The game was finally going to start.
Kai stood at the center, trying to keep his posture relaxed. His eyes were locked on the ball, and he drowned out the noise of the crowd.
He could hear how most of them were rooting for the Champions, making him a little bit angry. However, he pushed that in the back of his mind.
"Legend," he muttered.
"300s."
Xander frowned as he heard Kai say those words.
'What is this guy talking about?
' he thought, finding him weird.
Yet, Kai remained focused.
That was his level—Legend in the 300s. He had progressed so much, and yet his level still felt like an anchor that he wanted to break free from.
He knew he was better—even better than the four Elites whose names were hailed as legends across every court in the country.
But now was not the time for comparison.
Now was the time to prove it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is it! This young player had made everyone nervous with his near absence!" Gina's voice burst through the speakers, "Kai Guo, the Shizi Dogs' wildcard, has taken his place. Will he live up to the hype?"
David chuckled. "I don't know, Gina, but with Jian Niu on the court, it's going to be tough. They don't call him 'The Monster' for nothing."
Finally, the whistle blew, snapping Kai out of the silence of his mind.
Time seemed to freeze as the orange sphere suspended itself between two giants.
Kai and Xander jumped at the same time. The two were confident with their skills, with Xander thinking that a first-year player in his first Nationals wouldn't beat him.
However, Kai's fingertips brushed the ball first, sending it down with a controlled tap toward Jinping, who dashed forward to claim possession. The Shizi Dogs' section erupted into frenzied screams.
"He's got the jump ball! Kai Guo wins the tip-off!" Gina's voice cracked with excitement, not being able to contain her disbelief. "What a start for the Shizi Dogs!"
Xander landed on the ground with wide eyes. Chaoxing shook his head and patted his back.
"Told you he was good," he muttered.
However, just as the game began, the true challenge emerged.
Jia Niu stepped onto the hardwood like a force of nature. Despite having such a huge presence, he felt nearly invisible.
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The crowd held their breath as they watched the young legend take form.
He moved like he owned the court—and with each movement, he promised devastation.
"Watch him, David," Gina said, her voice dipping into awe. "This is where the legend of Jian comes alive."
The ball moved down the court and passed from Jinping to Andy, who squared up for a three-point shot.
However, before the ball could leave his fingers, Jian intercepted. His hand was a blur as he slapped the ball away mid-air.
It didn't bounce erratically toward the sideline. Instead, it landed right into Chaoxing's hand like he knew he would be waiting there.
Jian was on it in an instant, pivoting smoothly and launching himself back down the court. The crowd shouted louder, but Jian was still in his zone.
"Steal by Jian Niu! And he's off!" David's voice rose, matching the pounding heartbeats of the fans.
Jian charged forward, defenders scrambling to cut him off.
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It felt like trying to stop a river with bare hands. He spun past Renren, evading the forward's outstretched arms with a dismissive ease, before launching himself into a layup.
The already easy shot looked even easier because Jian was the one who did it.
"First points to the Juren Champions, and it's none other than Jian Niu!" Gina shouted, her voice layered with astonishment.
Kai felt something squeeze in his heart.
He was supposed to be Jian's guard. However, he couldn't keep up with him at all.
He was already breathless—contrary to what he had shown in the previous games.
Lai took possession, his gaze darting around for an opening. Jian hovered a few feet away, his presence suffocating.
Kai feinted left, drawing a slight reaction, then cut right, pushing past Chaoxing, who had moved up to assist. Just as he raised the ball for a pass to Andy, Jian was there again. A flick of his hand, and the ball was gone.
"Another steal from Jian!" David almost shouted, his voice cracking with the tension. "Is this guy playing solo or what?"
Kai froze in his spot but quickly turned around.
Jian darted down the sideline, Chaoxing trailing behind him to set a screen as Jinping and Kun scrambled to catch up. But Jian didn't need help. He pulled up at the three-point line, the arc of his shot so perfect it seemed drawn by a compass. The ball hung in the air for a split second before dropping in, nothing but net.
"Unbelievable! A three-pointer from Jian Niu and the Juren Champions extend their lead!" Gina's commentary was barely audible over the roar of the crowd.
0-5.
The Shizi Dogs looked shaken. Their confidence wasn't already the best, and it felt like they were being powdered… ground.
Kai clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling beneath his usually calm exterior. He exchanged a quick glance with Renren, who nodded, sweat dripping from his brow despite being so early in the game.
They reset, moving with newfound urgency. The ball passed through hands, moving from Jinping to Andy and then back to Kai. He drove forward, weaving past Noel, eyes locked on the basket.
But there he was.
Jian, again.
The court moved for him, players moving out of his orbit as he intercepted Kai's drive, slapping the ball cleanly out of his path. It bounced once before he claimed it, muscles coiled like a predator's as he sprang forward.
A gasp swept through the stands as Jian accelerated, his long strides devouring the court. He pushed into a layup while Renren leaped to block him.
The impact of Renren's arm hitting empty air was almost audible.
Jian's body turned, avoiding the collision and sending the ball high into the air with a one-handed flick. It spun, dazzling under the stadium lights, before dropping straight through the hoop.
"He's a monster, Gina. An absolute one-man army!" David's voice was filled with the thrill of the game, echoing the astonishment painted across the crowd's faces.
The scoreboard blinked, showing the growing gap between the two teams.
0-7.
Kai's chest rose and fell heavily as he looked at Jian, who simply stood there, breathing evenly, as if the feats he'd just performed were effortless.
"Can anyone stop Jian Niu?" Gina's voice posed the question that now echoed in the court like an unanswered prayer.