The Spanish sun blazed over Valdebebas as Ibukun stepped onto the training pitch for the first time as an official Real Madrid player. The air smelled of fresh grass and anticipation. La Liga hadn't even begun yet—no titles, no glory, just the promise of a long season ahead.
The System's golden text shimmered in his vision:
***NEW SEASON PARAMETERS***
→ **League Duration:** 38 Matches
→ **Primary Objective:** Win La Liga
→ **Secondary Objective:** UCL Qualification
→ **Personal Mission:** Top Scorer (Min. 25 Goals)
No shortcuts. No guarantees. Just the grind.
---
### **The System's Gifts**
With his starting **3,000 SP**, the System unveiled its offerings—not as a shop, but as whispers of forgotten legends:
**SKILLS**
- **"Precision First Touch"** (Ball Control +10%) – 1,500 SP
- **"Gerrard's Long Shot"** (Outside-the-Box Threat) – 2,000 SP
- **"Defensive Awareness"** (Tackling + Interceptions) – 1,200 SP
**TEMPORARY BOOSTS**
- **"90-Minute Engine"** (Stamina Lock) – 800 SP (One Match)
- **"Ice in the Veins"** (No Pressure Penalties) – 500 SP
Ibukun selected **"Precision First Touch"** and **"Gerrard's Long Shot."** The SP drained away, and the knowledge settled into his muscles like muscle memory.
---
### **The First Test: La Liga Begins**
**Matchday 1: Real Madrid vs. Real Betis**
The Bernabéu roared as the season kicked off. Betis, no pushovers, pressed high and forced mistakes.
- **22':** Ibukun's first real chance—a loose ball at the edge of the box. His new long-shot technique sent it screaming toward the top corner… only for Rui Silva to palm it away.
- **35':** Betis struck first. A quick counter, and Juanmi slotted past Courtois. **0-1.**
- **58':** Vini equalized with a solo effort, dancing past two defenders. **1-1.**
- **72':** Ibukun's moment—a perfectly timed run, a first-touch redirect, and a clinical finish. **2-1.**
***MISSION UPDATE***
→ **1 Goal (Progress: 1/25)**
→ **Team Chemistry: 65% (Growing)**
They won, but barely.
---
### **The First Loss: A Reality Check**
**Matchday 4: Villarreal 2-1 Real Madrid**
The Yellow Submarine outplayed them.
- **19':** Gerard Moreno's header. **0-1.**
- **63':** Foyth doubled the lead after a defensive lapse. **0-2.**
- **89':** Ibukun pulled one back with a late strike, but it wasn't enough. **1-2.**
The locker room was silent afterward. Ancelotti's voice cut through the gloom:
*"This is football. You don't win just because you wear this badge."*
The System didn't sugarcoat it:
***ANALYSIS***
→ **Weakness Exposed:** Midfield Press Resistance
→ **Recommended Training:** Quick Turns Under Pressure
---
### **The Response: Growth**
Training intensified. Kroos and Modrić drilled the team on breaking presses. Vini worked on his final ball. Ibukun spent hours in the **System Simulation Room**, facing down holographic versions of peak Busquets and Casemiro.
**Matchday 7: Real Madrid 3-0 Sevilla**
A statement.
- **12':** A long-range rocket (Gerrard's technique paying off). **1-0.**
- **44':** A delicate chip after a perfect first touch. **2-0.**
- **67':** Rodrygo sealed it with a counterattack. **3-0.**
The System approved:
***PROGRESS***
→ **Goals: 4/25**
→ **Team Chemistry: 78%**
→ **New Trait Unlocked:** "Big Game Poise"
---
### **The Road Ahead**
The league table took shape:
1. **Barcelona** – 7 Games, 19 Points
2. **Real Madrid** – 7 Games, 17 Points
3. **Atletico Madrid** – 7 Games, 16 Points
A long season. No guarantees.
Valentina smirked at him after the Sevilla win. *"You're learning."*
The System's final message lingered:
***REMEMBER***
→ **You will lose again.**
→ **You will struggle.**
→ **But the season is won in moments like these.**
Ibukun nodded.
The journey had only just begun.
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