Chapter Six: The Shadow
As the third quarter began, Ethan felt the game continue to shift. The Riverton players were adjusting, trying to close the gaps and deny him the opportunities he'd been exploiting. But no matter how hard they tried, Ethan seemed to always be one step ahead. His confidence was growing with every play, and his passing had become more instinctual, more lethal.
Then, something strange happened.
As Ethan received the ball at the top of the key, he felt an odd sensation—like the game was suddenly asking more from him. His body moved without thinking, his eyes scanning the court, but his mind was elsewhere, like a new layer of clarity had suddenly unlocked. His teammates were in motion, but it wasn't just their movements he was reading anymore—it was the way the entire defense shifted, the way the entire game seemed to breathe in sync with him.
Skill Unlocked: "Invisible Pass" (Inspired by "Kuroko's No Basket")
You can now pass without drawing attention. Your movements become nearly invisible, blending with the flow of the game. Defenders will struggle to predict or intercept your passes, even if they're directly in front of you. Your presence becomes intangible.
The moment the skill activated, Ethan felt it. His body became lighter, almost weightless, as if the game had slowed down even more. He dribbled casually, watching the defense close in, but his mind was already calculating the next step. He wasn't just observing the defenders; he could feel their movements as if they were extensions of his own. The court, the players—it all became part of a single, flowing current that he could move through.
Without even thinking about it, he made a subtle shift in his positioning. Riverton's point guard, who had been shadowing him all game, was right in front of him. Normally, this would be a dangerous spot—he could easily be trapped or forced to make a bad decision. But with the new skill, Ethan felt almost... unnoticed.
He leaned forward slightly, using the smallest of fakes to make it seem like he was about to take a shot. The defender shifted just a hair, eyes locked on the ball. And then, with a smooth, effortless flick of his wrist, Ethan passed the ball to his teammate at the baseline. The pass was so subtle, so fluid, that it seemed to vanish into the flow of the game.
Riverton's point guard didn't even see it coming. The ball landed perfectly in his teammate's hands, who drained another easy three-pointer.
The crowd was in shock, murmuring in disbelief. Riverton's players scrambled, looking around, trying to understand what just happened. But there was no trace of the pass. It was as if it had disappeared into thin air.
Ethan's eyes were cold, focused. He didn't smile, didn't even acknowledge the assist. He simply turned and set up for the next play. The ball had become an extension of his will, moving as naturally as breathing. He wasn't just passing to create opportunities anymore—he was controlling the game from the shadows, unseen, unpredictable.
The Riverton defense was no match for the invisible force he had become. Every pass, every movement seemed to catch them off guard, like he wasn't even there. The second he released the ball, it was already in his teammate's hands, and the entire team was left chasing ghosts.
The game was slipping away from Riverton, and Ethan was the one pulling the strings, invisible to everyone but his teammates.
The final buzzer echoed through the gym as Ethan's team celebrated their commanding victory. The court was alive with cheers, but Ethan walked off quietly, his mind racing. That game had felt different—he had felt different. The way he moved, passed, and read the court... it all felt sharper, faster, and more natural. Something had shifted within him.
By the time he reached the locker room, the familiar glowing system screen appeared in his vision.
Congratulations!
You have leveled up!
Level 2 → Level 7
Ethan blinked in shock. Five levels. The system had rewarded his incredible performance with a massive leap in progression. His heart raced as he navigated to the stats menu, where his available skill points were displayed: 25 points to distribute.
Current Stats:
Passing: 12/100
Shooting: 10/100
Dribbling: 9/100Speed: 11/100
Blocking: 7/100
Rebounding: 6/100
Stamina: 8/100Strength: 7/100
Dunking: 5/100
Ethan's gaze lingered on his Passing stat. Every time he passed the ball, it felt like magic. His ability to manipulate the court and set up plays had become his signature. He didn't hesitate for long.
"All in," he muttered with a smirk.
He dumped all 25 skill points into Passing.
Updated Stats:
Passing: 12/100 → 37/100
As soon as the points were distributed, a sudden wave of clarity washed over him. It wasn't just his skill that improved; it was as though the game itself had slowed down around him, allowing him to see every opening, every movement of his teammates and opponents before they even happened.
New Skill Unlocked:
Precision Playmaker: Passes are not only faster and more accurate but have pinpoint placement, making it nearly impossible for defenders to intercept. Your passes almost seem magnetized to your teammates' hands.
Ethan clenched his fist, a cold determination settling in his chest. Passing wasn't just a skill anymore—it was his weapon.
As the team filed back into the locker room, his teammates patted him on the back, congratulating him on his performance. Ethan quietly threw on his basketball jacket, lost in thought. The system was making him stronger, but he knew it wasn't going to do the work for him.
Later, at Practice
Ethan's passing immediately stood out. In every drill, every scrimmage, his precision was terrifyingly effective. His teammates found themselves catching passes they didn't even know they were ready for, threading through defenders as though guided by some unseen force.
During one scrimmage, Ethan caught the ball at half-court. Without hesitating, he threw a no-look, one-handed pass straight to a teammate cutting through the paint. The ball curved perfectly around a defender's outstretched hands, landing right in his teammate's grip for an easy layup.
"Whoa! What was that?!" one of his teammates shouted.
"Magic," another laughed, shaking their head in disbelief.
Ethan smirked. "Stats don't win games. I don't pass for glory; I pass to break you."
The court went silent for a moment, his words hanging in the air like a challenge. Ethan wasn't just a kid trying to fit in anymore. He was evolving into a player who could control the game, and he was only just beginning.
When Ethan got home that evening, he tossed his bag onto his bedroom floor and collapsed onto his bed. He stared at the ceiling, replaying the events of the day in his mind—the way he dominated the court, the way his teammates looked at him, the surge of confidence he felt. It had been a whirlwind, but now that he was home, he had a chance to slow down.
As he rolled off the bed and headed to his bathroom to freshen up, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror—and froze.
His forearms.
They were... different.
Ethan leaned closer to the mirror, flexing his hands and forearms instinctively. The veins in his arms were faintly visible, and his muscles had a more defined look than he'd ever seen before. His fingers felt stronger, too—he hadn't noticed it during the game, but now it was clear. The stat increase in Passing hadn't just improved his ability to move the ball; it had physically impacted his body.
He turned his hands over, palms up, then down. His grip felt firmer, his fingers more responsive. He could almost feel the power in them, as if his hands were finely tuned instruments now perfectly designed for basketball.
Ethan chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. "This system... it's really changing me," he muttered to himself.
He flexed his arms again, trying to come to terms with the fact that this wasn't his imagination. His hard work and the system's enhancements were making him stronger, in more ways than one. Ethan felt a spark of pride ignite in his chest.
Looking at his reflection, he smiled faintly. "If this is just from passing... what happens when I start leveling everything else?"
The thought sent a chill of excitement through him. He wasn't just becoming a better player—he was becoming someone entirely new.
After grabbing a quick dinner with his parents, Ethan sat on his bed, staring at the system's glowing menu hovering in front of him. He could feel the pull of the possibilities, the potential for greatness just within his reach. He clenched his stronger hands into fists.
Tomorrow, he'd push himself even harder. The team, the coach, and the rival schools—they hadn't seen anything yet.
After finishing his dinner, Ethan retreated to his room and shut the door behind him. He tossed his basketball jacket onto his chair, sat on the edge of his bed, and pulled up the system menu with a simple thought.
The glowing interface appeared in his vision once again, as crisp and clear as if it were a hologram projected in front of him. His fingers twitched instinctively, even though he didn't need to touch anything to navigate.
This time, instead of just glancing at his stats or skills, Ethan decided to explore the system in-depth.
SYSTEM MENU
StatsSkillsQuestsShop (Locked)AchievementsInventoryTraining ModeProgression Tracker
Ethan's eyes widened at the breadth of options. He started at the Quests tab, curious to see what challenges awaited him.
Quests:
Daily Training:
Complete 30 minutes of ball-handling drills (Progress: Complete)Perform 10 accurate passes in practice or game situations (Progress: Complete)Run 2 miles (Progress: Incomplete)Reward: +1 Stat Point
Milestone Quests:
Execute 50 successful passes in competitive games. (Progress: 14/50)Score your first points in a competitive game. (Progress: 0/1)Win a game against a rival school. (Progress: 1/1) [COMPLETED!]Reward: +10 Stat Points
Ethan smirked as he saw the last quest already completed. "Guess that practice game wasn't just for show."
Next, he shifted over to Skills. His current active skills were displayed, with descriptions and even progress bars that hinted at upgrades.
Skills:
Precision Playmaker (Active):
Your passes are magnetically accurate and nearly impossible to intercept.Progress to Next Level: 24/100 successful passes.
??? (Locked):
Uncover hidden abilities as you develop your stats.
Misdirection Presence (Passive):
Borrowed from the art of invisibility on the court, your movements become harder for opponents to track, allowing you to slip through defenses unnoticed.Progress to Next Level: 11/50 effective uses.
He lingered for a moment on the Shop (Locked) tab, curiosity tugging at him. "What could a shop even offer? Gear? Boosts? New skills?" The thought made him grin, but the faint lock icon next to it told him it wasn't something he could unlock yet.
Moving to the Achievements tab, Ethan noticed a growing list of milestones he had already completed:
Achievements:
First Game, First Victory: Participate in your first competitive game and secure a win.Reward: +2 Stat PointsEyes on the Court: Execute your first perfect pass.Reward: +1 Stat PointBench to MVP (In Progress): Prove yourself as an indispensable player on your team.
The Progression Tracker was equally fascinating. It showed graphs of his stats and skills, charting his growth since the system had activated. Ethan noticed how sharply his Passing stat had climbed in just a short time, and it filled him with pride.
Finally, he opened Training Mode.
"Let's see what this does," Ethan muttered.
A glowing menu materialized:
Training Options:
Ball Handling DrillsPassing Accuracy SimulationSpeed and Agility TrainingCustom Drills (Locked)
Curiosity sparked, Ethan selected Passing Accuracy Simulation. Instantly, the system generated a virtual court in his mind's eye, with glowing targets scattered around. The objective was simple: hit the targets as they moved around the court, increasing in speed and difficulty.
For the next 10 minutes, Ethan worked through the simulation, his focus unwavering. When he finally finished, he was drenched in sweat, his chest heaving.
Results:
Accuracy: 89%Speed: B+Completion Time: 2:47
Reward: +1 Stat Point
Ethan wiped his brow and smiled. "This system really isn't messing around."
He exited the menu, laying back on his bed and staring at the ceiling, the potential of everything he'd just seen buzzing in his mind. This wasn't just a tool—it was his key to becoming the player he'd always dreamed of being.
Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.