Chapter 15: THE F*CK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
[Score Update:]
Orlando Hoops – 71
Vorpal Basket – 54
3rd Quarter – 3 Minutes Left
The gym was filled with the deafening sound of sneakers screeching, the rhythmic pounding of the ball, and the roaring cheers from the Orlando crowd. The energy of the game had shifted, but Vorpal Basket was still gasping for air.
Ethan Albarado hunched over, his hands gripping his knees as sweat dripped from his chin. His chest heaved, lungs burning as he lifted his gaze toward the scoreboard.
Seventeen points.
They were still down by seventeen.
"F*CK."
His breath came out shaky as he turned his head, scanning his teammates.
Lucas Graves was bent over, panting hard, his golden eyes flickering with exhaustion. Evan Cooper had his hands on his hips, beads of sweat rolling down his face. Brandon Young leaned against the post, shaking out his arms. Ryan Taylor slumped against the bench, barely keeping himself upright.
"(WE'RE RUNNING ON FUMES… WE CAN'T KEEP THIS UP.)"
Ethan wiped the sweat off his forehead, his mind racing.
He needed a plan.
Something. Anything.
Before he could act, a soft chime rang in his head.
DING!
A translucent screen flashed in his vision.
[Quest Completed:] Stay in the 3rd Quarter for 5 Minutes]
Reward: 200 Shop Points | 100 Upgrade Points
Ethan's heart pounded.
"(SYSTEM! OPEN UP!)"
A glowing screen expanded before him—its information streaming directly into his mind.
[Basketball Power System]
Name: Ethan Albarado
Level: Rookie
Upgrade Points (UP): 100
Shop Points (SP): 300
[Core Attributes]
[Offensive Attributes:]
Shooting Accuracy: 11Layup Skill: 4Dunk Skill: 3Dribbling Skill: 14Passing Skill: 5
[Defensive Attributes:]
Defense: 3Blocking Ability: 3Steal Skill: 4
[Physical Attributes:]
Stamina: 4Endurance: 4Speed: 9 (Base: 4 | +5 Upgraded)
[Skills]
Basic Power Shot – Standard shooting with average accuracy.Basic Precision Pass – Enhances accuracy in simple passes.Basic Dribble – Fundamental ball-handling skills.Magic Johnson Passing Vision (Intermediate Level) – Significantly improves court vision and playmaking.Playmaker's Vision (Advanced) – Upgrades passing accuracy, decision-making, and assists, making teammates more effective.
Ethan exhaled sharply.
"(I HAVE 100 UPGRADE POINTS AND 300 SHOP POINTS NOW…)"
He quickly navigated to the Shop Skills tab, scrolling down.
[Shop Skills Available]
Jordan Shooting Form – 1000 SPEffect: Significantly increases shooting accuracy.Kobe Shooting Form – 1000 SPEffect: Enhances mid-range and long-range shooting.
More…
"(SH*T, TOO EXPENSIVE. I CAN'T AFFORD THOSE YET.)"
His fingers twitched as he switched to the Shop Cards section.
[Shop Cards]
Boost Cards – Temporary enhancements for attributes or skills.
Speed Boost Card (+2 Speed for 5 minutes) – 200 SPShooting Accuracy Card (+3 Shooting Accuracy for 5 minutes) – 200 SP
Team Cards – Cards that provide boosts when used with teammates.
Team Synergy Card (Boosts all teammates' attributes by +1 for 10 minutes) – 300 SPDefense Coordinator Card (Improves team defense for 10 minutes) – 300 SP
Ethan's fingers hovered over the selections.
"(THIS IS IT. THIS IS HOW WE FLIP THIS GAME.)"
His mind worked at lightning speed.
He needed speed to break free of Orlando's suffocating defense.
He needed accuracy to ensure every shot counted.
And most importantly—he needed his team to stay in the fight.
His thumb moved—
Just as the referee's whistle shrieked through the gym.
BZZZZZT!
Timeout – Vorpal Basket.
Ethan's head snapped up.
The noise of the gym faded as his eyes locked onto the bench.
Coach Fred Mason, drenched in sweat—not from playing, but from stress—stood there, waving his hand. His face was twisted in a pathetic attempt to look in control.
The murmurs in the crowd filled the gym as the players dragged themselves toward the huddle.
Ethan took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders.
"(I KNOW WHAT TO DO.)"
This game wasn't over.
Not yet.
…..
The locker room was filled with heavy, ragged breathing, the scent of sweat thick in the air. The players of Vorpal Basket sat slumped against benches, their jerseys clinging to their skin, their bodies aching from the relentless pace of the game.
Despite the exhaustion, despite the overwhelming score gap—there was still a flicker of hope in their eyes.
Then—Coach Fred Mason opened his mouth.
"Alright, boys!" he bellowed, wiping the sweat off his greasy forehead. His voice carried a forced confidence, the kind that made Ethan's stomach churn. "We're almost there! We can catch up to them if we keep this momentum!"
The locker room fell silent.
Ethan Albarado, still gripping a towel around his neck, slowly lifted his head.
"Almost there?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was sharp enough to cut through the room.
Coach Fred blinked, his smug smile twitching slightly.
"What was that, Albarado?"
Ethan stood up, his piercing blue eyes locking onto the coach's.
The room grew colder.
"THE F*CK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
The entire team tensed.
Coach Fred's smile vanished. "E-Excuse me?"
Ethan took a step forward.
"I SAID—THE F*CK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!"
His voice boomed in the small room, making some of the players flinch.
Fred Mason's eyes darted around, trying to maintain some semblance of control. "H-How dare you talk to me like that! I'm the coach—"
Ethan didn't let him finish.
In an instant, his hand shot out, gripping the front of Mason's shirt.
The air in the locker room froze.
Every player's breath hitched as Ethan yanked the coach forward, their faces only inches apart.
Fred Mason's body went rigid. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he stared into Ethan's blazing blue eyes.
"Listen to me, you pig—" Ethan's voice was low, seething, dripping with venom. "DON'T FCKING YAP ABOUT YOUR COACH BADGE LIKE IT MEANS SHT. OR ELSE—"
Fred Mason gulped.
His round face paled. His hands trembled.
Because he knew.
Ethan had the evidence.
The missing team funds. The stolen sponsorship money.
If that information got out—his career was over.
Silence suffocated the room.
No one dared to move.
Lucas Graves, who had been watching from his seat, clenched his fists.
His golden eyes darted between Ethan and Mason. He could feel the tension crackling in the air, thick and suffocating.
This isn't good.
Evan Cooper, the team captain, finally took a step forward.
He gently grabbed Ethan's wrist—the one still gripping Mason's shirt.
"Ethan…" His voice was calm, yet firm.
Ethan's grip tightened for just a second. His jaw clenched.
Then—he exhaled sharply.
Slowly, he let go, shoving Coach Fred backward.
Mason stumbled, gasping slightly, his hands clutching his chest.
The entire team watched in stunned silence.
Ethan rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck.
Then—he smirked.
"I HAVE A PLAN."
The locker room stilled.
Lucas blinked, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
Coonie Smith, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow.
Ryan Taylor straightened up.
Evan let out a breath and nodded.
For the first time since the game started—there was hope.
Ethan clenched his fists.
"(THIS IS IT. THIS IS HOW WE TURN THIS GAME AROUND.)"
...
The locker room was still tense, the weight of Ethan's confrontation with Coach Mason lingering in the air.
But the moment Ethan uttered those words—"I HAVE A PLAN."—something changed.
Everyone in the room felt it.
The shift.
The possibility.
The hope.
Evan Cooper was the first to break the silence.
"So what's the plan?" he asked, his voice steady but eager.
Lucas Graves, sitting on the bench, wiped the sweat from his forehead. He nodded, golden eyes now locked onto Ethan.
Ethan didn't respond immediately.
Instead—he turned his gaze towards the starting lineup.
Evan Cooper. Ryan Taylor. Brandon Young. Lucas Graves.
Then—he turned to the bench.
Coonie Smith. The other bench players.
The guys who barely got any playing time. The guys who were treated as afterthoughts.
The underestimated.
Then—Ethan's piercing blue eyes flicked toward Coach Fred Mason.
The so-called coach who had done nothing but hold them back.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Then—he closed his eyes.
"(SYSTEM, SCAN ALL BENCH PLAYERS. SHOW ME THEIR STATS.)"
A soft ding echoed in his mind.
Then—
[SCANNING…]
A translucent blue window flickered before his eyes. Only he could see it.
Then—the results appeared.
[BENCH PLAYER STATUS SCAN]
Coonie Smith – Point Guard / Shooting Guard
Offensive Attributes:
Shooting Accuracy: 5 (Inconsistent shooter, can make open shots but struggles under pressure.)
Layup Skill: 3 (Limited finishing ability, often gets blocked or misses tough shots.)
Dunk Skill: 1 (Not a dunker, barely gets off the ground.)
Dribbling Skill: 5 (Decent ball control but struggles against aggressive defenders.)
Passing Skill: 4 (Can make basic passes but lacks vision for advanced playmaking.)
Defensive Attributes:
Defense: 4 (Effort is there, but struggles against faster or stronger guards.)
Blocking Ability: 2 (Rarely blocks shots due to lack of size and vertical leap.)
Steal Skill: 5 (Decent at poking the ball loose but gambles too much.)
Physical Attributes:
Stamina: 4 (Can play for short bursts but tires quickly.)
Endurance: 4 (Struggles to maintain energy in fast-paced games.)
Speed: 5 (Has average quickness, but not fast enough to blow by defenders.)
Skills:
Basic Three-Point Shooting – Can hit shots when open, but consistency is an issue.
Defensive Hustle – Tries to stay active on defense but lacks strength to guard top players.
Jeremy Park – Power Forward
Offensive Attributes:
Shooting Accuracy: 4
Layup Skill: 4
Dunk Skill: 3
Dribbling Skill: 2
Passing Skill: 2
Defensive Attributes:
Defense: 4
Blocking Ability: 5
Steal Skill: 3
Physical Attributes:
Stamina: 5
Endurance: 5
Speed: 4
Skills:
Basic Post Defense – Decent at contesting shots but gets bullied by stronger opponents.
Box-Out Specialist – Can secure rebounds but struggles against taller or more aggressive players.
Second-Chance Finisher – Finishes putbacks but lacks finesse.
Kai Mendoza – Small Forward
Offensive Attributes:
Shooting Accuracy: 4
Layup Skill: 3
Dunk Skill: 2
Dribbling Skill: 4
Passing Skill: 3
Defensive Attributes:
Defense: 4
Blocking Ability: 2
Steal Skill: 4
Physical Attributes:
Stamina: 4
Endurance: 4
Speed: 5
Skills:
Basic Mid-Range Shot – Can hit mid-range shots but struggles under pressure.
Fast Break Runner – Decent in transition but lacks finishing ability.
Coonie Smith. Jeremy Park. Kai Mendoza.
Their stats? Mediocre.
Weak shooting. Limited finishing. No elite defense.
They weren't built to compete against monsters like Alec Storm or Jaxon Wells.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"(THEY WERE WEAK. I CAN TELL.)"
His blue eyes burned with focus as he stared at the names before him.
They weren't flashy.
They weren't stars.
But—
"(I CAN MAKE THEM GOOD.)"
His gaze shifted.
In the corner of the screen—
The Shop.
Ethan clicked on it mentally.
A new window opened.
...
[SHOP CARDS]
Boost Cards: Temporary enhancements for attributes or skills.
Speed Boost Card (+2 Speed for 5 minutes) – 50 SPShooting Accuracy Card (+3 Shooting Accuracy for 5 minutes) – 50 SPDefense Boost Card (+2 Defense for 5 minutes) – 50 SP
Team Cards: Cards that provide boosts when used with teammates.
Team Synergy Card (Boosts all teammates' attributes by +1 for 10 minutes) – 200 SPDefense Coordinator Card (Improves team defense for 10 minutes) – 200 SP
.....
Ethan's fingers tightened into a fist.
He had 300 SP.
Enough to buy one big upgrade or several smaller boosts.
He could use it on himself.
Make his own stats better.
Or—
He could do something else.
His eyes shifted toward the bench.
Coonie was rubbing his wrists, rolling his shoulders.
Jeremy was stretching, cracking his neck.
Kai was bouncing slightly on his toes, trying to stay warm.
They weren't expecting to play.
They weren't expecting to be needed.
"(I NEED TO MAKE OUR STARTERS REST FOR NOW… SO THAT THEY CAN PLAY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, PRESERVING THEIR ENERGY.)"
Ethan inhaled deeply.
Then—he made his decision.
His fingers moved in his mind, selecting the cards.
Purchase: Team Synergy Card – 200 SP.
Purchase: Defense Boost Card – 50 SP.
Purchase: Shooting Accuracy Card – 50 SP.
[CONFIRMED.]
DING.
A new notification appeared.
[TEAM SYNERGY CARD ACTIVATED.]
[ALL BENCH PLAYERS' ATTRIBUTES +1 FOR 10 MINUTES.]
[DEFENSE BOOST CARD ACTIVATED.]
[COONIE, JEREMY, AND KAI +2 DEFENSE FOR 5 MINUTES.]
[SHOOTING ACCURACY CARD ACTIVATED.]
[COONIE SMITH +3 SHOOTING ACCURACY FOR 5 MINUTES.]
Ethan's lips curled into a smirk.
The bench players' stats weren't special.
But now?
They were good enough.
He closed the system window.
Then—he spoke.
"COACH."
Coach Fred Mason flinched, looking at Ethan with clear fear.
The entire team turned toward him.
Lucas, Evan, Brandon, Ryan—everyone was watching.
Ethan exhaled.
Then, his next words shook the entire locker room.
"SUB OUT THE STARTERS."
Silence.
Dead silence.
Then—
"WHAT!?"
Evan's head snapped toward him.
Lucas blinked in shock.
Even Coonie, who had been drinking water, nearly choked.
Ryan narrowed his eyes. "You want us to sit?"
Ethan nodded. "For now."
Coach Mason blinked in confusion. "What kind of bullshit are you saying, Albarado? You want to sub in the benchwarmers!?"
Coonie scowled. "Hey, watch your mouth, fatass."
Ethan didn't even look at Mason.
Instead, he turned toward Evan.
"Trust me. We need you guys fresh for the fourth quarter."
Evan hesitated.
Lucas scratch his head, said confused. "You think the bench can hold up against Orlando?"
Ethan smirked.
"They won't just hold up. They'll buy us time."
Coonie's eyes lit up.
Jeremy cracked his knuckles. "Tch. About time."
Kai grinned. "Let's see what we can do."
Coach Mason, still looking unsure, gulped.
He knew he couldn't argue with Ethan.
Not when Ethan still had leverage over him.
Finally—he let out a sigh.
"Fine. Smith, Mendoza, Park. You're in."
The bench was stepping onto the court.
And the game—
was about to change.
To be continue