The Obsidian Arena's floodlights burned like miniature suns as Ibukun stepped onto the pitch. Fifty thousand spectators roared, but all he heard was the System's mechanical voice whispering in his skull:
**>> UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE DETECTED = NEURAL TERMINATION <<**
The warning pulsed behind his eyes, a constant reminder. No one knew. Not his teammates. Not his coaches. Certainly not Valentina. The System's existence was his alone to bear - a secret that would kill him if ever spoken.
Jay-Jay's hologram materialized in his peripheral vision, visible only to him. *"Remember kid, one slip and -"*
*"I know,"* Ibukun thought back. The taste of copper filled his mouth as he bit down too hard.
---
### **First Half: The Weight of Vision**
Precision Vision activated the moment the whistle blew. The world sharpened into grids of data - Stormborn's defenders moving like pieces on a chessboard, their weaknesses glowing red in his enhanced sight.
Kethar Stormdrift's opening pass was a thunderbolt. Ibukun saw it coming 0.3 seconds before it happened, his muscles already coiling to intercept -
*"Not yet!"* Jay-Jay barked. *"Let them think you're guessing!"*
Ibukun deliberately mistimed his challenge. The ball screamed past as Maldrek the Unbroken materialized at his flank, the striker's afterimage burning Ibukun's retinas.
**BOOM!**
The shot rattled the crossbar. The rebound fell to Stormborn's winger -
**>> PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS: 89% CHANCE OF TOP-RIGHT CORNER <<**
Ibukun didn't need to look. Gorath's shadowy form was already stretching toward the exact spot the shot would go.
*"Nice save!"* Lysander shouted, clapping Ibukun on the back.
Ibukun forced a grin. They couldn't know. They could never know.
---
### **The Breaking Point**
Halftime found Ibukun in the cryo-chamber, his neural readings spiking dangerously.
**>> NEURAL FATIGUE: 81% <<
>> PRECISION VISION USAGE LIMITED TO 47 SECONDS REMAINING <<**
The door hissed open. Valentina strode in, her sharp suit immaculate as always. "The League scouts are asking questions," she said without preamble. "About your... anticipation."
Ice flooded Ibukun's veins. The System's kill protocol flared across his vision, searing white-hot.
**>> WARNING: POTENTIAL BREACH DETECTED <<
>> COUNTERMEASURES PRIMED <<**
He kept his voice carefully bored. "I watch footage. Like every other player."
Valentina's eyes narrowed. "You predicted seven consecutive plays with perfect accuracy. That's not film study. That's..."
"That's what?" Ibukun stepped closer, his aura pressing down like a physical weight. The System's warnings screamed in his skull, but his face remained calm. "Magic? Cheating? Or maybe I'm just that good?"
She held his gaze for three heartbeats before looking away. "Just be careful. The League doesn't like anomalies."
As she turned to leave, Ibukun grabbed her wrist. The contact sent a jolt through both of them - his System-enhanced strength versus her trained reflexes.
"Are we clear?" he asked softly.
Valentina's pulse jumped under his fingers. "Crystal."
---
### **Second Half: The Silent Blade**
The game resumed with Stormborn shifting formations, their players moving like lightning across the pitch. But Ibukun saw the patterns now - the microscopic tells the System highlighted in glowing gold.
When Kethar dipped his left shoulder 0.2 seconds before a through-ball, Ibukun was already moving. His interception sent the crowd roaring -
*"How the hell did you see that coming?"* Kaelis shouted as they raced upfield.
**>> LETHAL PROTOCOL ENGAGED <<**
Ibukun's vision whited out momentarily as the System punished the near-breach. He forced a laugh through the pain. "Lucky guess!"
The lie tasted like ash.
---
### **Aftermath: The Price of Silence**
Victory came at cost. As Ibukun collapsed in the locker room, the System delivered its final verdict:
**>> NEURAL INTEGRITY COMPROMISED <<
>> MANDATORY 12-HOUR RECOVERY CYCLE INITIATED <<**
Valentina's message blinked on his wrist display:
*"League inspection tomorrow. Play normal."*
Jay-Jay's hologram flickered weakly. *"They're getting closer, kid. One more performance like today..."*
Ibukun didn't need the rest spelled out. The System's final warning burned behind his eyelids, unshakeable:
**>> DISCLOSURE = DEATH <<**
The words stayed long after he closed his eyes.
---