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 toward the basket, adrenaline pulsing through him as he prepared to dunk. As he leaped, he thought only of breaking past Rylai's defense, of proving himself on this alien court. But then—he felt a surge of energy beneath him, and his stomach tightened as he saw Rylai, fierce and unrelenting, launch into the air.

"Got you, you puny human!" Rylai bellowed, his voice booming like a war drum. His stony hands met the ball with a powerful smack, and Reo was sent crashing down, the shock of impact reverberating through his bones.

He lay there for a moment, dazed, his body still, but his mind ablaze. Memories from Earth surged up: the times he'd sat on the bench, coaches passing him over because he wasn't tall enough, strong enough. Every rejection echoed in his head, voices whispering that he'd never be good enough. He clenched his fists, feeling the sting of the gym floor beneath him, and forced himself to breathe.

No, he thought, pushing himself back up. This is different. Here, he was free of those old limitations. Here, he had a chance to prove, once and for all, what he was capable of. Shaking off the dust and pain, Reo locked eyes with Rylai, the fire in his chest blazing brighter than before.

"You may be bigger and stronger than me," he said, his voice steady and unwavering. "But I'm not afraid of you."

 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.

Reo's gaze locked onto the hoop as he leaped, his muscles coiled like springs, releasing every ounce of strength into his shot. The ball left his hand with a precise flick of his wrist, its rotation flawless, as if it knew exactly where it was going. For a heartbeat, everything fell silent—the buzz of the crowd, the hum of the lights overhead—all fading as everyone seemed to hold their breath in unison.

The ball arced through the air, spinning in a graceful, almost hypnotic motion, every rotation slow and deliberate in Reo's eyes. He was dimly aware of Rylai's eyes on him, the disbelief etched across his opponent's face as the ball continued its path, seemingly defying gravity. For Reo, it felt like the ball carried not just his shot, but all his hopes, all his grit, hanging in that split second between victory and failure.

Come on… he thought, his pulse pounding in his ears. Then, with a whisper of net, the ball slipped through the hoop, falling into the basket with a soft, perfect swish.

The gym exploded with noise, the once-hushed crowd erupting in awe and exhilaration. Reo clenched his fists, feeling the rush of triumph course through him. His gaze flickered to Rylai, whose face now held a mixture of shock and respect, his mind visibly racing to comprehend what he'd just witnessed.

Lexz's gaze was sharp, following every move on the court with a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall as he watched Reo take on Rylai. This kid's got something, he thought, but he didn't let on, keeping his excitement hidden behind a cool, casual expression. He caught Rylai's eye and gave a playful nod, as if to say, Don't go easy on him.

Rylai chuckled at Lexz's look, rolling his eyes in return. "You sure know how to pick your recruits, Lexz," he muttered, loud enough for Lexz to hear, his voice edged with a mix of admiration and challenge. Lexz only shrugged, his smirk widening. "Try not to embarrass yourself too much, Rylai. I'd hate to see you taken down by an 'Earth kid.'"

Rylai snorted, casting Lexz a sidelong glance. "Funny you mention that, considering your last game with me didn't go so well." He tossed a grin at Lexz before turning back to Reo, his eyes gleaming with renewed intensity. "Alright, kid, let's see if you can keep up with the big leagues."

Lexz shook his head, watching the game unfold, but he could barely hide his pride as Reo moved with a quickness and drive that even he hadn't expected. Every time Reo scored, Lexz would catch Rylai's subtle glances—glances that communicated everything from shock to grudging respect, their silent rivalry fueling the intensity of the game.

Rylai's respect for Reo's moves was clear, but he couldn't let go of the playful rivalry with Lexz. After one particularly close basket, he pointed at Lexz and barked out, "You better hope this kid's got more of you in him than that weak spin you tried on me last game, Lexz."

Lexz only laughed, arms folded, and gave Reo an encouraging nod, his eyes reflecting a mix of approval and challenge. "Keep it up, Reo. Let's show Rylai what we've got."

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.