Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

With only two minutes left on the clock, the tension in the arena was unbearable.

The gap stood at just four points, with the Shizi Dogs barely clinging to their lead.@@novelbin@@

The Guardians had also been relentless, and now, as the game neared its end, the pressure mounted on both teams.

On the bench, Rui sat restless, watching every movement on the court with growing anxiety.

He still couldn't shake off what Fang had told him during half-time.

"Out of the team," he muttered, not caring about the game anymore but for his future.

With Kaiden out of the equation, he was able to become the Huolan Guardians' waterboy. Huolan High was his dream school. It always has been; but he didn't have any redeeming qualities.

His cousin, however, was smart despite his lack of a support system, so he was able to make it in. After his death, he was able to get in with a scholarship for being a waterboy.

However, Fang had just told him he was out of the team, and even though Fang wasn't the coach or even the captain, he still held the most influence on the team and the entire school.

And when Fang said something, he meant it, so deep down, Rui knew he was fucked.

"Is this what I get?" he muttered, feeling like everything he did in the past came crashing to him. Was he going to help with their chicken place for the rest of his life?

Meanwhile, on the court, the Huolan Guardians began to feel frustrated—their plays becoming sloppy, and their rhythm faltering.

Fang was the most frustrated out of all of them, with his thoughts running at a million miles per minute.

Was this it? Was he not as good as he thought?

Fang gritted his teeth.

No. He can't give up now.

His parents' words echoed in his mind, the promise that haunted him. He longed for them to see him, to hear them say he had done a great job, but they hadn't watched a single game this season.

Not one.

From the stands, the fans could see it—the growing desperation in Fang's movements. Every play he made seemed driven by something deeper than just the game. It was a fight for something that had been withheld from him for too long.

Kai shook his head from across the court, his expression unreadable as he glanced at Fang. He had seen that look before—the wild eyes, the frantic movements. Desperation made players reckless.

Yuze got the ball, pushing through the pain that wracked his body. His breaths were shallow, his vision blurred, but he wasn't going to let the pain stop him now.

Coach Muchen bit his lip from the bench, wondering if this was okay—to watch a young player throw his future away. However, Yuze seemed deadset on it, and although Muchen was older, Yuze was more desperate.

"One more," Yuze muttered as he turned to drive forward. However, his knee gave way for a second.

Muchen stood from the bench, looking over, worried. Shang and Lina glanced at him with questioning eyes.

Fang, eyes wide with opportunity, swooped in and stole the ball, darting down the court like a starved man. The crowd roared as Fang leaped into the air, slamming the ball through the hoop with a powerful dunk.

81-81.

With just one minute left on the clock, the game was back to a tie.

It could be anyone's game now.

The arena erupted in chaos. Both teams were on edge, adrenaline coursing through their veins. The Shizi Dogs were shaken, their earlier confidence replaced with a creeping sense of dread.

Andy's hands trembled as he took the ball. His nerves were shot, and it showed. The usually steady shooter fumbled as he dribbled, his fingers betraying him at the worst possible moment. The crowd gasped as the ball slipped from his grasp, bouncing awkwardly away from him. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

"Ooh! He misses the shot at the most important moment!" Hailey screamed, but it was drowned by the crowd's exclamations of disappointment.

Fang was on it in an instant.

"Fang grabs the ball!" Kevin's voice cracked with excitement. "He's like a piranha smelling blood in the water!"

Zheng shook his head, now standing. Calvin stood alongside him, biting his nails.

"Crap, this is so fun," he muttered, feeling his love for basketball being fueled once again.

The Guardians' star player moved with ruthless efficiency; the ball almost magnetized to his hands. The Shizi Dogs were scattered, their formation crumbling under the weight of the moment. Fang charged forward, but before he could make his move, Kai cut him off.

Kai moved swiftly, his reflexes sharp, his focus unbreakable. In a blur of motion, he reached out and stole the ball from Fang's grasp. The crowd gasped, stunned by Kai's steal.

"Kai steals the ball! I can't believe it!" Hailey shouted, barely able to keep up with the action. "That was unbelievable!"

"29 seconds!" Kevin yelled. "Just enough time for one more play."

The challenge didn't end there. Jackson, the Guardians' cocky defender, was waiting for Kai. He blocked Kai's path, his body a solid wall of defense. Kai had no clear way forward and no opening to exploit.

The seconds ticked down, and the pressure was suffocating.

Kai's eyes scanned the court, searching for an escape. His teammates were covered, and Jackson was anticipating a pass. Every move seemed blocked; every option cut off. But Kai remained calm, his mind racing, calculating.

With the clock ticking down, Kai made a decision.

He spun, turning his back to Jackson, positioning himself just inside the three-point line. Jackson, anticipating a pass, shifted his weight, ready to intercept. But Kai did something no one expected.

He paused

Then, without looking, without hesitation, Kai threw the ball from behind him.

It soared through the air, a no-look shot that defied belief.

The arena fell silent, everyone holding their breath as the ball arced toward the basket. The only sound was their ragged breaths, the clock ticking down to zero.

The ball hit the rim.

It bounced once.

Twice.

Then it sank through the hoop.

The buzzer sounded.

Kai stood still, his back to the basket, his eyes fixed ahead. He didn't need to see the ball go in.

He already knew.