**Chapter 58: The Shadow of Doubt**

The Obsidian Throne training grounds burned under the midday sun as Ibukun pushed through another brutal conditioning drill. Sweat poured down his face, mixing with the dust kicked up from the artificial turf. Across the field, Coach Drayven barked orders through his megaphone, his cybernetic eye whirring as it tracked every player's movement.

**"Oluwaseyi! Stop drifting left! Central positioning!"**

Ibukun adjusted immediately, but his instincts screamed something was wrong. The way Kairos had moved during yesterday's match—those weren't normal reflexes. The way he'd targeted pressure points with surgical precision...

Jay-Jay's hologram flickered to life beside him, his usual swagger muted. *"You're thinking about that Celestial striker again."*

Ibukun didn't answer. He didn't need to.

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### **The League's Interest**

Master Yuvan stood waiting in the observation deck, his pristine white robes stark against the academy's dark stone. As Ibukun approached, the League scout's gaze felt like being scanned by a med-drone.

**"Your anticipation skills are... remarkable,"** Yuvan said, fingers steepled. **"Almost as if you can see the future."**

Ibukun forced a laugh. **"Just good film study, sir."**

**>> ANALYSIS: YUVAN'S BIOMETRICS SHOW

>> - 68% SUSPICION

>> - 22% CURIOSITY

>> - 10% UNCLASSIFIED <<**

Yuvan's smile didn't reach his eyes. **"Of course. Still, the League may request additional... testing."**

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### **Nyx's Return**

She appeared at his quarters that night, her gold-threaded cloak smelling of ozone and expensive perfume. Without preamble, she dropped a data crystal on his table.

**"Kairos' training logs,"** she said. **"The boy was raised in a Celestial black site. They call it 'Perfection Camp.'"**

The footage showed:

- Children running obstacle courses lined with live blades

- "Combat football" matches where losers received electric shocks

- Kairos, younger, thinner, being submerged in glowing qi-charged liquid

**>> MOVEMENT ANALYSIS:

>> - 91% MATCH TO OBSERVED TECHNIQUES

>> - CONCLUSION: EXTREME COMBAT CONDITIONING

>> WARNING: SIMILARITIES TO USER'S OWN TRAINING REGIMEN <<**

Ibukun's hands clenched. **"Why show me this?"**

Nyx's smile was razor sharp. **"Because you're the only one who can stop him."**

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### **The Captain's Warning**

Vorian cornered him at cryo-recovery. The massive captain's voice dropped to a growl.

**"Yuvan's sniffing around your medical records. Coach is holding him off, but..."** He tapped his nose. **"They think you're doping."**

**>> THREAT ASSESSMENT:

>> - 78% PROBABILITY OF FORCED NEURAL SCAN

>> - RECOMMENDED ACTION: ALTER TRAINING LOGS <<**

Ibukun nodded. **"Let them look."**

Vorian's eyes narrowed. **"You're not worried?"**

**"I've got nothing to hide."** The lie tasted bitter.

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### **The System's Price**

Alone in his quarters, Ibukun's vision swam as the System exacted its toll for today's performance:

**>> NEURAL FATIGUE: 64%

>> SIDE EFFECTS:

>> - PHANTOM PAIN IN SPINE (ORIGIN POINT)

>> - AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS (38% OCCURRENCE)

>> RECOMMENDED RECOVERY: 6 HOURS CRYO-SLEEP <<**

As the cryo-pod hissed shut, Jay-Jay's hologram flickered weakly.

*"Kid... whatever you're doing... it's changing you."*

The words lingered as darkness took him.

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