Chapter 6: The Final Proving Ground

I no waste time, contact Big Baba Kudi say I ready for offline verification.

I no even let fear enter my body. Na so I DM am, "Baba, make we run am."

He just send address, tell me make I call am when I land.

He yarn me, "No carry anybody come, na only you and your hand we dey test."

I buy ticket overnight, go meet am face to face.

I pack small bag, carry power bank, drop short note for my roommates, "Abeg, if I no return, na for Big Baba Kudi studio dem hold me."

As I enter studio, cold AC slap me face. I spot Naija flag for wall, and Big Baba shoe shine like Lagos street light. As e see me, Big Baba Kudi start stream immediately.

Studio na sharp place. Camera everywhere. Light dey shine. As I enter, na so my heart dey beat, but I bone face.

Him verification rule simple:

He go read am for camera, "No story, no lag. If you be real, make you show for here."

I go lead four of him viewers play three custom 5v5 against him.

E pick four guys, introduce them: "This one na B+ rank, this one na A rank, make una play clean."

If I fit win two games, plus average at least three kills per round, my name go clear.

He repeat am twice. Camera zoom my hand, my face. No place to hide.

The teammates wey e give me na mostly B+ rank, only one manage reach A.

I greet them, "Abeg, make una just follow my call, dem no fit beat us."

But Big Baba Kudi team na all Demon King S rank, one ID even resemble retired pro.

The other team dey flex, dey blow chewing gum. I dey recognize one face—na that guy wey win regional last year. Wahala dey.

Viewers fill chat:

[Wait, this rank gap too much o!]

[If 269 win, na miracle be that.]

[This na the most real viewer challenge ever.]

[No be just to win, e suppose average three kills per round!]

[At this level, even pro sef go struggle.]

[Big Baba no dey joke o!]

But Big Baba Kudi no send, just dey look me dey smile:

"Online you dey get four, five kills per round. No tell me say you no fit get three now wey you dey offline? If e too hard, make we forget am."

He dey laugh, dey sip drink. The challenge set. Me, I no dey shake.

The message clear—if I run, na admit say I dey cheat.

I look camera, smile. "No wahala. Make una set timer. I dey here."

I just sit down for PC, nod Big Baba Kudi, tell am make e start.

I adjust chair, plug headset, check DPI—everything set. My hand no dey shake. Dem dey watch, me dey ready.

First map: classic Desert Black.

I crack knuckles, close eye one second, dey remember every corner for that map. E be like my second home.

This one na pure gun skill.

No room for error. Na who sabi aim, na him go survive.

As we load enter, I dey offense first.

I check buy menu, ping teammates, "Oya, make una cover mid, I go handle A short."

I tell my teammates make dem buy me P250, then pick half armor to reduce body shot damage.

I quick buy, no waste time. My B+ guys dey confuse, but dem gree.

Then, I use my movement advantage, rush A short.

I press shift, jump for ledge, strafe left. My mind dey calculate every angle. The adrenaline dey rush.

For corner, I strafe, stop sharp sharp.

I drag mouse back, steady. As I peek, I catch defender wey dey look another direction.

Defender wey dey hold angle no even react—I just knock am headshot.

He try shoot, but my shot land first—gboah. Even studio dey murmur. Comment section dey wild.

My teammates shout for headset:

"Guy, you dey mad!"

"Who dey teach you this movement?"

"I never see person counter-strafe like that before!"

"Na new meta be this o!"

"Oya, I go draw fire, you go kill!"

Musa (my guy) dey hype me, even the other viewers dey hail.

As I come out short, two of my guys rush front, draw attention. I peek, see enemy for A long platform.

Dem dey spray wild. I tap mouse—gbam, gbam—two more drop.

Small taps—two more headshots.

Crowd dey shout, camera dey focus my hand. My heart dey dance, but hand steady.

We secure A site.

I drop smoke for CT, plant bomb. My teammates dey hype me, "Jide, you too much!"

After I plant, I go watch mid.

I hold angle, dey wait rotation. From minimap, I see two dey push. I adjust my seat, crack knuckles. As I expect, I jam last two wey dey rotate come. I...I ready, finger steady. This one go decide everything.