Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Kai sighed as he walked back to the dorm. The sky had long since darkened, and it was clear with the view of the stars. As he walked through the concrete pathways, the street lights illuminated one by one, triggered by his movement.@@novelbin@@

He had every intention of heading straight to his room, collapsing on his bed, and calling it a night.

But as he rounded a corner, something caught his eye—one of the outdoor basketball courts, deserted and illuminated with bright, white lights. The metal fence around it was new, appearing polished and well-taken care of. The facility really took care of its amenities, and it showed.

Kai's steps faltered, and then he came to a stop. There were a few basketballs resting by the side of the court, just waiting to be picked up and put to use. He stood there for a moment, torn between his exhaustion and the irresistible pull of the court.

"Eh, whatever," he muttered. He was never too tired to play basketball anyway.

Before he knew it, Kai found himself walking through the gate and onto the court. The cool night air brushed against his skin, waking him up just enough to feel the familiar rush of adrenaline. He grabbed one of the basketballs, the leather warm and worn beneath his fingers.

He started with a simple dribble, getting a feel for the ball. The sound echoed in the quiet night.

"It's time to put my skills into practice," he muttered.

Simple fake.

He took a breath and made a quick sidestep, faking out an imaginary opponent. It was one of his earlier skills, and now, it is as easy as breathing for him.

Without missing a beat, he launched into his next move.

Quantum leap.

He drove toward the hoop, his feet light and quick. As he neared the basket, he executed a high jump.

[The player can jump higher than 89% of basketball players.]

He smiled when he saw that the percentage he had surpassed had increased. The fact he was in the top 11% of basketball players when it came to jumping was already a big deal.

Kai landed softly, his feet touching the ground without making much of a sound.

The ball entered through the hoop, and before it could touch the ground, he had already caught it with his hands. He landed on the ground once more, unwavering. He didn't move despite the hasty landing, his legs absorbing the impact.

Anchor stance.

He was ready to execute another imaginary play after he caught the ball. He imagined a defender right in front of him, blocking his path. But that wasn't going to stop him. He executed the Phantom Step, his body moving so fast it seemed to blur, leaving his opponent grasping at thin air.

Kai reappeared near the basket, the ball still firmly in his grasp. The Sticky Hands technique was something he had honed to perfection for the past few days. It appeared like the ball was already an extension of his own body. It never left his hands despite the complexity of his moves.

He finished with a powerful dunk, the ball slamming through the hoop. The rim rattled from its force, and the entire backboard was shaking in response. Kai hung there for a moment, letting the rush of adrenaline course through his veins. He dropped down to the ground, the echo of the dunk still ringing in his ears.

For a moment, he just stood there, catching his breath. The night was silent once more, the only sound the steady thump of the ball as it bounced away.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He already felt much better than before.

That was right.

He liked Lina a lot, probably more than he had expected.

However, he has yet to prove himself.

He still had a long way to go.

**

Inside the gym, the younger basketball players tried to show off. However, after Jian showed such a spectacular play, their tricks all seemed lackluster.

"Crap," Renren muttered. "I really want to take a photo with him. He's the best player I've seen in real life. I have a hunch that he'll be very famous one day." Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

"Even the professional team we've played with doesn't compare to him," Jinping said. "It's almost as if he isn't in our league."

"But he is," Yuze said. "We have no choice but to face him."

"Like I said, that is if the team even goes as far as the finals," Shang chimed.

Jet slapped the back of his head. "That's the second time you've said that. Don't you believe in our team?"

"I do," Shang said. "As far as I know, you guys are already the best team in Jilin despite only finishing at second place. However, this is the entire country we're talking about. Jian is only one of the monsters you guys have to face."

Yuze clicked his tongue. "Let's not discuss this for now."

Andy nodded. "I just want to see more. Do you think he's going to show some moves again?"

"I hope so," Renren muttered.

The younger players went to where Chaoxing was, their eyes wide with hope.

Chaoxing stopped mid-drink and looked at them with curiosity.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Please, can we play with Jian senior even for a minute?" one of the younger players pleaded.

Chaoxing chuckled at the enthusiasm, shaking his head in amusement. "Jian rarely plays in events like this, though."

"So many people want to watch him," another young player said.

"Alright, alright. I'll talk to him," Chaoxing said, turning to look for Jian.

But when Chaoxing turned around, he saw that the bench was now empty.

Jian was gone.

His smile faltered as he scanned the court, the gym, the sidelines—anywhere Jian could have slipped off to.

"What? Where did he go?" Chaoxing muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.

Then, he chuckled in amusement.

"That guy, really," he whispered.

Meanwhile, the other speculated where Jian might have gone.

Yuze froze in surprise. "Did anyone see him leave?"

The others shook their heads, causing the captain to sigh.

"A person with such a huge presence just slipped off like nothing?"