The rain poured down in sheets as Club Brugge U23 faced Standard Liège's youth squad. The pitch was slick, the ball skidding unpredictably—perfect conditions for disaster.
Ibukun adjusted his new boots, feeling the unfamiliar weight of being a *starter* for the first time.
Jay-Jay's voice crackled in his ear, the familiar swagger back in full force:
*"Look at you, big man! Starting XI! Now stop standing like a lost goat and make something happen!"*
**>> MATCH MISSION: "SCORE YOUR FIRST GOAL"
>> REWARD: +5 SHOOTING / €2,500
>> BONUS: "FIRST BLOOD" ACHIEVEMENT (UNLOCKS SKILL SHOP) <<**
The whistle blew.
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### **First Half: The Awakening**
**3rd minute** – Ibukun received the ball near midfield, immediately pressed by two defenders.
*"You're not in the Celestial League anymore, boy,"* Jay-Jay mocked. *"No qi to bail you out. Just *you* and this damn ball."*
A quick feint left, a drop of the shoulder—**past the first man**. The second defender lunged, but Ibukun chopped the ball right, bursting into space.
**>> DRIBBLE COMPLETE: +1 DRIBBLING STAT (72 → 73) <<**
His cross was **too heavy**. The striker glared.
*"Tch. You call that service? My grandmother crosses better!"* Jay-Jay snorted.
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### **The Near Miss**
**27th minute** – A loose ball bounced at the edge of the box.
Ibukun struck it first-time—**a vicious knuckleball** that swerved wildly.
The goalkeeper flailed, fingertips brushing it onto the crossbar.
*"OOOOOH! Almost!"* Jay-Jay howled. *"That's what I'm talking about!"*
**>> SHOT ANALYSIS:
>> - POWER: 88%
>> - ACCURACY: 62%
>> - IMPROVEMENT NEEDED: PLACEMENT <<**
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### **The Breakthrough**
**58th minute** – A quick one-two with the winger opened space.
*"Now *that's* football!"* Jay-Jay cheered as Ibukun returned the pass with a perfectly weighted backheel.
The return ball came **just behind him**, but he adjusted, killing it dead with his first touch.
**>> FIRST TOUCH UPGRADE: 68 → 70 <<**
The defender closed in—
Ibukun **flicked the ball over his head**, spun, and volleyed.
**GOAL.**
The net **rippled**. The crowd **roared**.
*"YEEEEES! THAT'S MY BOY!"* Jay-Jay's hologram materialized briefly, dancing mid-air.
**>> MISSION COMPLETE
>> SHOOTING: 67 → 72
>> CREDITS EARNED: €2,500
>> ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: "FIRST BLOOD"
>> SKILL SHOP NOW AVAILABLE <<**
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### **The Skill Shop**
That night, Ibukun lay in bed, scrolling through the System's new interface:
**>> AVAILABLE SKILLS (COST IN SYSTEM POINTS):
>> - "DELAP'S LONG THROW" (5 POINTS)
>> - "BECKHAM'S CURVE" (10 POINTS)
>> - "RONALDINHO'S ELASTICO" (15 POINTS)
>> CURRENT BALANCE: 3 POINTS <<**
Jay-Jay whistled. *"Oooh, look at these goodies! Better start grinding, kid."*
**>> NEW MISSION: "ASSIST IN NEXT MATCH"
>> REWARD: 5 SYSTEM POINTS <<**
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### **The Threat Emerges**
At the post-match press conference, a reporter asked:
*"Ibukun, that goal was special. Almost *too* special for a player who couldn't make the bench two months ago. How'd you improve so fast?"*
Before he could answer, the Standard Liège coach cut in:
*"Luck. We'll see if he can do it again."*
But his eyes said what his words didn't—**suspicion**.
**>> WARNING: INCREASED SCRUTINY DETECTED
>> RECOMMENDATION: MAINTAIN "NATURAL PROGRESS" NARRATIVE <<**
Jay-Jay's voice turned serious. *"They're watching, kid. Time to play smart."*
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