Oliver tapped on the skill bar in his system interface, bringing up the four currently equipped skills.
Sonic Sprint: It granted a sudden burst of speed—an essential skill, whether for breaking through defenses or making quick steals. For someone who valued agility on the court, this was non-negotiable.
Accurate Shooter: This gave him stable shooting and consistent scoring capabilities. Even with Sendoh as his teammate, it was always valuable to have a reliable offensive skill. Having a guarantee for those clutch moments was a luxury.
Quick Recovery: A skill that could only be used once a day. It restored some stamina, but only temporarily.
Oliver quietly assessed his options. After undergoing several rounds of strengthening, his physical stats weren't what they used to be. As long as he avoided excessive skill stacking and didn't go all out every play, his stamina could now hold up decently.
Then there was Bull Charge—a temporary power-boosting skill. But, looking at the players on the court, almost all of them were tall and strong. With Sendoh around, Oliver didn't need to force his way into the paint and go head-to-head with the giants.
His gaze moved to the list of unequipped skills: Magic Pass and Shining Star.
That Shining Star… just thinking about it gave him chills. It had once put him through hell. It was said to enhance all attributes, but no one could confirm whether it truly worked.
Still, if the skill did function as described, then for someone like him, who desperately needed to elevate his overall performance, Shining Star could become his ace in the hole.
"Forget it…" Oliver exhaled deeply. "I've already survived it once. How much worse can it be this time?"
"Change Skills!" he commanded firmly.
Without hesitation, Oliver removed Quick Recovery and Bull Charge, and instead equipped Magic Pass and Shining Star.
Updated skill set: Sonic Sprint, Accurate Shooter, Magic Pass, Shining Star.
---
In the audience stands, murmurs began to ripple.
"Hey, look! Looks like that classmate of Sendoh got subbed in!"
"Wait, why is he so short? He barely reaches Sendoh's shoulders! How is he supposed to play basketball at that height?"
But as soon as Oliver stepped onto the court, something strange began to happen. Shining Star had begun to take effect. The crowd, who had all been focused on Sendoh, suddenly found themselves shifting their attention to Oliver.
"Oh wow! Oliver's on the court too! The guy who beat Kaede Rukawa is going to team up with Sendoh-senpai! This is going to be epic! I need to watch every second!"
Hikoichi, already buzzing with excitement, scribbled notes rapidly into his notebook. The practice match against Shohoku was tomorrow, and today's streetball game was an unexpected opportunity to see the real capabilities of the players. He wasn't going to miss a single detail!
"This is only the second time I've seen Oliver on the court since the junior high tournament…"
Yayoi leaned on her hand, resting her chin as she intently watched the players below.
"That one match wasn't enough to fully understand him. Even if this is just a casual streetball game, it still has a lot of reference value. I need to capture everything!"
She reached into her crossbody bag and pulled out a portable DV camcorder. With practiced hands, she started recording.
---
"Let's go, bro!"
From the sidelines, Qianhua pumped her fists in the air, energetically cheering.
"BEEP!!"
The referee blew the whistle, and the game resumed.
"Swish!"
The ball was passed from the sideline to the tallest center on the opposing team. With powerful strides, he charged into the key, aiming to score.
"Defend! Don't let him through!!"
Oliver's teammates shouted, scrambling to form a defensive line. But the opponents were ready. A couple of players immediately stepped in to block their paths, preventing them from chasing the center.
As expected, Sendoh became the primary focus of the opposing team. Two defenders glued themselves to him, spreading their arms wide and blocking any path forward.
It was a highly defensive setup, specifically designed to shut Sendoh down. They'd clearly experienced his skill before—and suffered for it.
But doubling up on Sendoh meant one player on Oliver's team would be left completely unguarded.
And they had made the critical mistake of assuming that person—the smallest and newest player on the court—was the weakest.
That player was Oliver.
The man who moved like the wind was now completely free.
"Bang!!"
Oliver slammed his right foot against the plastic floor. The skill-enhanced speed exploded out of him like a rocket. He darted forward—lightning-fast—and appeared behind the enemy center like a phantom.
"What the—?!"
The crowd gasped in unison, stunned by his speed.
"Got you!"
In a flash, Oliver lunged to the side, swiping the ball clean out of the center's hands.
"Ah???"
The opposing center flailed, his hands smacking the air. He stumbled forward, confused, and then whipped his head around in disbelief. The ball was gone.
And there was Oliver—that "shorty"—already sprinting down the court, ball in hand.
"Get back!! Everyone, return to defense!!" the center screamed, immediately chasing after Oliver.
But it was too late.
The defenders who had previously been holding Oliver's teammates were now being blocked in return. The positions reversed in an instant, and Oliver's team opened their arms wide to obstruct the chasers.
The man-to-man defense was in shambles.
Sendoh had been stunned for a second by Oliver's sudden burst of speed, but quickly regained composure. He lowered his stance and threw out his arms, expertly stopping one of the two players who had been marking him.
One defender tried to break through and chase Oliver, but he was already several steps too late.
With swift momentum, Oliver dashed toward the basket.
And then—he jumped.
A perfect layup.
"OOOOOOHHHHHH!!"
The stadium erupted. No one had anticipated such an explosive play. Spectators jumped to their feet, clapping and yelling.
The most animated of all was Qianhua. She had somehow summoned two pom-poms out of nowhere and began performing a full cheerleading routine on the spot.
"Go Brother Oliver! Let's go! FIGHTINGGGG!!"
---
Hikoichi's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He furiously scribbled in his notebook, hand trembling.
> "Oliver from Shohoku High has insane explosive speed. Must take note!!"
"My god… He's even faster than he was in junior high?! What kind of monster growth is this guy going through?!"
Yayoi was still filming. Her eyes widened behind the camera, and her free hand covered her gaping mouth.
> "This Oliver… He's no ordinary player…"
---
Back on the court, Oliver's team switched to defense. The opponents now had possession and prepared to serve from out of bounds.
"Awesome play, Oliver," said Sendoh, walking over with a small smile.
"I didn't expect you to be that fast. Looks like tomorrow's practice match is going to be a real challenge."
Oliver gave a small smirk, eyes still sharp and focused.
He wasn't done yet.
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