High above the court in the VIP observation deck of the Boston Arena, three shadows watched the game unfold.

The light from the court below flickered across their faces, painting them in rhythm with the roars of twenty thousand fans. Every dribble, every pass, every shot reflected in their eyes but their gazes carried different storms.

Kagetsu Renjiro, captain of Roanoke Storm, known as The Human Thunderclap, sat with his hands clasped, elbows resting on his knees. His posture was motionless, but his aura carried quiet pressure, the kind that made even the air hesitate. His Cold steel blue eyes didn't blink once as Ethan's fadeaway rippled through the net.

The crowd exploded. Kagetsu didn't even flinch.

His breath was steady, his voice calm a whisper beneath the thunder.

"His form's refined. But his composure… that's what changed."

He leaned back slightly, eyes tracing the Vorpal formation as it shifted seamlessly from offense to defense.

"Ethan Albarado… you've gone from reading plays to writing them."

His fingers tapped once against his knee, like the quiet drip of melting ice.

Then, faintly, a smirk broke the frost on his face.

"Good. When Roanoke meets Vorpal… I want him to be perfect."

Beside him, lounging back with a lazy grin and his sneakers propped against the seat in front of him, sat Jalen "Flash" Carter captain of Chicago Raptors, one of the most explosive scorer in the league. His short yellow hair caught the arena lights, gleaming like gold fire.

He popped a lollipop out of his mouth and laughed under his breath as Lucas mimicked the Chronos-style pivot and turned it into his own.

"Yo, look at that, man. Lucas just went and pulled a Chronos-lite! Sunshine boy got moves!"

He leaned forward, voice rising as Ethan drained another fadeaway over Miho.

"AND THAT GUY! BRO, ETHAN'S GOT THAT 'I'M HIM' ENERGY NOW!"

The fans around him tried not to stare, but his charisma was impossible to ignore even here, among captains.

Still, beneath his grin, his eyes sharpened when he saw Ethan's movement sync faintly that golden glint across the court.

He clicked his tongue.

"Tch. That rhythm... it's like watching Jordan and AI in one body. Damn."

A short laugh escaped him again.

"Alright, Ethan Albarado. When we meet, I'll make you dance, Flash vs. System — speed against thought. Let's see who breaks first."

And to his right, silent as a shadow, Alec Storm, captain of Orlando Hoops, leaned against the glass rail, the reflection of the court shimmering in his eyes.

He was tall, poised, his hair slicked back, jacket hanging open, posture elegant but predatory.

Unlike the others, he didn't comment at first. He simply watched Ethan's every movement how the ball left his hand, how he adjusted midair, how his teammates' spacing aligned without words.

Finally, his voice low, smooth, deliberate cut through the noise.

"He's no longer chasing the gods."

A pause, his fingers tapping the glass once.

"He's defying them."

Jalen turned, smirking. "You getting poetic now, Storm?"

Alec's lips twitched upward not quite a smile.

"No. Just curious."

He turned his gaze back to the court, eyes narrowing on Ethan, who had just intercepted a pass and turned it into another assist.

"He's leading like someone who's already seen the ending — and is rewriting it in real time."

Kagetsu finally spoke again, tone level and cool as ever.

"That's because he has. He knows his story. He just refuses to stop turning the page."

The three captains fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own storm of thoughts.

Below them, the crowd thundered as the buzzer Timeout: VORPAL 14 – EASTGATE 11.

Jalen stretched, cracking his neck. "Heh. So, that's why Ethan's team was called no… everyone's calling the miracle of Mouth of Wilson."

Alec's eyes glimmered. "Miracle? No. It's inevitability, born from defiance."

Kagetsu stood, pulling on his jacket, his voice quiet but final.

"Then we'll see if miracles can survive the cold."

As the lights dimmed for the quarter break, the three captains turned away, their silhouettes swallowed by the corridor's shadows

each carrying one unspoken truth.

The era of ordinary basketball was over.

And when their paths finally crossed,

the court itself would tremble beneath the weight of destiny…

…

..

TIME: 3:00 – First Quarter

SCORE: VORPAL 14 – EASTGATE 11

The roar of the crowd rolled like thunder through the dome, the noise vibrating through sneakers and lungs alike. Every light burned white-hot over the polished floor, the battlefield that gleamed like gold and war.

Vorpal's huddle broke. Ethan Albarado exhaled through his nose, sweat tracing down his temple. His heartbeat was steady, too steady for someone playing under twenty thousand eyes.

He tapped his chest once a signal.

Evan nodded.

Lucas cracked his neck.

Ryan smirked.

Brandon flexed his shoulders, anchoring himself near the rim.

Across them, Miho Park rolled his wrist, the sound of his knuckles snapping echoing faintly in the microphone of the arena.

His eyes locked on Ethan.

The tension between them invisible but suffocating drew the crowd into silence for just a second.

Then the whistle.

Possession: Eastgate Wildcats

Kenji Takeda took the inbound, lightning-quick, darting left. His sneakers screeched — sharp like a knife.

Evan shadowed him step-for-step, reading his rhythm.

But Kenji was a blur. He changed direction twice, broke the space open, and passed it to Armi on the wing.

Armi caught it, fake step Lucas didn't fall for it.

"Nice try," Lucas muttered under his breath, grin small and confident.

Armi chuckled. "Sharp, are you? Sunshine boy."

He stepped back his release smooth, textbook

but Brandon leapt from under the rim, one arm up, swatting the ball mid-air.

"NOT TODAY!" he roared.

The crowd exploded.

Lucas grabbed the loose ball, turned, and sprinted.

Ethan followed beside him both in sync like twin currents cutting through a storm.

Lucas faked the cross. Ethan caught the rhythm instantly.

He ran behind Lucas hand extended a blind pass without looking.

The ball arced perfectly into Ethan's palms.

He planted his right foot, body twisting, left leg kicking back for balance.

Jordan Shooting Form: Reverse Step Fade.

The ball lifted. Hung in the air like a second sun.

Swish.

SCORE: VORPAL 16 – EASTGATE 11

Ayumi, from the bench, leaned forward, clipboard trembling in her grip.

Her brown eyes gleamed with focus.

"He's using visual misdirection, Lucas triggers the space, Ethan capitalizes on instinct."

Beside her, Charlotte Graves, captain of the Thunderhawks, smirked faintly.

"Heh. The chemistry between those two…"

She crossed her legs. "It's not just basketball, it's telepathy."

Ayumi's gaze softened as she looked at Lucas jogging back on defense, sunlight cutting across his face.

"…He's found his own rhythm again. After the Gods match…"

She smiled faintly. "…he's not chasing perfection. He's building it."

2:22 – Possession: Wildcats

Miho called for the ball.

The crowd's tone shifted excitement sharpened into tension.

He dribbled once. Twice.

Each bounce echoed like thunderclaps.

Ethan stepped in front of him.

Their eyes met no words. No hesitation.

Miho's smile came, faint and surgical.

"Let's see if you've really evolved."

He feinted left Ethan didn't bite.

He spun, Ethan mirrored it.

Then, Miho dropped low, switching pace instantly and jumped.

Sky Glide Drive.

He twisted midair, using his knee to shield Ethan's reach ball slipping behind his back then flipped it to Davis mid-flight.

Davis caught it and thundered a dunk straight through.

SCORE: VORPAL 16 – EASTGATE 13

The arena erupted again, fans divided into two storms colliding.

Ayumi flinched. "He read Ethan's tempo perfectly. That's Miho Park for you."

Charlotte smirked. "So, the prodigy's still got fire."

1:58 – Possession: Vorpal

Evan brought it up this time. Calm. Methodical.

His eyes darted like a tactician scanning a battlefield.

"Zone defense." he muttered.

He motioned with his left hand

Lucas cut to the corner, Ryan drifted to the weak side, Brandon rotated up for a screen.

Evan passed to Ethan no hesitation.

Miho met him again.

But Ethan didn't shoot this time.

Instead, he stepped back then suddenly passed behind him to Ryan,

who slipped past Davis using Brandon's screen like a ghost.

Ryan caught it mid-spin, grinning.

"Playboy special."

Layup one-handed banked off the glass.

SCORE: VORPAL 18 – EASTGATE 13

The crowd went crazy.

Camera flashes painted the court in white light.

Lucas pointed at Ryan with a grin.

"Don't you dare start showboating already."

Ryan winked.

"What? Gotta give the crowd a reason to scream."

1:11 – Possession: Wildcats

Jun Seo got the ball the wildcard. His speed exploded like a bullet.

He slashed through Ryan and Brandon, step-back shot.

The arc was perfect.

Net clean.

SCORE: VORPAL 18 – EASTGATE 15

Miho clapped once. "Good. Keep pressure."

0:43 – Possession: Vorpal

Ethan took the inbound. His eyes locked on Miho's.

Time seemed to slow.

Every noise dulled into heartbeat rhythm.

He crossed over once.

Miho followed.

He stepped back.

Miho mirrored.

Then Ethan smiled.

"Let's dance."

He spun, step-back fade

but instead of shooting, flicked it low to Lucas, who had already moved into the pocket space behind Miho.

Lucas caught it, lifted, and shot in one motion

nothing but net.

SCORE: VORPAL 20 – EASTGATE 15

The horn sounded end of first quarter.

Ayumi exhaled sharply. "20–15. They're reading each other perfectly."

Charlotte crossed her arms, eyes never leaving the court.

"No… they're becoming each other. That's more dangerous."

From the stands, the energy boiled over — chants of "VOR-PAL! VOR-PAL!" shaking the rafters.

On the court, Ethan and Miho's eyes met again across the distance.

No words. Just respect and the silent promise of war.

End of First Quarter:

VORPAL 20 – EASTGATE 15

And somewhere deep within Ethan's mind,

his basketball system flickered once, a quiet hum.

[Potential Path: One for All – Sync in Progress…]

He didn't smile.

He just tightened his fists.

Because he knew

the real game had just begun.

To be continue

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