January 2015.
London, England.
The Tottenham Hotspur training ground.
The damp, biting air of the British winter lunged through tracksuits, settling into the marrow. On the pitch, the U18 squad stood frozen,not from the cold, but from the suffocating tension radiating from the man at the front.
Bill Vance, the Youth Academy Director, stood with his chin tilted, savoring the silence. In his hand was a clipboard that held the future of every boy present.
Every January, following tradition, Tottenham selected three prospects for the "Winter Test"— a chance to train with the first team. It wasn't a professional contract, but in the high-stakes world of the Premier League, it was the only invitation that mattered. With the mid-season schedule piling up and the first team's injury list growing, a good showing under the eyes of the manager could change a life overnight.
Out of forty players, only three would be chosen.
Vance scanned the anxious faces, a thin, oily smile touching his lips. He loved the power. "The three names I call will report to the first team tomorrow," he announced, his voice cutting through the wind. "My criteria, as always, are based strictly on merit."
He paused, letting the desperation simmer. "Those chosen should be grateful. Those who aren't? You should be even more grateful. It means you have more work to do."
While the other teenagers vibrated with nerves, one boy stood near the back, his expression unreadable. Renzo Uzumaki leaned back slightly, his dark hair damp with mist. He wasn't anxious. He was bored.
Why does this hack love the sound of his own voice so much? Renzo thought, idly rubbing his ear. He looked at the translucent blue interface floating in his vision,a sight he'd grown used to over the last month.
[Football Legend System (Pending Activation)]
[Activation Event: Fail to be selected for the Tottenham Winter Test.]
[Activation Progress: 0%]
Renzo didn't need to hear the names. He knew his wasn't on the list.
A month ago, Renzo had woken up in his seventeen-year-old body, back in the prime he had once wasted. In his first life, he had been the "Golden Boy" of the academy—the youngest player ever named to the U18 Team of the Season. The papers had called him the next Harry Kane.
Then Bill Vance had arrived.
Vance wasn't just a poor judge of talent; he was a gatekeeper who loathed anyone he hadn't personally discovered. He had ground Renzo down with impossible training loads and ignored clear signs of fatigue, leading to a string of preventable injuries that ended Renzo's career before he hit thirty.
Now, Renzo was back. And if he had to lose a spot on a training list to trigger his destiny, he'd do it gladly.
"Forward: Anderson Figuer!" Vance barked.
A boy nearby let out a muffled shout of joy, pumping his fists.
"Defender: Mars Klin!"
Another roar of triumph. The crowd shifted. Two spots gone—one for a forward, one for a defender. That left the midfield slot. Dozens of eyes turned toward Renzo. It was common knowledge: Renzo Uzumaki was the best midfielder in the academy. It wasn't even close.
Vance caught Renzo's eye, a flash of malice dancing in his gaze. "And finally... the last spot goes to Chris Lind."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"What? Renzo didn't make it?"
"Lind? He's a backup at best!"
"This is a joke, right?"
The whispers broke out like a wildfire. Chris Lind was a recent arrival, a "Vance guy" who lacked half of Renzo's vision on the pitch. In his previous life, this moment had broken Renzo. He had protested, shouted, and earned himself a permanent spot on Vance's blacklist.
But this time, Renzo remained as still as a statue. He was watching the blue screen.
[Ding! Activation Event: Failed Selection (Completed)]
[Path Correction: Sever ties with Tottenham Academy. Seek a new beginning.]
[System Activating: 1%... 16%... 33%... 50%...]
Finally, Renzo thought, a weight lifting off his chest. Let's get out of this graveyard.
But then, the counter stopped.
[System Activation Progress: 50% (Halted)]
Renzo's jaw tightened. You're kidding me. I've played the good soldier for a month for this? On the pitch, Vance was relishing the chaos. He knew exactly what he was doing. By suppressing Renzo now, he could claim the boy's eventual success as his own "mentorship" later, or simply discard him if he didn't bow to his authority.
Vance looked at Renzo, expecting to see tears or a breakdown. Instead, he saw a boy staring into space, looking profoundly annoyed.
"Renzo Uzumaki!" Vance shouted, stepping toward him. "Hey! I'm talking to you, kid! Are you deaf?"
Renzo's frustration, bottled for a month and fueled by the memories of a ruined career, finally hit the boiling point. He snapped his gaze to the Director.
"What the hell are you barking at? I can hear you just fine."
The training ground went silent. You didn't talk to the Director that way. Not if you wanted a career in England.
Vance turned purple. He marched into the crowd, the players parting like the Red Sea. "You've got a lot of nerve, Chen. I was going to say you have a future here if you work harder, but now? Now, I'm declaring that as of tomorrow—"
SLAP.
The sound echoed off the academy walls.
Vance's head snapped back as he collapsed onto the wet grass, his clipboard clattering away. The entire U18 squad froze in collective shock. Renzo stood over him, his hand stinging, his eyes burning with a dark, cold light.
[Path Correction Effect: Strengthened!]
[System Activation Progress: 55%... 66%...]
Renzo's eyes widened. Oh. So that's how we're playing?
The System didn't just want him to leave. It wanted him to burn the bridge to ashes.
Vance scrambled to his feet, clutching his red-streaked cheek. "You... you crazy brat! You just hit me! You're finished! You'll never play in Europe again!"
Renzo didn't wait for the rest. He stepped forward, grabbed Vance by his expensive wool lapels, and hoisted him up.
"You were saying?"
SLAP.
[System Activation Progress: 86%...]
"Stop! Someone stop him!" Vance shrieked.
SLAP.
[System Activation Progress: 99%... 100%!]
[Congratulations! The Football Legend System is now fully active!]
[Activation Reward Received: 1x Legendary Treasure Chest.]
Renzo let go. Vance slumped into the mud, trembling and gasping for air. Renzo didn't look back at the stunned players or the ruined man at his feet. He simply exhaled, a sharp, satisfied breath.
"Consider this my resignation," Renzo muttered.