The biting cold air permeated little by little, stinging the skin like a sharp blade. Then, the blood slowly froze. The entire Candlestick Park fell into a suffocating and heavy silence, but a burning feeling was locked in everyone's chest, making it hard to breathe.

What was going on?

Even when they lost to the Arizona Cardinals at home, they were not this disheartened. The game wasn't over yet, but they had already surrendered. The feeling of confusion and frustration spread quickly among the fans like the flu. Their gazes met, but they couldn't find a focus.

After the second half began, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense, which took the field first, was still in good form. Antonio Brown made two key catches, allowing the offense to continue, but the San Francisco 49ers' defense stepped up their intensity and adjusted their strategy and tactics. Their defense became more aggressive and targeted.

After a long four minutes and forty-six seconds, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a three-and-out, unable to continue their strong performance from the first half. But they still managed to get into field goal range and successfully kicked a field goal, bringing the score to 24-0.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lu Ke still did not appear on the field. Alex Smith took his place. For the first time since the regular season began, he took the field as the starting quarterback. But facing the Steelers' suffocating defense, the passing routes in the short passing area were still tightly locked down. Alex seemed to have his lifeline cut off, and the entire offense was playing cautiously.

After getting a first down with the help of Logan Newman's individual ability, they had a clean three-and-out. Alex only played five downs before he was unfortunately taken off the field. To make matters worse, the 49ers' number four punter, Andy Lee, made a mistake. His punt had height but no distance, and the Steelers' punt returner, Emmanuel Sanders, seized the opportunity and made a powerful return. He caught the ball at the Steelers' 44-yard line and advanced all the way to the 49ers' 21-yard line before being pushed out of bounds.

Sanders was just a little short of a punt return touchdown. It was a pity in the final moments. Nevertheless, this was great news for the Steelers, as it meant that when Ben Roethlisberger took the field again, he would start his drive from the 21-yard line in front of the end zone. But for the San Francisco 49ers, this was a disaster. It was a complete disaster, and there was no end in sight. The atmosphere of despair and confusion completely enveloped Candlestick Park, making it suffocating.

When Roethlisberger took the field again, a wave of frustrated boos erupted, trying to disrupt the visiting team's offense, but even the boos seemed to lack confidence. It was as if their spirit had completely disappeared, and even the emotions of resistance and anger were drowned in the bone-chilling cold air.

"What's wrong with you guys?" Jeff Locke couldn't hold it in any longer. He stood up and waved his hands, trying to get the fans around him excited and join in the boos. "We have to cheer up. We have to boo the opposing offense off the field. Only then can we win..." As he spoke, Jeff felt a sense of defeat, and all his words were swallowed by a sigh.

He looked up and saw the sea of red in front of him, which was quiet and subdued. There was no passion or energy, it was just like a still, blood-colored lake, completely lifeless, which made him shiver. All the thoughts in his mind became a mess, and he was too frustrated to do anything. Jeff annoyedly scratched his head, trying to vent, but he didn't know what to vent about. He didn't even know how all of this happened. Everything had rushed past like a train, and they had fallen into this predicament.

By chance, his gaze swept across the player entrance tunnel that was close by, and he saw a small figure entering the field with two staff members. The figure was wearing a thick black down jacket and a red knit cap, and his hands were covered in thick gloves, making him look like a football goalie. He looked a bit clumsy. The two staff members were carefully protecting him, and two other figures were following closely behind, constantly shouting, "Be careful, be careful."

For some reason, Jeff's gaze fell on that figure. His heart began to tremble slightly, and then it slowly rose, as if it was stuck in his throat, blocking all sounds and emotions. Before he even realized it, a warmth surged into his eyes, and he couldn't help but roar: "Bambi!"

In an instant, time went back, and Jeff felt as if he was back at the Rose Bowl, back at that moment of despair. Everyone thought the game was over. Even the UCLA fans had given up and had no hope of winning the championship. But in the midst of despair, Jeff, as if he had grasped a life-saving straw, began to shout the name of that unknown player who led the team to a comeback against USC, as if he were all their hope.

One shout, and then another, and then all the fans at the Rose Bowl gathered together, shouting that name without restraint. In the end, they witnessed the birth of a miracle.

Today, Jeff's memories came back to life. In a state of depression and gloom, in a state of oppression and confusion, he saw that figure again. That seemingly skinny but always-refusing-to-give-up figure, that figure who had shouldered countless expectations and hopes.

"Bambi!"

The clear shout echoed clearly near the entrance tunnel without any interference in the quiet stadium. Then Jeff saw that figure turn around. The youthful face, which was tightly wrapped in warm clothes, reminded people of his nickname: Bambi.

That face showed a big smile at Jeff, and then he raised his right hand and clenched his fist, as if to cheer him on. But then he realized that his hands were in thick gloves and he couldn't even clench his fist, so he laughed happily, turned around, and chattered all the way, walking briskly toward the team's location.

This brief moment was like a ray of sunlight, piercing through the layers of gloom and coldness and shining on Candlestick Park. The Rose Bowl, Candlestick Park; Candlestick Park, the Rose Bowl.

His memories began to mix, and then Jeff raised his right hand high and began to shout uncontrollably, "Bambi!" One after another, "Bambi!" With every shout, his faith became stronger. With every shout, his passion became hotter. With every shout, his hope became brighter.

"Bambi!"

Jeff was the first. Then came Danny Reese, Nate Chandler, and then Lu Zhengze and Jiang Youning on the other side of the stands. They were all people who had personally experienced the epic comeback at the Rose Bowl. The spark of faith deep in their minds was ignited again and began to burn brightly. Following the guidance of this faith, they would go toward victory.

Chris Wilson stood up, Cliff Hart stood up, Noah Parker stood up, Jonathan Baldwin also stood up... One after another, they started as isolated individuals, but soon they formed a wave, one after another. The silent Candlestick Park seemed to wake up again, and large crowds of people began to stand up together.

Ryan Baldwin watched the wave of red that had regained its vitality in disbelief. Before he realized it, his vision was blurred by hot tears. His hands and feet couldn't help but tremble slightly, but he still couldn't resist the pounding and surge in his heart. So, he also stood up shakily, raised his right hand high, and softly called out that name. It was faith, belief, and hope. Unprecedentedly, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis seemed so small and weak, and it was easily defeated. He just stood up and shouted loudly:

"Bambi!"

Gradually, all 70,000 fans in Candlestick Park stood up. They gathered together like a surging river and shouted the same name in unison. At this moment, they were the 49ers, they were Candlestick Park, and they were the guardians who stood firm on this land and refused to retreat or surrender.

"Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!"

The powerful momentum echoed in the entire Candlestick Park with an unparalleled force. The crazy roars and the passionate faces awakened the powerful force of the "home of the devil" this season. They overwhelmingly pressed down on the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense. In a trance, the world changed color, and it seemed that the entire world began to tremble.

Not only the fans, but also the San Francisco 49ers' special teams and offensive players standing on the sidelines, and the defensive players who had just entered the field, all noticed this scene. Caught off guard, they couldn't hold back their excitement and joined in the chants.

"Bambi!"

This simplest word was full of all the energy in their hearts, bursting with an unimaginable vitality and vigor. Even the coaching staff showed a look of shock, watching the scene in front of them in disbelief.

In just one season, Lu Ke had won the support and affirmation of this stadium, not only because of one victory after another, but also because of his perseverance and courage in the face of difficulties, and because the power and decisiveness he showed at crucial moments had given this team a new soul.

Now, they were calling for the awakening of that soul.

The surging shouts were echoing, bursting with astonishing energy, piercing through Candlestick Park and the television screens, and powerfully declaring their existence across the North American continent with a majestic and soaring attitude that no one could underestimate.

This was the moment for the San Francisco 49ers, and it was also the moment for Lu Ke.

🗒️NOTE:

New chapters drop Three times a day, every Monday through Sunday! Plus, you have the power to unlock more: we'll release Three bonus chapters for every 300 votes! Let's get this story moving together.

Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz

Explore up to 30 chapters in advance!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.