Grinding Every Day
Chapter 4: Grinding Every Day
Lucas Rocha Silva darted through the favela's morning bustle, his worn sneakers slapping uneven pavement. The air hummed with samba from crackling radios, mingling with the tang of grilled meat and motorbike exhaust. Day three of the Spark of a Legend quest pulsed in his mind 30 miles to jog, 60 squats, 70 ball juggles, one shooting drill. Failure meant his dreams are crushed. Lucas, once Nelen in 2024, carried the sting of his past Kathmandu's 2002 ANFA pitches, his 16-year-old flair snuffed by corruption, his heart failing as Anju wept. In 2005 São Paulo, this 10-year-old body was his second shot. School and chores tugged at him, but the pitch called louder, Anju's childhood laughter his fuel.
He woke before sunrise, the Brazil 2002 World Cup poster on his wall glowing softly in the morning light, Ronaldo's confident grin daring him on. His mother's voice called from the kitchen, "Lucas, school first, then the market for rice!" He nodded, channeling Nelen's discipline to map out his day—school as cover, chores for racking up quest miles, and football chasing glory. Carla's gaze lingered, concern flickering in her voice, "You're pushing too hard, bro. Don't lose yourself in all this." He felt her doubt sting, but didn't let it stick. He grabbed his schoolbag and worn-out football, eyes already on the day ahead.
School was a riot of shouting kids and creaking desks, the courtyard a dust-choked patch where boys kicked stones like balls. Lucas sat through Portuguese class, his Vision: C+ drifting to quest tasks. The teacher, Senhora Ana, snapped, "Lucas, focus! Daydreaming won't pass exams." He mumbled an apology, Nelen's wit keeping him calm, but her frown lingered. He slipped into the courtyard at break, the ball flicking up foot to knee, back to foot, steady and focused. He hit twenty, and the kids murmured in amazement, their eyes tracking every touch as if the ball were a spark dancing through air, and Neymar's Flair sparking. A loud DING! rang in his mind, the system's green interface flaring:
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[DING! Football Prodigy System]
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System Level: 1 (46/1000 Legacy Points to level up)
Player: Lucas Rocha Silva
Age: 10 years
Talent Grade: D+
Legacy Points: 46
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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LEGACY QUESTS
#Spark of a Legend
* Task 1: Jog 30 miles within a week (Current: 4 miles, Day 3/7)
* Task 2: Complete 60 squats daily for a week (0/60, Day 3)
* Task 3: Perform 70 ball juggles daily for a week (0/70, Day 3)
* Task 4: Practice one shooting drill daily for a week (0/1, Day 3)
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Rewards:
* B-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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He pushed to 70 juggles, sweat beading, and the system chimed:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 3: 70 ball juggles complete, Day 3
+10 Legacy Points. Total: 56
Neymar's Flair practiced. Skill Mastered: 7%
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João, the gap-toothed kid, bounded over. "Lucas, big match tonight! Rico's crew thinks they're kings. We need you, bro!" Rico, a lanky 12-year-old with a mean streak, ruled the alley pitch. Lucas's Resolve: D flared beating Rico could earn respect, a step toward his legacy. "Alright bro, I'm in." he said, heart racing. João whooped, sprinting off.
After school, Lucas jogged to the market, a maze of stalls bursting with spices, mangoes, and shouting vendors. His mother's errand to buy rice doubled as quest work. He wove through crowds, hitting three miles, his Stamina: D straining. A gray-haired vendor, handed him change with a tired smile, her fingers brushing his. The system flashed:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 1: Jog 30 miles (Current: 7 miles, Day 3/7)
+3 Legacy Points. Total: 59
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Back home, Lucas did squats in the backyard, thighs burning by 60. The system chimed:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 2: 60 squats complete, Day 3
+5 Legacy Points. Total: 64
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For the shooting drill, he found a graffiti-covered wall by the communal tap, a makeshift goal scratched into it. His first shot ricocheted off, startling a stray cat. His Vision: C+ adjusted, and the second hit the mark, paint flaking. The system updated:
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[Task Update: Spark of a Legend]
Task 4: Shooting drill complete, Day 3
+5 Legacy Points. Total: 69
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Dusk fell, the favela alive with flickering lights and samba beats. Lucas sprinted to the alley pitch, a cracked asphalt strip framed by rusted goalposts and cheering kids. Chocolate bars, jingling coins, and bold dares flew, every kid suddenly a betting expert. Rico strutted, his crew sneering. "This kid?" Rico taunted, eyeing Lucas. "He's nothing." João clapped Lucas's shoulder. "Show 'em, bro."
The match exploded, a whirlwind of dust and elbows. Lucas dribbled, his Drive: F straining, but Neymar's Flair ignited. He tried a rainbow flick, the ball arcing over Rico's lunge, drawing gasps. It wobbled, landing off-target, but the crowd roared, "Vai, garoto!" (meaning "Go, boy!"). The system flashed:
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[Neymar's Flair attempted]
Skill Mastered: 9%. Practice to improve success rate
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Rico pushed hard, tripping Lucas mid-dribble. Lucas stumbled, catching himself, his Resolve: D burning. He stole the ball, his Technique: C threading a pass to João. João's shot flew wide, the crowd groaning.
Late in the match, Rico broke through, curling a shot past the keeper. The crowd jeered, Rico grinning, "That's how it's done!" The score hit 1-0, stinging Lucas's team. He weaved through chaos, trying Neymar's Flair a step-over, then a heel flick. The ball danced, slipping past two defenders, but Rico shoved him, the ref blind. The system flashed:
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[Neymar's Flair attempted]
Skill Mastered: 12%. Practice to improve success rate
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With seconds left, Lucas nabbed the ball near the goal. He spotted a gap, faked right, pulling Rico, and fired a low shot. It screamed past the keeper, grazing the post—then rolled out. The whistle blew, 1-0 loss sealed. Rico jeered, "Nice try, pequeno!" João slapped Lucas's back. "Almost, bro. We'll get 'em next time." The system updated:
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[Match complete: Loss]
+5 Legacy Points for effort and skill practice. Total: 74
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Walking home, Lucas's legs ached from the grind, but he stood tall. His mother frowned at his dusty clothes. "Lucas, these games are too wild!" Carla teased, "You're not Ronaldinho yet, dummy." Lucas grinned, a kid's cheer from the alley echoing in his heart, pushing him to rise. The loss stung, but the crowd's roars, Neymar's Flair at 12%, showed his spark. A locked system feature, promising split-second brilliance, hinted at his future.
Lying on his mattress, under the gaze of the 2002 poster, the favela buzzed quietly, kids chanting and samba melodies drifting on the breeze. School loomed tomorrow, Senhora Ana's warning sharp. Carla's suspicion grew, his mother's worry a weight. But Lucas's Legacy Points hit 74 today, and his Talent Grade: D+ alive. The Spark of a Legend was the start of his path, not just for him, but for Anju, for the kids watching, for a legacy to inspire. Nelen had faded now and Lucas Rocha Silva would blaze, a flame that would burn forever.