The Greatest of all Time

667  The Long-Overdue System Upgrade

A smile spread across Zachary's face as he read the system mission completion message on the translucent interface. The three SSS-grade elixirs promised immense benefits, far more potent than the SS-grade ones he had just used.

His eyes then fell on the Random Technique Upgrade Token. Though he wasn't exactly sure what it did, he felt excited at the prospect of its potential.

"System, what does the Random Technique Upgrade Token do?" he asked, his mind brimming with anticipation.

The system AI responded immediately. "The Random Technique Upgrade Token is one of the high-end system rewards. When used, it will randomly improve one of your Football Technique stats by a level. This includes Ball Control, Dribbling Skills, Passing Accuracy, and Body Control."

Zachary's excitement spiked. His ball skills had always been one of the most challenging aspects of his game to improve. They required natural talent and relentless training from a young age.

Over the years, he had elevated them to the SS and SS+ grades, making him one of the best players in the world. But to become the undisputed best, the GOAT, he needed to push beyond those almost unbreachable boundaries. Every physical fitness, football technique stat, and attribute of his had to reach the SSS grade or beyond.

For physical fitness, game intelligence, and spatial awareness, he had now obtained the three SSS-grade elixirs to start the process. As for his techniques, the Random Technique Upgrade Token was his key to further enhancement.

The thought of how much he would improve after using these rewards filled him with an almost unbearable excitement. He could envision himself becoming a beast on the pitch, a force no opponent would dare to challenge.

Suppressing his excitement, Zachary focused on the last message on the system interface. It mentioned that the SSS-grade rewards and the Random Technique Upgrade Token were items beyond the current system level and that he needed to upgrade the system to receive them.

The news was a bit of a letdown, but not too much. Zachary already had the required Juju points to upgrade the system.

The last time he had upgraded the system was over three years ago, just before signing with Juventus. After that, he had become less reliant on the system as his physical fitness improved, allowing him to master skills and maneuvers through sheer training.

But now, with the opportunity to receive such significant rewards, he had to upgrade the system again. It was a necessary step on his journey to claiming a top seat among the greatest footballers of his generation and even in the entire history of the sport.

With his mind at ease, Zachary navigated to the system's translucent home page and looked at the contents.

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GOAT SYSTEM

SYSTEM LEVEL: 5 (1,921,100/1,000,000 Juju points to level up)

USER: Zachary Bemba

AGE: 23 years

TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-SS+

JUJU-POINTS: 1,921,100

(Evaluation: One of the very best at the moment and the entire history of football)

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USER MENU

*USER STATS

*GOAT MISSIONS

*SYSTEM SHOP

*SYSTEM LOTTERY

*SNOOPING TOOL

*TRAINING TOOLS

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A complicated feeling emerged within Zachary as he looked at the contents of the system's home page. He couldn't help but remember when he had just undergone a rebirth and obtained the system.

He had been so reliant on the various system functions, desperate to raise his then-mediocre talent. But now, he was already an SS+ grade talent, one of the 'very best' in football history, at least according to the system. He felt a swell of pride, sensing that he was just a thin line away from the threshold of previously unreachable greatness.

Zachary calmed himself and turned to his next task: upgrading the system. With 1,921,100 Juju points accumulated, nothing was stopping him. He called to the system in his mind and instructed it to commence the upgrade.

The system responded, informing him that one million Juju points would be deducted to upgrade from level 5 to level 6 and that it would shut down for 72 hours during the upgrade process. That also meant he wouldn't access any of its functions until the 72 hours elapsed.

"Confirm the upgrade," Zachary commanded without hesitation.

A translucent accept button appeared on the screen before him. He tapped it, and the system quickly began its familiar upgrade sequence. After watching for a while, he disengaged the interface, his thoughts turning to the hunger gnawing at him. He needed breakfast.

Since the elixirs had already cured his injured shin, he no longer needed crutches. Walking boldly out of his room, he headed to the restaurant. As he arrived, he found his teammates still having breakfast. Like him, they must have woken up quite late after celebrating until late the previous night.

Eric Bailly looked up and grinned. "Look who's finally awake! Sleepyhead!"

Wilfried Zaha laughed and said, "There's our hat-trick hero!"

Zachary ignored their teasing and greeted his teammates. Their faces still glowed with satisfaction after beating France and winning the World Cup. He could feel the positive energy radiating from each of them as if the victory had added something extra to their auras. They exuded boundless confidence and excitement.

Sylvain Gbohouo, always observant, noticed Zachary's absence of crutches. "Hey, Zachary, you're not using crutches anymore. Did you get better?"

Hearing the question, the other Ivorian players around the tables also realized the abnormality and glanced at Zachary questioningly. Zachary, of course, couldn't explain that he used some mythical elixirs to instantly heal his injury. He downplayed his response.

"I told you guys, the injury looked worse than it actually was. The first aid treatment I received from the medics after the game did the trick. I can walk normally now. But I still can't do rigorous exercises."

His teammates seemed to buy the explanation, nodding and returning to their meals. Zachary settled down at one of the tables, joining them for breakfast. The room was then filled with laughter and lively conversation, everyone basking in the afterglow of their historic win.

As he enjoyed his meal, Zachary couldn't help but reflect on his journey again. From a player of mediocre talent to one of the best in the world. He had come a long way!

The system had been instrumental in his rise, and now, with the impending upgrade, he was on the brink of achieving even greater things. The following 72 hours would be a test of patience, but the wait would be worth it as he would receive the SSS grade elixirs and the Random Technique upgrade token after the upgrade.

After breakfast, Zachary excused himself from the lively dining hall, weaving through the maze of jubilant teammates. He longed for some solitude before meeting Emily, a quiet interlude where he could escape into the pages of the sports manga he had ordered some days prior.

This year had been a relentless vortex of training sessions and high-stakes matches, and he desperately needed some downtime to recharge.

Some of his teammates tried to rope him into various activities as he headed to his room. Eric Bailly and Nicolas Pépé wanted him to join a spirited PlayStation tournament. Wilfried Zaha and Serge Aurier proposed a tour around Moscow, promising an adventure filled with sightseeing and fun.

Though their offers were tempting, Zachary politely declined. Today, he had a singular goal: to be lazy and unwind in the comfort of his hotel room.

Seeing his stance, his teammates finally relented, letting him go with understanding nods and a few good-natured jibes about him being a monk. Zachary chuckled and waved them off, grateful for their comradeship but eager to enjoy some rare alone time.

Back in his room, he settled into the comfy armchair on his balcony, the city of Moscow sprawling below him. With a sigh of contentment, he opened the manga and began to read.

The world of fiction enveloped him, offering a delightful escape from the real-world pressures of professional football. Occasionally, he looked up from the pages to take in the view, marveling at the blend of historic architecture and modern skyscrapers. Life was just that good!

When hunger or thirst struck, he ordered room service. The beautiful Russian waitresses swiftly delivered his meals, their presence a fleeting distraction from his otherwise tranquil retreat. Winning the World Cup had certainly afforded him some luxuries, and he relished every moment.

Hours flew by in a blissful blur until the clock struck 1:00 PM. Zachary reluctantly put down his manga as he realized that Emily would arrive at the hotel to discuss his transfer situation in about an hour.

He took a quick shower, the cool water refreshing him for the upcoming meeting. Once dressed, he joined his teammates for a hearty lunch in the restaurant, enjoying the light-hearted banter and sharing excitement over their recent triumph.

After lunch, Zachary moved to one of the private booths, seeking a quieter spot to prepare for his meeting. He pulled out his phone and called Emily, informing her of his location.

She responded promptly, saying she would be there with Kristin in around ten minutes. With everything in place, Zachary hung up, feeling a mix of anticipation and excitement bubbling within him. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

As he waited, he couldn't help but think about the Premier League offers Emily had mentioned. His heart raced at the prospect of joining one of the top clubs in England, taking his career to new heights.

The World Cup victory had been a monumental achievement. But he knew that his journey was far from over. There were new challenges to conquer and new records to set, and Zachary was more than ready to embrace them.