*( Gritty Football Realism)*
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**RFC Seraing Training Ground – 5:47 AM**
Ibukun's ankle screamed with every step. The "Pain Mask" injection had reduced his limp to nearly imperceptible levels, but his HUD told the true story:
***`INJURY STATUS: HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN (MASKED)
PAIN SUPPRESSION: 72% EFFECTIVE
WARNING: 19% TISSUE DAMAGE ACCUMULATED`***
He arrived before even the groundskeepers, methodically setting up cones in the half-light. Jay-Jay's hologram flickered to life beside him, sipping phantom coffee from a Bolton Wanderers mug.
*"You move like an old tractor,"* the spirit remarked. *"That Belgian bastard won't even recognize you tomorrow."*
Ibukun ignored him, focusing on the first drill:
**1. Stationary Ball Control**
- 100 repetitions: Inside foot, outside foot, sole rolls
- **System Note:** *First touch success rate: 68% (↓12% from injury penalty)*
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**The Underground Offer**
At midday, a shadowy figure approached near the physio room—a man with a spiderweb tattoo creeping up his neck.
*"I hear you're in the market for... accelerated healing,"* the man murmured in French-accented English. He flashed a case containing vials of silver liquid. *"Nanotech. You'll train by Wednesday."*
Ibukun's HUD flared:
***`ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE DETECTED: "NANO-REPAIR SERUM"
EFFECTS: +95% HEALING RATE
SIDE EFFECTS: UNKNOWN (78% PROBABILITY OF BLOOD CLOTS)`***
Jay-Jay materialized between them, arms crossed. *"This is how careers end. Walk away."*
Without a word, Ibukun turned and limped toward the showers. The man called after him: *"You'll come crawling back when that ankle snaps!"*
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**Tactical Preparation**
Coach Lebrun's pre-match briefing was a study in pessimism:
*"Roeselare presses high. Their right-back—this Loïc bastard—has three assists already."* The projector highlighted Ibukun's matchup. *"Okoche, you're a decoy. Just occupy him."*
Ibukun's fist clenched under the table. His HUD updated:
***`OPPONENT DOSSIER: LOÏC VAN DER HAGEN
WEAKNESSES:
1. Poor recovery speed after overlaps (↓23%)
2. Weak foot clearance accuracy (61%)
3. Temper (4 red cards last season)`***
Jay-Jay whispered: *"Make him angry. Then destroy him."*
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**Match Day – Stade du Pairay**
The pain hit in waves as Ibukun took his position. His ankle brace—black tape over the "Pain Mask" injection site—felt like a time bomb.
**First Half Key Moments:**
- **Minute 12:** Loïc's first tackle raked Ibukun's bad ankle. The referee waved play on.
- **Minute 28:** Ibukun executed his first successful skill—a fake shot that left Loïc stumbling. The resulting cross found no one.
- **Minute 41:** A mistimed header collision reopened the cut above Ibukun's eye. Blood dripped onto his jersey as the physio stapled it shut.
***`STATUS AT HALFTIME:
STAMINA: 43/100
PAIN SUPPRESSION: 58% EFFECTIVE
TISSUE DAMAGE: 27%`***
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**The Breaking Point**
Second half. Minute 63.
Ibukun received the ball near the corner flag. Loïc charged in, teeth bared.
***`SYSTEM PROMPT: ACTIVATE "BASIC FIRST TOUCH"? (68% SUCCESS)`***
Ibukun hesitated—then flicked the ball over Loïc's head. The Belgian's retaliation was instantaneous:
A stamp directly on the masked injury.
Ibukun's vision whited out. Through the agony, his HUD blared:
***`CRITICAL DAMAGE: ANKLE LIGAMENT TEAR (PARTIAL)
PAIN MASK FAILURE: INJECTION WEARING OFF
OPTIONS:
1. Substitution (Mission failed)
2. Emergency SP Loan (500 at 200% interest)
3. Continue Unassisted (Risk permanent injury)`***
Jay-Jay appeared in his blurred vision, suddenly serious. *"This is your crossroads, boy."*
Ibukun spat blood onto the grass and stood.
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**The Payoff**
Minute 88.
Ibukun was limping visibly now, but Loïc had grown reckless—yelling at teammates, ignoring defensive duties.
Then—the moment.
A long ball sailed toward the touchline. Ibukun knew he couldn't outrun it normally. So he did the irrational:
He leapt into a full slide tackle three yards from the sideline, somehow keeping the ball in play as his ruined ankle smashed into the advertising boards.
Loïc, caught off guard, could only watch as Ibukun scrambled up and launched a desperate cross—
—straight onto the head of Seraing's teenage striker.
**1-0.**
The stadium erupted. Ibukun collapsed against the boards as his HUD updated:
***`MISSION COMPLETE: "SCORE CONTRIBUTION" (ASSIST)
REWARD: 200 SP
NEW INJURY STATUS: GRADE 2 ANKLE LIGAMENT TEAR
RECOVERY TIME: 6 WEEKS (STANDARD TREATMENT)`***
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**Chapter 6 Closing**
In the silent training room at 3 AM, Ibukun stared at his grotesquely swollen ankle. The "Pain Mask" had fully worn off; every heartbeat sent knives up his leg.
Jay-Jay's hologram sat beside him, uncharacteristically quiet. Finally, he spoke:
*"You chose the hard road. That means something."*
Ibukun didn't respond. His HUD displayed the new reality:
***`NEXT MATCH: UNAVAILABLE (MINIMUM 14 DAYS RECOVERY RECOMMENDED)
SP BALANCE: 208
SHOP UNLOCKED: "ADVANCED BALL CONTROL" (500 SP)`***
Somewhere in the darkness, Loïc was laughing. Ibukun memorized the sound.
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