Chapter 7

"Who the hell is that short ass kid?" one of the aliens muttered in confusion, clearly surprised to see a human participating in their game. "I'm not sure, he doesn't look like a Martian. Not sure what he is," replied another alien, scratching its head in curiosity.

Lexz watched the scene with a wide grin on his face, knowing that Reo was special. Despite his size, Reo possessed unique abilities and an unwavering will to win. He would never back down from a challenge, no matter the skill gap or size of his opponents. "One lucky shot, kid," Rylai snarled, but there was a glimmer of respect in his eyes for the young human who managed to score against him.

Rylai picked up the ball from the ground and tossed it to Reo, "your ball. We'll play it as whoever scores retains possession," he said with a smirk, bending his knees down to a defensive position.

Reo began his dribble, moving slowly to the left before quickly switching to the right, causing Rylai to misjudge the direction of his pass. With the ball now on his right side, Reo took off towards the basket at full speed, ready to dunk the ball. However, as he jumped, he felt a sudden surge of energy beneath him, and he looked down to see Rylai staring up at him, a fierce aura emanating from his body like a raging inferno.

"Got you, you puny human!" Rylai bellowed as he leaped up, his stony hands smacking the ball against the backboard and sending Reo crashing down to the ground in shock.

Reo lay there for a moment, dazed and disoriented, the thunderous impact of Rylai's block still ringing in his ears. The sheer power and ferocity of Rylai's aura had been overwhelming, like facing down a rampaging beast. But even as he struggled to gather his thoughts, Reo could feel a burning determination building within him, a fierce desire to prove himself against this monstrous opponent.

With newfound resolve, Reo picked himself up off the ground and got into a defensive stance, his arms spread wide as he locked eyes with Rylai. Rylai dribbled forward, his massive frame looming over Reo like a towering giant. But despite the overwhelming odds, Reo refused to back down, holding his ground and daring Rylai to try and score on him.

As Rylai backed him down, Reo could feel the pressure mounting. But he refused to budge, his feet planted firmly on the ground. Suddenly, Rylai spun around, leaping towards the basket with a ferocity that left Reo breathless. With a thunderous roar, Rylai slammed the ball home, the force of the dunk shaking the entire court.

Reo stumbled backwards, his head reeling from the impact. But he refused to give up. With a steely determination, he passed the ball to Rylai, ready to make his move. "You may be bigger and stronger than me," he said, his voice low but steady. "But I'm not afraid of you."

Rylai grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Finally, some fight in you," he said. "Let's see what you've got, kid."

Rylai held the ball with a firm grip, his eyes scanning Reo's every move, looking for any sign of weakness. But to Rylai's surprise, Reo's eyes seemed to darken as he locked onto Rylai, an aura of darkness pulsating around him like a black hole. Rylai couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over him.

Suddenly, Reo made his move, a blur of speed and precision as he snatched the ball from Rylai's grasp and took off down the court. Rylai tried to keep up, but it was like trying to catch a comet with his bare hands. Reo slowed down as he reached the three-point line, his eyes still fixed on Rylai, a grin spreading across his face like a Cheshire cat.

Without hesitation, Reo leaped into the air, the ball leaving his hand with perfect form. Rylai watched as the ball sailed through the air, a sense of helplessness creeping over him. The ball swished through the hoop, barely making a sound as it passed through the net.

Rylai couldn't believe what he had just witnessed, his mind racing to make sense of it all. "Who is this kid?" he muttered to himself, a mixture of shock and awe in his voice.

Meanwhile, Lexz watched from a distance, his eyes fixed on Reo with a knowing grin. "That's the aura I remember," he said to himself, his excitement building. "Reo is truly something special."

Reo remained stoic, his eyes still dark as he retrieved the ball from the net. "Two to one," he said calmly, as if he had just completed a routine task. "My ball, Rylai."

The tension between the two players was palpable as they squared off once more, both determined to come out on top. This was more than just a game - it was a battle of wills, a clash of titans. And as the game continued, it only got more intense.

The arena was hushed in awe, completely taken aback by the incredible display of skill and finesse exhibited by Reo. Rylai, the titan of the court, had just been made to look like a novice in front of the crowd. Even Lexz, the seasoned spectator, was amazed by the level of mastery demonstrated by the young player.

"Alright, kid, you've got some moves," Rylai acknowledged, his admiration for Reo's talent apparent in his tone. But Reo remained silent, his eyes glinting with a focused intensity that belied his small stature. He began to dribble the ball with lightning speed, and before Rylai could even react, Reo had already taken off, stutter-stepping to the right before veering left and then back to the right again.

Rylai, using his massive frame to his advantage, tried to block Reo's path, but the young prodigy was too quick for him. In a flash, he spun around Rylai and took a step forward, then pulled the ball back with a lightning-quick motion that caught Rylai off guard.

Rylai lunged forward in an attempt to block the shot, but Reo's reflexes were faster. With a swift release of breath, he shot the ball into the air, Rylai's massive arm colliding with his right arm as the ball soared towards the basket.

Time seemed to stand still as the ball hung in the air, everyone in the arena holding their breath in anticipation. Reo crashed to the ground, his body hitting the court with a thud, but his eyes remained fixed on the ball. And then, with a perfect arc, the ball dropped through the basket.

"AND ONE!" the announcer shouted, the crowd erupting in a frenzy of cheers and applause. Even Lexz couldn't help but grin in amazement at the incredible display of skill and sheer force of will demonstrated by the young player. This was a moment that would be talked about for years to come.