The GOAT Returns:Reincarnated to dominated Football again

The countdown to Nationals had begun.

Every morning, Tom woke up before dawn. Every night, he fell asleep with game tape playing in his mind.

He wasn't just training.

He was transforming.

But even with all the work he was putting in, he knew it wasn't enough.

Because somewhere out there?

Tyler Vaughn was training, too.

And something about it felt wrong.

GOAT Training – Pushing the Limits

After another brutal morning practice, Tom sat on the bleachers, wiping sweat from his brow.

Speedy plopped down next to him, breathless. "Dude. I swear, Coach is trying to kill us."

Tom smirked. "You don't win Nationals by taking it easy."

Speedy groaned. "Yeah, well, if we die before the tournament, what's the point?"

Tom laughed, but inside, he felt something else.

Restlessness.

His body had gotten stronger, faster, more durable.

But something was missing.

His vision was sharp, his throws were elite, but… he still felt like he was one step behind the next level.

And then—

The GOAT System activated.

[GOAT SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

NEW TRAINING QUEST: "Unlocking the Next Level"

• Objective: Push your physical and mental limits beyond human thresholds.

• Training Method: Extreme game simulation + mental conditioning.

• Final Test: Survive the "GOAT Gauntlet."

• Reward: GOAT Skill Unlock: Visionary (Level 1)

• Enhances field awareness, allowing anticipation of plays before they happen.

Tom's eyes widened.

"Extreme game simulation?" he muttered.

Before he could even react, the System interface changed.

And suddenly—

The entire world faded.

The GOAT Gauntlet – A Test of Legends

When Tom blinked, he wasn't sitting on the bleachers anymore.

He was on the field.

But not just any field.

A Super Bowl stadium.

The crowd roared in his ears. The lights burned bright.

And across from him?

A defense filled with NFL legends.

He barely had time to register it before the first play began.

"SET… HUT!"

The ball snapped.

The defense swarmed him instantly.

Faster. Stronger. Smarter.

Every read had to be instant. Every movement had to be flawless.

He dodged a pass rush, barely escaping a sack.

Spotted his receiver downfield.

Launched the ball—

And got picked off.

The moment the ball landed in the defender's hands, the simulation reset.

Again.

Snap. Pressure. Chaos.

He adjusted, threw quicker—incomplete.

Reset.

Again.

And again.

Each time, the defense adjusted before he did.

Each time, his normal instincts weren't enough.

He was getting outplayed.

And for the first time in both of his lives…

Tom felt like he was losing.

Breaking Through

Time in the simulation didn't make sense.

It could've been hours.

It could've been days.

All Tom knew was that his body didn't feel tired—but his mind did.

He could feel himself breaking.

And that's when he heard the voice.

A deep, legendary tone.

"What's wrong, kid?"

Tom turned—and froze.

Standing on the sideline was a man in a suit, holding a clipboard.

A man he had seen before.

A man he had once learned from.

Bill Belichick.

The coach who had turned him into a legend in his past life.

Tom's breath caught.

"You're not real," he muttered.

The man smirked. "Neither is this game. But you still can't win."

Tom clenched his fists. "The defense is too fast."

"Too fast for the old you," Belichick said. "But you're not playing like a GOAT. You're playing like you're still that 17-year-old kid."

Tom exhaled. "What do I do?"

Belichick grinned.

"Stop reacting. Start predicting."

The words hit him like lightning.

And suddenly—he understood.

The Awakening – Visionary Unlocked

The next snap came.

Tom dropped back.

And this time?

He didn't just see the defense.

He felt it.

The linebackers were creeping forward—blitz.

The safeties were rotating—man coverage.

He wasn't just reacting to what was happening.

He was predicting what was about to happen.

Set… HUT!

The defense **charged—**but Tom was already moving.

Stepped up. Dodged pressure before it got to him.

Saw the window before it opened.

Released the ball before the receiver even made his break.

PERFECT STRIKE.

The simulation froze.

And then—

[GOAT SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

GOAT SKILL UNLOCKED: Visionary (Level 1)

• Field awareness increased.

• Pre-snap reads are enhanced.

• Play anticipation now functions at an elite level.

Back to Reality

Tom gasped, sitting up on the bleachers, his mind still reeling.

Speedy waved a hand in front of him. "Uh… bro? You okay?"

Tom's fingers clenched into a fist.

He had leveled up.

Nationals?

Now he was really ready.

Meanwhile: Tyler Vaughn's Desperation

Across town, Tyler Vaughn sat in a dark room, breathing heavily.

His coach stood over him.

"Your body's changing," the coach said. "You're pushing past human limits."

Tyler wiped sweat from his face.

"But why does it feel… off?"

The coach smirked.

"That's just the price of greatness."

Tyler looked at his hands. They were trembling.

But in his mind?

All he saw was Tom Bradfield beating him again.

And he couldn't let that happen.

No matter the cost.

[GOAT SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

NEW RIVAL UPDATE: Tyler Vaughn

• Unknown training methods detected.

• Performance may be unnatural.

• BE READY.

End of Chapter 16