[Intermediate Basketball Skills Are Rewarded!]
[+5 Affection Rewarded After Completion]
A sudden surge of energy coursed through Noah's body. He felt a flood of knowledge and muscle memory embed itself into his mind and limbs—the perfect shooting form, precise dribbling techniques, strategic playmaking, and an acute awareness of the court's dynamics.
It was as if years of intense basketball training had been compressed and injected into him in a single instant. He felt that he was at the same level as Lebron, Jordan and Akashi.
Noah rolled his shoulders, feeling the newfound agility and confidence settling into place. He looked back at Mark, a calm yet intimidating smile forming on his lips. "We'll see who gets humiliated today," he replied coolly.
Mark scoffed, dribbling the ball arrogantly as he signalled for his teammates to spread out. The spectators around the court sensed the brewing rivalry and began to pay closer attention, murmurs of anticipation rippling through the crowd.
The game kicked off with Mark's team advancing aggressively. Mark attempted a swift drive towards the basket, confident in his ability to overpower Noah.
But as he lunged forward, Noah matched his speed effortlessly, positioning himself perfectly to block Mark's path.
Surprised by Noah's sudden agility, Mark hesitated for a split second—a moment Noah seized without mercy. With lightning-fast reflexes, Noah swiped at the ball, stealing it cleanly from Mark's grasp.
The crowd erupted in surprised cheers as Noah sprinted down the court, dribbling with remarkable control.
Aiden, eyes wide at his friend's unexpected skill, rushed forward to support. Noah feinted a pass to Aiden, causing one of the opposing defenders to commit, before crossing over and cutting towards the hoop. With a powerful leap, he executed a flawless layup, the ball swishing through the net with satisfying precision.
"Two points for Noah's team!" Coach William called out, clearly impressed.
Lily at the back, looked at Noah with one of her eyebrows raised. Whilst, Layla was feeling conflicted.
Mark's team took possession of the ball. Noah's earlier display of skill had rattled Mark, and it was clear he was determined to reclaim control of the game.
"Let's see if you can keep up that luck, Noah," Mark sneered as he dribbled the ball, glaring at Noah with barely concealed hostility. "One good play doesn't make you a star."
Noah remained calm, his eyes steady on Mark. "Luck? I don't need luck to handle you."
Mark's expression darkened, and with a burst of speed, he drove towards the basket, determined to push through Noah. But Noah was ready. With impeccable timing, he matched Mark's pace, his enhanced basketball skills making every move feel effortless.
As Mark tried to cut to the left, Noah anticipated the move, and with a quick step, he reached in and stole the ball cleanly.
The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers as Noah sprinted down the court, Mark hot on his heels.
As they approached the basket, Mark tried to block Noah with a desperate lunge, but Noah pulled off a smooth crossover that left Mark off-balance.
Then, in a split second, Noah executed the move that would seal Mark's fate—he performed a sharp crossover, a move so quick and precise that Mark's ankles buckled under the pressure.
Mark stumbled and, to the shock of everyone watching, he fell to the floor, sprawling awkwardly as he tried to regain his balance.
A wave of laughter and gasps rippled through the spectators as Mark hit the ground. Noah paused for a moment, looking down at Mark with a cool, confident smile. The message was clear—Noah had just broken Mark's ankles, both figuratively and literally in basketball terms.
Noah raised his left hand, pointing directly at Mark, then slowly shifted his finger towards the hoop that stood half a court away. The spectators fell silent, their eyes glued to Noah as he squared up for the shot.
With a calm and measured movement, Noah took the shot. The basketball soared through the air in a perfect arc, seeming to hang for a moment as all eyes tracked its path. The entire court held its breath as the ball swished cleanly through the net, a perfect shot from half-court.
The crowd exploded in cheers and chants, the students unable to contain their excitement. They began chanting Noah's name, their voices filling the gym. Even the most indifferent students couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer audacity and skill displayed.
On the sidelines, Lily, who had maintained her usual stoic expression throughout the game, finally showed a flicker of emotion. Her eyes widened in shock, her icy demeanour melting just a bit as she watched Noah with interest that couldn't be concealed.
"Just how much more are you hiding...Noah" she muttered with a low voice.
Mark, still on the ground, looked up at Noah with a mix of disbelief and humiliation. Noah extended a hand as if offering to help him up, but the gesture was more a display of dominance than kindness.
Mark slapped it away, anger flaring in his eyes, but there was nothing he could say. The scoreboard, the chanting students, and the stunned silence of his teammates said it all.
Noah simply shrugged, clearly unbothered by Mark's reaction. He simply offered his hand to make everyone think that he is the nice guy, he doesn't want to be the villain after humiliating Mark. Furthermore, he knew that Mark wouldn't accept his hand so that would further damage Mark's reputation of being a sore loser.
As the game neared its final moments, the scoreboard displayed a crushing lead: 20-0. There were only 30 seconds left, and Mark's frustration was visible. His teammates could see it too.
Mark's grip tightened on the ball, and his jaw clenched as he stared at Noah, who was standing confidently across from him. "I'm not letting you walk away with this," Mark growled under his breath, his eyes burning with determination.
"You've already lost, Mark," Noah replied coolly, his voice steady. "But if you want to embarrass yourself further, be my guest."
Ignoring the warning, Mark charged forward, desperate to push through Noah and salvage some pride. But before he could make his move, his friends rushed over, grabbing his arms to calm him down.
"Mark, stop!" one of them urged. "You're playing right into his hands. He wants you to lose control!"
"Pass the ball, man!" another friend insisted, his voice pleading. "We can still save face here."
For a brief moment, Mark hesitated, his anger wavering as he looked at his teammates. With a deep breath, he nodded and reluctantly passed the ball to a teammate.
But Noah was already two steps ahead. As soon as the ball left Mark's hands, Noah read the play like an open book. He lunged forward, intercepting the pass with lightning speed. The gym erupted in gasps as Noah stole the ball, and Mark's face twisted in frustration.
"Damn it!" Mark cursed under his breath, his face flushed with anger. His teammates quickly scrambled to get back on defence, sprinting towards their hoop.
Noah glanced up, seeing them all clustered under the basket, ready to block any attempt he made. A sly grin spread across his face as he dribbled down the court, his eyes locked on the hoop.
"You're not getting past us this time!" Mark shouted as he and his teammates braced themselves, determined to stop Noah at all costs.
But Noah had something else in mind. He accelerated, his movements fluid and unstoppable, and then, as he approached the three-point line, he made his move.
With a burst of power, Noah leapt into the air, defying gravity with a single, explosive jump.
The gym fell silent as everyone watched in awe. Noah soared toward the hoop, his body arcing gracefully through the air, and with one arm outstretched, he slammed the ball down with such force that it rattled the entire backboard.
Mark and his friends tried to meet Noah in mid-air, jumping to block the dunk, but it was futile. The sheer power of Noah's leap sent them crashing to the floor, sprawled out beneath him as he hung from the rim with one hand, a triumphant smirk on his face.
The ball dropped through the net with a resounding swish, and the gym erupted in chaos. Cheers, shouts, and chants filled the air as the spectators went wild, the excitement reaching a fever pitch. Noah's teammates rushed toward him, their faces lit up with disbelief and admiration.
Even Lily, couldn't hide her astonishment. Her eyes widened, and a genuine expression of shock crossed her face as she watched Noah, who was still hanging from the rim, basking in the moment.
Mark and his friends struggled to their feet, their faces a mix of humiliation and disbelief. They looked up at Noah, who finally released the rim and landed lightly on his feet, his eyes meeting Mark's with a confident, almost pitying smile.
"Game over," Noah said quietly, the finality of his words hanging in the air as the scoreboard flashed 22-0.
The coach blew the final whistle, signalling the end of the game. The gym buzzed with energy, and the students couldn't stop talking about Noah's performance.
As his teammates crowded around him, celebrating, Noah's gaze remained fixed on Mark, whose expression was a mix of defeat, embarrassment and simmering hatred.
[Ding! +5 Affection From Lily Rewarded!]
[Lily's Affection: 60/100]
In the background between other students, Layla was standing dazed.
"How..." Layla thought.
She thought she knew Noah very well, but it seemed like they were really strangers like he said.