Chapter 3: Grind Before Glory
The morning sun rose over the favela, casting shadows in Lucas Rocha Silva's small backyard. Dust moved around his old shoes as he jogged in circles, breathing hard.
Sweat ran down his face.
It was the first day of the Spark of a Legend quest.
The Football Prodigy System was all he could think about.
He had to run 30 miles in a week, do 60 squats every day, juggle the ball 70 times, and finish one shooting drill.
If he failed, the system would disappear, and his Talent Grade would fall from D+ to F. That would ruin his dream.
Lucas, who was once Nelen Maharjan in 2024, couldn't let that happen again.
He woke at dawn, his thin mattress creaking. The Brazil 2002 World Cup poster on the wall glowed in the soft light, Ronaldo's gap-toothed smile like a silent challenge.
Memories clashed in his mind Nelen's life in Kathmandu, playing on the ANFA fields in 2002, his talent wasted by corruption, and his 2024 office job ending with a heart attack. Anju's scream still echoed in his head, along with her childhood laugh, pushing him to fight.
His parents had always said, "Football won't feed you," pushing him toward a stable career.
But by 2024, all he felt was regret.
Now it was 2005.
He was in Brazil, in the body of a 10-year-old.
Somehow, he was back.
It didn't feel real like how was this even possible?
But the system was real. A lifeline Nelen never had.
Lucas stopped jogging, breathing hard, and called out the system.
A loud DING! rang in his head, like a stadium bell.
A glowing panel appeared in front of him, floating like a digital scoreboard.
Bold green text started scrolling across the see-through screen:
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[DING! Football Prodigy System]
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System Level: 1 (0/1000 Legacy Points to level up)
Player: Lucas Rocha Silva
Age: 10 years
Talent Grade: D+
Legacy Points: 20
Assessment: A faint pulse of potential with a mountain to climb
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PLAYER HUB
* Player Stats
* Legacy Quests
* System Shop (locked)
* Lucky Draw (locked)
* Instinct Pulse (locked)
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PLAYER STATS:
* Stamina: D (Endurance and fitness)
* Technique: C (Ball control and skills)
* Vision: C+ (Playmaking and awareness)
* Resolve: D (Mental toughness)
* Drive: F (Unique flair and creativity)
* Prodigy Talents: Neymar's Flair (A-tier Passive, 2% Mastered)
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LEGACY QUESTS
#Spark of a Legend
* Task 1: Jog 30 miles within a week (Current: 2 miles, Day 1/7)
* Task 2: Complete 60 squats daily for a week (0/60, Day 1)
* Task 3: Perform 70 ball juggles daily for a week (0/70, Day 1)
* Task 4: Practice one shooting drill daily for a week (0/1, Day 1)
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Rewards:
* C-grade Vigor Tonic Potion (Boosts stamina, aids minor injury recovery, small chance to raise talent grade)
* Random Prodigy Talent
* 60 Legacy Points
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Penalty for Failure:
* Deactivation of Football Prodigy System
* Permanent Talent Grade reduction (D+ to F, no exceptions)
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Notes: Legends rise from humble beginnings. Act now or fade into obscurity.
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The panel shimmered and the chime faded like a faraway whistle. Lucas's heart raced with excitement.
This system, with its quests and talents, was his chance to reach the top football stadiums he'd always dreamed of.
But regret hit him hard.
If he had this system back in 2002 Nepal, could he have beaten the corruption?
Could he have become a star instead of feeling like a failure?
He saw Anju's tearful face from when he collapsed in 2024 and remembered her laughter from their childhood games. He thought of his parents, who always pushed him to study, showing their love in their own way. And his few loyal friends, who were gone by 2024.
This new chance, given by some mysterious force, felt like a miracle. But the pain for what he lost stayed with him.
He shook his head and made up his mind. He would fight for them, for himself, and for a legacy brighter than Nelen's regrets.
He resumed jogging, legs burning, pushing to three miles. The system flashed:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 1: Jog 30 miles (Current: 3 miles, Day 1/7)
+3 Legacy Points. Total: 23
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Lucas dropped to the dirt and began his squats. His knees shook by number 50, but he thought of Anju's encouraging nod and pushed through to 60. The system chimed:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 2: 60 squats complete, Day 1
+5 Legacy Points. Total: 28
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He grabbed the old, worn football. It felt alive under his foot. His old skills told him to start juggling.
He began, ball bouncing between foot and knee. One, two, five... eight.
The ball fell and rolled toward the fence. He cursed and ran after it, then tried again.
His Technique was only a C, so he dropped the ball at 10 juggles, but he kept going.
Sweat burned his eyes.
On his sixth try, he did 15 kicks. He felt a little of Neymar's special skill. The system updated:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 3: 70 ball juggles complete, Day 1
+10 Legacy Points. Total: 38
Neymar's Flair practiced. Skill Mastered: 3%
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Lucas smiled, breathing hard. Neymar's Flair, his best talent, was getting stronger. At 3% mastered, he could feel Neymar's quick moves but he was still clumsy.
He tried a step-over, imagining a defender.
The ball got stuck, then slipped and hit the fence.
The system flashed:
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[Neymar's Flair attempted]
Skill Mastered: 4%. Practice to improve success rate
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He tried again, doing two step-overs in a row, his small body moving with the ball. He wasn't even close to a top prodigy yet, let alone Neymar, but it felt better.
The system showed:
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[Neymar's Flair practiced]
Skill Mastered: 5%. Practice to improve success rate
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For the shooting drill, Lucas stacked crates by the fence to make a goal. He stepped back, using his Vision: C+ to find an angle.
His first shot went wide and hit a neighbor's laundry line. "Oi, garoto, careful!" a woman shouted.
Lucas said sorry then he tried again. The second shot hit a crate and knocked it over.
The third shot hit the center, knocking the crates everywhere.
The system chimed:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 4: Shooting drill complete, Day 1
+5 Legacy Points. Total: 43
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Lucas was tired and sat on the ground. The favela was waking up with kids shouting, music playing, dogs barking. His healing potion was still there, ready if he got hurt.
He opened the system to check his stats:
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[Player Stats]
Stamina: D
Technique: C
Vision: C+
Resolve: D
Drive: F
Prodigy Talents: Neymar's Flair (A-tier Passive, 5% Mastered)
Legacy Points: 43
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His Resolve was a D, but it felt stronger because he worked hard. The System Shop, Lucky Draw, and Instinct Pulse were locked for now. He needed more points or a missions to unlock them.
His Talent Grade was D+. If he failed, it would go down and hurt his chances.
He couldn't let Anju, himself, or his future down.
"Lucas, breakfast's ready!" his mother called. He wiped dust off, grabbed the ball, and went inside.
His mother set down pão de queijo, tired but kind.
Carla smiled, "You're sweaty, bro. Fall in a ditch?"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Just training," he said, mixing caution with energy.
His mother frowned at his red face. "Don't overdo it, Lucas. You're a kid, not Ronaldo." She looked at the 2002 World Cup poster, Ronaldo's smile shining.
Lucas laughed, but Nelen's regrets stayed. In 2024, he watched Brazil's games alone, Anju was busy, and friends had drifted away.
Now, in 2005, he had family, a dream, and the system. Anju's face and voice pushed him to keep going. He would fight for her.
Carla flicked a crumb. "Daydreaming again, weirdo. Thinking about girls?"
Lucas smiled and swatted her hand. "Just football, sis."
She laughed but noticed something was different.
He ate fast, the warm pão de queijo in his hands, thinking about his quests.
Twenty-seven miles left to jog. More juggles, squats, and shots. Each task was a step beyond Nelen's failures.
After breakfast, Lucas went back to the yard, ready to improve Neymar's Flair. He dribbled and tried a heel flick. The ball wobbled and almost tripped him, but stayed under control.
The system flashed:
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[Neymar's Flair practiced]
Skill Mastered: 6%. Practice to improve success rate
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A shout broke his focus. "Lucas, you dancing out there?"
João, a gap-toothed boy, leaned over the fence, smiling. "Play with us later! We need your moves!"
Lucas paused, remembering Nelen's caution. A street game could test Neymar's Flair, but his quests came first.
"Tomorrow," he said.
João shrugged and ran off.
The favela buzzed with kids playing, Brazil's spirit alive.
Lucas jogged one more mile, his legs feeling heavy.
The system updated:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 1: Jog 30 miles (Current: 4 miles, Day 1/7)
+3 Legacy Points. Total: 46
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He collapsed by the fence, looking up at the sky as the favela's lights came on at dusk.
He heard his mother's samba song and Carla's teasing nearby.
Lucas held the ball tight, feeling his Resolve grow stronger.
Nelen had fallen in 2024, dreams broken but Lucas Rocha Silva wouldn't give up.
The Football Prodigy System was his secret weapon, Neymar's Flair his spark, and Anju's memory his fire.
This was his chance to build a lasting legacy.