**
The final whistle blew, sealing Lille's Ligue 1 title. The stadium erupted—fireworks painting the night sky, confetti swirling like golden snow. Ibukun stood at the center of the pitch, his captain's armband damp with sweat, the weight of the trophy solid in his hands.
Valentina watched from the VIP box, her usual smirk absent. The fans chanted his name, their voices hoarse with pride and sorrow. They knew.
This was the end.
---
### **The Send-Off**
The club's farewell ceremony was a storm of emotions. The president handed him a framed jersey—**#10, Ibukun Okocha**—with every goal and assist of the season etched in gold.
*"Fastest player to lift a trophy for Lille,"* the man said, voice thick. *"And the fastest to leave."*
The System logged the moment:
***CLUB LEGACY***
**Matches Played:** 38
**Goals:** 24
**Assists:** 16
**Trophies:** 1 (Ligue 1)
**New Record:** Shortest Tenure → Title → Departure
Jay-Jay's hologram appeared beside him, arms crossed. *"Now the real fight begins."*
---
### **The Crossing**
At midnight, the portal opened.
One moment, Ibukun stood on the training pitch where he'd bled for months. The next—**Xal'Tharion the Bloodscale** loomed before him, the air around the warlord's assistant crackling with energy.
*"Try not to die in the first week,"* the giant rumbled before seizing his shoulder.
The world **twisted**.
---
### **The Higher Realm – First Glimpse**
The Obsidian Throne Academy wasn't a training ground.
It was a **floating coliseum**, its pitch lined with glowing runes. Players moved like lightning, their strikes splitting the air with thunderclaps.
Zyrax the Shatterborn noticed him first. The striker—**a demigod wreathed in flame**—paused mid-sprint, his burning gaze locking onto Ibukun.
*"The mortal has arrived."*
---
### **The New Reality**
The System **shuddered** as it adapted.
***HIGHER REALM ADJUSTMENTS***
**Gravity:** 2.5x Earth → **Stats Penalized**
**Ambient Qi Detected:** Spiritual Energy Infusion Available
**New Stat Category Unlocked:** [Spiritual Cultivation]
Ibukun's knees nearly buckled. His muscles screamed.
A scroll materialized before him—**"Basic Qi Circulation for Mortals."**
The System **rewrote it instantly**:
***MODIFIED TECHNIQUE***
**Efficiency:** 12% → 89%
**New Ability:** Qi Absorption (Passive)
By dawn, his body hummed with energy.
---
### **Current Stats (Post-Adjustment)**
| **Attribute** | **Earth Value** | **Higher Realm Adjusted** |
|---------------------|----------------|--------------------------|
| **Strength** | 82 | 65 (-17) |
| **Speed** | 94 | 75 (-19) |
| **Dribbling** | 93 | 74 (-19) |
| **Short Passing** | 88 | 70 (-18) |
| **Long Passing** | 85 | 68 (-17) |
| **Through Balls** | 90 | 72 (-18) |
| **Aerial** | 78 | 62 (-16) |
| **Shot Power** | 91 | 73 (-18) |
| **Stamina** | 95 | 76 (-19) |
| **Vision** | 89 | 71 (-18) |
| **Qi Reserves** | — | 15/100 (Novice) |
**New Unlock:**
- **Field Eye (Low Mastery)**
*Passively tracks all player positions*
*Upgrade Path: 5,000 SP for "360° Awareness"*
---
### **The First Training Session**
Zyrax didn't believe in drills.
The demigod striker **vanished**, reappearing behind Ibukun to drive an elbow into his spine. The impact sent him skidding across the pitch, his vision flashing red.
*"In this realm, football is battle,"* Zyrax growled. *"Stand up."*
The System's **Pain Redistribution** channeled Qi to numb the damage.
Ibukun stood.
---
### **The First Match**
**Rookies vs. Ascendants (Intra-Academy Scrimmage)**
The ball was **alive**—a crystalline orb that shifted weight mid-flight.
Ibukun's first touch sent Qi shocks up his leg. His second was better. His third—
Voryn Duskfang **blinked** past him, stealing possession with a laugh.
*"Adorable."*
Final Score: **9-0**
Ibukun's sole achievement? **Surviving.**
---
### **The Grind Begins**
Days blurred into weeks.
- **Qi Meditation:** 4 hours daily (Qi Reserves: 15 → 45)
- **Gravity Drills:** Sprinting under 3x weight (Speed: 75 → 83)
- **Field Eye Training:** Tracked 5 opponents simultaneously (Mastery: 12%)
After a month, his stats stabilized:
***PROGRESS REPORT***
**Speed:** 83 (+8)
**Qi Reserves:** 45/100
**Field Eye Mastery:** 18%
**New Skill:** "Qi-Infused Step" (Short teleport, 3x/match)
Valentina's first fire-owl message arrived:
*"Madrid offered 'mortal wages' for your return. I burned the letter."*
---
### **The Revelation**
Krazith the Unbroken finally addressed him after a sparring massacre. The warlord's voice shook the earth:
*"You learn. But learning is not enough."* He tossed Ibukun a new scroll—**"Soulforge Dribbling."**
The System's analysis flashed:
***MYTHIC TECHNIQUE***
**Requirements:**
→ 80 Qi Reserves (Current: 45)
→ 5,000 SP (Current: 1,800)
→ Field Eye Mastery 50% (Current: 18%)
Ibukun clenched the scroll.
The path was clear.
—-