Chapter Five: The match of a Life time

The first quarter felt like it went by in a blur. Ethan sat on the bench, watching his teammates struggle against Riverton's relentless defense. The rival team was quick, aggressive, and their star player, a tall guard with an intense focus, seemed to be everywhere at once.

Ethan's fingers drummed nervously on his knee as he kept his eyes fixed on the court, trying to take in every move, every pass, every play. His stomach churned with anticipation. He couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment.

Coach Brooks had put him on the bench for the first quarter, but Ethan could already feel the game shifting. His teammates were starting to wear down under Riverton's pressure, and the score was close, but Riverton had the edge. It was becoming clear: the team needed someone to step up.

And that someone was going to have to be him.

Finally, as the buzzer sounded for the end of the first quarter, Coach Brooks called for a timeout, and that's when Ethan heard his name.

"Walker!" Coach shouted from the sideline, pointing at him. "Get in there."

His heart skipped a beat. The moment had come. He grabbed his water bottle and stood up quickly, his legs feeling slightly shaky, but his mind laser-focused. This was his time to show what he could do.

As he jogged onto the court, he gave a quick glance to the opposing players. Riverton's point guard, a taller kid with a sharp gaze, shot him a smug look, sizing him up like a challenge. Ethan swallowed, but he kept his face calm.

He took his position, lining up on the court as his teammate inbounded the ball. The game was moving fast—Riverton was aggressive, but Ethan was ready.

His eyes locked on his teammates, his mind running through the quick calculations of what his next move should be. He didn't have the raw talent of some of the other players, but his passing, his vision of the game, was what he could rely on now.

The ball came to him.

Without thinking, he immediately made a move—he saw a defender closing in on his teammate, the Riverton guard's hand already reaching for a steal.

Ethan's mind clicked. With a quick flick of his wrist, he sent a precise, fast bounce pass to the opposite side of the court, where his teammate was in a better position to take a shot. The ball zipped through the air and landed perfectly in their hands.

Swish.

The crowd erupted in cheers, and Ethan felt a small rush of pride. That was exactly the kind of play he wanted to make—fast, smart, and precise. His passing stat was already showing its worth.

The Riverton team didn't take kindly to that play. Their point guard shot Ethan another cold look, but Ethan just kept his head down, focusing on what was next.

This was just the beginning.

The game raged on, back and forth, each team pushing the other to their limits. Ethan could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, but he remained focused. Every pass, every movement felt clearer, sharper. His mind was locked into the rhythm of the game, and for the first time, he felt like he belonged.

As the game progressed, the tension between the teams mounted. The score was neck and neck, and Riverton's defense was growing more aggressive. Ethan could feel the pressure building. He wasn't just a player anymore; he was an important part of this match.

Then, something changed.

As Ethan dribbled up the court, scanning for an open teammate, he felt an intense pull in the pit of his stomach, like the game was calling to him. He didn't know what it was, but he felt a surge of something, like his mind was reaching deeper into the play itself, analyzing the patterns with an ease that was beyond normal.

That's when it happened.

A notification flashed in his mind, something he didn't expect—something new.

Skill Unlocked: "Court Vision" (Secret Skill)

Increased passing accuracy and speed by 50%. Ability to read the floor in real-time, anticipating plays before they unfold. Your passes are nearly impossible to intercept.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. This was different from the previous upgrades—this felt more... intense. His vision seemed to sharpen, the court stretching before him like a map. He could see every player's movement, the slight shifts in their body language that indicated where they would go next.

His eyes narrowed, his mind immediately calculating the optimal passing lane. He could see it. He could feel it.

The ball came to him at the top of the key, and without hesitation, Ethan took a step forward, his body almost mechanical as he spun, launching a pass so fast and so precise it seemed to slice through the air like a laser. His teammate, who had been fighting for space on the baseline, barely had to adjust before catching the ball in perfect rhythm. Without missing a beat, the ball left their hands, soaring for the basket.

Swish. Another three-pointer.

The crowd erupted into cheers, but Ethan didn't react. His focus was unshaken, his mind already moving on to the next play, the next opportunity.

But something was different. A coldness had entered his eyes, a sharpness that hadn't been there before. It wasn't just about making the right play anymore—it was about controlling the game. He could see everything. Every movement, every angle. He wasn't just reacting; he was orchestrating.

Riverton's point guard, who had been on him like a shadow all game, felt the shift. He tried to press harder, but Ethan's newfound clarity only seemed to make him more untouchable.

The game was his.

As the game continued, the tension only grew. Riverton's defense became more desperate, more aggressive, trying to disrupt Ethan's flow. They knew the ball was coming to him, and they knew he had become the catalyst for his team's success. But Ethan, with his newly unlocked skill, was like a machine, dissecting the defense effortlessly.

The Riverton point guard, who had been trying to shut him down all game, made his move again, closing in on him with full force. He was fast, strong—everything Ethan was supposed to fear. But now, Ethan could see every single move before it happened. It was like the court had slowed down around him, the game became his to control.

He dribbled calmly, eyes locked on the court as he saw the play unfold in real-time. His teammate, cutting sharply from the corner, was wide open. The defender wasn't even close to being in position.

Ethan didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, the ball shot across the court in a perfect arc, a pass that sliced through the air, faster than anyone could react. It was so precise, so perfectly timed, that it left the entire gym in stunned silence for a brief moment before the ball landed in his teammate's hands, who quickly made the shot.

Another point for his team.

As the ball swished through the net, the Riverton point guard came at Ethan with an almost desperate intensity, clearly trying to stop him. But this time, Ethan didn't even flinch. He locked eyes with the defender, a cold edge to his gaze.

"Stats don't win games," Ethan said, his voice calm and unwavering, his eyes sharp. "I don't pass for glory, I pass to break you."

The point guard faltered, his expression momentarily flickering with confusion. Ethan had already moved on, his mind calculating the next step, the next play. He wasn't playing to rack up numbers or impress anyone. He was playing to break the game open. And he was doing it. Piece by piece, pass by pass. The game had shifted, and it was Ethan who was in control now.

The second quarter unfolded with a kind of precision Ethan had never felt before. He was no longer just participating in the game—he was dictating it. Every move, every play, flowed seamlessly from one to the next. His passes were so sharp, so calculated, that the Riverton defense had no answers. They couldn't predict where the ball was going because Ethan had already read the court before they even reacted.

Ethan took the ball up the court again, eyes scanning for an opening. He could see everything—the slight shift in his teammate's body as they made a break to the basket, the way the defender had momentarily lost focus. He smiled inwardly, not out of arrogance, but a deep, silent understanding of the game. This was where he was meant to be.

With a quick step, Ethan faked a drive, drawing two defenders toward him. The crowd held their breath as they saw his move. But Ethan's eyes were locked on the weak side of the court, where his teammate had broken free for a wide-open shot. Without looking, without hesitation, he launched a perfect no-look pass. The ball flew through the air, seemingly defying gravity, landing perfectly in his teammate's hands.

Swish. Another three.

The Riverton defense had no answers. The Riverton players were scrambling, desperately trying to catch up, but it was too late. Ethan had already orchestrated the next play. With each pass, with each calculated move, he was breaking down their defense piece by piece, exposing their every weakness.

The point guard from Riverton tried to press harder, trying to regain control of the game. But Ethan wasn't afraid of him anymore. He'd already unlocked a level of play he hadn't thought possible, and it felt... easy. Almost like the game had slowed down just for him. Every defender was just another obstacle to break. Every move, just another calculation.

As Riverton's point guard tried to swipe at the ball again, Ethan made a simple yet lethal crossover, leaving the defender stumbling. The crowd let out a collective gasp as Ethan drove to the hoop with ease, drawing the attention of the entire defense. But in one smooth motion, he passed to the open man on the baseline for an easy dunk.

"Stats don't win games," Ethan thought to himself as his teammate thundered to the rim, slamming the ball down with authority. "I break games."

By the end of the second quarter, the lead had widened significantly. The Riverton players were visibly frustrated, their defense no longer a wall but a series of gaps that Ethan seemed to exploit at will. Every time they tried to recover, Ethan would find a new weakness to target.

The Riverton coach called a timeout, clearly livid. Ethan didn't even break a sweat. He jogged back to the bench, his eyes steely with focus. His teammates exchanged looks, surprised by his composure, by the way he'd turned the tide so quickly.

Ethan sat down on the bench, his chest rising and falling steadily. His gaze remained fixed on the court, never losing focus. This was just the beginning. They hadn't seen anything yet.