Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The gym quieted as the rules were finalized.

Jet held a basketball in his hands, stepping into the center of the court as the referee. Kai and Caishen squared off. Their stances were quite different—Kai appeared relaxed while Caishen was tensed.

Lina shook her head. "Go easy on him, Kai," she muttered, though there was no use since he couldn't hear her anymore.

Kai rolled his shoulders, flinching when he felt the soreness. Nonetheless, he was excited.

It had been a while since he'd played a casual game, just for fun.

Lately, every match felt like a lot was at stake. But here, in this gym filled with familiar faces, he could loosen up. Aside from that, he wanted to see if this game would impact his system in any way. His 'Black Hole' level was stuck at the number 24, and he still had no idea what it meant since the system had not clarified the progression system since it appeared.

He smiled to himself.

Let's see what I can do now.

Jet tossed the ball up for the tip-off, and both players leaped for it. Caishen's jump was explosive, his hand brushing the ball first, and he tapped it to himself, securing possession. The small crowd erupted in cheers as he dribbled toward the half-court line.

Kai didn't immediately rush him. Instead, he took a step back, hovering him slightly.

It was something he always did when playing with someone new—observe, analyze, and adapt.

Caishen was fast, no doubt about that, but Kai noticed a rookie mistake. He's showing his cards off too early.

Caishen drove forward, baring his style completely as he attempted to size Kai up. Kai stayed rooted, following Caishen's movements.

Then, Caishen surprised him.

He went for a two-pointer, stopping abruptly near the free-throw line, and dribbled three times toward the ring before going in for a dunk. The sound of the ball slamming through the hoop echoed through the gym, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

Kai raised an eyebrow, impressed. Caishen's jump was powerful, and his form didn't lack foundation. The younger player definitely had talent, and Kai could tell he had worked hard to develop it.

"Not bad," he whispered, nodding to himself.

In fact, if Kai compared his current opponent to his own self just a year ago, there might've been some truth to what Lina had said. Caishen was better than Kai had been when he started out.

But hey, who said that Kai was the same player from the past?

As Kai dribbled the ball, he heard the discussions from the other students on the bleachers.

"Caishen might actually be better than Kai!"

"Did you see that dunk? It was insane!"

"Maybe Kai has finally met his match."

Kai found the comments amusing. He smirked slightly, catching Caishen's eye. Kai could see that his confidence had soared—which worked perfectly for him.

Kai picked up the ball, stepping back to the three-point line. The crowd hushed, leaning forward in anticipation.

He took his time, letting the moment stretch before rising for the shot. The ball arced perfectly through the air, swishing cleanly through the net.

"Three," Kai said simply, his voice cutting through the silence.

The students cheered, and Caishen narrowed his eyes, stepping up to return the challenge.

He attempted a three-pointer of his own, but his shot hit the rim and bounced out. Caishen's eyebrows raised. That was supposed to go in!

Kai snatched the rebound with ease.

"Close," Kai said, dribbling back to the three-point line. "But not close enough."

Without hesitation, he launched another shot. This one was even cleaner than the first. The net barely moved as it dropped in.

"Six," Kai said, the ache in his body dulling now.

The crowd cheered louder, fueled by Kai's effortless display. Caishen scowled, feeling humiliated. He grabbed the ball, dribbling quickly toward the three-point line for another attempt.

This time, his form wasn't the best due to his frustration. The ball hit the backboard with a loud clang and bounced away. Kai caught it again, spinning the ball on his fingertip as he glanced at Caishen.

"Two misses in a row?" Kai teased lightly. "You're not making this very fun for me."

Caishen gritted his teeth, determined to prove himself. But before he could say anything, Kai was already setting up his next shot. The ball left his hands and sailed through the air.

Swish.

"Nine," Kai said.

The crowd was stunned now, wondering how someone could shoot three consecutive three-pointers without any trouble. Some of the students in the bleachers were on their feet, shouting Kai's name.

"Did you see that? He's unreal!"

"He's like the Flash out there. I can't even see his movements."

"No wonder he's a world champion!"

Kai smirked, enjoying the energy of the room but keeping his focus on the game. Caishen, on the other hand, was flustered. His third attempt at a three-pointer was rushed, and the ball barely grazed the rim before bouncing out.

Caishen's face hardened, but Kai could see the doubt in his eyes.

'Poor kid,' he thought. However, he also thought that this was something he needed to experience. Based on his teammates' stories, Caishen had been giving them a hard time. Better tame him now before he becomes a rogue!

Kai dribbled the ball slowly as he approached the three-point line again. But this time, instead of taking the shot, he switched up his strategy. He drove toward the hoop, his speed catching Caishen off guard.

Caishen reacted instinctively, stepping into Kai's path to block him. With a subtle shift in his movements, he baited Caishen into making contact, drawing the foul.

The whistle blew, and Jet signaled the foul with a raised hand.

Kai grinned as he walked to the free-throw line. "Rookie mistake," he said, glancing at Caishen.

The gym fell silent again as Kai lined up his shot. He bounced the ball twice, his gaze focused on the hoop. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the ball sailed through the air.

"Ten," Kai concluded.

The crowd erupted into cheers, the noise almost deafening as the students celebrated his victory. Kai turned to Caishen, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

"Do I still have to shoot the other one?"