*(Relentless Football Realism)*
---
**Seraing Rehabilitation Center – Day 1 of Recovery**
The cryotherapy chamber hissed at -110°C. Ibukun stood naked in the vapor, his ankle screaming as the machine's robotic voice counted down:
*"T-minus 30 seconds. Tissue damage at 22%."*
Jay-Jay's hologram flickered in the frozen air, wearing a ridiculous fur coat. *"Back in my day, we played through broken legs. This is baby treatment."*
Ibukun's HUD displayed the brutal math:
***`GRADE 2 LIGAMENT TEAR – RECOVERY PROGRESS:
» Mobility: 14%
» Pain Level: 7.6/10
» SP-Generating Rehab Missions Available: 3`***
The system offered no sympathy:
***`DAILY REHAB QUOTA:
1. 200 toe raises (50 SP)
2. 90-minute aqua jogging (30 SP)
3. Proprioception drills (20 SP)
FAILURE PENALTY: -10% HEALING RATE`***
---
**The SP Grind**
**6:15 AM – Pool Session**
Ibukun's muscles burned as he fought the water resistance. A junior physiotherapist timed his laps.
*"Faster! Your grandmother swims better!"* the kid mocked.
Jay-Jay materialized underwater, his holographic face distorted. *"Break his nose. I'll give you 100 SP."*
Ibukun kept swimming.
***`AQUA JOGGING COMPLETED: 32/90 MINUTES.`***
---
**11:30 AM – Weight Room**
The proprioception drill required balancing on a vibrating platform while catching medicine balls. Ibukun's damaged ankle trembled like a plucked guitar string.
On rep #47, his leg gave out. The platform edge smashed into his shin.
***`WARNING: CONTUSION DETECTED. PENALTY: -8 SP.`***
Jay-Jay sighed. *"You balance like drunk flamingo."*
---
**The Stands**
Match day arrived. Ibukun watched from the VIP box—a concession from Coach Lebrun after hearing about the nanotech refusal.
On the pitch, Loïc dominated Seraing's replacement winger. The Belgian smirked toward the stands after each tackle.
Ibukun's HUD analyzed coldly:
***`LOÏC VAN DER HAGEN – WEAKNESSES EXPLOITED THIS MATCH:
1. Overcommits on slide tackles (87% frequency)
2. Poor tracking back after crosses (↓34% recovery speed)
3. Verbal provocation → 23% focus drop`***
Jay-Jay leaned close. *"He's begging for you to come back."*
Seraing lost 0-3.
---
**Midnight Revelation**
At 2:47 AM, Ibukun snuck into the training ground. His SP balance (now 278) wasn't enough for "Advanced Ball Control," but something new had appeared:
***`BLOODLINE SKILL UNLOCKED: "OKOCHA'S TOUCH" (400 SP)
PREREQUISITES:
1. Suffer a major injury (Completed)
2. Reject illegal performance aids (Completed)
3. Complete 1,000 rehab reps (872/1,000)`***
Jay-Jay's usual mockery was absent. *"This was your grandfather's move. The one that broke six ankles in Lagos Derby '89."*
Ibukun stared at the holographic training module—a flickering image of a young Jay-Jay destroying defenders with elastic stepovers.
---
**The Viral Storm**
As dawn broke, Ibukun's phone buzzed. A tagged video showed Loïc's stamp on his ankle from three new angles, set to circus music. The caption read:
*"African acrobatics 😂 #SeraingCircus"*
Comments poured in:
*» Send him back to the jungle*
*» That ankle will never heal right*
Jay-Jay's hologram vibrated with rage. *"This is war now."*
Ibukun said nothing. His HUD updated:
***`NEW MISSION: "CAREER-ENDING RETRIBUTION" (LOCKED UNTIL MEDICAL CLEARANCE)
REWARD: 1,000 SP
MORAL COST: PERMANENT REPUTATION DAMAGE`***
---
**Chapter 7 Closing**
In the cryochamber's blue light, Ibukun's reflection showed what he'd become:
- Hollow cheeks from weight loss
- Lightning scar pulsing along his collarbone
- Eyes like black ice
His SP balance ticked over to 279 as the machine finished its cycle.
Jay-Jay spoke softly—a first:
*"They don't know what's coming."*
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