Should I go "all in" with the 6,000 points to go to the Genius level, or should I spend less money and keep a few thousand points to use later? With this strategy, I will save 2,000 points. I can then use these points to enhance my other abilities, so that I am more well-rounded and less likely to suffer from injuries. I can also avoid using up a lot of my points early, which is a risk if I take the "go big or go home" approach.
On the other hand, I can keep the Ultimate Pain Threshold and sacrifice some of my other abilities. I can focus on developing only the signature ability. While this may increase my risk of injury, it may also increase my chances of winning. Which version of myself do I want to be? The "well-rounded" athlete with a strong edge, or the "specialized" athlete with one truly exceptional trait?
It doesn't really matter which way I go; either path can lead to me becoming the greatest of all time.
His consciousness hung above the buy interface and he could see both versions of his potential clearly. Both represented different roads to becoming the greatest of all time.
My past self had made no decisions for me. My body was mine. My pain was mine. My limitations were mine. I had no say over my own destiny.
But now?
Now I had the opportunity to decide who I wanted to become.
He breathed in deeply, something he couldn't do before.
He made a choice.
He reached for the "buy now" button.
His consciousness hung above the buy interface.
The build was ready. Top Speed was at the Excellent level. Stride Efficiency was at the Good level. There were a couple of others, including Speed Endurance at the Good level, Block Start Technique at the Good level, Race Focus at the Good level, and Pain Threshold at the Ultimate level. A total of $14,850 spent. 150 dollars remaining.
This will give me a real edge. A solid foundation, and room to grow.
He reached for the confirm button.
Then stopped.
Wait.
Something was off. Not with the build itself, but with the mindset behind it. I was looking at this as if I was simply trying to be average, with one strong ability.
Why am I thinking small?
The question sliced right through everything else.
For the last 22 years, I've had to accept that I am limited by my body. I can't walk. I can't run. I can't even make simple decisions for myself. My entire life has been about coming to terms with the mediocrity that is thrust upon me by circumstance.
And now I have the GOAT System.
The actual Greatest of All Time System.
And I'm planning to be... okay?
The system is called the GOAT System. Not the Pretty Good Athlete System.
Real GOATs don't have one signature ability and a bunch of mediocre abilities. They dominate their entire sport. Usain Bolt wasn't just fast. He was technically flawless, mentally dominant, and had a superior strategy.
Michael Johnson didn't just run the 400m well. He changed the definition of what was possible.
GOATs are complete.
I've been thinking like a prisoner. I've been free for what feels like a minute and I've already restricted myself. I've already determined what I won't be able to do. What I won't be able to afford. What is too high-risk.
All four options I've been considering are compromises.
Option number one: Average.
Option number two: Great, but not complete.
Option number three: Risky, starting from a low place.
Option number four: Better, but still compromised thinking.
Each one of the options is focused on conserving scarcity rather than creating greatness.
I watched Quincy Hall make a comeback from lane eight, and he was doing snow angels on the track because he left it all on the field.
That was GOAT mentality. Not calculating the safest route. Not playing it safe. Betting it all on becoming the absolute best.
But betting it all doesn't mean being reckless.
Think like a GOAT. Don't think like someone trying to get by.
GOATs aren't reckless. They are deliberate. They identify what they need and pursue it in a methodical manner. They don't try to be good at everything at once. They create mastery over time.
And that was the key. Over time.
He now had 15,000 dollars. But the system told me I can earn more through various forms of training, competing, and achieving milestones. That is not a one-time gift. That is seed money.
The question is no longer "How many dollars can I afford to spend with 15,000 dollars?"
The question is "What foundation do I need to begin the process of reaching ultimate greatness?"
Those are fundamentally different questions.
Darius pulled away from the buy screen. Looked at the four categories again. Physical Attributes. Technical Skills. Mental Attributes. X-Factor Abilities.
He needs to have all of those things. Eventually.
But he has no idea what he is getting into.
The system says it is giving me a new body. Rebirth. But what kind of rebirth? At what age? In what circumstances? The system has provided no information.
Where will I end up? Will I have support from family? Coaches? Training facilities? Opportunities to compete? Money to train? Time to develop?
All unknown.
But the foundation is the same regardless.
What does every sprinter need, regardless of the age, location, or situation? Speed. You can't sprint if you are not fast.
Power. You can't win without an explosive start.
Endurance. You can't run 200m or 400m solely on speed.
Technique. You can't squander your physical gifts with poor form.
Concentration. You can't compete without focus.
And his edge. Pain Threshold. The one thing that defines him regardless of where he starts, when he starts, or under what circumstances.
Build the basic foundation. Save the rest. Adapt to the situation.
That is GOAT thinking. Not trying to be complete now when it is impossible. Not spreading thin. Not making assumptions.
Foundational development plus situational adaptation. Now and in the future.
He went back to the buy screen. Reset.
I need to be able to sprint. Real sprinting. Everything else can wait until I figure out where I am.
Top Speed: Good (750 AP)
College-level speed. Sufficient to build on. Whether I am beginning young and have a long time to develop or beginning older and have less time, Good tier will suffice. Not flashy. Not dominant. Necessary. Can be upgraded later depending on what I actually need.
Explosive Power: Good (750 AP)
Every sprint begins with an explosion. Out of blocks. First ten meters. Good tier provides a solid foundation. Provides sufficient explosiveness to prevent losing races during the start. Essential at any age.
Speed Endurance: Good (750 AP)
Critical for anything greater than 100m. To maintain speed for 200m and 400m requires endurance. Good tier allows me to develop properly. Allows me to push through fatigue without collapsing. May require upgrades to reach elite levels, but the base must be established.
Stride Efficiency: Good (500 AP)
Efficient movement multiplies physical ability. Poor technique wastes Top Speed and Power. Good tier ensures efficient movement from the onset. Prevents bad habits from forming. May be refined with coaching if available.
Block Start Technique: Good (500 AP)
Basic skills matter. The initial 10 meters establish the entire race. Good tier establishes solid fundamental skills. Ensures I don't have to unlearn bad habits down the line. Can be mastered via practice.
Race Focus: Good (500 AP)
Cannot develop properly if distracted. Concentration matters in both training and competition. Good tier establishes a solid baseline of mental ability. Critical regardless of where I end up at what age.
And the most important one.
Pain Threshold: Excellent (1,500 AP)
Not Ultimate. Not Genius. Excellent. National-level pain threshold. Professional-quality pain tolerance. Already significantly better than almost all of the athletes I will face.
This is my edge. My unique competitive advantage from my prior existence.
However, Excellent is sufficient. For now. I can always upgrade to Genius, Ultimate, Limit Break as I acquire additional AP and demonstrate the need.
And pain is pain. Doesn't matter if I'm eight years old or eighteen years old. This will work.
Darius looked at the cost total.
750 + 750 + 750 + 500 + 500 + 500 + 1,500 = 5,250 AP
Remaining: 9,750 AP
I have only used approximately a third of my budget.
This is GOAT thinking.
Seven essential attributes. Six at the Good level. One at the Excellent level. Enough to enable me to sprint properly. Enough to have my edge. Enough to begin the journey however far or near it takes me.
But I saved approximately two-thirds of my budget for strategic future purchases. For abilities I'll discover I need once I understand where I am. For upgrades when I've exhausted the capabilities of the Good tier. For X-Factor abilities once I've earned enough AP to afford them.
Not attempting to be complete at this point. Not dividing my attention among many areas. Not making assumptions.
Deliberately selecting each attribute.
Top Speed: Good ✓
Explosive Power: Good ✓
Speed Endurance: Good ✓
Stride Efficiency: Good ✓
Block Start Technique: Good ✓
Pain Threshold: Excellent ✓
Race Focus: Good ✓
A system prompt appeared.
[Confirm purchases?]
[Total Cost: 5,250 AP]
[Remaining: 9,750 AP]
[Warning: Purchases are permanent and cannot be refunded]
[Proceed? Y/N]
Darius viewed the warning message. Permanent. No refunds. No reversing my decision.
This is the foundational layer. All other developments occur through work and adaptation.
He confirmed.
[Processing purchases...]
[Deducting 5,250 AP...]
[Current AP Balance: 9,750]
[Integrating abilities...]
Progress bars appeared. Seven of them. Each bar was advancing rapidly.
[Top Speed (Good) integration...100%]
[Explosive Power (Good) integration...100%]
[Speed Endurance (Good) integration...100%]
[Stride Efficiency (Good) integration...100%]
[Block Start Technique (Good) integration...100%]
[Pain Threshold (Excellent) integration...100%]
[Race Focus (Good) integration...100%]
[All abilities successfully integrated]