The first rays of morning light spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Ibukun's new villa—a sleek, obsidian-and-glass structure perched on the cliffs overlooking the Celestial League's training complex. The air smelled of salt and freshly cut grass, the distant roar of the ocean a constant hum beneath the silence.
On the marble countertop, three items sat neatly arranged:
1. **His first salary scroll** – 50,000 Celestial Credits (equivalent to €5M in mortal currency)
2. **A set of titanium-gold keys** – For his newly acquired Voidstrider Bike (top speed: 450 km/h)
3. **The System's latest update** – Flashing in his peripheral vision
***CELESTIAL LEAGUE DEBUT***
**Next Match:** Stormborn FC (Away)
**Mission:** 2 Goal Contributions (Goal/Assist)
**Reward:** 10,000 SP + "Precision Vision" Upgrade
**Failure Penalty:** -10% Dribbling Efficiency (Next Match)
Ibukun stretched, his **Celestial Reflexes** humming beneath his skin, his body now a perfect instrument of footballing precision.
---
### **The Villa**
Every detail of the villa was tailored to his needs:
- **Training Chamber:** Gravity-adjustable treadmill (+Qi infusion)
- **Recovery Pool:** Liquid starlight for muscle repair
- **System Simulation Room:** Now upgraded to **Celestial Tier**
He had spent his first night here sleeping for fourteen hours straight, his body finally surrendering to the accumulated fatigue of the trials.
---
### **The Visit**
The door chime rang at noon.
Valentina stood in the threshold, her usual smirk in place—but her eyes widened slightly as she took in Ibukun's bare torso, his muscles now sculpted to near-perfection by Celestial training.
*"I—uh,"* she cleared her throat, adjusting the neckline of her emerald-green dress, which plunged dangerously low. *"Brought your endorsement contracts. Adidas-Draconis wants you in their new 'Voidweave' boots for the debut."*
Ibukun leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, enjoying the rare sight of Valentina flustered. *"You came all this way just to hand me papers?"*
She recovered quickly, her smirk returning. *"And to see if the rumors are true. They say Celestial players... *perform* at supernatural levels."*
He raised an eyebrow. *"You want a demonstration?"*
Things escalated.
---
### **The Aftermath**
Valentina left three hours later, her dress noticeably more wrinkled than when she arrived, her usual composure fractured. *"That... was unfair."*
Ibukun just grinned.
The System, ever the killjoy, pinged him the moment the door closed.
***RECOVERY ADVISORY***
**Muscle Fatigue:** 12% (Non-critical)
**Recommended:** 4-hour nap before team training
He collapsed onto his bed and slept like the dead.
---
### **Team Training**
The Celestial League's training ground was a floating pitch suspended over a bottomless chasm, the surface lined with self-repairing nano-grass. Coach Drayven the Iron-Eyed wasted no time.
*"Stormborn presses high. Their wingers are faster than lightning. Okocha—you're our dagger in the dark."*
Ibukun nodded, his **Celestial Reflexes** already analyzing the holographic playbook.
The session was brutal:
- **Zyrax** (now a teammate) tested him with soulfire-infused passes
- **Voryn** marked him tighter than a shadow
- **New Signing: Sylas the Silent** (RW) showed terrifying chemistry with him
By the end, the System logged:
***TRAINING GAINS***
**Team Chemistry:** 68% → 74%
**Qi Reserves:** 100/100 (Peak Charge)
**Celestial Reflex Efficiency:** 89%
---
### **The Night Before**
Back at the villa, Ibukun stood on his balcony, watching the twin moons rise over the Celestial City.
Valentina's fire-messenger arrived with a scroll:
*"Stormborn's keeper has a weak left side. Exploit it. P.S. Rest well. You'll need it."*
Jay-Jay's hologram materialized beside him, now shimmering with Celestial energy. *"You feel that? The game's changing. But so are you."*
The System's final alert pulsed:
***MATCH DAY READINESS***
**Physical Condition:** 98%
**Mental Focus:** 95%
**Recommended Action:** 8-hour sleep cycle
Ibukun closed his eyes. Tomorrow, the real journey began.
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