Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Chapter 402 Longyu Dragons vs. Shizi Dogs (6)

*Flashback*

"One more."

Calvin gritted his teeth as he got up from the floor. He shot the ball, and it effortlessly made it in.

"One more!"

Calvin sighed and pushed his body to the limit. However, it wasn't enough. Just as the ball was about to leave his hands, he felt a sharp pain on his wrist, causing it to go out of bounds.

Then, he collapsed to the floor once again, out of breath.

The man loomed above him—one that often appeared in his dreams. However, he couldn't chase him away.

Why?

Because Calvin wanted this.

He knew in his blood that this was the life he wanted to live.

"Do you think you'll be able to make it into the Elite Five with that kind of attitude?"

Calvin pursed his lips, trying to hold back his tears. However, some of it escaped.

"What do you want?" Calvin asked, sounding tired. "I've already done my best."

"Your best isn't good enough. The best will always show the best. It doesn't matter if your body is breaking down or if you're at your wit's end," he continued. "You have to be strong—stronger—to the point where you don't need anybody's help, to the point where you don't even get tired."

Calvin stood and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"We're humans," he said. "We are bound to get tired!"

"But the Elite Five are monsters," the man said.

Calvin was about to open his mouth to refute his statement; however, nothing came out. Deep inside his mind, he felt that the man was right.

"So, you're calling yourself a monster, Caleb?" Calvin asked, his voice breaking in the end.

His brother, Caleb, pursed his lips. "Yes," he said. "I sacrificed a lot to get to where am. Now, you're going to do the same."

"Don't show anyone your weakness," he continued, getting closer to Calvin and pointing with his index finger. "People love to capitalize on your weakness. Make sure to always smile like you've never made a mistake."

"How can I do that?" Calvin asked, feeling something change in his heart. Seeing his brother lose so much spark for the sport he loved made his heartache.

Calvin wanted to understand him—he really did.

And maybe this was the only way to truly understand him. "Be unpredictable," Caleb said, directing his index finger to Calvin's heart, pushing hard.

Calvin flinched but quickly collected himself when Caleb glared at him.

"Every mistake you make should be brushed off. You can't hurt. You can't cry…and you can never ask for help. Make sure to be the dependable one…and only then you would be able to reach the top."

Calvin pursed his lips. There was a question that always lingered in his mind. However, he didn't have the guts to ask it.

"If that was the case, then why didn't you reach the top?"

"Calvin."

"Calvin!"

Calvin snapped out of his thoughts. He saw the worried looks of his coach and his teammates, so he quickly put on his mask—the smile he always wore.

"Hmm?"

"Were you listening?" Fenhua asked with a deep frown.

"Yeah," he said, lying through his teeth.

Fenhua shook his head and gestured for Coach Hope to continue.

"Like I said, I think the strategy with Yuze is working. However, I think he's going to be pulled out before the fourth quarter starts. His stamina is decreasing."

"Guri, it's good that you have only given that three-pointer one chance, but you also need to shoot. We can't be stopping points but not gaining anything."

"And you," she said, pointing at Calvin. "Are you alright?"

"Hmm," Calvin said. "Yeah, it's just a four-point gap. We can work through it."

"You haven't made a shot yet," Guri said. "Are you sure you can stop Kai Guo by yourself?"

The question irked Calvin to the bone.

"I can," he snapped before he could stop himself. "I can stop him by myself…without anybody's help."

"Calvin," Coach Hope warned.

Calvin went back to his usual cheery self. "Anyway," he said. "There's only two minutes left. We can do this and catch up to the gap, possibly even overcome it."

Coach Hope sighed and nodded, massaging the bridge of her nose.

"I can't believe we're struggling so much with a game that was supposedly easy."

Just then, the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of their time-out.

The players prepared to go back to the court, but before Calvin could step foot inside the paint, Fenhua stopped him.

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"Are you really alright?" he asked.

Calvin clicked his tongue and ignored him.

"Why do you keep asking that?"

Fenhua frowned as he made his way to his position.

Calvin and Kai stood face to face once more. Kai tilted his head to the side as he observed Calvin.

"I see," he muttered.

"What?" Calvin asked.

"You didn't take my advice seriously," Kai said with a small smile. "You're going to regret it."

The ball was passed to Calvin, and the gym was filled with anticipation, waiting to see if he could make a comeback.

Calvin tried to push forward, but Kai's eyes were locked onto him, unwavering. At that moment, Calvin knew—there was no shaking him.

Kai waited for the perfect moment, then made his move. In a flash, his hand shot out, cleanly stripping the ball from Calvin's grasp. Calvin's eyes widened in shock as the ball was stolen right from under him. Kai had read him again perfectly.

The gym erupted into chaos, the crowd roaring with excitement as Kai sprinted down the court, the ball now in his hands.

Then, in a moment that no one saw coming, Kai slowed down as he approached the three-point line. His eyes flickered toward the hoop, and in the back of his mind, he remembered Calvin's impossible dunk from earlier in the game—the one that had left everyone stunned.

[Skill copy finished]

[New skill obtained: Impossible Dunk]

"Perfect timing," Kai muttered with a smile.

Kai's body moved on instinct, his heart pounding in his chest. He took one long step, then another, and just as he hit the three-point line, he launched himself into the air.

The crowd fell into a stunned silence as they watched Kai soar—from the three-point line.

His body hung in the air for what felt like an eternity. Calvin, chasing from behind, could only watch in disbelief as Kai did the unthinkable. His arms extended, the ball held high above his head as he closed in on the rim.

With a powerful slam, the ball crashed through the hoop, the rim shaking violently as Kai completed the dunk that Calvin had once made look effortless. The gym exploded into cheers, the sound deafening as the crowd leaped to their feet, mouths agape, eyes wide in shock and awe.

Even Calvin, who had once worn that same smug smile, could only stand there in disbelief, his hands falling to his sides. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.

Kai landed with a soft thud, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths, his face calm but his eyes burning with intensity. He glanced over at Calvin, who was frozen in place, and for the first time in the game, the smile on Calvin's face finally left.

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