---
**Neo-Brussels Medical Center – Day 5**
Ibukun's fingers trembled as he gripped the hospital bed rails. The muscles in his legs burned like hot wires had replaced his tendons.
*"Pathetic,"* Jay-Jay's voice crackled like a bad radio signal. *"Your balance is worse than a newborn giraffe's."*
The heart monitor beeped erratically as Ibukun forced himself upright. Sweat dripped onto the sterile floor. His left knee buckled immediately.
***CRASH.***
He hit the ground hard, his hospital gown tearing at the seams. A nurse came running, but Ibukun waved her off with a snarl.
***`MISSION FAILED: "WALK TO DOOR (10 STEPS)." PENALTY: -5 STAMINA.`***
*"Again,"* Ibukun growled through clenched teeth.
---
**Day 7 – First Physical Therapy Session**
The Belgian physio, a wiry man with salt-and-pepper hair, frowned at Ibukun's chart.
*"Lightning strike survivors usually take months to—"*
*"I'll walk today,"* Ibukun interrupted. His HUD flashed:
***`NEW MISSION: "COMPLETE 30-MINUTE PHYSIO SESSION." REWARD: 25 SP.`***
The exercises were humiliating in their simplicity:
- Ankle circles (Left foot coordination: 12/100)
- Quad sets (Right leg strength: 18/100)
- Seated marches (Stamina drain after 4 minutes)
Jay-Jay narrated like a cruel sports commentator: *"Look at that form! My grandmother could do better—and she's been dead twenty years!"*
When Ibukun's legs gave out at minute 27, the system delivered its verdict:
***`PARTIAL COMPLETION: 18 SP AWARDED.`***
---
**Day 12 – Hospital Courtyard**
Ibukun's first unaided steps looked like a drunk marionette. His SP balance (now 43) wasn't enough to buy even the cheapest skill:
**SHOP:**
- "Basic Balance" (100 SP)
- "Pain Tolerance Level 1" (75 SP)
- "Muscle Memory Boost (24hr)" (50 SP)
A group of local kids playing keep-away with a tennis ball stopped to stare. One muttered in French: *"Regardez le fou africain."*
Ibukun's vision turned red. He lunged for their ball—
***`WARNING: PHYSICAL STRESS EXCEEDING LIMITS.`***
—and collapsed face-first onto the pavement.
---
**Day 18 – System Revelation**
*"Why am I so weak?"* Ibukun demanded during midnight rehab.
Jay-Jay materialized in his HUD—a pixelated version of his 1994 World Cup self. *"Your body was reset, idiot. Like a factory-default phone."*
The stats screen told the story:
**PRE-LIGHTNING (ESTIMATED):**
- Acceleration: 68
- Ball Control: 59
**CURRENT:**
- Acceleration: 31
- Ball Control: 22
*"You're not a footballer right now,"* Jay-Jay said. *"You're a baby who pisses himself. But maybe—"* the ghost flashed a wicked grin *"—if you stop crying, we can fix that."*
---
**Day 21 – Breakthrough**
The mission was simple:
***`"WALK 100 METERS WITHOUT STOPPING." REWARD: "GAIT STABILIZATION" PERK.`***
Ibukun's legs screamed. His spine felt like shattered glass. But at meter 99, the system chimed:
***`SKILL UNLOCKED: "BIPEDAL LOCOMOTION" (PERMANENT +5 BALANCE).`***
Jay-Jay actually sounded impressed: *"Huh. Maybe you're not completely useless."*
As Ibukun lay panting on the grass, a notification blinked:
***`NEW MISSION AVAILABLE AT RFC SERAING TRAINING GROUND. TRAVEL TIME: 48 HOURS.`***
---