The quarter continued, and it felt more like a battlefield than a basketball court.
Sweat poured from every player, their chests heaving with exhaustion, but the intensity in their eyes remained unbroken.
The score gap sat at eight points now, favoring the Shizi Dogs. The Champions looked like they were on the verge of collapse. And at the center of it all was Jian, standing still, frozen in time, while the world moved around him.
Chaoxing glanced at Jian, his face lined with concern. "Jian, we need you!" he shouted, but his voice felt distant, drowned out by the roaring crowd.
On the sidelines, Jian's parents watched with a mix of worry and disbelief. His mother's hands were clasped together, knuckles white from the tension. "He's giving it his all," she murmured. "He's actually trying."
