Chapter 19: The Vanguard
The 7:00 AM sun over Dhanmondi was sharp, piercing through the morning haze like a needle. Rimon stood at the gates of the Abahani grounds, his bag slung low. To his natural eyes, the sprawling green field was just a vast, shimmering emerald blur, the white goalposts fading into the sky.
But as he stepped onto the turf, his pulse quickened.
[Sync Rate: 12.5%]
[Calibration: Outdoor Lighting Adjustment Active.]
[Visual Overlay: Contrast Enhanced.]
The blur sharpened. The grid appeared. Suddenly, the grass wasn't just green; it was a tactical map.
"Rimon-bhai(brother)! No way! You actually came!"
Rimon turned toward the voice. A familiar figure was jogging toward him, draped in a bright yellow training bib. It was Hassan. His neighborhood striker looked different here—leaner, more focused, but still wearing that wide, toothy grin.
"Hassan? You're here for the trial too?" Rimon asked, surprised.
"Bhai, are you kidding? After that video went viral, my phone didn't stop ringing for three hours!" Hassan laughed, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Rifat-bhai(brother)'s post was like a bomb. Half the scouts in Dhaka were watching that live feed. Coach Farhan called me personally last night. He said he wanted the guy who was 'ghosting' behind the defense just as much as he wanted the guy who was feeding the passes."
Rimon looked around the field. There were about thirty other players, all looking hungry, all looking professional. "What about the others? Torongo? Jubayer?"
Hassan's face split into an even wider smirk. "They aren't here. They got the 'Big Call,' Rimon bhai(brother). Bashundhara Kings reached them first. Rifat probably whispered in someone's ear over there. Torongo and Jubayer are at the Kings Arena right now for their trials. Nihad and Labib got calls from Mohammedan. We aren't just a khep team anymore, Rimon. We're a brand."
Rimon felt a strange surge of pride mixed with a heavy weight. His decision to play that one "lazy" match had changed the lives of his friends. Nuhab's shaky camera work had unintentionally become the most successful scouting agency in Bangladesh.
"Alright, enough chatting!" Coach Farhan's voice boomed from the center circle. He was holding a clipboard, looking even more intimidating in the morning light. "Line up! We don't have all day. We're starting with high-intensity drills. If you can't handle the pace, the gate is right behind you."
Hassan leaned into Rimon's shoulder. "Hey, look at the sideline."
Rimon squinted, then let the System focus for him. Standing near the fence, arms crossed, was Mahima. She was wearing her university bag, looking completely out of place among the athletes and coaches, but she was there. She didn't wave. She just nodded once.
"She is one am right Rimon bhai(brother)?" Hassan whispered.
"She's the only reason I'm not still in bed," Rimon muttered.
"Show them what you made of bro" Hassan's tone turned excited. "The scouts are watching our every move. They know we have the vision, but they want to see if we can survive the 'Professional Grind.' Don't hold back. Use everything, Rimon bhai(brother). We will show them why Keraniganj boy live and die for football."
Rimon didn't said anything. He looked at his feet—outfitted in a pair of brand-new, charcoal-black boots he'd bought on the way. They felt tight, restrictive compared to his bare skin, but the System was already compensating, mapping the pressure points.
[New Objective: Dominate the Midfield Drill.]
[Penalty for Failure: Performance Regression.]
Rimon stepped onto the pitch. The world was still a blur at the edges, but the center—the ball, the goal, the players—was crystal clear.
The trial had begun.
Author Note:
Can we talk about the "Nuhab Effect"? 😂 That kid literally started a revolution with a Mojo crate and a smartphone! Seeing Hassan at Abahani and the others at Bashundhara Kings feels so rewarding—like the whole neighborhood is moving up in the world together. It's not just Rimon's story anymore; it's Keraniganj takeover! 🇧🇩⚽
And man, Mahima showing up at 7:00 AM just to watch him? That's dedication. 👓 She's basically his guardian angel at this point, making sure he doesn't "accidentally" walk back to the library.
Rimon in actual boots is going to be a menace. The System is at 12.5% now... imagine what happens when he hits 20%! Stay tuned, Bangladesh isn't ready for a half-blind king! 🔥💪