Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 645: China vs. USA (7)

Julian glanced at his system interface, his eyes narrowing as he saw the words.

[Black Hole: 25]

The number shined, and it filled him with pride. He still didn't completely understand what it meant, even if he had the system for more than a year already.

However, he didn't care.

What mattered was the description he had read when the system had been granted to him by his brother.

"Black Hole Level is reserved for the best players in the world. Those with systems or not. You are the best. You don't have to work hard anymore."

Or something like that.

Again, Julian didn't bother comprehending what it meant. As soon as he saw the words "the best," he knew he was set for life. That was all he needed to know.

He had reached the top, and that knowledge brought him a sense of superiority that most players could only dream of. And to reach it without the same level of grinding effort others endured? Even better!

He thought he would have to quit basketball—the one thing he wanted to be good at and be even better than his good-for-nothing brother.

But then again, Jonathan wasn't so useless since he gifted him this system. It was the only thing Julian appreciated about his brother.

He smirked, his confidence brimming as he faced Kai again on the court.

This kid—this 16-year-old rookie—couldn't possibly have touched the Black Hole level. He might have skill, sure, but he lacked the experience and skill that Julian wielded with ease.

Kai, meanwhile, stood a few feet away, his breathing even as he eyed Julian. The game had resumed, and the ball was in his hands once again.

Kai dribbled slowly, feeling the weight of the ball in his palm. The court seemed quieter now. He'd already shown a lay-up and a three-pointer. Two basics he had mastered with his system over time.

He drove toward the free-throw line, Julian sticking to him tightly, his long arms flaring out in an attempt to force a turnover.

Kai stopped abruptly. Then, he planted his feet and rose for a mid-range jumper.

Swish.

Textbook. No wasted motion. Not even a second of hesitation.

The scoreboard ticked upward.

29 - 45.

Julian stared at him, his jaw tightening. That shot had been so clean that Julian felt like he was watching a slow-motion replay.

It wasn't fancy or eye-catching. It was just good.

Steven jogged up to Julian as they prepared for the next possession. "You need to pull back and guard the perimeter better. They're using him to open up space."

Julian shook his head stubbornly. "I'm not stepping back. He's 16, Steven. Sixteen! This is his first Global Games. There's no way he's on my level. I've got this."

Steven frowned but didn't argue further. Julian's pride was just as inflexible as his flashy playing style.

Back on the court, Kai received the ball again, this time on the right wing.

His teammates cleared out, leaving him one-on-one with Julian. The crowd was becoming more alive, wondering what Kai would do next.

Kai sized up his defender, dribbling with smooth control. He feinted right, causing Julian to shift slightly.

Then, with explosive speed, Kai drove left, cutting past Julian and into the paint.

Two steps.

One leap.

His body twisted in mid-air, hands gripping the ball like it was stuck to him.

Slam!

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The rim rattled as Kai delivered a powerful dunk, the kind that would have been on every basketball tutorial video ever made.

The crowd erupted into cheers and stunned gasps. Even the commentators were momentarily speechless.

Julian clenched his fists, his frustration building. He tried to brush it off as luck, but deep down, a seed of doubt began to sprout. Why was this kid so calm? Why did everything he did look so polished?

Kai was back on defense now. The U.S. team tried to capitalize on their speed, but Caleb intercepted a sloppy pass and handed the ball off to Marcus, who immediately pushed the pace.

Kai trailed behind, catching the pass near the top of the key. Julian closed in quickly, arms raised to contest the shot. He pivoted smoothly, creating just enough space to rise for a fadeaway jumper.

The ball arced high. Its trajectory already looked flawless!

The net barely even moved as the ball made its way in!

33-45.

The crowd's noise had returned now. The gap didn't look that sizeable compared to the beginning!

On the sidelines, Gina leaned forward in her seat, her brow furrowed. "That's five in a row," she said, glancing at David.

David nodded with a thoughtful expression. "And they're all different. A lay-up, a three-pointer, a mid-range jumper, a dunk, and now a fadeaway. Have I missed anything?"

"You didn't," Gina muttered before crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Is he trying to show them something?"

Back on the court, Julian was fuming. His flashy dribbling and dramatic drives had always drawn attention, but Kai was stealing the spotlight by doing things Julian had dismissed as too simple.

"Enough of this," Julian muttered under his breath. He motioned for the ball, determined to put this rookie in his place.

But before he could make his move, Jian intercepted a pass and launched the ball downcourt in a high arc.

Kai was already sprinting, his eyes locked on the ball. He leaped into the air, catching it effortlessly and slamming it down in one fluid motion.

An alley-oop.

The arena erupted once again, the sound almost shaking the floor.

On the sidelines, Gina and David exchanged glances.

"That's six in a row," Gina exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement. "And every single one of them was perfectly executed."

David leaned back in his seat, shaking his head in disbelief. "He's showing them the basics," he said quietly. "And he's doing it flawlessly."

Gina nodded slowly. "Is he saying… this is just basic to him?"

The camera panned to Julian, his face pale with disbelief as he stared at Kai.