The Obsidian Arena pulsed with energy as Ibukun stepped onto the pitch, the weight of the crowd's anticipation pressing against him. This was his first match under new management, and though the stakes were high, his focus was absolute.
Nyx sat in the agent's box, her presence alone drawing eyes like a magnet. She wore a fitted black dress that accentuated every curve, her dark hair cascading over one shoulder, gold eyes sharp with calculation. Men and women alike stole glances at her, some with admiration, others with barely concealed envy. She was the kind of woman who commanded attention without saying a word.
Jay-Jay's hologram flickered at the edge of Ibukun's vision. *"Damn, kid. Your new agent's got the whole arena staring. You sure she's here for business and not… other things?"*
Ibukun ignored him. The System remained silent—no warnings, no commentary.
**>> MATCH CONDITIONS OPTIMAL <<**
Good.
---
### **The Match Begins**
The referee was strict, his reputation for fairness well-known. Stormborn FC, usually ruthless, played clean—at least on the surface. But Ibukun wasn't naive. He knew some of them had hidden agendas.
Kethar Stormdrift, their captain, smirked as they shook hands at the center circle. **"Heard you got a new agent. Must be nice having someone so… *invested* in your success."**
Ibukun didn't rise to the bait. **"Let's play football."**
The whistle blew.
Stormborn moved with precision, their passes sharp, their positioning flawless. But Ibukun had trained for this. The System's enhancements had sharpened his instincts to a razor's edge.
When Kaelis sent a through-ball his way, Ibukun saw the trap before it happened—Vorgh, Stormborn's enforcer, was angling for a brutal tackle disguised as an accident.
**>> ANTICIPATE: RIGHT SIDE EVASION <<**
Ibukun adjusted mid-stride, letting the ball roll past Vorgh's outstretched leg before cutting left and firing a shot into the top corner.
**GOAL.**
The crowd erupted. Nyx didn't cheer—she simply nodded, as if this was exactly what she expected.
---
### **The Mind Games**
Stormborn didn't take the setback lightly.
During a corner kick, Vorgh leaned in, his voice a growl. **"Your agent's got a reputation, you know. Word is she's only signing players she can… *control*."**
Ibukun didn't react. **"Focus on the game."**
Vorgh grinned. **"Oh, I am."**
The ball came in, and Vorgh's elbow found Ibukun's ribs—just hard enough to bruise, just subtle enough to escape the referee's notice.
**>> IMPACT ABSORBED. MINOR DAMAGE. <<**
Ibukun exhaled, channeling qi to dull the pain. He'd dealt with worse.
Jay-Jay's hologram scowled. *"Dirty bastard. Want me to dig up some dirt on him?"*
**"No,"** Ibukun thought back. **"We play through it."**
---
### **The Deciding Moment**
Second half. 1-1.
Stormborn's defense was disciplined, but Ibukun had been studying them. The System highlighted their one weakness—their left-back, though fast, had a habit of overcommitting.
When Lysander sent a cross in, Ibukun feinted right, then cut left, leaving the defender stumbling. The shot wasn't powerful—just precise.
**GOAL.**
2-1.
Nyx's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
---
### **The Aftermath**
Victory secured, Ibukun walked off the pitch, his body humming with exertion. Nyx met him at the tunnel, her presence commanding even in silence.
**"You played well,"** she said, handing him a chilled recovery drink. **"But you hesitated in the 63rd minute. Why?"**
Ibukun frowned. He hadn't hesitated—he'd been calculating. **"I was waiting for the right moment."**
Nyx's gold eyes gleamed. **"Good. Because hesitation gets players killed in the Celestial League."**
Jay-Jay's hologram crossed his arms. *"She's not wrong."*
Ibukun studied her. **"Why did you really sign me?"**
Nyx tilted her head, considering. **"Because I only bet on certainties. And you, Ibukun, are the closest thing to one I've seen in years."**
The System remained silent.
For now, that was enough.
---