Chapter One: The Drop and the Draw
The rain hadn't stopped for three days.
It clung to the cracked windows of the train as it rattled through the outskirts of Merseyside, blurring the grey world outside into a watercolor of disappointment. Jamie Carrick sat alone, his duffel bag at his feet, boots still caked with the mud of Finch Farm. Or what used to be his home.
Released.
The word echoed in his head like a bad chant from the terraces. Six years in Everton's academy, and now—nothing. No contract. No scholarship. Just a handshake, a nod, and a "keep your chin up, lad."
He was sixteen. And already discarded.
The train hissed to a stop at a forgotten platform in Cheshire. Jamie stepped off, the cold biting through his trackies. Ahead lay the town of Winsford, and with it, a trial at Winsford United—a club so far down the football pyramid it might as well have been underground.
He didn't know what he was chasing anymore. Pride? Revenge? A second chance?
Then it happened.
As he stepped onto the platform, time seemed to stutter. The world froze. The rain hung in the air like glass beads. And then—
🃏 SYSTEM ACTIVATED ⚽ Welcome to the Football Ascension System You have been selected. Your journey begins now.
Jamie blinked. "What the hell…"
A glowing interface hovered in front of him, visible only to his eyes. It pulsed with energy, like a heartbeat.
🎁 Welcome Pack Unlocked You have received 3 Skill Cards. Cards grant innate abilities of current and former footballers. Card rarity: Bronze < Silver < Gold < Platinum < Diamond Higher rarity = greater skill, lower draw chance. Cards are automatically integrated upon draw. Draw now?
Jamie hesitated. Then nodded.
🔄 Drawing…
Three cards materialized in his mind's eye, spinning like roulette wheels.
The first snapped into place.
🟫 Bronze Card: Sébastien Haller – Hold & Release Gain the strength and timing to hold off defenders and lay the ball off with precision under pressure.
The second shimmered silver.
◽ Silver Card: Antoine Griezmann – Ghost Timing Gain the ability to time late runs into the box and arrive unmarked in scoring positions.
The third spun longer, slower. The glow intensified—brighter than the others. Then—
💎 Diamond Card: Harry Kane – Complete Finisher Gain elite-level shooting from both feet, aerial dominance, and the vision to drop deep and dictate play.
Jamie's breath caught. His pulse surged. He didn't feel different—but something inside him had shifted. Like muscle memory he hadn't earned. Like instincts that weren't his. He could almost feel the ball begging to be struck, the net already rippling.
⚙️ System Note: Skills will evolve with use. More cards can be drawn through performance milestones. You are the only one who can access this system. Rise through the leagues. Become a legend.
The rain resumed. The world unfroze.
Jamie looked down at his boots. Still muddy. Still worn. But now… they felt lighter.
He walked toward the town, toward the trial, toward whatever came next.
He wasn't just a cast-off anymore.
He was a wildcard.