Chapter 10

The game's intensity reached a fever pitch as the players began to emanate auras of vibrant colors. Lexz's aura glowed a brilliant green, while Rylai's was a fierce orange. The atmosphere on the court shifted as one player, standing in the center, drew Lira's attention from the sidelines. Reo didn't emit a visible aura, but instead, shadowy tendrils curled around his body, growing more prominent as the game continued. "This kid is an enigma," Lira thought, her gaze locked on Reo. "With everyone else's auras flaring, he seems to be radiating nothing. What are these shadowy tendrils I sense? It's utterly perplexing."

Cvex extended his tree-like arms, hurling a long pass to RiLi at half-court. "Easy bucket," RiLi smirked, attempting to dribble around Lexz. Lexz's eyes locked onto his opponent, his aura pulsing with the ferocity of a lion. "You're not getting past me," he growled, swiping the ball from RiLi's grasp. The ball bounced off the ground, and Rylai dove for it, his stone-hardened body colliding with the court. He snatched the ball up and tossed it high into the air towards Reo, who raced down the center of the court.

Reo caught the ball with a swift sidestep, faking out Lor who scrambled to defend him. Fire burned in Lor's eyes, determined not to be bested again. He tried to resist the urge to swipe at the ball, watching Reo's hypnotic dribbling with rapt attention. Each movement was precise and rhythmic, entrancing Lor like a matador's dance. Reo had Lor ensnared in his web of motion, and just as time seemed to slow, Reo accelerated and darted past his defender.

Lor, caught off-guard, spun around to snatch the ball from Reo's graceful strides. In that instant, Reo halted, stopping his forward momentum as Lor stumbled, trying to regain his balance. Lor looked up just in time to see Reo release the ball into the air, a soaring arc that glided effortlessly through the hoop.

The announcer's voice boomed, "Wooooo, 4-2!" and the crowd's energy surged, amplifying the excitement of the high-stakes game. The basketball sequences became a symphony of athleticism, each player's moves harmonizing to create an unforgettable performance.

"Sweet shot, kid!" Rylai bellowed, pulling himself up from the ground. Lexz sprinted up to Reo, and they exchanged a victorious fist bump. "Alright, boys, back on defense," Lexz reminded his teammates. Lira, fully engrossed in the game, couldn't help but think, "Those movements are extraordinary." Her curiosity about Reo grew with each passing moment.

RiLi inbounded the ball to Lor, who dribbled up the court, sensing the defense had shifted to a more cautious stance, wary of being ensnared in another trap. He spotted Cvex charging towards the free-throw line, his towering tree-like frame effortlessly gliding across the court. Lor tossed the ball to Cvex, who was met by Rylai's imposing presence. "You're not getting past me, big guy," Rylai grinned, pressing up against Cvex.

Cvex, unfazed, emitted a low, guttural grunt and spun around to post up against Rylai. Rylai struggled to push back against the powerful, lumbering alien, surprised by the strength Cvex possessed. Cvex pushed just enough to create some space between them before pivoting and launching a graceful hook shot off one foot. The ball sailed high, too far for Rylai to reach, and dropped smoothly into the hoop.

"What in the world just happened?" Rylai wondered, awestruck. His aura ignited with intense, flickering flames that danced around his stone-like body. He locked eyes with Lexz and Reo, his voice smoldering with determination. "Give me the ball." The crowd roared as the announcer's voice boomed, "4-4!" The game's energy surged, each player's resolve hardening as they dug deep to summon their best performance.

Reo scooped up the ball and fired off a swift pass to Lexz, who had already locked eyes with Rylai, signaling him to slash down the middle. Rylai's body, still ablaze with the fiery aura from the previous play, surged down the center before making a sharp cut to the left. He knew Lexz would find him there, ready and waiting.

As Lexz deftly maneuvered past RiLi, who was fiercely guarding him, he hurled the ball with blinding speed towards Rylai's powerful, stone-like hands. Rylai effortlessly absorbed the force of the pass, cradling the ball as if it were an extension of his own body. He glanced up to see Cvex assuming a defensive stance, ready for the onslaught.

Rylai grinned, a predatory gleam in his eye. "My turn." His words sent shivers down Cvex's spine, steeling his resolve to guard the charging colossus. Rylai began his attack, each stride a graceful yet powerful dance as he drove towards the rim. Cvex braced himself, trying to absorb some of the energy radiating from Rylai.

As Rylai neared the basket, he spun around, feigning a post-up move against Cvex. Caught off guard, Cvex scrambled to find his footing. In that moment, Rylai coiled his body like a spring and then exploded upwards, soaring through the air. He slammed the ball down with a thunderous roar, the force of the dunk reverberating through Cvex as he reached in vain to block the shot. The court shook with the impact, the crowd erupting in a frenzy of excitement as they bore witness to the titanic clash of wills.

The tide of the game seemed to shift in that instant, as Rylai went on a relentless scoring spree. Play after play, he continued to rack up points, while their opponents mustered just enough energy to stay within striking distance. The score stood at 16-12 in favor of Reo's team, but somehow, the opposition didn't seem to lose hope. Lexz sensed that something was amiss.

"Guys, I've got a strange feeling," Lexz murmured, huddling Reo and Rylai close. "This team we're facing... I think they're hiding something."

Rylai smirked. "What's the matter? We're winning. Just give me the ball, and we'll seal the victory."

Reo remained silent, his eyes staring blankly into the distance. Lexz snapped his fingers in front of Reo's face. "Reo! Are you even listening?"

"Uh... yeah, sorry," Reo replied, his gaze still hazy. "Something about the other team hiding?"

"Never mind. Let's focus on defense and see what they're up to," Lexz said, directing Reo and Rylai to their respective positions.

RiLi stood with the ball in his hands, a dark purple aura emanating from his body. He locked eyes with Lexz, a wicked grin spreading across his face. As he began to dribble, his energy seemed to intensify. RiLi charged down the court, meeting Lexz halfway. His dribbling became a mesmerizing dance, the ball shifting fluidly from left to right, as if he were trying to hypnotize Lexz.

Shaking off the spell, Lexz lunged for the ball, but RiLi nimbly pulled it back and whipped it behind his back to his other hand. Darting to Lexz's left, he launched a shot from beyond the three-point line. The ball sliced through the air with astonishing speed, like a fastball thrown by an elite pitcher, and found its mark dead center in the hoop. Lexz stared at RiLi, disbelief etched on his face. The score now stood at 16-15.

"Tsk, tsk," Lira whispered to herself from the sidelines, a knowing smile on her lips. She could sense that the game's final moments were about to erupt in a thrilling display of skill and determination.

RiLi swaggered towards Lexz, a self-satisfied grin etched on his face. "Space Creator," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Lexz snapped back. "That move I just pulled off. That was Space Creator. You guys don't stand a chance against us now." RiLi laughed, walking back down to his side of the court, holding up three fingers triumphantly.

Lexz froze for a moment, his eyes flickering with intense rage. Sensing the energy pouring from Lexz, Rylai inbounded the ball to him. Lexz inhaled deeply, surveying the court and mentally replaying his opponents' moves. He began to dribble slowly, motioning for Rylai and Reo to move to the sides. He wanted an isolation play, to make this personal. Lexz signaled for RiLi to come closer, and the two players faced off at the top of the key.

Lexz crouched low, dribbling the ball with precision, his movements eerily similar to RiLi's previous display. Smirking, Lexz made a lightning-fast dash to RiLi's left. Grinning, RiLi anticipated the move and shifted his body, following Lexz's motion. But Lexz was already one step ahead. He swiftly changed direction, sidestepping and leaping up to take a jump shot. The ball sailed through the air, finding its home in the net, as RiLi made a futile attempt to block, missing Lexz entirely.

Lexz landed on the ground, smirking at RiLi. A vibrant green aura radiated from his body. "You're not the only one with tricks," Lexz said, grinning as he walked back to his side of the court, mimicking RiLi's earlier gesture with three fingers in the air. The game had just become intensely personal.

"WOOOOO! THE SCORE NOW IS 19-15!" The announcer roared, his enthusiasm contagious as it electrified the crowd. "This turned out to be quite the spectacle," one of the peculiar-looking aliens commented, clearly entertained. "Indeed, I wasn't expecting this. That human kid has been quiet in the last few plays, but he was quite extraordinary earlier," another alien chimed in.

Lira, overhearing the aliens' conversation, couldn't help but feel the same way. "Maybe he isn't special after all," she pondered. The game continued with Cvec inbounding the ball to Lor. Wasting no time, Lor sprinted down the court, charging head-on towards Reo. Yet as he approached, Reo appeared like a standing zombie, head down and hands at his sides. Lor snickered, "Is this kid gassed out already? Poor thing." He dashed past Reo, launching a graceful floater that found its mark.

Lexz, infuriated by Reo's inaction, shouted, "REO! What are you doing, kid?" But Reo remained still. Lira, watching from afar, sensed a dark energy brewing on the court, though the other players seemed oblivious. "What is this eerie feeling?" she wondered, her eyes locked on the unfolding game.

"Guess it's just you and me until Reo wakes the hell up," Lexz said to Rylai, who nodded and passed the ball back. As Lexz dribbled up the court, he maneuvered away from RiLi, only to be met by Cvec and Lor. The trio converged, swiping the ball away before Lexz could pass. Lor snagged the loose ball, making a break for the basket.

As he closed in, Lor felt a sinister presence shadowing his steps. He tried to ignore it, dashing towards an open net and leaping for a simple finger-roll layup. But midair, a surge of dark force rippled through him, as if an electric shock jolted his very bones. It was Reo. Somehow, he had snuck up while Lor attempted the layup. Reo pinned the ball against the backboard, snatching it with both hands.

The score was 19-18; the team needed a 3-pointer to clinch the game. Reo landed, clutching the ball. Black shadows emerged from the ground, slithering up his legs and engulfing his body. Lira's eyes remained locked on Reo, sensing the force emanating from him. "Holy shit!" an alien gasped from the crowd. "That was insane!" another added.

Reo stood for a moment, as if alone on the court. The shadows revealed paths to the basket, and in a trance-like state, he began to dribble. As Lor approached to guard him, Reo effortlessly dashed past, as if Lor were a mere phantom. Next came RiLi, his face etched with desperation, attempting a sneak attack alongside Cvec. But Reo was already a step ahead, dodging the two colliding aliens with fluid grace. They crashed to the ground, dazed and disoriented.

Reo halted, glancing up at the basket and verifying his position behind the 3-point line. He launched the ball, shadows trailing behind as if guiding its trajectory. The ball swished through the net, igniting a frenzy in the stands. "AND THAT'S GAME!!!" the announcer bellowed, clutching his headset while exuberant aliens cheered and hoisted him up.

"Guess you really are special," Lira murmured to herself as she exited the arena, disappearing into the jubilant crowd.