System?
Amani adjusted his eyes to the blue screen that suddenly formed before him, he felt a jolt of surprise course through his body. His eyes widened in astonishment, and his mouth dropped open in disbelief.
He stared at the screen, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The blueish warm light reflected off his face as it cast an otherworldly glow across his features. The people around him begin to notice his peculiar reaction.
Not wanting to draw attention to himself and appear crazy, Amani quickly turned and made his way to the nearest bathroom. Once inside, he locked the door behind him and leaned against the "sink" (which was just a basin his late father had fixed to the wall with wires, it also had a drain underneath it and a pipe), trying to catch his breath.
As he stood there in the bathroom with no roofing in front of the mirror, he couldn't shake the feeling of awe and wonder that the blue screen had left him with.
Amani had read many system-tagged web novels, manga, and manhwa alike before he returned to the past. You could say he was an avid enjoyer of this sort of genre, he could instantly comprehend what was happening. This was the dream 'cheat' for any passionate fan of these web novels.
The system could help him to level up his game and use it to become a great player within a few years if it is anything like in those novels. It can allow him to gain a deeper understanding of the game, make better decisions on the field, perfect his technique with every play, and transform his natural talent into a masterful, strategic prowess that could set him apart from any competitor.
He could easily become a legendary player. This may sound kind of unfair but who is to judge in this situation?
He could clearly change his situation, have a wife and kids he always dreamt of, he could earn money without resorting to robbery or drugs.
Above all, he could better the situations of his mother and grandmother who are still amidst poverty in this remote village in the outskirts of Malindi. He could also help change the situation of this village where the nearest school and hospital is 5-10 km (3 to 6 miles). Though he had completed his primary education, the daily, tiresome trek to Malindi Town had left its mark. He had even earned acceptance into Murang'a High School — a boarding institution — if not for his uncle's devious schemes. But now, academic pursuits were no longer his immediate priority.
**However, it's always important to note that the system is not a magic solution that instantly makes him a legendary player.**
Amani reflected on his past, he couldn't help but recall all the missed opportunities, deceptions, and betrayals he's had to endure because of his investigation into the mysterious death of his father.
His father, a respected school principal, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, and his quest for answers led him down a dark and treacherous path. His uncle, a corrupt politician, who was involved in his father's death, made it his mission to sabotage his efforts. This constant sabotage shattered his world, costing him dearly: friends drifted away, promising career opportunities evaporated, and he gradually lost his sense of identity. Overwhelmed by betrayal and despair, he turned to drugs and alcohol, seeking solace in a cycle of self-destruction that deepened his anguish.
But despite all the obstacles he faced, he never gave up, driven by a fierce determination to uncover the truth.
"Is this not a dream, Am I really awake?" Amani wondered once again as he pinched his cheek, a sensitive part of his skin, and tried to dispel doubts within his mind.
"Damn it! That hurt!"
The pain was as real as it could get.
If he was really still asleep, then this dream world or fantasy had become his new reality which was too good to be true. And that wasn't a bad thing.
He gladly accepted it.
Amani calmed his mind and once again refocused on the contents of the virtual screen before him.
****
SPACE-TIME TRAVELLING SUCCESSFUL
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G.O.A.T SYSTEM INITIALIZING
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"DING"
NEW USER HAS BEEN DETECTED...
MATCHING BRAINWAVES...
ANALYZING BODY STATUS & DATA...
ORIENTING TO NEW USER...
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ACTIVATION SUCCESSFUL
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"DING"
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Please select your desired type of industry to start your journey on the path to becoming LEGENDARY:
a) Music
b) Movies
c) Football (Soccer)
d) Basketball
e)Chess
f) Writing
g) Teaching
h) Medicine
i) Other Sports
j) Other Professions
'NOTE: The system will aid you on your journey to ascend to the LEGENDARY status in any of the above professions.'
'Please make your choice after careful consideration. Remember, your choice is irreversible.'
****
A smile slowly spread across Amani's face after reading through the lustrous words on the blue screen. He wanted to run, to shout, to tell his mama and grandma what was happening, but he knew he couldn't. He had no way of explaining his circumstances, he would just sound crazy.
Amani had gone back in time and acquired a freaking system that should've only existed in his fantasies. The system could elevate him to the LEGENDARY status in several professions.
Amani carefully extended his right hand and with his index finger, he tapped the screen. His choice was obvious – C.
****
"DING"
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USER HAS SELECTED FOOTBALL (SOCCER) INDUSTRY
'Confirm' 'Cancel'
(**NOTE**: Your choice is irreversible after confirmation.)
-------
PLEASE SELECT ONE OF THE THREE CHOICES
a) Manager
b) Player
c) Analyst
------
USER HAS SELECTED FOOTBALL PLAYER AS A PROFESSION
'Confirm' 'Cancel'
(**NOTE**: Your choice is irreversible after confirmation.)
-------
Amani did not even think twice and just chose his choice of the football industry. Football was his love, obsession, and the second thing he'd ever managed to achieve some positive results in his previous lifetime as he led the primary school he worked for to the nationals.
That's right he was a primary school teacher and also an experienced snack shop owner who had the nationals group stage under his belt that didn't matter, did it?
And those other choices acting? Singing? The only Kenyan actor he knew who made it to Hollywood was Lupita Nyo'ngo who starred in the critically acclaimed movie Black Panther: she's really good.
On confirming the player option, the translucent screen instantly dispersed into glittering golden particles before assembling back with a spinning golden football at the center. The ball then disappeared into the background before new words started appearing on the virtual screen.
****
"DING"
FOOTBALL PLAYER SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY INITIALIZED
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REBOOTING
REBOOTING
IMPLANTING BIO-CODE TO THE D.N.A OF THE USER...
THIS WILL HURT SO BUCKLE UP SWEET CHEEKS...
****
He started to feel an excruciating pain in his head that radiated through his entire body, it felt like information was forcefully injected into his mind. His head throbs with a pounding headache that intensifies with every passing second, he could also feel it in his bones. The pain is so intense that he can feel his muscles contracting, and his skin becomes slick with sweat.
He can feel his heart racing as the pain becomes unbearable, and he wonders how much more he can endure. He feels like screaming out in agony, but he knows that he can't. He knows he is in a bathroom, screaming out for help wouldn't be the best course of action because it may cause panic among his neighbors.
Suddenly, Amani hears a ding sound in his head, and the pain stops as quickly as it had started. He is left panting and sweating, still unable to move for a few moments as he tries to comprehend what just happened. The silence that follows is almost deafening, and he feels a strange sense of relief that the pain is gone. His head still throbs with the remnants of the headache, and he feels a sense of disorientation as he tries to make sense of what just happened.
Slowly, he begins to regain control of his body and he stands up shakily, trying to steady himself against the bathroom wall. His thoughts are scattered, and he struggles to process what he has just experienced. As he is breathing heavily, a smile starts to form; this was just like those novels but now it was real, too real.
****
FOOTBALL PLAYER SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY BOUND TO NEW USER
----
POPULATING USER INTERFACE...
UPDATING USER STATS...
UPDATING MISSIONS...
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FOOTBALL MANAGER UI SUCCESSFULLY UPDATED
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USERS CAN ACCESS INFO BY FOLLOWING THE TAB MENUS
****
The message ended there. The virtual screen once again became blank. But not for long. Shortly, glowing tab menus started populating the blue screen.
****
FOOTBALL PLAYER SYSTEM
SYSTEM LEVEL: 1 - Newbie (0/100 EXP points to level-up)
USER: Amani Chirichi Hamadi
AGE: 13 years
TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade D
POINTS: 0
(Evaluation: How are you going to become a professional football player if you aren't as good as an amateur player)
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USER MENU
*USER STATS
*SYSTEM MISSIONS
*SYSTEM SHOP (locked)
*SYSTEM LOTTERY (locked)
----
NOTE: Please level up the system to unlock more functions.
****
Amani instantly understood the contents of the system user interface after taking a single glance.
It was like the User Interface of a simple Android mobile game that the user could find in the Play Store.
But Amani was astonished by the system's assessment of his talent.
He had been playing and studying football since he was eight years old and it was not a long time, but he always felt like he was good at it. The system was assessing him at only Grade D might be underestimating him.
The grading was different from Amani's expectations he was pretty confident in his assessment. So, he tapped on the 'USER STATS' button to understand why.
Another list populated the virtual page as soon as his finger left the virtual button.
*USER STATS
->Physical Fitness: D
->Football Technique: D+
->Game Intelligence: C+
->Mental Ability and Mindset: C+
->Skills: NONE
*****
USER STATS
->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: D)
Balance and Coordination: E
Agility: E
Strength: C-
Stamina: C+
Endurance: C+
NOTE: For more detailed numerical data, follow the attribute tabs.
****
"DING"
ABRUPT MISSION
#NEW MISSION: Lead by example
*Task 1: Run 70 miles within a week.
*Task 2: Complete 100 seat-ups daily for a week.
*Task 3: Complete 100 squats daily for a week.
*Task 4: Complete 50 press-ups daily for a week.
*Task 5: Complete 100 Burpee Pull-ups for a week.
*Task 6: Complete four rounds of half a dozen Yoga poses daily for a week.
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*REWARDS
->B-grade vitality-enhancing elixir (Heals all injuries and strengthens the body. Has a chance of increasing talent.)
->A random G.O.A.T Skill.
-> 10 Points
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*PUNISHMENT in case the mission is still incomplete after the stipulated time.
->Loss of System.
->Random leg of the user will be permanently crippled (No compromise).
----
*Remarks: A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. And that step must be taken now.
****
"Now?" Amani exclaimed. Since he'd been through a lot in the past few hours, he was tired and spent out.
So, he was just about to go out and relax by taking a walk around his old neighborhood after he ate some of his Mama's cooking, but the damn system just swatted his plans.