NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 616 Swallowing Elixirs Like There's No Tomorrow
Zachary couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh as he meticulously reviewed the completion details for the UEFA Champions League mission. A wave of melancholy washed over him as he realized this was the first time he had received a subpar mission rating since acquiring the system.
He had been on the cusp of winning the Champions League and reaching the pinnacle of his football career. However, the depressing one-goal difference that led to his team's loss against Barcelona in the Champions League final had shattered his dreams of glory.
"I'll do better next time," he promised himself as he settled back on his bed. The football season had already ended. What he had to do now was to focus on improving his skills so that he could become an unbeatable force that could crush all obstacles that stood in the way of his football dream.
He pushed the distracting thoughts aside and focused on the rewards he had earned by completing various system mission details for the season.
First off, he scored over 200,000 Juju points from these missions. However, he was still far from the one million needed to 'level up' the system to level six.
On top of that, he got his hands on three potent elixirs that could take his fitness to new heights. These included the top-tier S-grade and SS-grade Vitality enhancing elixirs, which were his rewards for helping Juventus achieve a season unbeaten run in the Serie A and breaking the individual goal-scoring record for a single season in the Champions League.
As if that wasn't enough, he also snagged the S-grade random effect elixir, which could boost one of his attributes, including Balance and Coordination, Agility, Strength, Stamina, or Endurance, by an entire grade. As long as he could consume them, he would become an unstoppable force that could crash all opponents on the football field.
"Time waits for no man," Zachary muttered. "I should begin consuming the elixirs."
He didn't have football matches or training sessions scheduled in the coming weeks. This meant he could focus on consuming all the elixirs to boost his fitness to a whole new level. Then, during the summer break, he planned to devote his time to training and perfecting his improved physique.
But first, he exited his room and informed Bj?rn Peters that he didn't wish to be disturbed. Then, he returned to his room and settled on his bed before summoning the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir from the system inventory.
The elixir looked like a tiny banana, similar to its lower-quality versions. Without hesitation, Zachary swallowed it in two quick bites.
A rush of coolness and a tingling sensation swept over his entire body as the elixir began to take effect. Due to his already top-notch SS-grade fitness, the discomfort was brief, and soon, he felt a surge of limitless energy coursing through him.
His eyes glinted with boundless determination as he felt the slight changes. After noting that his body and mind were at their peak, he immediately summoned the SS-grade version of the vitality-enhancing elixir, which was his reward for breaking the individual goal-scoring record for a single Champions League season.
Zachary quickly glanced at the small banana-shaped elixir before swallowing it in two swift gulps. This SS-grade elixir packed a much more powerful punch than its S-grade counterpart. As the elixir took effect, he was overwhelmed by waves of excruciating pain.
The agony persisted for about an hour before a refreshing sensation washed over him in waves. At that moment, he felt rejuvenated and sure that he had fully absorbed the elixir. His body pulsed with limitless energy, and his muscles seemed to ripple with newfound strength. For a fleeting instant, he felt capable of kicking down a wall.
"Sweet," Zachary murmured as he clenched and unclenched his fists. He rose from his bed and ran through a few yoga sets until he felt more in tune with his improved body. Then, after resting for a short while, he settled back on his bed and summoned the S-grade Random effect elixir from the system inventory.
Zachary braced himself, taking a deep breath before downing the grape-shaped elixir in one swift gulp. But before he could savor its flavor, a powerful tremor surged through his body, sending shockwaves through his limbs and spine before engulfing his mind.
Time seemed to come to a standstill as his mind went totally blank. Maybe a moment or hours passed without him knowing, but he eventually regained consciousness, and his perception of his surroundings returned.
On opening his eyes, everything around him seemed different. The swaying of his bedroom's curtain in the night breeze passing through the open window seemed more sluggish than usual, while the sounds picked up by his ears were longer and more drawn out. It was a bizarre sensation that made him feel like the world was in slow motion.
Fortunately, the abnormal feeling passed quickly, and his perception normalized. He took a deep breath before calling out to the system.
"System," he said, his heart racing with anticipation. "Please bring up my current physical fitness and technique attributes."
"Command received," the apathetic voice of the System AI immediately sounded in his mind. "The user's fitness and technique attributes will be coming up on the interface shortly."
As the voice ceased, a translucent crystal-like display that was the system interface manifested before his eyes. He calmed his mind and started reviewing the information displayed by the system.
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*USER STATS
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->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: SS+)
Balance and Coordination: SS
Agility: SSS
Strength: SS
Stamina: SS+
Endurance Points: 2,300/72,000 -> SS+
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->Soccer Technique: [Av. Rating: S+ (SS)]
Ball Control: S+ (SS)
Dribbling Skills: S+ (SS)
Passing Accuracy: S+ (SS)
Body Control: S+ (SS)
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Note: The grades in the brackets are the base stats of the use without the side effects of the elixirs. The user should work hard to master his improved body and overcome the elixir's side effects.
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"Wow, this is incredible," Zachary exclaimed with a wide grin. The elixirs had sparked a remarkable transformation, taking his physical prowess to new heights and leaving him absolutely thrilled.
Not only did the vitality-enhancing elixirs boost his stamina and endurance from SS to SS+, but the Random-Effect Elixir also worked wonders, elevating his agility from SS to SSS. This unprecedented achievement filled him with boundless joy and a sense of exhilaration.
Zachary routinely used the system's snooping tool to check out other football superstars, but he'd never seen anyone with stats higher than SS+. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi had surpassed those stats. This meant that with his newly acquired SSS grade agility, Zachary had the potential to dominate the football world if he could learn to use it effectively on the field.
"One step at a time," mumbled Zachary as he took a deep breath to steady himself. After glancing at the system interface again, he discovered the anticipated side effects of imbibing three potent elixirs. All his technique stats, from Ball Control and Dribbling Skills to Passing Accuracy and Body Control, had plummeted from SS to S+ grading.
Zachary wasn't too concerned, though. With two months of summer break ahead, he was ready to put in the work with Bj?rn Peters, his personal fitness trainer. His goal was to return to peak performance before joining his Juventus teammates for the upcoming season, where they would continue aiming for both domestic and European glory.
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