Chapter 2

"Yo kid, I'm Rizzy, over there is Lizzy, she my sis, we doin this 4 on 4?" Rizzy said with a grin on his face, his voice booming like thunder as he gestured to his sister Lizzy, who stood tall and slender, a stark contrast to her muscular brother. Reo couldn't help but stare in amazement at the strange alien duo before him. They were like nothing he had ever seen before, their purple skin glistening in the bright light of the alien basketball court.

"Y'all can have first ball, it don't matter to me," said Lexz confidently, his voice dripping with menace as he stared down Reo and his teammates. Reo could feel the tension emanating from Lexz, a palpable force that made the air around them heavy and thick. He had never felt anything like this before, and it sent a shiver down his spine.

But Reo was not one to back down from a challenge. As he stepped onto the court, he felt a surge of adrenaline course through his veins. He had always been able to feel the moment when he played basketball back on Earth, and in that meditated state, everything seemed to slow down and every shot seemed to find its way into the basket. But now, as he felt the energy of the alien court and the auras of his opponents, he knew that this would be a game unlike any he had ever played before.

Jix in-bounds the ball to Lizzy, and in an instant she transforms into a blur of purple and white, darting past the defenders with lightning-fast speed and precision. She dribbles past a towering cyborg with cybernetic arms, her agile movements making him look like a statue in comparison. She spots Rizzy running down the court, and with a quick glance and a nod, he sets her up for a perfect screen. Rizzy, with his massive size and strength, plows into the defender, knocking him to the ground like a bowling pin.

Lizzy takes the opportunity to launch a jump-shot, the ball flying through the air like a comet, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. It sinks into the basket with a satisfying swoosh, and the crowd erupts in cheers. Jix,who had been trailing behind, finally catches up to the middle of the court, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Let's go!!!"

Reo, who had been watching in awe, couldn't believe the play that Lizzy and Rizzy had just pulled off. It was like something out of a dream. But Lexz, who had just in bounded the ball, wasn't impressed. "One lucky shot and you guys act like you've won the championship," he sneered. "Relax, it's our ball now and you guys can't stop me, especially that little human on your team."

But Lexz had no idea what was about to hit him. As Reo stepped onto the court, he felt a fire ignite within him, a burning desire to win that consumed him. He rushed up to Lexz, who was running up the right side of the court, while the cyborg, with his cybernetic arms, dribbled the ball with fluidity, as if he were a character from a video game. The cyborg glanced at Reo, then to his left where a slim, red-skinned reptile-looking alien had run past Lizzy. Reo, trying to cover the passing lane, moved to the left, but in that moment, the cyborg faked a pass and instead passed the ball up to Lexz, who was still on the right side. "Fool ya!" the cyborg snickered, as Lexz drove up the lane.

Reo shifted his attention to Lexz, and as he drove up to try and swipe the ball from Lexz, Lexz with a grace in his movement, spun around Reo, giving him an open lane to the basket. Lexz drove in, and as he leaped into the air, the crowd held their breath. He slammed the basketball into the hoop with a force that shook the court, the power from the dunk emanating an invisible force of wind that sent Reo stumbling back.

But Reo was not one to give up easily. "Shit, Lexz is good, son of a griznee," Rizzy says in his raspy, bug-like voice, his purple skin glistening with sweat. Reo was quiet, lost in a trance of energy and auras flowing from the court. Lizzy stared at Reo with her bright red eyes, feeling something she had never felt before, "This aura...what is this feeling?" she said, stunned by what she was witnessing.

Reo felt a strange energy bubbling up from deep within, a dark power stirring in his core and spreading outward. His body began to glow with a dark, shadowy aura, tendrils of inky black mist swirling around him like living creatures. The shadows twisted and flickered, forming shapes that looked like small, demon-like faces sneering and shifting, as if they were taunting his opponents. Each time he moved, the shadows followed, coiling and expanding as they wrapped around him like a cloak of darkness.

He could feel the energy pulsing through his veins, a wild strength surging through his limbs. His skin tingled, every nerve electrified as the shadows seemed to fuse with his muscles, sharpening his reflexes, intensifying his senses. He felt unstoppable, his mind clear and focused, yet filled with a fierce, almost primal drive.

Lizzy stared in disbelief, her bright red eyes wide as she took in the sight of him. She could feel the raw power radiating from him, something otherworldly, something she'd never sensed before. Reo shot a fierce glare at her, his voice low and commanding. "Pass me the ball."

Without hesitation, as if entranced by his presence, Lizzy passed the ball to Reo, unable to tear her gaze away from the dark energy swirling around him.

Reo starts to dribble the ball up the court, the slim reptile alien ran up to guard him, but Reo moved with such speed and agility that it was as if he wasn't even there. The cyborg was next, and as Reo faked a pass to Jix, who thought he was going to get the ball, Reo glided past the cyborg with ease. "Who is this kid?" The cyborg and the reptile alien both looked at each other in shock. Next was the mole alien, and Lexz who was waiting by the basket, grinning and awaiting for Reo to make his way to him.

Reo took on the mole alien first. The mole was aggressive, guarding him tightly, but every time the mole got closer, Reo found himself one step ahead, his movements like lightning dancing through a dangerous storm. He cut through the mole and left him in the dust, darting towards Lexz. I've never moved this fast before, he thought, his heart racing as his feet barely seemed to touch the ground. It was as though his body had a mind of its own, responding faster than he could think.

When he met Lexz's gaze, the world seemed to slow down, and Reo felt a rush of exhilaration fill him. His fingers tingled as he dribbled left, then to his right, taking two powerful steps toward the basket before leaping into the air. Is this really me? he wondered, his mind barely keeping up with his body's agility. Lexz jumped, reaching both hands up to block, but in an instant, Reo spun his body mid-air and finger-rolled the ball into the basket.

Reo felt the pulse of the court beneath him, the thrill of his own strength coursing through him. A small smile tugged at his lips. I'm really doing this.

As Reo landed on the ground, shadows swirled around the court, casting an eerie glow on the players. A strange, synchronized hum filled the air as the crowd reacted, a low alien cheer that pulsed and echoed like a heartbeat, amplifying with each play. Their excitement was palpable, almost electric, as if the entire arena were feeding off the energy of the game.

When Reo scored, bursts of iridescent light shot from the stands, a colorful display of alien excitement that flickered and shimmered through the air. Each successful move seemed to amplify the crowd's intensity, with some spectators performing a rhythmic wave, their cheers blending into an otherworldly song that filled Reo's ears and fueled his determination. The sound was unlike anything he'd ever heard back on Earth—it was exhilarating, and it pushed him to fight harder.

Lexz couldn't believe what had just happened. He'd gone for the block, certain he had Reo cornered, but somehow the human had twisted mid-air, slipping past him with impossible agility and sinking the ball into the basket. Lexz's eyes narrowed, frustration flaring as he watched Reo land lightly on his feet, the dark aura still swirling around him.

What is this kid? he thought, unease gnawing at the edges of his confidence. He was used to being the best, the one everyone feared on the court. But watching Reo glide through his defenses so easily, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time—a twinge of doubt.

Lexz clenched his jaw, forcing himself to push past the frustration. No way am I letting some little human show me up. He'd trained too hard, fought too many battles to be outdone by someone from another world. As he glared at Reo, he felt his determination harden, his muscles tensing with renewed resolve. If he thinks he can beat me, he's in for a surprise.

Shaking off the lingering frustration, Lexz refocused, his eyes tracking Reo's every move with fierce intensity. He wouldn't just stop Reo—he'd prove, once and for all, that he was the real powerhouse on this court.

The game continued, with both teams pushing themselves to their limits. Lexz dribbled the ball up the court, determined to make up for his earlier mistake. But as he neared the half-court line, Reo dashed in front of him, their eyes meeting in a fierce showdown. Lexz tried to shuffle his steps to go around Reo, but the human was too quick. Reo swiped the ball from Lexz's grasp, sending the alien sprawling to the ground.

"Get that kid!" Lexz yelled as he watched Reo run up the court. Reo, now at the three-point line, stopped his movements as the cyborg lunged towards him. With a step back, Reo took a small step to the side and avoided the cyborg, but the cyborg was quicker this time and shifted back. Reo jumped as if he was going to do a jump shot, but at the last moment, he passed the ball to Jix, who was waiting underneath the rim. Jix caught the ball and dunked it, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

"Woooo!!!" Jix yelled, pumping his fist in the air. "Nice pass, kid," he said, giving Reo a pat on the back. The game continued, with both teams pushing themselves to their limits, the tension on the court was palpable, as the players fought for every inch of the court. Lexz stood there in awe, watching as Reo scored basket after basket. Suddenly, he was jolted out of his reverie by the sound of a voice shouting at him.

"What are you doing?" The red reptile alien, Junne, bellowed. "Get your shit together, you gonna let some little human do that and not get one back? Don't get soft on me."

Lexz's eyes hardened, determination etched on his face. "You're right, Junne," he replied through gritted teeth. "I will score the next basket for sure."

The game continued with fierce intensity, as both teams fought for every point. Lexz drove the ball up the court, juking past Lizzy and Rizzy, and passing the ball to Junne. Junne got around Jix, who was trying to guard him, and passed the ball back to Lexz, who was by the free-throw line with Reo guarding him.

Lexz faked a shot, getting Reo to react. As Reo jumped, he realized that Lexz had fooled him and Lexz did a step back jump shot, draining the shot in front of Reo's face. The crowd erupted in cheers as Lexz's basket tied the game. The energy on the court was electric as the players pushed themselves to their limits, each one determined to come out on top.

The game was intense, with both teams pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion. Jix in bounded the ball to Lizzy as she drove up the court, her eyes scanning the court for the perfect play. Every player on the court seemed to be battling it out, their spirits soaring as they fought for every point.

As Lizzy made her way up the court, she ran past Junne, the red reptile, with a smooth cross-over move. But as she passed him, she didn't expect the cyborg to be standing there in front of her, a grin on his face as he smacked the ball away from her hand. Junne picked up the loose ball, licking his lips as he glanced at Lexz running down the baseline, already past Reo and Jix. He tossed the ball up for an alley-op pass, and Lexz caught it in the air.

"This is it," Lexz thought to himself, "we are gonna win this game." With a winding motion of his arms, cocking the ball back, he went to slam the ball down the rim. But suddenly, a hand came from underneath him and blocked the ball from being slammed into the rim. "Reo!!!" Lexz exclaimed, looking on in disbelief.

Rizzy rebounded the ball and sent it driving to Lizzy. Lizzy flowed with the wind, gliding past the two defenders, but hit a roadblock against the third. She sent a behind-the-back pass to Jix, who caught the ball and took a shot. As the ball went up into the air, it slowed down, and it looked like it was going to go in. But as it approached the basket, it bounced off the rim.

In that moment, Reo dashed through the cyborg and caught the rebound. As he was on his way up for a lay-up, Lexz caught him mid-air. Reo saw Lexz's elbow coming down fast but had no time to react. The blow crashed into his head, white-hot pain radiating through his skull as his vision blurred. He lost balance for a second, his body wavering. No… I'm not letting him stop me. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stay focused, pushing through the pain as he adjusted his stance mid-air.

Reo twisted his body, switching the ball into his other hand, and launched it over Lexz's arms with a final, determined flick. The ball soared, hitting the backboard and dropping cleanly into the basket. He crashed to the ground, his head throbbing as blood trickled down his forehead, but he refused to stay down. Get up, Reo, he told himself, pulling himself to his feet. Ignoring the pain, he clenched his fists, letting out a scream of victory that echoed across the court.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices blending with the strange alien hum, as Reo's basket sealed the win for his team. His vision still blurred, Reo wiped the blood from his brow and felt a surge of pride. You didn't stop me, Lexz. He locked eyes with his opponent, a fierce determination burning in his gaze, knowing he'd earned every bit of this victory.