The League inspectors left unsatisfied.
Their scanners had whirred over Ibukun's body for hours, probing his meridians, his neural pathways, the very flow of his qi. But the System was older than their technology—far older. It left no traces, no anomalies beyond the expected.
*"Subject displays accelerated qi development consistent with Obsidian Throne's high-gravity environment,"* the lead inspector dictated to his floating recorder. *"No evidence of external augmentation. Case closed."*
Valentina had watched the entire examination from the observation deck, her expression unreadable.
Ibukun waited until the inspectors' shuttle had vanished into the crimson sky before he turned to her.
**"We need to talk."**
---
### **The Reckoning**
His private quarters were spartan—a meditation slab, a weapons rack, and a single window overlooking the academy's storm-wracked spires. Valentina strode in as she always did, like she owned the space, her heels clicking against the obsidian floor.
**"Sit,"** Ibukun said.
She arched a brow but complied, crossing her legs. **"If this is about the inspectors, relax. They're—"**
**"You've been betting on my matches."**
The words hung in the air like a blade.
Valentina didn't flinch. **"Who told you that?"**
Ibukun activated the holo-display on his wrist. A stream of encrypted transactions flickered to life—massive wagers placed through underworld bookmakers, all tied to his performance. **"You didn't even hide it well."**
She smirked. **"So what? I bet on you because I *believe* in you. That's not a crime."**
**"It is when the League finds out."** His voice was lethally soft. **"They'll ban me for life for *association*."**
Valentina leaned forward, her dark eyes glinting. **"They won't find out. I'm careful."**
**"Not careful enough."**
He moved faster than she could react. One hand locked around her throat—not enough to hurt, just enough to *remind*.
**"You've been lying to me,"** he said. **"From the beginning."**
She didn't struggle. Instead, she laughed—a low, throaty sound. **"And what are you going to do about it?"**
---
### **The Punishment**
He didn't answer with words.
The sex was brutal, dominance without tenderness. He took her against the window, then the floor, then the bed, each time pushing her further, his grip leaving bruises on her hips, his teeth marking her throat. She matched him, her nails raking down his back, her laughter turning into gasps, then moans, then something raw and unfiltered.
When it was over, he stood, tossing a folded letter onto the bed beside her.
**"Our deal is terminated."**
Valentina sat up slowly, her hair disheveled, her dress torn. She opened the letter—a formal severance contract, already signed.
For the first time, something flickered in her eyes. Not anger. Not fear.
*Respect.*
**"You'll regret this,"** she said, standing.
Ibukun didn't watch her leave.
---
### **The New Dawn**
Two weeks passed.
Ibukun trained alone, pushing his body to its limits, the System's cold voice his only companion. Then, on the fourteenth day, *she* appeared.
The girl couldn't have been older than him, but her presence commanded the room. Her hair was the color of spilled ink, her eyes a piercing gold. Every step she took sent whispers rippling through the academy halls—*demoness physique*, they murmured. A rare mutation that drew eyes like moths to flame.
She found him in the training yard, watching as he shattered another gravity dummy.
**"Ibukun Oluwaseyi,"** she said. Her voice was smooth, deliberate. **"I'd like to represent you."**
He wiped sweat from his brow. **"Who are you?"**
**"Nyx."** She extended a hand. **"And I don't bet on my clients. I *invest* in them."**
---
### **The Contract**
Her terms were… *impossible*.
No commission for the first year. Full access to underworld resources. A guaranteed trial with a Celestial League academy if he met her benchmarks.
Ibukun scanned the holographic document, his System analyzing every clause.
**"No hidden fees,"** Nyx said, watching him. **"No lies."**
**"Why?"** Ibukun asked. **"What do you get out of this?"**
Nyx's golden eyes gleamed. **"I want to see how far you can go. Past the Obsidian Throne. Past even the Celestial League."** She leaned in. **"I think you can reach the next dimension."**
The System remained silent. No warnings. No threats.
For the first time in months, Ibukun smiled.
**"When do we start?"**
---