**Chapter 57: The Phantom Menace**

The Celestial League's Grand Coliseum trembled under the weight of two hundred thousand screaming fans as Ibukun stepped onto the pitch. The air smelled of sweat, ozone, and the faint iron tang of blood—some unlucky midfielder had already been stretchered off during the undercard match.

But Ibukun's attention wasn't on the crowd or even the opposing team. It was locked onto *him*—Kairos Stormbreaker, Celestial Academy's star striker, whose reputation for "accidental" injuries preceded him like a bad omen.

**>> OPPONENT ANALYSIS:

>> - REACTION TIME: 0.08 SECONDS (STATISTICAL ANOMALY)

>> - MOVEMENT PATTERNS: 92% MATCH TO ADVANCED QI COMBAT TRAINING

>> - DANGER RATING: EXTREME (HISTORY OF "UNFORTUNATE" COLLISIONS) <<**

Coach Drayven's mechanical eye whirred as he gripped Ibukun's shoulder before kickoff. **"That pretty boy's ended three careers this season. Watch your back."**

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### **The Butcher's Game**

The whistle blew.

Kairos struck in the 4th minute—a "casual" shoulder charge that sent Lysander crashing into the boards with a sickening *crack*. The younger boy's collarbone snapped clean through his jersey.

Referee's call? *Play on.*

**>> IMPACT ANALYSIS:

>> - PRECISE PRESSURE POINT STRIKE (HIDDEN IN NORMAL MOVEMENT)

>> - 89% PROBABILITY OF TRAINED ASSASSINATION TECHNIQUES

>> RECOMMENDED ACTION: MAINTAIN 2.5M DISTANCE <<**

Ibukun barely dodged Kairos' next "friendly" approach, feeling the displaced air from what should've been a rib-shattering elbow.

Kairos smiled, his perfect teeth gleaming under the floodlights. **"Nervous, Obsidian? I don't bite... much."**

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### **The Dance of Death**

38th minute. Ibukun saw the setup unfold before it happened:

- Kaelis limping from a suspicious "twisted" ankle

- Vorian being herded into a vulnerable position

- Kairos winding up for what the System flagged as a *kill strike* disguised as a cross

**>> PROJECTED IMPACT:

>> - BALL WILL CARRY FRACTURE-INDUCING QI RESONANCE

>> - TARGET: VORIAN'S SPINAL COLUMN (T4-T5 VERTEBRAE)

>> INTERCEPTION REQUIRED <<**

Ibukun moved without thinking.

His header connected a millisecond before the lethal pass could reach Vorian. The impact sent white-hot pain through his skull as conflicting qi forces *crackled* against each other.

**>> TEMPORARY NEURAL OVERLOAD:

>> - VESTIBULAR SYSTEM COMPROMISED (DIZZINESS EXPECTED)

>> - RECOVERY ESTIMATE: 8 MINUTES <<**

Kairos' smile widened as they jogged back to position. **"Oh, you're *good*. Most don't see it coming."**

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### **The Turning Point**

Second half. 0-0.

Ibukun's vision still swam from the qi collision, but his instincts—honed through countless System drills—kept him alive.

**>> KAIROS' PATTERN RECOGNIZED:

>> - LETHAL STRIKES PRECEDED BY LEFT FOOT DRAG (100% CONSISTENCY)

>> - EXPLOIT: FORCE RIGHT FOOT ENGAGEMENT <<**

The moment came in the 71st minute.

Kairos initiated his kill pattern—that subtle left foot drag before a "tackle" that would've shattered Ibukun's knee—

—only for Ibukun to feint right, forcing Kairos onto his weaker foot.

The resulting opening lasted 0.3 seconds.

Vorian's goal shook the stadium.

1-0.

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### **The Aftermath**

Kairos wasn't smiling anymore.

Post-match, as med-drones treated Ibukun's concussion symptoms, the Celestial striker leaned in close during the handshake line.

**"You fight like someone who's cheated death before,"** he murmured. **"How many bones have *you* broken to get here?"**

Ibukun met his gaze evenly. **"Just the ones that deserved it."**

The brawl that followed required six security drones to break up.

As they dragged Kairos away, the striker spat blood and grinned. **"This isn't over, *false king*."**

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