The tension on the court was palpable. Arjun stood across from Raghav, clutching his racket tightly. Sia watched from the sidelines, curiosity flickering in her eyes. She knew there was something different about Arjun today, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. Meanwhile, Raghav smirked, fully confident that whatever improvement Arjun had made wouldn't be enough to surpass him.
"Let's do this," Raghav said, bouncing the shuttlecock on his racket with ease. He tossed it up and smashed it hard toward Arjun.
The shuttle shot through the air like a bullet, but Arjun's body responded almost before his mind registered the movement. His feet flew across the court, his speed kicking in as he swung his racket with precision. *Thwack!* The shuttle sailed back, fast and sharp.
Raghav's smirk faltered for a second, but he recovered quickly, returning the shot with a vicious backhand. Arjun darted forward, sliding to meet the shuttle just in time. His newfound speed allowed him to cover the court like never before.
The rally continued, faster and fiercer with each hit. Sia's eyes widened as she watched Arjun move with a fluidity she had never seen from him before. It was almost like he was a different player.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of intense exchanges, Arjun saw an opening. He flicked his wrist and sent the shuttle into the far corner of the court, just out of Raghav's reach.
Raghav lunged, but missed by inches. The shuttle hit the ground with a soft *thud*.
Point to Arjun.
For a moment, there was silence on the court. Then, Sia let out a whoop of excitement. "Yes, Arjun! That was incredible!"
Raghav, on the other hand, looked stunned. He wiped sweat from his forehead and stared at Arjun with narrowed eyes. "What the hell happened to you? There's no way you're this good after one night."
Arjun shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Just practiced hard, I guess."
Raghav didn't buy it. He took a step closer, his voice lowering. "You're hiding something. No one improves this fast. What's your secret?"
Arjun's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't tell Raghav—or anyone—about the Phantom Shuttle System. Not yet. It was too strange, too... unreal. He had barely wrapped his own head around it.
"No secret," Arjun said, forcing a smile. "I guess I'm just motivated after yesterday's loss."
Raghav's eyes darkened with suspicion, but before he could press further, Sia jogged over, breaking the tension.
"That was awesome, Arjun! You've really leveled up. I can't wait to see you play in the next tournament," she said, her excitement contagious.
Raghav gave one last glare before turning away. "We'll see who wins next time, Mehra," he muttered under his breath as he walked off the court.
---
### Later that Evening
Arjun couldn't shake the intensity of the day's events. After Raghav's challenge, he and Sia had practiced for a few more hours, but Arjun's thoughts kept drifting back to the system. Phantom remained quiet throughout the day, only occasionally popping up to give small tips or suggestions on improving his game.
When Arjun finally returned home, he collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. The thrill of his newfound speed was still fresh in his mind, but so was the growing pressure. Raghav wasn't going to let this go, and Arjun knew it.
Suddenly, Phantom's voice broke through the silence, echoing in his mind.
"Well done today, Arjun. But you've only scratched the surface of your potential."
Arjun sat up, blinking. "You again... What do you mean? I can already feel the difference. What's next?"
A new screen appeared before him, displaying a list of skills and stats. At the top was his current status:
- **Speed: Level 1**
- **Reflexes: Normal**
- **Stamina: Normal**
- **Endurance: Normal**
And then, below that:
**Next Mission: Improve Reflexes. Defeat an opponent with faster speed and unpredictable shots. Reward: Reflex Enhancement Level 1.**
Arjun frowned. "Faster opponent? How am I supposed to find someone faster than Raghav?"
Phantom's tone remained neutral. "The system will find the right challenge for you. But you must be prepared. Your journey is just beginning."
Before Arjun could ask more questions, the screen faded, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
---
### The Next Day
Arjun and Sia arrived at the local badminton club, ready for another day of practice. The courts were buzzing with activity, players of all levels warming up and engaging in casual matches.
Sia, ever the sharp observer, watched Arjun closely as they warmed up. "You know, there's still something weird about how fast you've improved," she said, squinting at him. "You've always been good, but now you're moving like some kind of... professional."
Arjun tensed but kept his face neutral. "I told you, I've just been pushing myself harder. Maybe I hit my stride."
Sia didn't seem convinced but didn't push further. Instead, she handed him a shuttlecock. "Alright, hotshot. Let's see if you can keep up with me today."
They started their usual drills, but before long, Arjun noticed someone new watching them from across the court. A tall, lanky guy with sharp eyes and a confident smirk. He was leaning against the wall, observing their movements with keen interest.
"Who's that?" Arjun asked, nodding toward the stranger.
Sia glanced over and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that's Kabir Malik. He's one of the top-ranked junior players in the state. Transferred here a few months ago. Heard he's crazy fast on the court."
Arjun's heart skipped a beat. *Faster?* Was this the opponent Phantom had mentioned?
As if on cue, Kabir walked over, his smirk growing wider. "You're Arjun, right? The guy who's been making waves lately. Mind if I join you for a match?"
Arjun felt the challenge in Kabir's tone. He glanced at Sia, who gave him a curious look, and then nodded. "Sure. Let's play."
---
### The Match Begins
From the very first serve, Arjun knew this was going to be different. Kabir moved like lightning, darting across the court with an almost unnatural speed. His shots were fast, precise, and unpredictable, bouncing off the corners with pinpoint accuracy.
Arjun's new speed helped him keep up—barely. But every time he thought he had Kabir cornered, the guy would pull off a shot that left him scrambling. Kabir was fast, but he was also tricky, playing mind games with his unpredictable shot placement.
The rally grew more intense, and sweat dripped from both players as they pushed each other to the limit. Arjun's muscles screamed in protest, but he refused to back down. He could feel the Phantom Shuttle System kicking in, his reactions sharpening with every shot.
Then, in a split second, Kabir smashed the shuttle toward Arjun's left, only to fake it at the last moment and send it flying toward the right corner instead.
Arjun was caught off guard. His body moved on instinct, diving for the shuttle, but he knew he wouldn't make it in time.
Just before the shuttle hit the ground, Phantom's voice echoed in his mind.
"Reflexes activated."
In a flash, Arjun's hand shot out, faster than he had ever moved before, and he returned the shot with a flick of his wrist. The shuttle flew past Kabir, who wasn't prepared for Arjun's sudden burst of speed.
Kabir stumbled, barely managing to recover the point.
Sia, watching from the sidelines, gasped in disbelief. "No way..."
Arjun grinned, feeling the power of the system coursing through him. He was faster, sharper. This was just the beginning.
The match continued, with Kabir growing more and more frustrated. No matter how fast he moved or how tricky his shots were, Arjun seemed to be a step ahead, his reflexes now on par with Kabir's lightning speed.
Finally, after an exhausting rally, Kabir sent the shuttle long, missing the line by inches. The match was over. Arjun had won.
Panting heavily, Kabir walked over, his eyes narrowed. "You're good," he admitted, though his tone was begrudging. "But there's something off about the way you play. I'll figure it out."
Arjun only nodded, still catching his breath. Inside, he knew the truth: the Phantom Shuttle System was changing everything.
And this was just the beginning.
---