Chapter 917: Task Completed

From the first game of the preseason to the last game of the Super Bowl, an entire season lasts over six months. It’s a long and grueling journey, and for any team, it’s not easy to be the last one standing.

On this path, they’ll encounter countless obstacles and challenges. They’ll face countless difficulties and crises, and likewise, they’ll also experience countless highs and lows and variables. Only when all the teammates fight side by side, overcoming all these hurdles, can they stand on the champion’s podium.

It is for this very reason that a championship is so precious.

Now, Lu Ke was ready to let go of his worries and give it his all, to fully enjoy the second championship-contending season of his career. Who knows? Maybe they really could create a miracle.

When Jim Harbaugh finished his press conference and returned to the locker room, he saw the players doing their team train dance. He turned to the other members of his coaching staff, bewildered. "Did I miss something? What exactly happened during the press conference?"

Harbaugh had also been asked about an undefeated season, but his answer was much tougher and more confident than Lu Ke’s. "Let’s talk about that after we beat the New Orleans Saints."

First, the Saints were their next opponent. Second, Drew Brees’s power should never be underestimated.

The confidence hidden behind his words was that if they beat the Saints, the team would have the confidence to compete for an undefeated season. In the remaining six weeks, they had three games against division rivals and two opponents—the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. So, Harbaugh’s words seemed more meaningful than ever.

The same question, in Harbaugh’s eyes, wasn’t a problem at all. He didn’t even consider Lu Ke’s concerns. Seeing the celebratory mood in the locker room, he was naturally confused.

"Maybe they’re just celebrating their ten wins?" Craig Roman said, sounding unsure. "Because we’re one step closer to the playoffs?"

Kippy Crist was more carefree. "Maybe it’s just a burst of youthful energy. Just look at Aldon and Marcus. They’re two guys with boiling blood. They’re not allowed to drink or party, so all they can do is scream their lungs out." He patted Harbaugh and Roman on the shoulders. "Come on, let’s not go in there, unless you want to dance too."

Before he had even finished speaking, Harbaugh was already retreating. When it came to running and escaping, Harbaugh was definitely at the top of the coaching staff.

Kippy and Roman also backed away. After only a few steps, Kippy looked puzzled. "Hmm, why do I feel like something is off, but I can’t put my finger on it? That song they were singing... it feels a little strange."

"I don’t know, you sing too?" Roman didn’t pay attention. A teasing comment derailed the conversation, and they started complaining about their singing voices, and Kippy got distracted.

So, the coaches retreated, and the players continued to party.

The loud singing finally ended, but the joyful celebration didn’t. Even when they were in the showers or getting massages, all the players were still laughing and chatting. A joyful and cheerful atmosphere filled the locker room.

Even Lu Ke was no exception.

Sitting in the ice bath, Lu Ke couldn’t help but tease Alex Boone next to him. "If Aldon came in here for an ice bath, the ice would probably melt faster. His blood is boiling, absolutely boiling."

This made Boone and the other teammates laugh.

After the excited mood finally died down, Lu Ke had time to review his gains from the game.

In fact, before the game started, the game tasks and special tasks had hinted at a direction, but the intensity and difficulty of the actual game were beyond imagination. This made Lu Ke realize more deeply that the system wasn’t all-powerful.

The opposing sides on the field were both humans, and every person was a variable. The twenty-two players on the field during the game were twenty-two variables, which meant there were countless potential outcomes. The system could only provide a general direction. The actual execution still had to be done by Lu Ke himself.

"Game Tasks:

Complete a passing touchdown in a regular game. Requirements: None. Rewards: +1 base point for each touchdown.

Complete passes to the designated zones in the first half of the game. Requirements: The usage rate for passes to the left and right zones must be 40% or more. Rewards: +1 base point.

Effectively control passing turnovers in the first half of the game. Requirements: Interceptions must be less than or equal to two. Rewards: +1 base point.

Effectively control the pass-run balance in the first half of the game. Requirements: The run-pass ratio must be equal to or greater than 20%. Rewards: +1 base point.

Effectively control the clock in the fourth quarter. Requirements: Each offensive drive must complete at least one first-down conversion. Rewards: +1 base point.

Win the regular game. Requirements: None. Rewards: +3 base points."

Those were all the game tasks. The system emphasized offensive tactics on the left and right sides, while the middle was a trap. Breaking through the top two cornerbacks was the right way to win the game. Otherwise, just throwing to the middle would lead to a defensive trap by the Bears, and the offense would become more and more restricted, unable to open up the field.

But at the same time, in the offensive tactics on the left and right sides, he still had to effectively reduce turnovers and use running plays to alleviate the pressure of passing. Naturally, running would create more space for advancing up the middle, as long as the offensive line could do its job of opening the way.

Finally, in the fourth quarter, touchdowns or field goals weren’t the main focus. Reducing turnovers was. They had to use a steady offensive approach to run down the clock and avoid constantly attempting risky passes like in his rookie season. A game with many highs and lows was exciting, but it also put the fans’ hearts to the test.

In addition to the game tasks, there was also a special task that popped up before the game officially started.

"Special Task: Head-to-Head with the League’s Best.

Task Description: Charles Tillman is the only defensive player in the league so far this season who has won the Player of the Week award twice. He is also a cornerback, a position that requires one-on-one battles with receivers and head-to-head showdowns with quarterbacks.

This season, Charles Tillman has consecutively defeated the first-overall picks from the past four years, and his confidence is at its peak. This week, he will face the best rookie of the year—the Host. Tillman is fully prepared to become a dominant cornerback feared by all quarterbacks in the league, shutting down every pass thrown in his direction.

In the past ten weeks, the average quarterback rating for passes thrown in Tillman’s direction is 56.6, the lowest in the league. In other words, he is currently the number one cornerback in the league. For the team, this battle can be lost because the quarterback can still find other passing options. But for the player, it’s a challenge of confidence and skill. So, will the Host avoid the confrontation? Or will he go against the wind?

Task Requirements: Complete two or more passes by breaking through Tillman’s coverage; complete one or more touchdowns from Tillman’s side of the field.

Task Rewards: Choose one quarterback training package +1, choose one team training package +1.

Failure Punishment: Daily training intensity for this week increases by 100%, the probability of media invading personal life increases by 50%."

Lu Ke had no objection to the special task itself. Although Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher were the biggest stars of the Bears’ defense, Charles Tillman was the most outstanding player this season. He was also a cornerback who had to face quarterbacks head-on. This was a hurdle that couldn’t be avoided.

Even if they gave up on Tillman’s side, the other side with Tim Jennings was also a tough challenge.

As the system said, for the team, Lu Ke could choose to throw to the middle, make deep passes, run the ball, or make quick, short passes to open up the game and avoid the two cornerbacks. They could still win the game. But for Lu Ke himself, it was a serious challenge between a quarterback and a cornerback.

Lu Ke had no reason to give up.

Even without the failure punishment, Lu Ke would have chosen to face the challenge. Only by challenging his limits could he break through them. But it couldn’t be denied that the failure punishment made Lu Ke even more determined to complete the task.

Leaving aside the doubling of his training intensity, the latter punishment, "the probability of media invading personal life increases by 50%," was enough to make Lu Ke choke on his own saliva.

Clearly, the system’s prank was back:

Since Lu Ke had confirmed his relationship with Candice, the possibility of media exposure had increased exponentially. Once the news got out, he could imagine a swarm of paparazzi surrounding his apartment. This would not only disrupt Lu Ke’s daily training but also distract his teammates and potentially affect the lives of Candice, his dad, and his mom.

Lu Ke didn’t want to take that risk.

So, the special task had to be completed.

When the special task appeared, Lu Ke couldn’t believe his eyes. He instantly remembered the almost-prank-like failure punishments from his rookie training camp. Things like "blush for thirty seconds" or "shout ’Logan is handsome’" were all shameful and unbearable.

"Little Seven, be honest with me, you’re single, aren’t you?" That was Lu Ke’s only thought. What other explanation could be more reasonable?

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