Everyone was on their toes as the last few minutes of the warm-up ticked down on the timer. The Ying Eagles seemed especially tense. For years, they had come so close—always just short of that victory, always second place to the Juren Champions.
Kai leaned back in his seat, eyes fixed on the court. He knew this game was bound to be something special. The Eagles, with Zheng as their captain, had been on a mission. Kai was sure they were going to throw everything they had at Juren this time. Or at least, that’s what Zheng had promised in his interviews leading up to the game. And Zheng wasn’t the type to throw around empty words.
On the other hand, the Champions might also be pushed to the edge. That would work to the Shizi Dogs’ advantage because they could see how the Juren Champions would play when they were at their limit.
On the court, Zheng gathered his team in a tight huddle, his arm wrapped around his teammates’ shoulders. There was a fire in his eyes as he spoke, the kind that came from years of frustration, from falling just short of greatness again and again.
"They’ve always been a wall to us," Zheng started off. "Every time, we come so close, and every time, they beat us. Not this time. We’ve been second for too long."
His teammates nodded, the resolve on their faces mirroring his.
Just as the huddle broke and the Eagles went back to their warm-ups, a stir in the VIP section caught the attention of everyone nearby.
Calvin, Fang, and Max—the three Elites—strode into the area, their presence immediately capturing everyone’s attention. Heads turned, and whispers spread through the crowd.
Calvin fixed the collar of his shirt and smirked.
"I am loving this kind of special treatment," he whispered to Max, who merely rolled his eyes in response.
Kai’s teammates noticed them first, eyes widening as the three approached Kai.
Yuze and Lina exchanged surprised glances.
The onlokers’ mouth dropped open when Calvin leaned over and whispered something to Kai, then motioned for him to follow.
"Of course," Jet muttered. "He gets to sit with the Elites now!"
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Shang shook his head with a small smile. "Come on, man. Just be happy for him."
"Oh, I am," Jet said. "Kai is bound to be with them soon, I think."
Kai looked at the three and shrugged, turning to Lina and Yuze.
"Is it alright if I hang out with them for this game?"
Yuze smirked. "Go ahead," he said.
"He blends in so well with them," Lina murmured, watching as Kai stood and casually walked over to the trio like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Kai followed Calvin, Fang, and Max to a section in the VIP area. They took their seats in a private row, separate from the rest of the crowd, where they had a perfect view of the game. For a few moments, there was silence as the four of them watched the teams on the court continue to warm up.
Kai broke the silence first. "I’m surprised you guys invited me," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Especially since I’m the reason you guys got knocked out of the league."
Calvin’s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Well, you got more confident."
Kai’s cheeks reddened as he scratched the back of his head. "Did it come out too cocky?"
Calvin chuckled and nudged his shoulder. "Nah, I’m just playing with you, man."
Fang shrugged, his eyes still locked on the court. "Of course, we needed you here," he said casually.
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Fang pointed toward the court with a lazy smile. "Because we need our pawn."
Kai raised an eyebrow, not sure if he should be insulted or intrigued. "Pawn?" he repeated.
Calvin, sitting on the other side of Kai, smirked and turned his head slightly. "Do you know a lot about the Elite Five?" he asked, his tone suggesting he already knew the answer. Stay connected with freewebnovel
Kai crossed his arms, shifting in his seat. "More than the normal player."
Max, who had been silent up until now, chuckled softly. "Yeah, but you don’t even know everything, do you?"
Kai didn’t respond right away. He glanced between the three Elites, sensing there was something they weren’t telling him. "What’s this really about?" he asked.
Max leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "We, the Elite Five, made a vow when we were still in our prime."
"A vow?" Kai’s interest piqued. He had heard plenty of stories about the Elite Five, their legendary plays, and their dominance on the court, but this was something new. He had never heard of any kind of vow.
Fang nodded, finally turning to face Kai directly. "Yeah. A vow to accomplish one thing during our time in the league."
"And that is?" Kai asked, his curiosity now fully engaged.
"To beat Jian Niu," Max said, his voice firm and serious.
Kai blinked, taken aback. Jian Niu—the star players of the Juren Champions. One of the greatest players in the league. To many, Jian was the ultimate opponent.
Calvin leaned back, his smirk growing wider. "That’s right. He’s the one player we’ve never beaten. Even until now."
"So why am I here?" Kai asked, still unsure of how he fits into their plans. "What does this have to do with me?"
Fang’s grin turned mischievous. "Simple. We need someone who’s not afraid of him."
Kai stared at them, still trying to piece everything together. "You’re saying you brought me here to help you… beat Jian Niu?"
Calvin chuckled. "Not exactly. We still need to see the outcome of this game—whether Zheng will finally beat Jian or not. However, in the event that he loses, you’ll play a part."
"What part?"
Max smirked as he leaned in closer. "You’ll see soon enough. But for now, just watch the game. See how they play. You’ll learn a lot."
"Yeah," Fang chimed in. "Watch carefully, Kai. You’ll regret it if you don’t."