(CONTINUATION FROM THE PROLOGUE)
NEON DRAGONS ARENA
GAME TWO VS GRAVITY GIANTS.
7 PM
"Jaxon Lin receives the pass..."
The commentator's voice jolted Jaxon Lin awake from his second long slumber. He opened his eyes, realizing he had caught the ball firmly in his palms.
'Where'd it go?' he thought, scanning side to side in search of the blue holographic screen that had been there moments before.
Just as he began wondering again, the screen appeared abruptly, flashing in front of him.
[SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY SWITCHED FROM AUTO PILOT TO MANUAL MODE]
He stood frozen, pinned to the ground, as confusion washed over him like a waterfall. He could hear the fans beyond the touchline yelling, trying to snap him out of his daze.
'System?' he thought.
'What the hell is this? Is this some kind of game… am I dreaming…?' He was still lost in thought when, suddenly, a player from the opposing team slapped the ball out of his hands, dashing in front of him. The impact threw Jaxon off balance, sending him down hard onto the polished court floor. The home fans booed in disappointment, their disdain for him palpable.
"And the Gravity Giants capitalize on the Neon Dragons' Shooting Guard's lazy play! Erick Smith snatches the ball effortlessly—no one's left in the defense to stop him. Eyes locked on the hoop, he takes his steps and buckets an easy layup. Two points for the Gravity Giants! The home team can only hope this mistake doesn't come back to bite them at the end of the fourth quarter as both teams now stand neck and neck with ninety points each!"
"What the hell is going on..." Jaxon muttered, pulling himself to his feet. He turned toward the home basket, only to find himself face-to-face with a towering wall of muscle—Ken O'Neil, captain of the Neon Dragons. Ken's expression showed his displeasure, and Jaxon also noticed the intensity of his teammates' glares too, laced with annoyance and frustration. On the other side of the touchline, the coach was yelling orders to no one in particular.
"You've got to get your head in the game, man, if you want to stay on this team. And more importantly, if you want this team to stay in the league… understood?" Ken said bluntly, his gaze fierce.
"Yes..." Jaxon replied, barely audibly.
"Good. Now let's win this game. Give it your best."
"Three minutes left! Who will triumph in this match?" the commentator's voice sliced through the crowd's cheers like a hot knife through butter.
As the baseline pass was made, the team went back on the attack. Jaxon moved swiftly to the edge of the opposition's three-point line, instinctively knowing that this was where he was supposed to be as the shooting guard. Suddenly, the holographic screen popped up once more.
[SUDDEN DEATH SITUATION]
[DUE TO HOST UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE SITUATION, SYSTEM GRANTS YOU A TEMPORARY UPGRADE. FAILURE TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL ATTRACT A FAIR PUNISHMENT]
"Punishment? Are you serious? And what would that be?" Jaxon muttered to himself, catching a pass from a teammate. This time, he didn't hesitate—he quickly passed the ball to another teammate positioned under the basket, allowing for an easy layup that put them ahead by two points.
[CHRONIC DEHYDRATION]
"What the—?" He noticed the opposition was already back on the attack. "Tell me what the temporary upgrade is," he murmured.
[HOST HAS BEEN GRANTED 5 TEMPORARY POINTS TO BOOST ONE OF THREE STATS. THIS BOOST LASTS EXACTLY FIVE MINUTES]
Jaxon glanced quickly at the clock above the court. Only two minutes remained—a window just wide enough to secure their lead and seal the team's victory.
"What are my options?" he murmured.
[DEFENSIVE AWARENESS]
[REBOUNDING]
[SHOT ACCURACY]
He knew immediately which stat he needed the most.
"I'm a shooting guard, for Christ's sake.Long Distance Shot Accuracy!"
[CHOICE SELECTED. HOW MANY POINTS WOULD HOST LIKE TO ALLOCATE TO THIS STAT?]
"All of them!"
[CHOICE SELECTED]
[LONG DISTANCE SHOT ACCURACY INCREASED BY 5 POINTS]
[EXPIRATION TIME COUNTDOWN BEGINS NOW]
[5:00]
[4:59]
[4:58]
The countdown had started, and the opposition was already in their half, passing the ball as they searched for a gap in the defense. But the Neon Dragons held strong, forcing the Gravity Giants to delay.
"It looks like the Gravity Giants are taking their sweet time going for the basket! They need to remember, time isn't on their side as their turnover deadline approaches!" The commentator's words seemed to stir urgency within the opposing team. Desperate, the player with the ball took a wild shot from beyond the three-point line.
"—Damien has his eyes on the basket, going for the three…!"
"Too hasty," Jaxon murmured, noting the inconsistency in the player's shooting form.
"—Damien's shot ricochets off the rim like a bullet! Now it's a battle for the rebound. Who wants it more?!"
Jaxon glanced under the rim. The massive Ken O'Neil, who had scolded him earlier, was positioned perfectly to win the rebound. He was the biggest, tallest player there, and his rebound catch was certainly inevitable.
"—Wonderful! Ken O'Neil secures the rebound for his team! Will the Neon Dragons counter to extend their lead?"
"Fast break!" Ken yelled, shielding the ball with his towering frame.
"The Neon Dragons are on the attack! Ken O'Neil lays off a pass to point guard Mason Hopkins, who dribbles swiftly past half court and sends it to a teammate just inside the three-point line… and—what's this? The Gravity Giants' center is pulling harshly on him as soon as he receives the pass. They're desperate not to let another point slip through their fingers."
"—The Gravity Giants are back in position, marking every Neon Dragon player… except—"
Except Jaxon. Realizing the situation instantly, he knew precisely where to be and what to do.
"—Jaxon Lin! He darts to the three-point line, signaling for a pass… it's made! Can Jaxon Lin extend his team's lead and redeem himself for his lackluster performance?!"
Time slowed as the ball met Jaxon's hands. Immediately transitioning in a shooting form, he saw the opposition's center closing in to block him. But Jaxon leaped to his highest point and released the shot.
"—Look at that form! The ball arcs high over the defender… and straight into the basket for three points!"
'Magnificent,' he thought, marveling at the sheer instinct guiding him.
"—Unbelievable shot by Jaxon Lin! With the game clock nearly out, the Gravity Giants are all but defeated!"
The final buzzer sounded, marking both victory and defeat. The home crowd erupted, chanting the Neon Dragons' anthem. Jaxon watched as the fans and his teammates cheered, celebrating his shot. But a strange familiarity crept over him.
"—Congratulations to the Neon Dragons on winning their first game of the season!"