Harry wanted to know what his profile looked like in the system. He hastily instructed Maria to open the user profile tab.

****

User Name: Harris Bazz

Known as: Harry Bazz

Gender: Male

Age: 15 years, 10 days.

Date of Birth: 30th May, 2006.

Education: Matric

Height: 178cm

Weight: 70 kg

Friends Registered: None

Relationship Status: Single dog

Job: Unemployed

Hobbies: Football

Earnings: None

Completed Missions: None

Football Potential: SS Rated

Football Rating: Unrated

Football Skills: None

Titles: None

Achievements: None

System Points: None

****

'Hey, How can you call me a single dog? I'm only 15.' Harry roared in his mind.

"It's not me, it's the system who says so. I'm just a manager." Maria giggled as she replied in self-defence.

Harry felt his profile was really bland, except his potential. His potential had a mind-boggling SS Rating. He hadn't even done a single mission, and he got his first benefit from the system.

Harry focused on the screen once again and decided to check out his Newbie Gift Pack. He wanted to click, but Maria was a step ahead. She opened the tab before he could move his hand.

****

Newbie Gift Pack:

Contains 1 World Class Skill (select 1 of 3,)

Contains 1 Position Related Training Plan (select 1 of 3,)

Contains 1 E Rated Potion each for Physique, Technique and Mental Attributes.

Contains 1 Free Lottery Spin.

**Would you like to open the gift pack?

****

Harry didn't dally in showing his agreement, and Maria took him to the Inventory.

****

World-class skills available:

1) Save like Jan Oblak.

2) Pass like Kevin De Bruyne.

3) Take Penalties like Bruno Fernandes.

**Please select one of the above carefully. The choice is irreversible.

Position-oriented training plans available:

1) Goalkeeper

2) Defensive Midfielder

3) Winger

**Please select one of the above carefully. The choice is irreversible.

1 E Rated Physical Attributes Upgrade Potion (Requires compulsory 3 months training)

1 E Rated Mental Attributes Upgrade Potion (Requires compulsory 3 months training)

1 E Rated Technical Attributes Upgrade Potion (Requires compulsory 3 months training)

** Select the Item(s) you wish to consume.

****

Harry selected his options after careful consideration. He selected the passing skill of De Bruyne without hesitation. The system injected memories of passing in De Bruyne's posture in his brain. He felt years pass by in training. He gradually felt the motion had become second nature to him. He felt enlightened. 'Passing is really like making a piece of art.' Not much time had passed in reality by the time Harry came back to his senses.

Harry proceeded with his selection. However, he hesitated whether to be a defensive midfielder or a winger. In the end, he chose the Training Plan for Winger. He wanted to be a star. He didn't want to be someone taken for granted by most, even after stellar performances. Even Kante, the most acknowledged and famous defensive midfielder, hadn't won the Ballon d'Or.

Harry chose to activate the 3 months long training missions by consuming the 3 potions. The potions were surprisingly delicious. System made a banana shake for physique, almond juice for mental attributes and a cup of coffee for technique. 'Maybe they should be called beverages rather than potions,' Harry concluded.

Harry moved on to instruct Maria to open the Lottery tab.

The Lottery was actually just spinning the wheel. There were ten options on the wheel. 1 Recovery potion each of E-, E, E+, D-, D, D+ and C- Rating. 1 Healing potion each of E+, D+ and C+ Rating. Harry spun and won two C- Recovery potions and 1 E+ Healing potion.

The recovery potion was a glass of juice. It enabled quick recovery of stamina, reduced mental fatigue and kept the body in top shape for extra training or matches. Players rated lower than the potion, after consumption, could train at much higher intensity. Only Harry and his registered friends could use the potion. The effect of the potion varied according to the rating at the time of consumption.

The healing potion was pure magic. Any drink of Harry's choice could become a healing potion. However, there were some restrictions involved. Such as, the drink chosen must be in Harry's vision at the time of selection. The drink would only heal injuries not tested by scans such as MRI, CT Scan etc. The drink would only heal the recipient of Harry's choice. The drink would only heal people with lower or equal Physical Ratings.

Harry decided to change into new clothes before he checked the missions. He put on a simple light blue t-shirt and black shorts.

He had three Passive Quests:

**Join a football youth academy within 1 year.(Accept/Reject)

Reward: 100 System Points, 1 Legendary Skill and Overall Rating +15.

Punishment for Failure: The system will be taken away from the user.

**Go to the E continent within 1 year.(Accept/Reject)

Reward: 100 System Points and 1 each B Rated Physique, Technique and Mental Attributes Potion.

**Become a D- Rated player within 1 year. (Accept Quest to show current user stats.)

Reward: 300 System Points, 1 Random Superstar Skill, 1 Random Shop Item and Overall Rating +10.

Harry accepted them all. These quests were his short-term goals. He wasn't going to shy away from the challenge.

Harry finally decided to check his active missions:

**Run 10 miles a day with the ball (Renews Daily.)

Reward: 1 Free Lottery Spin.

**Run 70 miles within a week with the ball.

Reward: Technique+25.

**Run 300 miles within a month with the ball.

Reward: Physique+25 and Technique+25.

**Run 3650 miles within a year with the ball.

Reward Physique +50, Technique +25, Mental Attributes + 75.

*** Train according to the sent videos, in the gym, 2 hours daily for 3 months.

Reward: Physique +75.

***Train according to the sent videos, on level grass, for 2 hours daily for 3 months.

Reward: Technique +75.

***Train visually, while sitting in a relaxing posture, for half an hour daily for 3 months.

Reward: Mental Attributes+75.

***Train as a winger, according to the sent videos, within acceptable conditions. The time and effort put in will be rated and rewarded accordingly by the system. Rewards will be handed out every 3 months. The reward will vary from +25 overall to +225.

****Practise Passing like De Bruyne in varying pitch conditions to raise, Short Passing; Long Passing; Crossing and Vision Stats.

Current Proficiency: 1/100%.

Reward for 100% Proficiency: The above-mentioned 4 stats will be at C+ until the time the overall rating is lower than C+. An overall rating of C+ or above will result in these 4 stats to be one grade higher (Until S Grade.)

Harry wanted to say only one thing after reading all that, 'Bloody system, are you treating me like a slave??? Maria, do you want to get punished? What sort of rewards are these for almost a full day of training? Even though I don't understand those +25 and +75 in Rating. I don't think it's a good reward considering that there is an option of a +225 reward somewhere in those missions.'

"Let me say this first, I am just a manager. I don't set these Missions or Rewards. Don't take your anger out on me. I forgot to mention that I can help you increase your training efficiency. I can do that by giving suggestions.

For example, there are some similar training sessions in the above missions. You can train simultaneously for two or more missions.

Furthermore, I will improve your training results by correcting your form, posture and technique. I can do that better than the best coach out there.

Moreover, I have already made different schedules for you according to the time you want to spend on training. From 8 hours to 14 hours, you can pick any one of them. I would recommend the 10-hour schedule to at least have a chance. Otherwise, you will not be selected by a good academy.

You are getting rewards, others will never obtain with similar effort. If you still can't put effort in, you are the one to blame."

'Alright, alright... don't be mad, Maria. I just got a scare from those hours I had to put in. Will you please remove my confusion about the rating numbers?'

"Well, there are people without a system who put as much effort in their respective fields. They don't know if their efforts will be rewarded. They don't know if they will improve. They might never know when they will get injured. They might never know if they did things the correct way. They have so many unknowns, and they still put in maximum effort day in, day out. It's because they know hard work is the key to success."

'Maria, I apologize. I will put in maximum effort from today onwards. I have the best system to help me out, hence I can't shy away from some pain.'

"Good boy, I suggest you get a training partner for at least 2 hours daily. It's best if he is your friend. You can register him in the Friends section of your Profile. A registered friend can grow alongside you if they follow training plans catered to them or you. It's lonely at the top. Some friends with a similar interest would be a treat to have."

'Good suggestion, I guess I will call my pals from the city. It's summer vacation, and they must be pretty free.'

"By the way, the ratings are actually very easy to understand. Right now, you are getting benefits from the New User Bonus. Otherwise, later down the line, sometimes you will have to deal with getting only a +5 increase. Plus, that reward might be at the end of a grueling professional season at the top level.

Be content with what you get. One should always be grateful when you gain something. In the same way, be patient and show forbearance in times of adversity.

Before you get bored from the lecture, I will direct you to the Ratings Chart. It's now available in User Stats."

****

**Potential, Overall Rating and Stats are based on the following:

975 SS Super Stars of the Game.

950 S+ Legends of the Game.

925 S

900 S- World Class Players.

875 A+

850 A

825 A- Elite Professional Players.

800 B+

775 B

750 B- Threshold to survive as a Professional Player, in any Top Division Club of the Best Five Footballing Countries.

725 C+

700 C

675 C- Minimum Requirement to be recognised as an Emerging Young Talent.

650 D+

625 D

600 D-

575 E+

550 E

525 E- Threshold to be noticed by Scouts as a young kid.

****

'Wow! +75 increases mean skipping three Ratings altogether. Such a luxurious reward. Quick, show me my stats.' Harry got super excited after reading the stats chart.

****

User Stats:

Physique: 100

Technical: 120

Mental: 80

Overall: 100, Unrated.

*Detailed stats are currently unavailable.

****

Unfortunately for Harry, his excitement faded as quickly as air leaked from a tiny hole in a balloon.

"You know what, maybe you should try training 14 hours a day. You seem hopeless right now."

'I say system! Let me smack that ass of yours. How can I be rated so low after you upgraded me?'

"LANGUAGE HARRY!!! I am sorry for informing you that your rating has already been upgraded twice. Your technique was even upgraded by 95 in those stats."

Harry found himself feeling guilty immediately. Hence, he closed the system window and lay on his bed. He really needed to calm down. He needed to sort out his thoughts and plan for his days ahead. 1 year could pass by in a flash if he wasn't careful.