Chapter 2: The Reawakening
A violent jolt tore through Nelen, like a ball blasted from midfield, soaring into the void. His eyes snapped open, the world a dim blur of shadows and heat. The cold futsal court of Kathmandu, the crushing agony of his heart attack, Anju's tear-soaked scream, all vanished. He expected a hospital bed, the sterile hum of machines, or his cluttered Kathmandu apartment, the buzz of 2024 life outside. Instead, he lay on a thin mattress in a cramped, sweltering room, the air thick with the scent of beans simmering and the faint tang of mildew. Where was he? His pulse raced, but his body felt alien, small, frail, like he'd been stuffed into a child's frame. He glanced at his hands, tiny and calloused, then at scrawny legs peeking from worn shorts. Disbelief surged, a cold wave drowning his thoughts. How was this possible? He'd been 38, living in 2024, not some kid in a rundown room. Was this 2005? The year whispered in his mind, alien and impossible. Was he dead? Reborn? Or losing his mind?
A woman's voice hummed a samba tune nearby, soft and warm, stirring unfamiliar memories. Not his, but another's, a boy named Lucas Rocha Silva, 10 years old. A tiny house in a São Paulo favela, a mother cooking feijoada, a sister, Carla, scolding him for dodging chores. Nelen's own memories fought back, raw and vivid: the ANFA pitches of 2002 Nepal, where he'd been fast and skillful at 16, the crowd chanting "Nelen!" before corruption crushed him. His parents' words stung: "Football won't feed you, son." By 2024, he'd traded his boots for a good earning career, his dreams for regret, his heart failing as Anju screamed. This couldn't be real. How was he in 2005, in Brazil, in a kid's body? His chest tightened, the weight of the impossible pressing down.
He sat up, the mattress creaking, his small frame trembling. The room was tiny, walls cracked and plastered with faded football posters of Ronaldinho's grin, Zidane's bald head while at the center, a vibrant Brazil 2002 World Cup poster dominated, the team hoisting the trophy, Ronaldo's gap-toothed smile beaming. It was 2005, Lucas's memories confirmed, three years after that triumph. A scuffed football rested by the door, tempting him. His toes twitched, instinct urging him to kick it, but disbelief held him fast. He pinched his arm, the pain sharp and real. Not a dream. But how? Why?
Before he could unravel the mystery, a loud DING! echoed in his mind, like a stadium bell. A glowing holographic panel flared in his vision, sleek as a digital scoreboard. Bold green text scrolled across a translucent screen, sharp and futuristic, edged with pulsing lines like a digital flame:
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[DING! Football Prodigy System Initialized]
System Level: 1 (0/1000 Legacy Points to level up)
Player: Lucas Rocha Silva
Age: 10 years
Talent Grade: D+
Legacy Points: 0
(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, F to S)
- Technique: C (Ball control and skill, F to S)
- Vision: C+ (Playmaking and awareness, F to S)
- Resolve: D- (Mental toughness, F to S)
- Drive: F (Unique flair and creativity, F to S)
- Prodigy Talents: None
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LEGACY QUESTS
#New Quest: Spark of a Legend
* Task 1: Jog 30 miles within a week (backyard or nearby streets).
* Task 2: Complete 60 squats daily for a week (in room or yard).
* Task 3: Perform 70 ball juggles daily for a week (in yard).
* Task 4: Practice one shooting drill daily for a week (against wall or makeshift goal).
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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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Newbie Pack Unlocked:
- Neymar's Flair (A-tier Passive Talent): Grants potential for Neymar-like dribbling finesse and agility. Requires practice to master; initial attempts may fail. Inspired by Neymar's style. [Skill Mastered: 1%]
- C-tier Healing Potion: One-time-use. Reduces minor injury recovery time by 40%. Auto-activates on injury.
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First Quest: Interact with system and review all menus.
Reward: +1 Resolve, 20 Legacy Points.
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The panel shimmered, its chime fading like a distant whistle. Nelen or now Lucas's heart leaped, a surge of joy flooding him. A system? A digital coach to guide him to greatness? The possibilities sparkled with quests, talents, a path to the pitches he'd dreamed of. He grinned, his small hands clenching in excitement. But the glow faded as thoughts crept in, heavy and sharp. If this system had existed in his past life, in Nepal, could he have defied the corruption? Could he have risen, a star instead of a failure? Regret twisted his gut. He thought of Anju, her tears as he collapsed, her laughter during their childhood games. His parents, strict but loving, urging him to study. His few friends, the ones who'd stuck by him through his hard years. They were gone, left in 2024, while he was here, in 2005, in a new life. God, or whatever force, had given him this chance, but the ache remained. He shook his head, forcing the thoughts away. This was his shot, and he wouldn't waste it.
He focused, willing the panel back. It reappeared, crisp and responsive. He navigated to Player Stats, eyeing the F-to-S ranks. His Technique: C echoed Nelen's old skill, but Drive: F+ was a weak spark. He switched to Legacy Quests, heart racing at the tasks. Jogging 30 miles? Squats and juggles in a cramped yard? The penalty chilled him: lose the system, and talent drop to Talent Grade F forever. The rewards a Vigor Tonic Potion, and a new talent ignited his resolve. He checked the Newbie Pack. Neymar's Flair, at 1% mastery, promised Neymar's dazzling dribbles, but the practice note fueled his grit. System Shop, Lucky Draw, and Instinct Pulse, a future ability to sharpen split-second decisions were locked, teasing greater power. He closed the panel, the system chiming:
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[First Quest Complete: Interact with system.
Reward: +1 Resolve, 20 Legacy Points. Resolve: D, Legacy Points: 20.]
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Lucas stood, testing his small body. His legs felt light, unscarred, unlike Nelen's aching old knees. He grabbed the football, rolling it under his foot, and stepped into the tiny backyard, a patch of dirt framed by sagging fences. He tried a Neymar-style dribble, picturing a defender. His foot flicked, aiming for Neymar's finesse, but the ball slipped, bouncing off his shin into a fence. The system flashed:
[Neymar's Flair attempted. Skill Mastered: 2%. Practice to improve success rate.]
Lucas gritted his teeth, trying again. The ball wobbled, but he kept it closer, a hint of flair emerging. His third attempt faltered, rolling into a ditch. Frustration flared, but the 2% mastery note drove him forward. His Technique: C wasn't enough yet, but Neymar's Flair was a seed, ready to grow.
"Lucas, get in here! Dinner's ready!" His mother's voice cut through, sharp but warm. He tucked the ball under his arm, stepping into a tiny kitchen, walls cracked, the smell of beans and rice wrapping him like a blanket. His mother, apron dusted with flour, smiled tiredly. Carla, braid swaying, narrowed her eyes. "You're acting weird, dummy. Staring at nothing again?" Lucas shrugged, sitting at a wobbly table. "Just thinking something," he said, blending Nelen's caution with Lucas's spark.
His mother hummed a samba tune, setting plates. Carla flicked his ear, grinning. "Don't skip chores tomorrow, Lucas. You're not Ronaldinho yet." He laughed, but his mind lingered on the system. Jogging, squats, juggles, shooting drills. The penalty loomed, failure meant losing his new system and his talent crippled. Brazil was football's heart, the 2002 World Cup poster a symbol of glory. The system was his shot at greatness, a chance to rewrite Nelen's failures. Anju's face flashed in his mind, her voice soft, urging him to fight. He'd do this for her, for himself, for the legacy he'd forge.
As they ate, his mother asked about school, her voice soft. Lucas answered, careful, weaving Nelen's wit into Lucas's boyish charm. Carla watched, suspicious, sensing something off. Outside, the favela hummed, kids kicking balls in the dusk. Lucas's body felt ready, the Healing Potion waiting for any bumps or bruises. He thought of Neymar's Flair, his clumsy attempts, the quests ahead of 30 miles, squats, juggles, drills. Nelen had crumbled, dreams crushed but Lucas Rocha Silva wouldn't. This was his new home, his spark, his chance to forge a legacy that would burn forever.