Michael Sterling stood in the doorway.

It had been three days since the win at Tottenham. Three days since Kai Sora tore his hamstring. The doctors said three months. The season was over for the coolest man in Yorkshire.

Arthur Milton walked up behind Michael. He was holding a bag of spicy chips.

"Do not look at the empty bed Boss," Arthur said munching loudly. "It makes you sad. Look at the pitch. The grass is growing."

"We have to play Tottenham again today Arthur," Michael said turning around. "Three days later. In the FA Cup. They are angry. They want revenge. And we have a hole in our engine."

"We have tape," Arthur said. "We can fix anything with tape."

THE TRIBUTE

In the locker room the atmosphere was strange.

Usually Kai Sora sat in the corner listening to jazz music. Today the corner was empty.

But then Diego Nunez walked in.

The giant defender was wearing his purple kit. But on his bald head he had stuck something with electrical tape.

It was a pair of sunglasses made of paper. He had drawn them with a black marker pen.

"Hola," Diego said seriously. "I am cool today. I am Kai."

The room went silent. Then Jamie Vardy burst out laughing.

"You look like a minion Diego," Vardy shouted. "A very large scary minion."

"No," Diego said touching the paper glasses. "I am honoring the fallen soldier. Today I pass the ball with style. I do not just kick it."

Michael walked to the center of the room. He smiled at Diego. It was ridiculous but it was exactly what the team needed. A smile.

"Diego is right," Michael said. "We do not mourn Kai. We play for him. Tottenham are here. They are at The Fortress. They think we are weak because our engine is broken."

He looked at Leo Stone. The fifteen year old was tying his laces. His hands were shaking slightly.

"Leo," Michael said.

The boy looked up.

"You are the number 10 today," Michael said. "You are the Phantom. Kai controlled the game. You do not have to control it. You just have to haunt it."

"I will haunt them Boss," Leo promised.

"And Endrick," Michael looked at the Brazilian. "You are the 8 again. You run. You bite. You samba."

"I have new batteries Boss," Endrick grinned. "Duracell."

THE KICKOFF

The Fortress was loud. The fans knew about the injury. They held up banners.

GET WELL SOON AGENT KAI.

WEAR YOUR SUNGLASSES IN HOSPITAL.

The referee blew the whistle.

BARNSLEY vs TOTTENHAM (FA CUP)

Tottenham came out flying. Their manager Ange Postecoglou had clearly told them to attack the wounded animal.

Without Kai Sora to calm things down the Barnsley midfield was chaotic.

Endrick was running everywhere but he lacked the positional discipline of Kai. Leo Stone was drifting wide leaving a gap in the middle.

Minute 10

James Maddison received the ball in the center circle. Usually Kai would be there to intercept.

Today nobody was there.

Maddison drove forward. He saw Son Heung Min making a run.

"Cover him!" Ramos screamed.

But Son was too fast. He sprinted past Pavard.

Maddison played the pass.

Son took one touch. He shot.

Jan Visser dived.

GOAL.

Tottenham 1. Barnsley 0.

The away fans cheered. They smelled blood.

"We are open Boss," Arthur panicked on the bench. "We are open like a 24 hour shop. They are walking through the middle."

"Calm down Arthur," Michael said. "Let them adjust. Diego! Step up!"

Diego Nunez heard the command.

He adjusted his paper sunglasses which were starting to peel off because of the sweat.

"Okay," Diego grunted. "No more Mister Nice Guy."

Minute 25

Richarlison tried to dribble through the middle.

Diego Nunez did not wait for the defense. He stepped into the midfield.

He ran at Richarlison.

THUD.

It was a fair tackle. Just very heavy. Richarlison bounced off Diego and landed on the grass.

Diego took the ball. He looked up.

"Pass!" Leo Stone shouted.

Diego did not pass. He remembered his promise. He wanted to be cool like Kai.

He tried a no look pass.

He looked left. He kicked right.

The ball hit the referee in the leg.

"Sorry!" Diego shouted. "I am too cool!"

The crowd laughed. But the moment broke the tension. Barnsley started to fight back.

THE MASKED EQUALIZER

Minute 40

Tottenham were leading but they were not comfortable.

Victor Osimhen was causing problems. The Nigerian striker was battling with Romero. It was a heavyweight fight.

Leo Stone drifted into a pocket of space. He received the ball from Endrick.

Endrick did not stop. He sprinted past Leo.

"One two!" Endrick shouted.

Leo played the wall pass. Endrick collected it.

He was on the edge of the box.

He saw Osimhen.

Osimhen was pointing to his head.

Endrick chipped the ball.

Osimhen jumped. He hung in the air. He was wearing his black mask.

He headed the ball down.

It bounced in front of the goalkeeper and skidded into the net.

GOAL.

Barnsley 1. Tottenham 1.

Osimhen ran to the camera. He made a gesture like he was putting on glasses.

"FOR KAI!" Osimhen roared.

HALFTIME

In the locker room Michael Sterling was intense.

"1 to 1 is good," Michael said. "But we are losing the midfield battle. Endrick you are running too much. You are chasing butterflies."

"I want the ball Boss," Endrick said sweating. "The ball moves away from me."

"Be patient," Michael said. "Let the ball come to you. And Leo stay central. You are drifting to the wing. Stay in the hole."

He looked at Diego. The paper sunglasses were now just a soggy mess of tape on his forehead.

"Diego take that off," Michael sighed. "You look like a present that was wrapped badly."

"It gives me power," Diego argued. "But okay. I will take it off. Now I activate serious mode."

Minute 55

Tottenham hit the post.

Kulusevski cut inside and curled a shot. Jan Visser was beaten but the metal saved them.

CLANG.

"My heart," Arthur whispered clutching his chest. "I need a doctor. Or a pie. Maybe both."

Minute 60

Barnsley responded.

Erik Olsen broke down the wing. The Viking was angry. He had not scored yet.

He crossed low.

Jamie Vardy who had come on as a sub slid in. He missed the ball by an inch.

"So close!" Vardy screamed punching the ground.

THE MAGIC MINUTE

The clock ticked towards the 69th minute.

The game was balanced on a knife edge.

Michael Sterling stood on the touchline. He felt the vibration of the System.

[MOMENTUM SHIFT DETECTED]

[THE PHANTOM IS AWAKE]

[TIME: 68:45]

"Watch Leo," Michael whispered to Arthur.

Minute 69

It started with Jan Visser.

The goalkeeper caught a cross. He did not wait. He threw the ball long.

He threw it to Endrick.

Endrick controlled it on his chest. He was in the center circle.

He turned. Two Tottenham midfielders closed him down.

Endrick did a samba roll. He rolled the ball with his sole and spun away.

He saw Leo Stone.

The Phantom was in the space between the defense and the midfield.

Endrick passed.

Leo Stone let the ball run through his legs.

The Tottenham defender Van de Ven was confused. He stepped forward.

Leo spun and chased the ball. He had tricked him without touching it.

"He is a ghost!" Arthur shouted.

Leo was now running at the last line of defense.

Victor Osimhen made a run to the left dragging Romero away.

Erik Olsen made a run to the right dragging Porro away.

The sea parted.

Leo Stone was twenty yards out.

He looked at the goal.

He remembered the training sessions with Kai. He remembered Kai telling him: "Do not smash it little brother. Caress it."

Leo did not smash it.

He stroked the ball with the inside of his foot.

It curled. It did not look fast. It looked lazy.

But the placement was perfect.

It curled away from the goalkeeper. It kissed the inside of the post.

Minute 69:58

The ball crossed the line.

GOAL.

Barnsley 2. Tottenham 1.

The stadium did not just cheer. It gasped. It was a goal of pure beauty.

Leo Stone stood there. He did not run. He just put two fingers to his eyes mimicking the sunglasses.

Then he pointed to the sky.

Michael Sterling felt tears prick his eyes.

"He learned," Michael whispered. "He actually learned."

Diego Nunez picked Leo up and put him on his shoulders.

"THE GHOST!" Diego roared. "THE GHOST WITH THE GLASSES!"

The referee blew the whistle to restart the game but the momentum was gone for Tottenham. The magic of minute 69 had broken them.

Michael looked at the clock.

69:00

They were winning. They were doing it without their engine.

The Dynasty was not just about one player. It was about the spirit.

And as Leo Stone waved to the crowd from the top of Diego shoulders Michael knew that they were going to be just fine.

"Arthur," Michael said smiling.

"Yes Boss?"

"Give me a spicy chip. I think I earned it."

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