The world dissolved into static at 3:17 AM.
Ibukun awoke drenched in sweat, his body humming with an unfamiliar energy. The System's interface pulsed in his vision, sleek and refined:
***SYSTEM UPGRADE COMPLETE***
**New Features:**
- **Stat Allocation:** Distribute points to physical/technical attributes
- **Performance Rewards:** Earn SP + € for completed objectives
- **Stealth Mode:** All training effects appear naturally gradual
No errors. No warnings. Just clean, seamless integration.
---
### **The New Normal**
Morning training felt different—not because of sudden superhuman ability, but because of precision. His first touch was crisper, his movements more economical. Teammates noticed, but only as natural progression.
"Damn, kid," David grinned after a sharp passing drill. "When did you get so clinical?"
Ibukun shrugged. "Extra reps."
The truth? The System had redistributed his attributes overnight:
***STAT REALLOCATION***
→ **Dribbling:** 84 → 86
→ **Finishing:** 82 → 84
The improvements were tangible but believable—the result of "dedication," not something unnatural.
---
### **The Medical**
Madrid's facility was state-of-the-art. Ibukun endured the tests with practiced ease:
- **MRI:** Showed normal muscular development for an elite athlete
- **Bloodwork:** Perfectly balanced biomarkers
- **Cognitive Tests:** High-end but within human norms
The chief physician frowned at his clipboard. "Remarkable consistency."
Perez's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Consistency breeds legends."
The System's stealth protocols had worked flawlessly.
---
### **The Match**
Against Nice, Ibukun played within himself—no flashy miracles, just elevated fundamentals:
- **Assist:** A simple square pass David buried
- **Goal:** A near-post finish after a smart run
- **Defense:** Two key interceptions
Post-match, pundits praised his "maturity," not suspecting the System's hand in his measured excellence.
---
### **The Hidden Economy**
That night, three deposits hit his account:
1. **€15,000** (Match bonus)
2. **€5,000** (Sponsorship incentive)
3. **€3,000** (Performance reward)
All traceable. All plausible.
The System's final message pulsed:
***EVOLUTION SECURE***
→ **Neural Load:** 28% (Optimal)
→ **Detection Risk:** 0.3%
Ibukun exhaled. The path forward was clear—improve, but never enough to raise suspicion.
The best camouflage was looking exactly like what people expected.