The private training facility was silent at 4 AM, the only sound the hum of the climate control and the rhythmic thud of Ibukun's boots against the treadmill. Sweat dripped from his brow as the incline increased, his muscles screaming in protest. The System's golden text pulsed in his vision, brighter than ever:
***NEW SHOP ITEM UNLOCKED***
**Divine Tier Stamina (Upgraded)**
→ **Effect:** 120-minute match endurance (Zero fatigue drop-off)
→ **Passive Bonus:** +10% muscle recovery rate
→ **Cost:** 4,000 SP
Ibukun didn't hesitate.
***PURCHASE CONFIRMED***
**Remaining SP:** 120
**System Integration Initiated…**
A surge of electricity shot through his nervous system, his veins lighting up like live wires for one terrifying second before settling into a deep, resonant hum. Jay-Jay's hologram materialized beside the treadmill, arms crossed.
*"Now you're playing with fire, boy. This ain't just stamina—it's obsession made flesh."*
---
### **The Calm Before The Storm**
Valentina found him in the cryo chamber two hours later, scrolling through PSG's defensive metrics. She tossed a tablet onto the bench beside him.
*"Mbappé's latest interview. He's… excited."*
The screen played a clip of the French superstar smirking at reporters:
*"Ibukun? Talented. But talent burns out. I don't."*
The System analyzed the footage instantly:
***OPPONENT PSYCH PROFILE***
→ **Confidence:** 94%
→ **Vulnerability:** Overcommits when provoked
→ **Recommended Exploitation:** Late-game endurance gap
Ibukun exhaled slowly, watching his breath fog the cryo glass.
*"Let him talk."*
---
### **The Stage Is Set**
Parc des Princes shimmered under the Champions League floodlights, the air thick with tension and expensive perfume from the VIP boxes. The tunnel vibrated with the stomping of feet, the occasional firework from the ultras shaking the foundations.
Mbappé stood two meters away, stretching his hamstrings, eyes never leaving Ibukun.
***UCL KNOCKOUT - 1ST LEG PARAMETERS***
**Mission:** Outlast Mbappé in sprint duels (Min. 80% success)
**Secondary Objective:** Direct goal contribution after 75'
**Reward:** €250,000 + 5 SP + "Clutch DNA" trait
**Failure Penalty:** -20% acceleration (Next 2 matches)
The referee's whistle cut through the noise.
---
### **The First Half: Feeling Out**
PSG's game plan was obvious from kickoff—let Marquinhos and Skriniar handle physical battles, unleash Mbappé on counters.
- **12':** First real duel. Mbappé's 35-yard sprint ended with Ibukun matching him stride for stride, forcing a harmless cross.
- **29':** A rare Madrid chance—Ibukun's outside-the-box curler kissed the post.
- **41':** Neymar's backheel sent Mbappé through, but Courtois' outstretched leg saved the certain goal.
Halftime: 0-0.
The System's fatigue readout glowed green:
***DIVINE STAMINA ACTIVE***
**Energy Reserves:** 98%
**Muscle Fatigue:** 0%
Ancelotti's halftime talk was one sentence:
*"Second half is ours."*
---
### **The Turning Point**
60th minute. The game opened up.
Vinicius torched Hakimi down the left, his cutback finding Ibukun at the penalty spot. The shot was blocked, but the message was sent—PSG's defense could be cracked.
Then, the moment the System had prepared for:
**78th minute.**
Mbappé, visibly gassed, miscontrolled a simple pass. Ibukun pounced like a shark smelling blood.
One touch to evade Verratti's lunge.
Two touches to glide past Skriniar.
The third—a vicious near-post strike that Donnarumma got a hand to but couldn't stop.
**0-1.**
Mbappé's face told the whole story—disbelief, then dawning realization.
***MISSION UPDATE***
**Late Goal (Objective Complete)**
**Sprint Duels Won:** 7/8 (87.5%)
---
### **The Final Test**
PSG's last desperate flurry came in the 89th minute.
Mbappé, summoning one final burst, went shoulder-to-shoulder with Ibukun in a 50-yard footrace. The Frenchman's initial acceleration created half a yard—enough for a shot that rattled the crossbar.
As the ball rebounded, Ibukun was already moving, his Divine Stamina allowing a recovery sprint that blocked Neymar's follow-up.
The whistle blew.
**0-1. Advantage Madrid.**
---
### **The Aftermath**
Valentina met him in the tunnel with a rare genuine smile. *"That's how you answer doubters."*
The System's final report scrolled triumphantly:
***POST-MATCH ANALYSIS***
**Distance Covered:** 12.8km (Match High)
**Top Speed:** 36.2 km/h (Faster Than Mbappé's Peak)
**Rewards Claimed:** €250,000 + 5 SP + "Clutch DNA"
Jay-Jay's hologram leaned against the locker room wall as medical staff worked on Ibukun's cramping calves.
*"Now you see. This is what separates legends from flashes in the pan."*
---