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⚽ Chapter 1 –Ding in the head
June 2003, Arsenal U17 Training Ground, London Colney
"Bip! Bip—!"
Two long whistles echoed. Training wrapped up at Arsenal's Colney base, the U17s walking off in little clusters.
Jeremy Lynch, 15, sat on the grass stretching, eyeing his boots. The sole was peeling again.
"Man… these are done." He muttered, pressing it back down. Around him, other lads had fresh Predators or brand-new Total 90s. He sighed.
From the outside, Jeremy looked like any other London teenager: slim build, wiry quick, with short dreads. But in his head… he wasn't just any kid. He had lived through 2025 already. He knew who would rise, who would flop, what transfers would shake football, even the goals that would go viral. Then that crazy night — and suddenly, he'd woken up in 2003.
"Oi, Jeremy."
It was Karl, a trialist defender from France. "How long's your trial?"
"Six months, mate," Jeremy replied, brushing grass from his shorts. "Same as you."
Karl groaned. "Too much competition here, innit. If they don't keep me, I'm done."
Jeremy didn't answer. He already knew what failure meant — back to scraps, no football career. Arsenal wasn't just a chance, it was his lifeline.
He grabbed a few balls and jogged back onto the pitch. "I'll get some shots in."
"Always working, bruv," Karl called, half-admiring, half-exhausted.
Jeremy dribbled, set himself, and fired.
Bang. Net.
Bang. Miss.
Bang. Net.
He kept going, sweat dripping.
Then—
[DING!]
The deep, cold voice cut through his mind.
[EGOIST SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Skill Unlocked: Long Shot Lv 1 (Proficiency: 12/100)
Voice Guidance: "You are rough. Unrefined. A diamond buried in the dirt. Your mission: polish yourself… or be nothing."
Jeremy froze. That voice — sharp, commanding, relentless. Like Ego Jinpachi from Blue Lock.
"No way… bruv, I've got a system?!" He muttered, eyes wide.
The voice sneered:
"Yes. An egoist system. This world doesn't need team players — it needs kings. You will polish yourself through repetition, through obsession. Every shot, every touch, every selfish act… makes you sharper."
Jeremy blinked, then grinned. "Nah… that's mad." He lined up another shot. "But I'm not complaining."
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Chapter 2 – June 2003, Arsenal U17 Changing Room
The lads shuffled into the dressing room, boots clattering, banter bouncing off the walls.
Jeremy slid onto the bench, still buzzing from training. He had the system now. And if what it said was true, he could grind himself into something unstoppable.
"Oi, Lynch," one of the midfielders smirked, "man never passes. You're like a bloody ball hog."
Laughter rippled around.
Jeremy smirked. "Bruv, if you had my touch, you wouldn't pass either."
That shut them up quick. Some chuckled, some rolled their eyes.
Karl leaned over. "You're bold, mate."
Jeremy shrugged. "Gotta be."
DING!]
Mission: "Be unapologetically selfish in your pursuit. Words matter. Convince them you're not ordinary."
Reward: +2 Ego Points
Jeremy
Jeremy chuckled under his breath. "Say less."
As the lads showered and left, he lingered in front of the mirror. His dreads hung loosely. "Man, these back dreads look goofy… I really thought this was fresh?" He shook his head. "No taste back then."
Still, his reflection grinned back. He wasn't some nobody anymore. He had a cheat code.
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Chapter 3 – July 2003, Coach's Office, London Colney
Hans, the U17 coach, sat Jeremy down. The bald German was blunt but fair.
"Jeremy, you've worked hard. The staff have decided — we're moving you from trialist to academy player. Congratulations."
Jeremy's chest thumped. He forced a grin. "Appreciate it, coach. You won't regret it."
Hans nodded. "Now the real work begins."
[DING!]
System Upgrade: New Feature – Shop Unlocked.
Description: Every week, exclusive items refresh. Buy with System Points.
Jeremy blinked. A glowing menu popped into his mind:
> ⚽ EGOIST SHOP (Refresh: 7 Days)
Recovery Kit – 100 SP
Extra Stamina (1 Match) – 250 SP
"Prime R9 Shooting" (1 Match) – 1000 SP
Boots Pack (Cosmetic) – 50 SP
Jeremy whistled softly. "Madness… literal cheat codes."
The voice growled:
"Tools mean nothing without ego. Buy what makes you sharper, not softer."
Jeremy smirked. "Don't worry. I'm not wasting this."
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Chapter 4 – September 2003, Arsenal Academy Match vs Spurs Youth
The North London derby, even at youth level, was fierce. The small stands were packed with parents, scouts, and fans.
Jeremy laced his boots, adrenaline buzzing. "Derby day, mate. Let's cook."
On the pitch, Spurs pressed hard. Jeremy drifted wide, demanded the ball, and drove past his marker. He cut inside, lined up a curler—
Bang! Top bins.
The crowd erupted. Jeremy sprinted to the corner flag, ice in his veins, and tapped his temple. The Cole Palmer celebration — years before Palmer even existed.
His teammates cheered, but some muttered about his selfish play.
[DING!]
Mission Complete: "Score in a Rivalry Match."
Reward: +5 Finishing
The voice boomed in his head:
"This is only the beginning. You tasted the roar. You will crave it now. More. Always more."
Jeremy jogged back, smirking. "Told you. I'm him."
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Chapter 5 – October 2003, Academy Socials, London
Off the pitch, Jeremy started leaning into the ego. Small parties after training, late-night meetups, and some showing off with his freestyle skills.
He wasn't a full-on prick yet, but the seeds were planted. He'd clown on teammates, talk big, chase girls.
The system encouraged it.
[DING!]
Mission: "Stand out on the pitch. Ego is not just football — it's life."
Reward: +Charisma Points
Jeremy laughed with the academy lads at a local party, flipping a ball onto his neck to impress.
"Bruv, you're moving mad with that," one of them said.
Jeremy winked. "Mate, this is light work. Watch when I'm running this city."
He didn't say it, but in his head he knew: F2 Freestylers? Viral clips? Side hustles? He already had the future in his back pocket.
The system whispered:
"Diamonds don't just shine on the pitch. They are blind everywhere they go."
Jeremy smirked, drink in hand. Arsenal academy player. The system is in his corner. Future knowledge in his head.
He wasn't just playing the game. He was rewriting it.
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