THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
The GOAT System
Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted. He stared at the translucent blue book, with wide-eyed, mouth agape, and face frozen in astonishment.
Zachary had read many web novels that were system-tagged before he returned to his past. He could immediately understand what was happening. He was convinced that he might obtain a 'leveling up system' like all the protagonists in the novel. That is a dream cheat for any passionate web novel enthusiast.
That system could help him improve his football skills and make him a star player in a few years if it's like in those novels.
Since his injury, this is the first time Zachary has felt optimistic about pursuing his dream of becoming an internationally recognised footballer.
With a system, he can be one of the best players in Africa or even in the whole world.
He can then easily acquire luxury homes, luxury cars, supermodels, and big money without ever committing robberies and selling drugs like in his past life.
Above all, she can secure a better future for her grandmother who still suffers from poverty in the remote village of Bukavu.
The sky is the only limit.
[Am I really awake?] Zachary wondered before once again pinching his skin. This time, he chose one of the more sensitive areas in his body to dispel all doubts in his mind.
"Damn, it hurts," he shouted.
The pain he felt was as real as possible.
If he falls asleep, then this dream or fantasy world has become his new reality. And that's not a bad thing.
He's happy to accept it.
Zachary calmed his mind and once again focused on the contents of the virtual book before him.
****
SUCCESSFUL SPACE-TIME TUNNEL
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INITIALIZATION OF GOAT SYSTEM
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"DING"
NEW USER DETECTED...
MATCHING THE BRAIN WAVES...
ANALYZING BODY DATA...
ORIENTED TO NEW USERS...
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ACTIVATION IS SUCCESSFUL
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"DING"
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Please choose the profession you want to start your journey on the road to being a GOAT
Musicianship
b) Actor
c) Football Players
d) Basketball player
e) Other Sports
'NB: The System will help you on your way to ascending to GOAT status in one of the above professions.'
'Please make your choice after careful consideration. The choice cannot be changed.'
****
A smile slowly spread across Zachary's face after reading the gleaming golden words on the page. She wanted to run, scream, tell her grandmother what happened, but she knew she couldn't. He had no way of explaining his situation.
Zachary has gone back in time and acquired a strange system that should only exist in his fantasy. This system can elevate it to GOAT status in several professions.
He was very happy, even dizzy.
Zachary carefully reached out his right index finger and tapped on the – C option.
****
"DING"
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USERS HAVE CHOSEN THE PROFESSION OF FOOTBALL
'Confirmation' 'Cancel'
(**NB: Options cannot be changed after confirmation.)
****
Zachary did not think twice and only confirmed his choice on the football profession. Football is love, obsession and the only thing he has managed to achieve in some positive results in his previous life.
Zachary would never choose to be a singer or an actor. He would humiliate himself if he tried to sing because of his hoarse voice.
When confirming the football option, the see-through book instantly spread into shimmering blue particles before regrouping to the virtual screen with a golden soccer ball spinning in the center. The ball then disappeared into the background before new golden words began to appear on the virtual screen.
****
"DING"
UI GOAT SYSTEM SOCCER SUCCESSFULLY INITIALIZED
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START THE BOOT PROCESS
PLANTING QUANTUM BIOCODE ON USER DNA...
****
Zachary's head was throbbing while his bones were amused. The pain felt like someone was pushing a knife into his skull.
He immediately laid himself on the bed and rested his head on the pillow. Closing his eyes, he wanted the pain to go away. The entire world became separated, and all he could focus on was the pain rooted deep within his head and bones.
But soon, he heard a ding sound again before his pain receded like a tide. He opened his eyes and noticed that the words on the screen had once again changed.
****
SOCCER GOAT SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY TIED TO NEW USERS
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FILLING USER INTERFACE...
UPDATING USER STATUS...
UPDATING MISSIONS...
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GOAT FOOTBALL UI SUCCESSFULLY UPDATED
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USERS CAN ACCESS THE INFO BY FOLLOWING THE MENUS TAB
****
The message ends there. The virtual screen once again became empty. But not for long. Soon, glowing golden menus began to fill the screen.
****
FOOTBALL GOAT SYSTEM
SYSTEM LEVEL: 1 (0/100 juju points to level up)
USER: Zachary Bemba
AGE: 15 years
JUJU POINTS: 0
(Evaluation: A pathetic boy is far from being a professional soccer player)
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USER MENU
*USER STATUS
*GOat MISSION
* SYSTEM STORE (locked)
*LOTTER SYSTEM (locked)
*INFORMATION TOOL (locked)
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NB: Please upgrade the system to open more functions.
****
Zachary was able to instantly understand the contents of the User-Interface system after a quick glance.
It is like the User Interface of a simple android mobile game that users can use to navigate the game menu.
But Zachary is troubled by the system's assessment of his talent.
He has been playing football since he was eight years old and feels he is an expert at it. But the system assessed his talent only at Grade-D.
His judgment was different from Zachary's expectations. So, he pressed the 'USER STATS' button to understand the reason.
Another list fills in the virtual page as soon as his finger leaves the virtual button.
****
*USER STATUS
->Physical Fitness: D+
->Football Engineering: C+
-> Intelligence Game: C+
->Mental Capabilities and Mindset: D-
-> Factor-X: F
-> GOAT Skills: NONE
****
"Thank you!" exclaim Zakaria. "How can my mental abilities be only in 'D-'? My grade should be higher than this."
Although Zachary failed in his previous life, he always considered himself to have a strong mental fortitude that could bear any hardships. But the system's assessment of him was different from his expectations.
For a moment, he was depressed. But then, he remembered that he had a second chance to reach his goal—the chance to rise to 'great' in the sport.
[With this GOAT system, what is there to fear?]
[I will work harder and become a Grade-S talent as soon as possible.] He decided while tapping the physical fitness tab.
****
USER STATUS
->Physical Fitness (Average Rating: D+)
Balance and Coordination: E
Agility: E
Power: C-C
Stamina: C+
Durability Points: 990/1000 (C+)
NB: For numerical data details, follow the attribute tab.
****
Zachary did not bother to continue assessing his stats. More info will confuse his head. He was never good with numbers.
But he could still understand his skill rank.
His highest attributes were his current strength, stamina, and endurance. They appear above average if the top rank is S-class.
Zachary is still not satisfied with the data.
[I hope this system has a way to improve my attributes and heal my injuries in no time.]
[I must be part of an experiment that will last about one more month.] He thought as he glanced at Asahi's digital clock beside his pillow.
He had moved fifteen years back into the past. Today's date is June 12, 2010. He began to remember some of the events that would happen in the local football scene.
A month later, some scouts from France will be present at the regional football trial in Lubumbashi City. They are officials from humanitarian organizations that aim to promote football in war-torn areas such as the DR. Congo.
In his previous life, several young Congolese players were lucky to be chosen by scouts. Shortly after, they joined France's famous high-performance football academy and rose to the skies in one leap.
Other young footballers (including Zachary) who were not part of the trial wallow in endless regret about the opportunity lost over the years.
Zachary rubbed both of his palms— in anticipation as he was determined to participate and succeed that time. So, without further ado, he clicked on the 'GOAT Missions' tab on the system interface. If the system had a method to increase its power and heal it, it would have to go through a mission. It was no longer worth thinking about for anyone who had ever read a system-tagged novel.
Tab was already flashing with a red light indicating that there was already a mission waiting for Zachary to complete.
****
GOat MISSION
NEW MISSION: Preparation to become a football GOAT
*Task 1: Running 70 miles a week.
*Task 2: Complete 100 seats every day for a week.
*Task 3: Complete 50 press-ups daily for a week.
*Task 4: Complete four rounds of half-dozen Hatha-Yoga poses daily for a week.
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* Gift:
-> Vitality enhancer herb level B (Cure all injuries and strengthen the body. Opportunity to increase talent.)
-> Random GOAT Skills.
->5 juju-points
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*Punishment if the mission is still not completed after the specified time.
-> Loss of GOAT system.
->The user's left foot will be permanently paralyzed (No compromise).
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*Specification: A thousand-mile journey begins with one step. And that step must be taken now.
****
"Now!" zachary exclaimed, his eyes widened. Since he had gone through so much in the past few hours, he was tired and wasted time.
So, he was just about to go out and relax by taking a walk around his old neighborhood. But the system hit the plan.
He hurriedly put on his oversized sportswear, had a quick breakfast, and rushed out of the house after paying his respects to his grandmother.
He could only relax after completing the daily tasks charged at him by the system. He would never allow himself to lose his leg if he had the chance to do something about it.