The First Test
Chapter 7: The First Test
Lucas Rocha Silva stood at the edge of the São Paulo FC training ground near Morumbi Stadium, his scuffed football tucked under his arm, heart pounding like a samba drum. Dawn broke over 2005 São Paulo, the air thick with dust and the roar of hundreds of kids swarming the gritty pre-Cotia facility, its faded signs reading "Youth Academy Peneiras 2005." His mother stood beside him, her best dress dusted from the bus ride, hands clasped, eyes scanning the chaotic crowd. The Football Prodigy System buzzed in his mind, Neymar's Flair and Edinson Cavani's Finishing pulsing, his Talent Grade: C and potion-boosted stamina ready to ignite. A green glow flared in his vision, the system chiming with a sharp DING!, delivering a quest unprompted:
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[New Legacy Quest: The Scout's Judgment]
Player: Lucas Rocha Silva
System Level: 1 (214/1000 Legacy Points)
Talent Grade: C
Objective: Stand out in the São Paulo FC open tryout. Impress the scout in a 30-minute session (drills and small-sided game) to earn a callback.
Rewards: 100 Legacy Points, B-rank Leadership Skill (upgradable, improves your ability to lead teammates and make critical decisions when it counts.)
Penalty for Failure: Stamina Drain (-10% stamina for 7 days)
Assessment: Hundreds vie for glory, few will rise. First impressions are everything. Unleash your spark.
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Lucas's eyes widened, a wild grin splitting his face. "Leadership skill? A hundred points? Let's go!" he whispered, fists clenching, heart racing like he was already on the pitch. The B-rank Leadership skill, upgradable and boosting team play, fired him up, while the Stamina Drain penalty sharpened his focus. His mother glanced over, brow creased. "Stay calm, Lucas. You can do this." He nodded, gripping his football tighter, the favela's energy samba echoes, vendor shouts still vivid from their journey.
The training ground was a frenzy, hundreds of kids split into age groups, parents shouting, coaches barking through megaphones. The pitch was worn turf under rusty floodlights, ringed by splintered benches and a chain-link fence. Lucas spotted João and Diego from the dirt pitch, waving. "Let's kill it, bro!" João called. A wiry kid, Rafa, pushed through, smirking. "Hope you're more than street tricks, runt." Lucas ignored him, eyeing the 10-year-old group. His mother found a bench, her eyes locked on him, a mix of worry and pride.
A stocky scout in a São Paulo FC cap, Coach Mendes, stepped forward, clipboard in hand, voice booming. "Group 3, 10-year-olds, you're up! Thirty minutes, drills, then a five-v-side game. Move now!" Lucas jogged to the registration table, signing his name, his mother nodding approval from the bench. The system's quest burned in his mind: impress Mendes, stand out, earn the callback. He joined his group, 20 kids in mismatched gear, some cocky, some nervous. Rafa was among them, sneering. Pedro, a quiet kid with quick feet, gave Lucas a shy nod.
The session launched with brutal pace, drills packed into 15 minutes. First, sprints across the pitch. Lucas blazed through, his potion-boosted stamina holding strong, legs pumping without fatigue. He finished near the front, Mendes's pen scratching. His mother clapped softly from the bench. Next, passing triangles, the ball zipping between cones. Lucas's passes were crisp, Neymar's Flair guiding his touch, threading the ball through tight gaps. A DING! flashed:
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[Skill Progress: Neymar's Flair]
Skill Mastery: 20%
Effect: Dribbling finesse noticeably improved in tight spaces.
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Rafa's pass went astray, his scowl deepening. Lucas caught his mother's eye, her smile steadying him. The final drill was shooting, a keeper in a battered goal. Lucas lined up, Edinson Cavani's Finishing sparking, his physique steadying his aim. He struck the ball clean, curling it past the keeper's lunge, net ripping. The crowd of parents hooted, "Vai, garoto!" His mother's hands shot up, cheering. Mendes's pen moved faster. The system flashed:
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[Skill Progress: Edinson Cavani's Finishing]
Skill Mastery: 6%
Effect: Shot precision noticeably improved in clutch moments.
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The small-sided game came next, 5v5, 15 minutes, real goalkeeper replacing crates. Lucas's team included João and Pedro. Rafa led the opposition, sneering, "You're going down." The whistle blew, and the pitch erupted. Lucas darted through midfield, pulling a rainbow flick, Neymar's Flair making the ball soar past Rafa's lunge, his physique boosting his balance. The crowd cheered, his mother leaning forward, eyes bright. He fired a pass to João, who slotted it home. 1-0. The system flashed:
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[Neymar's Flair, S-rank skill practiced]
Skill Mastery: 21%
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Rafa's team pressed, their winger blasting a shot over the bar. Lucas stole the ball, weaving through chaos, his heel flick dodging two defenders, stamina holding firm. He shouted, "João, move up!" relying on instinct, João nodding and positioning better. Rafa charged, snarling, "You're nothing!" Lucas faked right, Edinson Cavani's Finishing locking in, the goal crystal clear. He curled a shot, the ball screaming past the keeper, net shaking. 2-0. The crowd erupted, his mother clapping wildly, Mendes's pen flying. The system flashed:
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[Skill Progress: Edinson Cavani's Finishing]
Skill Mastery: 8%
Effect: Shot precision noticeably improved in clutch moments.
Neymar's Flair practiced
Skill Mastery: 22%
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Rafa shoved Lucas, the ref blind as always, but Lucas scrambled up, nabbed the ball, and faked left, drawing Rafa. He called, "Pedro, go!" on instinct, and Pedro broke free. Lucas zipped a pass, and Pedro scored. 3-0. The whistle blew, game over. Rafa muttered, "Fluke." João slung an arm around Lucas, grinning, "You're a beast, bro!"
Mendes stepped forward, clipboard in hand. "Lucas Rocha Silva? Standout performance today. We'll be in touch." Lucas's eyes widened, a wild grin breaking free. "No way, I did it!" he whispered, fists pumping, heart racing like he'd scored in a packed Morumbi. His mother rushed over, hugging him tight. "I'm proud of you, Lucas."
The system chimed with a triumphant DING!:
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[Legacy Quest Completed: The Scout's Judgment]
Objective Achieved: Impressed the scout in the São Paulo FC tryout.
Rewards: 100 Legacy Points, B-rank Leadership Skill (upgradable, enhances team coordination and clutch decision-making)
Updated Legacy Points: 314/1000
Updated Skills: Leadership (B-rank, 1% mastery)
Assessment: Your spark burned bright. The academy's door is cracked open. Lead and rise.
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Lucas felt a new pulse in his mind, the Leadership skill activating, a subtle hum urging him to guide and inspire. His grin widened, the B-rank Leadership skill sparking excitement, his new total of 314 Legacy Points fueling his drive. He and his mother walked back to the bus stop, the favela's energy, samba from distant radios, vendor shouts, fading behind them. João's cheers, Mendes's words, his mother's pride, they were fire in his veins.
Back home, Carla stepped closer, her voice gentle but eager. "Tell me everything, bro." Lucas's grin softened, eyes shining. "I did it, sis. I really did it." His mother watched him with a tender smile, voice filled with quiet pride. "You've made us all so proud, Lucas."
In his room, moonlight spilled softly as the favela pulsed alive below with kids shouting, samba drifting through the air. Tomorrow meant school and Senhora Ana's watchful eyes, but with 314 Legacy Points, a Talent Grade C, and a new Leadership skill in hand, Lucas felt his path ignite. The São Paulo academy's callback was within reach a moment to rise, not just for him, but for his mother, his community, and the legacy he was destined to build.