**
The champagne fumes still hung heavy in the Parc des Princes tunnel when the air itself seemed to tear open.
Valentina's wine glass shattered on the concrete as the towering figure emerged from nothingness—seven feet of sculpted muscle wrapped in a suit that drank the light around it. His pupils burned like dying stars.
***"Your little flame has reached the right eyes."***
She forgot how to breathe.
---
### **The Higher Realm's Offer**
Ibukun stood frozen in the treatment room as Valentina burst in, her usual predatory grace replaced by something raw.
*"That was Xal'Tharion the Bloodscale! Right hand of Krazith the Unbroken, Warlord of Obsidian Throne FC! They're inviting you for trials!"*
The System's golden text exploded with new alerts:
***HIGHER REALM DETECTED***
**Current Talent Tier:** Middle Academy (At Best)
**New Shop Section Unlocked:** [Legendary Skills]
A shimmering catalog unfolded before him:
**LEGENDARY SKILLS (INSUFFICIENT SP)**
- **"Maradona's Chaos Dribble"** (Divine) - 8,000 SP
- **"Zidane's Velvet Touch"** (Elite) - 6,500 SP
- **"Ronaldo Fenômeno's Elastico"** (Mythic) - 10,000 SP
- **"Gerrard's Thunder Strike"** (Elite) - 5,500 SP
**Current SP:** 4,120
Jay-Jay's hologram materialized with rare solemnity:
*"Boy, you're about to learn what real football looks like."*
---
### **The Trial By Fire**
**Higher Realm Exhibition Match #1: Obsidian Throne U23s 6-1 LOSC Lille**
- **Zyrax the Shatterborn (ST):** 4 Goals, 2 Assists
- **Voryn Duskfang (CAM):** 98% Pass Accuracy
- **Ibukun:** 0 Goals, 1 Garbage-Time Assist
The System's post-match autopsy was brutal:
***PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS***
**Failed Dribbles vs Voryn:** 8/10
**Tackles Evaded:** 2/14
**New Mission:** Survive 10 Matches Without Career-Ending Injury
---
### **The Grind Begins**
Ibukun spent every waking moment between matches in the System's simulation chamber, facing holograms of the Higher Realm's monsters.
**Match #3: Obsidian Throne 3-2 (Ibukun 1 Goal)**
- **Key Moment:** Stole a rebound after Zyrax fractured the crossbar
- **Reward:** 500 SP (Now 4,620)
**Match #7: Obsidian Throne 5-0 (Ibukun Red Card)**
- **Low Point:** Two-footed Voryn after failing 12 consecutive dribbles
- **Penalty:** -1,000 SP (Now 3,620)
---
### **The First Purchase**
After Match #9, the SP counter finally hit 5,500.
***PURCHASE CONFIRMED***
**Skill Acquired:** "Gerrard's Thunder Strike"
**Effect:** +25% Shot Power from Outside Box
**First Test:** A 35-yard missile that nearly decapitated the keeper
Zyrax actually nodded.
---
### **The Final Trial**
**Match #10: Obsidian Throne 2-3 (Ibukun 2 Goals)**
The stadium fell silent when Ibukun:
1. Used "Thunder Strike" to open scoring
2. Nutmegged Voryn with a proto-Elastico
3. Tanked a Zyrax tackle to tap in the winner
Krazith's hologram appeared post-match, his voice making the ground tremble:
***"You fight like a rabid wolf. We'll take you."***
The System's final alert pulsed crimson:
***WARNING***
**Higher Realm Gravity Will:**
- Triple SP Costs
- Halve Skill Effectiveness Initially
- Unlock "Celestial" Tier Skills (15,000 SP+)
Valentina was already packing his bags.
---