside the car window and said to his teammates, "See that, guys? They've already shoved their faces right in front of us. If you don't slap them hard, first of all, you'll be letting these Barcelona fans down!"

Everyone laughed.

※※※

The Barcelona team, which had arrived more than ten minutes early, had already entered the locker room. Quique sat in front of his locker, not in a hurry to change into his training clothes.

He recalled the exciting scenes he had just seen outside. The whole of Barcelona had been mobilized, and everyone was impatient for revenge.

With such surging momentum, Liverpool could only lower their proud heads and surrender to Barcelona at the Camp Nou!

Thinking of this, Quique felt very excited.

He had been lying low for five years, and finally the time had come for him to soar into the sky.

He clenched his fists.

※※※

The Camp Nou, which could accommodate more than 100,000 people, was packed today, and the media gathered in droves. Barcelona club had put a lot of effort into decorating the section of the stands where the Barcelona fans were gathered, with each seat having a different colored piece of cardboard.

Barcelona's fans were no strangers to this.

Before every Clásico game against Real Madrid, Barcelona fans would hold up the cardboard, turning the entire Camp Nou stands into Barcelona's team emblem and flag.

The scene was very shocking and could bring immense invisible pressure to Real Madrid players.

This time, Barcelona club also intended to use this trick to put pressure on Liverpool - they had finally reached the Champions League final held at their home stadium, so of course they had to maximize their home advantage.

It should be known that when Liverpool played against Barcelona in the final at the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg, they also made full use of that stadium, turning what was originally a neutral stadium into their home ground, causing Barcelona to suffer a great loss.

Courtesy demands reciprocity, and now Barcelona would not be polite either.

When Liverpool, whose morale was already low, saw this shocking scene as they came out, the last bit of fighting spirit in their hearts would surely dissipate!

At that time, wouldn't they be at Barcelona's mercy in the game?

※※※

When the two sides came out to warm up, the Liverpool players were greeted by the Barcelona fans' unreserved boos.

Barcelona fans seized every opportunity and moment to put pressure on Liverpool.

Hoping to crush Liverpool before the game.

Subduing the enemy without fighting is the highest realm.

However, the Liverpool players were unmoved by this. They didn't even raise their heads, focusing on warming up.

Many people focused their attention on Chen Hero, seeming to want to deduce his actual state from his warm-up performance.

Chen Hero was deeply immersed in his role, continuing to play the role of a "pig" in the warm-up.

He kicked a few shots directly into the sky during the warm-up.

Causing the Barcelona fans in the stands to laugh gleefully.

Hearing the laughter of the Barcelona fans, the Liverpool players lowered their heads even further.

The Barcelona fans, who didn't know the truth, thought that Liverpool's morale was even lower, but they didn't know that the Liverpool players lowered their heads just so that the Barcelona fans wouldn't see how happy they were laughing...

The Liverpool fans in the stands were also unaware of the truth, so their thoughts were the same as those of the Barcelona fans. When Chen Hero kicked the football into the sky, their hearts tightened, as if this wasn't in an insignificant warm-up, but in the game, facing a crucial opportunity...

※※※

After warming up, Liverpool returned to their locker room.

At this time, they finally didn't have to pretend anymore, they tore off their masks.

Chen Hero even stood in the center of the locker room, loudly encouraging his teammates.

"Alright, I know everyone must have accumulated a lot of anger! As long as you think of those Barcelona guys' smug faces, you'll be so angry that you can't sleep. But now you don't have to continue to endure it! Release all our anger from the first second of the game! We have to strive to score the first goal as quickly as possible! Then score the second goal even faster! The third goal! Until we completely crush Barcelona!"

"Kill them!!"

The Liverpool players, who had been holding back for a long time, let out a deafening roar that completely drowned out the shouts of the Barcelona fans outside.

※※※

When the two sides' players came out, Quique looked up and saw the Barcelona team emblem and flag formed by the fans in the Camp Nou stands. He raised his head and felt a sense of pride in his heart.

This is the powerful and invincible Barcelona!

With such a strong group, I, Quique, am invincible!

What's so great about Chen Hero, this old guy who's about to be forgotten?

He'll bury him and his team Liverpool completely in this game!

He walked onto the field without looking sideways, not even glancing at the Liverpool players next to him.

He didn't bother to look, because he knew that the Liverpool players must have been shocked by the scene in front of them. It would already be great if they could make sure their legs weren't weak and they could still walk normally!

He didn't care about such a group of people.

But if he could have looked to the side, even just a glance, he might not have had such thoughts anymore.

Because right next to him, all the Liverpool players had murderous looks on their faces...

※※※

Chen Hero, as the captain, got the kickoff.

In the following game, Liverpool would kick off first.

This was exactly what Chen Hero had hoped for.

He wanted to let Barcelona see the scene of hell and the smile of the devil from the first second of the game!

Barcelona's fans and players were preparing to start this game with a sense of determination.

In their view, Liverpool was completely finished, standing on the edge of a cliff, and all Barcelona needed to do was give them a gentle push!

From then on, Chen Hero and Liverpool would no longer exist in the world...

With such a wonderful idea, the Barcelona fans cheered in the stands, then put down the cardboard and started to watch the game properly.

The Barcelona players stood on the field, eagerly hoping the game would start quickly.

Quique stood outside the center circle, feeling a sense of accomplishment in his heart.

He felt that with the referee's whistle, a brand new era would begin.

And he would be the most qualified pioneer of the new era!

While he was reveling in his thoughts, the whistle blew and the game began!

※※※

Barcelona's players and fans had envisioned how the opening stage of this game should be played.

But no one had thought that the opening of this game would be like this...

"Friends, friends! Welcome to the final of the 2029-2030 season of the European Champions League, between Barcelona and Liverpool. The team wearing the red and blue striped shirts and blue shorts is Barcelona. They are playing at their home stadium, Camp Nou, this time... The other side, wearing white away jerseys, is Liverpool. This game will be the last game of Liverpool's legendary superstar Chen Hero's career... The opponent is his arch-rival Barcelona, truly a memorable game... Now let me introduce you to the starting lineups of both sides. Barcelona's goalkeeper..."

The commentator's rapid-fire commentary did not continue.

Because he saw a sudden change on the field, and an unexpected situation occurred.

Liverpool sent a long pass to the frontcourt, and Chen Hero jumped up and headed the ball to Carlton Cole. Cole controlled the ball slightly and sent another through ball.

Chen Hero leaned against the Barcelona player who was defending him, firmly suppressing the opponent behind him, and then received the ball.

His speed was indeed not as good as before, so he couldn't get rid of the opponent's entanglement for a long time.

But even so, the opponent couldn't forcibly pull him down and create a foul.

He just pressed against the opponent and rushed forward, rushed forward.

When another Barcelona player saw that the situation was not good and rushed up to stop him, he took the opportunity to flick the football away, then dodged, causing the two Barcelona defenders to collide.

The following things were much simpler. He raised his right foot and kicked the football hard.

Barcelona's goalkeeper, Simon Scott, only felt a flash in front of his eyes and saw the football flying over.

Then he made a save, but he didn't touch the football...

The football streaked past his fingertips and into the net!

At this time, only forty-four seconds had passed since the start of the game.

※※※

Those Barcelona fans who were sitting in the stands, full of joy and ready to watch Liverpool make a fool of themselves, were stunned.

The Barcelona players on the field, who were eager to give Liverpool a head-on blow, were stunned.

The Barcelona coach, who was determined to win this game in front of the coaching bench, was stunned.

The Liverpool fans, who were originally dejected, were also stunned.

The commentator in the commentary box, who was eloquently introducing the starting lineups of both sides, was also stunned.

Everyone was stunned.

This... Liverpool took the lead?

※※※

After scoring the goal, Chen Hero ran to the sidelines in a dead silence, and then raised his thumb towards the Barcelona fans in the stands who were dumbfounded, but... it was downwards!

A downward thumb was mocking those self-righteous Barcelona people to their heart's content.

It was like a slap in the face, hitting them hard!

All the Barcelona people, not only those fans, but also the players and coaches, and even the club chairman who was originally beaming with joy on the podium.

They all stared blankly at Chen Hero.

Is this the guy they thought was weak and easy to bully?

Did he really fall into a state of no fighting spirit because he was about to retire?

Quique stood blankly in the frontcourt - he had just run up and turned around to see his team concede a goal.

He simply couldn't believe his eyes.

Shouldn't the door to a new era be opening in front of him?

Then what is this?

The dying struggle of the old era?

But instinct told him that this was not the case.

"Before the game, Barcelona were full of confidence, believing that they could defeat Liverpool at their home ground and win the championship! But now, after the start of the game, they haven't even touched the football and conceded a goal! This is truly the greatest irony!"

※※※

The Barcelona fans who had reacted let out huge boos.

They thought it was luck, it was just that Liverpool had dog shit luck. Their goal so early meant that Barcelona would have a lot of time to complete the task of equalizing and surpassing.

So after the game restarted, the Barcelona fans cheered wildly for Barcelona, hoping that they could quickly equalize the score and show Liverpool the powerful strength of Barcelona.

The Barcelona players also fought hard in the deafening cheers. These fans' cheers were their strong backing and home advantage.

With every attack, they felt that they could break through Liverpool's goal.

Especially Quique, who was very desperate, running, dribbling, and shooting at the expense of his stamina, just hoping to reverse the situation with his own strength.

Barcelona was so desperate that even God was moved and felt sorry for them.

In order to prevent them from continuing to be so desperate, Liverpool scored another goal.

Just five minutes after Chen Hero scored, Liverpool took the lead again.

The goal was still scored by Chen Hero!

"In less than five minutes! Liverpool are two goals ahead! This Champions League final seems to be developing in a direction that no one expected!"

The commentator exclaimed.

It was indeed a direction that no one expected - except for the Liverpool players.

Quique looked at the Liverpool players who were celebrating the goal, and he only felt his hands and feet were cold.

He thought that a new era would open the door to him today and be revealed in front of him.

But now it seems that he will probably have to postpone a little time before he can see the new era.

In fact, the new era will come sooner or later, it's just a matter of one game earlier or one game later.

But if he loses this game, the kind of bombardment he will receive is imaginable...

Before the game, he said that Chen Hero should hurry up and finish the game and get out of here, stop talking nonsense, and the future belongs to him, Quique. Unexpectedly, he was slapped hard in the face in this game!

Chen Hero told himself with a near-perfect performance and a brace - as long as he doesn't leave for a day, then the title of number one in the world will be his for a day!

He gritted his teeth as he looked at Chen Hero's back.

※※※

When Liverpool scored two goals, the Camp Nou stadium became a lot quieter.

Because many people didn't understand what was going on - why could Liverpool be two goals ahead in just five minutes of the game?

Wasn't this Liverpool having infighting?

But looking at their smooth cooperation on the field, where is there any trace of "infighting"?

Many Barcelona fans suddenly realized that maybe this final was not the carnival that they thought it was.

Their home advantage was almost insignificant in front of the powerful Chen Hero...

This discovery made some Barcelona fans silent.

Some people also thought of that unbearable past. The last time Barcelona provoked, the process of the game was similar to today's...

This feeling was too familiar to them!

They seemed to be back five years ago. They watched helplessly as their team was slaughtered by this damn devil, Chen Hero, at the Camp Nou...

※※※

When the game restarted, huge boos rang out again in the Camp Nou stadium. This was from the Barcelona fans who were unwilling to fail.

They wanted to use this method to interfere with Liverpool.

But this approach could not save their team.

Because Liverpool scored again.

Chen Hero completed his hat-trick in the seventeenth minute.

"I can announce to everyone that this game is over! This game is over early! Because there is no suspense anymore! Liverpool completely defeated Barcelona at the Camp Nou, just like they have done several times before! Barcelona thought this was their home ground, so they had an advantage, but in fact, in front of Chen Hero, their idea is really naive and ridiculous! Hero only took seventeen minutes to completely destroy Barcelona! Don't believe it? Listen to the sound of the Camp Nou now!"

The commentator stopped talking.

But no sound came.

Because the Camp Nou was in a dead silence in front of Chen Hero!

History is just repeating itself, mocking those who overestimate themselves.

※※※

Chen Hero, who had completed his hat-trick, raised his right fist high at the Camp Nou. He just stood there, looking like the statue outside Stanley Park Stadium.

Under his fist, the entire Camp Nou stadium was silent!

Those people didn't even have the strength to boo!

In the Camp Nou in a volcanic eruption state, facing the deafening boos of the Barcelona fans, who dares to stand in front of it and cool the Camp Nou down instantly?

Only me, Chen Da Hero!

This highly anticipated Champions League final really ended early like this...