Chapter 8

From a distance, Lexz watched the match with bated breath, his grin widening as he witnessed Reo's jaw-dropping display of skill. Reo moved on the court like a true basketball virtuoso, defying gravity with his soaring jumps and sinking shots with flawless precision. Lexz knew in his bones that Reo was no ordinary human, he was something truly special.

As the match ended, Reo collapsed on the court, his body drenched in sweat, and gasping for air. Suddenly, a pair of heavy footsteps approached him. It was Rylai, the towering and intimidating opponent that Reo had just defeated. "Good game, kid," Rylai congratulated him with a tap on the shoulder. "You too, Rylai," Reo replied, his voice quivering with fatigue.

Rylai chuckled and complimented Reo's extraordinary abilities, but he couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that there was something strange about the boy. Rylai had noticed dark shadows emanating from Reo's body during their game, and it made him wonder what kind of power Reo possessed.

Ignoring his suspicions, Rylai brushed off the thought and offered to join Reo and his team in the upcoming 3 on 3 tournament. "You won fair and square, kid. And that means I'm going to join you bums for the tournament. Who else is going to carry the load for you bums?" Rylai laughed and playfully slapped Reo on the back.

Lexz strode through the throngs of curious onlookers and joined Rylai and Reo on the court. "You see, Rylai, Reo ain't no pushover," he said with a sly grin. "He's got skills that make him look like a pro." Rylai chuckled, "Well, he sure doesn't play like any human I've seen before." Lexz nodded in agreement, "That's why we need to train hard before the tournament, especially you, Lexz," Rylai joked, clearly enjoying himself at Lexz's expense. Lexz scowled but couldn't help but smile at the friendly banter. "I can't wait to take on Grindel," he said with fierce determination. Reo's ears perked up at the mention of another human. Though Grindel may be from Mars, it was still a chance to connect with someone from his own planet. "Let's get back to the base," Lexz said to Reo. Rylai interjected, "I'm crashing at your place, Lexz. Don't make me spend any DC on a hotel." Lexz clenched his fist, "You better watch your mouth, Rylai." Rylai laughed, "I'm just messing with you, Dimeheart." Reo stifled a laugh, enjoying the friendly ribbing between his new friends.

As the three exited the Northern Courts and entered the bustling night life of Bayside, Reo felt a sudden urge to explore the city on his own. "Hey guys, I think I'm gonna go check out the main district by myself," he announced, his voice tinged with excitement.

Rylai and Lexz exchanged a look of surprise, but they didn't protest. "Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" Rylai asked, concern etched on her face.

Reo flashed her a confident smile. "Yeah, don't worry about me. I've got my telecaster chip, I'll find my way back. Besides, I want to see what kind of trouble I can get into on my own."

Lexz chuckled. "Sounds like a plan. Just be careful, Reo. This city can be dangerous at night."

Reo nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. He watched as Rylai and Lexz headed off in the opposite direction, then turned and walked towards the nearest subway station.

As he descended the steps towards the platform, the noise of the city faded away, replaced by the rumble of approaching trains. He checked his telecaster and found an arcade nearby, marked as Denny's Arcade. Reo's eyes widened with excitement. He'd always loved arcades back on Earth, and he couldn't wait to see what kind of games this one had to offer.

Navigating through the menus on his telecaster, Reo followed the map towards the arcade. The streets were alive with activity, neon lights flickering overhead as crowds of aliens and humans alike moved through the night.

Finally, he arrived at Denny's Arcade. The neon sign outside flashed in a rainbow of colors, drawing him in. As he stepped inside, he was greeted by the sound of blaring music and flashing lights. Rows of arcade cabinets lined the walls, each one packed with a crowd of enthusiastic players.

Reo's heart raced as he made his way through the maze of machines. He couldn't wait to start playing, to lose himself in the competition and the thrill of the game. For a moment, he forgot about the tournament, forgot about everything else but the joy of the arcade. And for that moment, he was truly happy.

The hologram games projected monsters that looked so real, Reo couldn't help but feel like he was in another world. The air was filled with the sound of blasting music and the laughter of people having a good time. As he made his way through the arcade, he spotted a red-skinned human girl with striking purple and black hair. She was a vision to behold, glowing under the neon lights with piercing green eyes that seemed to see right through him.

Reo's heart started racing and he felt a wave of nervousness wash over him. "That girl must be a Martian," he thought to himself as he approached her. She stood by the caged basketball game, her white tank top and gold chains shining under the lights. The flower tattoo on her shoulder was a work of art. Reo was stuck in a moment he couldn't get out of. He had never seen anyone like her before.

The girl noticed him and gave him a strange look as she chewed on her gum, blowing a bubble and popping it. "Do you know me? Or something?" she asked, her voice sounding like music to Reo's ears. He shook his head, trying to find the right words. "No, not really...I've just never seen any other humans here," he said, his heart beating faster by the second.

The girl flashed him a dazzling smile and Reo felt like he was melting. "Well, you're definitely not from around here," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "But you seem like a cool guy. My name's Lira. What's yours?" Reo introduced himself and they started talking. As they chatted and played games together, Reo couldn't help but feel like he had found someone special. He didn't know where this would lead, but he was excited to find out.

Reo's heart was pounding as he watched Lira dribble the ball with effortless grace. She had a way of moving that made Reo feel like he was watching a goddess in motion. As she took a jump shot, Reo couldn't help but hold his breath, mesmerized by her skill. "So you're from Mars?" he asked, trying to sound casual. Lira looked at him with interest, and Reo felt his heart skip a beat. "Yea, I'm a Martian," she replied, her voice so cool and calm that it sent shivers down Reo's spine. "Say, where are you from? I don't think I've ever seen a human look like you." Lira analyzed Reo, and he felt himself blushing under her gaze. "Umm...I'm from Earth. It's actually kind of close to Mars," Reo said, feeling foolish for stating the obvious. But Lira just giggled. "Earth, you say? My father told me some stories about that place. I think we tried to live there at one point, but we ended up moving to Mars through some kind of interdimensional travel." Reo was stunned. Lira sounded so intelligent, almost like a scientist breaking down some kind of theory. He couldn't help but find it attractive. "Say, it's getting kind of late, and I got practice in the morning," Lira said, breaking the spell that Reo was under. "Practice for what?" Reo asked, not wanting the conversation to end. "Basketball. I'm on the Bayside Stars girls team." Reo's eyes widened with excitement. "What position do you play?!" he exclaimed, feeling like he had found his soulmate. Lira's eyes sparkled as she replied, "Point guard." And in that moment, Reo knew he had to see her play.

Reo and Lira stood on the sidewalk outside the arcade, the night air cool and refreshing against their skin. The city was alive with the hum of activity, the neon lights casting a colorful glow over everything in sight. Reo's heart was racing as he looked at Lira, his mind buzzing with excitement. "Hey, could I come see you play sometime?" he asked, his voice filled with eagerness. Lira's eyes twinkled mischievously as she tilted her head and smirked. "Sure, I guess," she replied, handing him her contact information. "You're a strange fellow, Reo," she added with a laugh.

As they chatted, a sleek, limousine-like vehicle pulled up beside them, the doors sliding up to reveal a plush, red leather interior. "Well, that's my ride," Lira said with a grin. "My father can be strict about me being out, especially with a boy." Reo was taken aback by the extravagant car and wondered just how important Lira was. "I'll see you around, I hope," he said, feeling foolish even as the words left his mouth. Lira laughed and closed the door, the car disappearing into the night.

Reo made his way to the nearest subway station, still reeling from the excitement of the night. He checked his notifications and saw that he had completed a quest and earned some bonuses,"Notification Alert, you have completed the quest David vs Goliath, awarded +1 in all skills attributes. Bonus quest unlocked Girl of your dreams. Congradulations you have have earned 2000 DC for defeating and recruiting Rylai." The message read, but his mind was elsewhere. All he could think about was Lira, the Martian girl who had captured his heart. He couldn't wait to see her play basketball and learn more about her mysterious world.

Reo stumbled into the apartment, disoriented and lost in his thoughts, only to find Lexz and Rylai locked in a fierce battle on their video game console. "Got you, you rat bastard!" Lexz bellowed, his eyes glued to the screen as he taunted Rylai. "Lucky shot bud, you ain't ever hitting that again," Rylai retorted with a mouth full of alien snack, not taking his eyes off the game. The commotion died down as they both noticed Reo's entrance. "You made it back in one piece, we were worried about you," Lexz said sarcastically, but there was genuine concern in his voice.

Reo was lost in his thoughts, still dazed from the events of the night. He slowly made his way over to them and slumped onto the couch. "What's the matter, kid? You alright? Why do you look like that?" Lexz asked curiously, his eyes fixed on Reo. "Oh nothing, I went to Denny's Arcade tonight..." Reo trailed off, his mind still fixated on Lira.

"And? Going to an arcade makes you sad?" Rylai asked, his mouth still full.

"Nah, the arcade was great, I had the best time of my life. I met a girl, boys," Reo explained, his voice filled with excitement.

"Aw, a female," Rylai joked, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Was she a human, Reo?" Lexz asked, his eyebrows raised in interest.

"Ya, in fact, she was a Martian. She was so beautiful, and I even got her contact on my telecaster," Reo replied, his infatuation evident in his voice.

Lexz and Rylai laughed, but their amusement turned to shock as Reo mentioned the girl's name. "Martian, eh? You don't see too many Martians at arcades. They don't really do fun," Lexz said, his expression serious.

"What was her name?" Rylai asked with a mouth full of alien snack.

"Lira," Reo responded, his tone defensive.

"And she was fun. I mean, she was kind too chill, but she was fun," Reo continued, unaware of the weight of the situation.

Both Lexz and Rylai fell silent at the mention of the name Lira. "Guys? You there? Why do you guys look like you just saw a ghost?" Reo asked, puzzled by their reaction.

"Lira?" Lexz finally responded. "Did she have purple and black hair by chance?" Rylai asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yes, she did. Do you guys know her?" Reo asked, excitement rising in his voice.

"Kid, you're telling me you met Lira Lightguard, the daughter of the great Drevin Lightguard," Lexz said, his voice filled with shock.

"Wait, what? Lightguard?" Reo's memory flickered back to the poster of the legendary Martian basketball player he had seen hanging from the ceilings of the Northern Courts.