Chapter 13: Team

Rylai sensed the strange, flickering aura surrounding Reo as he inbounded the ball. "The kid's doing it again," he murmured, a blend of awe and concern coloring his voice. Lexz sprinted up the court, his eyes locked on Reo, waiting for the perfect moment.

For an instant, Reo stood frozen, the world around him seemingly suspended in time. He felt the pulse of the crowd, their chants vibrating through the air. The squeak of sneakers against the polished court echoed in his ears, and the glistening beads of sweat dripping from his opponents appeared in stark relief.

As a hot steam radiated from his body, Reo surged forward, propelled by a force that transcended the boundaries of time. His form seemed to vanish, only to reappear at the three-point line, leaving the defenders scrambling in confusion.

Jinwall barked orders, his voice strangled with panic. "Over there! Get to that boy!" NightBane lunged toward Reo, but it was too late. Reo, in his burning trance, saw everything on the court with preternatural clarity. He deftly spun around the charging NightBane, opening a clear path to the basket.

As he drove to the hoop, Reo spotted Lexz cutting through the defense, leaping into the air with feline grace. Without a moment's hesitation, Reo tossed the ball skyward, meeting Lexz at the apex of his jump. Lexz's powerful hands enveloped the ball, slamming it through the hoop with a thunderous roar.

As Lexz touched down on the court, his body, too, began to emit a hot steam. His once-green aura shimmered with an orange glow, signaling the birth of a new power that would reshape the face of the game. The crowd held their breath, witnessing the dawn of an epic battle unlike any they had seen before.

Lexz locked eyes with Jinwall, his grin wide and fierce as he exchanged a nod with Reo. The two of them retreated to their side of the court, ready for the next play. Dorum inbounded the ball to Jinwall, who moved with feline grace up the court. But as he crossed the half-court line, it was as if a lightning bolt had struck – the ball vanished from his hands.

"What the hell?" Jinwall roared, his eyes darting toward Lexz, who now commanded the ball, effortlessly dribbling past NightBane as he scrambled back to defend. Lexz executed a stutter step, throwing NightBane off balance before crossing him over and driving to the corner of the three-point line. There, he spied Rylai, a mountain of strength, backing down Dorum in the paint.

With a deceptive flick of his wrist, Lexz faked a shot, luring NightBane into the air before passing to Rylai. Rylai caught the ball with ease, and with a surge of force, he pushed Dorum back, inch by inch, until he had him pinned beneath the rim. With a powerful bend of his knees, Rylai exploded into the air, clutching the ball in both hands and pulling it behind his back before slamming it down on the hapless defender.

The clash of the two titans reverberated through the arena, sending tremors across the floor. As Dorum crumpled to the ground, he looked up to see the towering, stone-solid Rylai standing above him, hot steam billowing through his rocky skin. Rylai's aura burned with the same intense colors as Lexz and Reo, signaling their unity in this electrifying match.

As Rylai strode back to his teammates, the announcer's voice boomed through the stadium. "Ladies and gentlemen, witness the sheer power and skill on display here! This team is on fire, and they're showing no signs of slowing down!"

No words were exchanged as the trio switched to their defensive positions, their eyes locked on Jinwall and his team, each of them silently communicating their unwavering determination to triumph.

"These guys... they're something else. Their auras seem to be synchronizing. Intriguing." Lira mused, her eyes keenly observing the trio as they ignited the arena with their unyielding spirit. Unbeknownst to most, the temperature within the arena had been steadily rising, a palpable heatwave emanating from the trio's fiery resolve.

"What the hell is going on?!" Jinwall snarled, his frustration mounting. "We're not supposed to be losing to these amateurs!" He spat the words with venom, his eyes narrowing as Dorum, equally baffled, inbounded the ball.

Jinwall's grip tightened on the ball, ensuring its security as he advanced up the court. But as he crossed the half-court line, he couldn't shake the unsettling sensation that something was amiss. He paused, surveying the court, and suddenly realized what felt so off: Reo and his teammates had assumed a formation that was all too familiar to Jinwall.

His heart raced, a mix of trepidation and adrenaline coursing through his veins as he tried to discern their intentions. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, the crowd holding its collective breath as the battle of wills and wits intensified on the court.

With a deep breath, Jinwall refocused and attempted to initiate a play. But as he surveyed the court, a chilling realization dawned on him: Reo's team had adopted the same Zone Defense strategy that he and his teammates so often employed to devastating effect.

An electric tension surged through the arena as Jinwall tried to penetrate the robust defense. The crowd leaned forward in anticipation, sensing a pivotal moment in the game. Jinwall darted left, but Rylai was there, his stone-like body a formidable barrier. He changed direction, attempting to break through on the right, only to be met by Lexz's unyielding stance. The air thickened with suspense as Jinwall's frustration grew palpable.

"Can't find an opening, can you?" taunted Lexz, his eyes flashing with determination.

Reo's voice rang out across the court, "Just like you said, Jinwall, we're sticking to you like glue!"

Jinwall's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed, and he tried to force his way past Reo. But Reo held his ground, his fiery aura radiating an unwavering resolve. The Zone Defense was impenetrable, a masterful reflection of the strategy Jinwall had once wielded with such confidence.

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers and gasps as Jinwall's team struggled to find an answer to the unrelenting defense. The tables had turned, and the once-dominant players now found themselves at the mercy of their opponents' skill and tenacity.

"You didn't think you were the only ones who could play this game, did you?" Reo shouted, a smug grin spreading across his face as he locked eyes with Jinwall.

The intensity in the arena reached a fever pitch as Jinwall, desperate to regain control, spotted Nightbane free for a split second. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the ball hurtling towards his teammate. Nightbane caught it deftly, determination etched on his face. He knew this was the moment they needed to seize.

With incredible strength, Nightbane barreled through Reo and Rylai, his powerful limbs propelling him forward like a battering ram. The crowd gasped, awed by the sheer force of his movement. But just as Nightbane leaped into the air for a thunderous dunk, Lexz sprang into action.

In a breathtaking display of agility and speed, Lexz soared upward, his hand outstretched to meet Nightbane's. With a resounding smack, he blocked the ball, sending it careening through the air. The crowd erupted in an ear-splitting roar as the once-dominant team was thwarted once more.

Undaunted, Rylai's reflexes snapped into action. With cat-like agility, he plucked the loose ball from the air, his stony fingers grasping it securely. The play continued at a breakneck pace, and in the blink of an eye, Rylai launched a lightning-quick pass to Reo.

Reo, his fiery aura blazing, weaved between defenders with the fluid grace of a dancer. His movements were a mesmerizing blur, each step calculated and precise. The crowd held their breath as he neared the basket, poised to strike.

In a moment of pure artistry, Reo extended his arm, his fingers gently rolling the ball off his fingertips. The ball traced an elegant arc through the air, kissing the rim of the basket before dropping through the net. The crowd exploded in a deafening cheer, as Reo's teammates beamed with pride.

"LET'S GO!!!, Reo!" Lexz shouted, admiration in his voice.

Rylai chimed in, "You danced around them like they were standing still!"

Reo grinned, feeling the exhilaration of the moment. "We're in this together. Let's keep up the pressure and take this game!" And with that, they prepared for the next play, their spirits buoyed by their stunning performance.

Reo stood at the epicenter of the pulsating arena, the atmosphere electric with excitement. Time seemed to slow as he allowed himself to bask in the intensity of the moment. An overwhelming feeling of pure joy washed over him, for he realized that, after a long while, he was having the time of his life.

Playing basketball with two new friends, both of them strange aliens he had only just met, felt surreal. Yet, despite their short time together, they had formed an unshakable bond, a trust forged in the heat of battle on the court. Both Lexz and Rylai possessed the strength and skill to single-handedly dominate the game, but today, they were united as one, an unstoppable force.

As Reo pondered this unity, an infectious laughter bubbled up within him, filling his chest and bursting forth into the electric air. The sound of his laughter seemed to ripple through the arena, a testament to the joy and camaraderie that defined their team.

"What's so funny, Reo?" Lexz called out, a playful grin spreading across his face.

Rylai joined in, his stony features cracking into a warm smile. "Yeah, Reo, don't keep it all to yourself!"

Reo shook his head, still chuckling. "I was just thinking about how amazing this moment is," he confessed. "I mean, look at us! We're all from different worlds, but here we are, playing together as a team, this is crazy!"

Lexz nodded, understanding shining in his eyes. "You sure are a little weirdo."

Rylai chimed in, his voice deep and resonant. "A strange one indeed."