I've never felt more alive.
But that rush didn't last long.
Zion's eyes were no longer full of playful arrogance—they were stormy now. Competitive. Hungry. I'd just poked a sleeping monster. And I knew it.
Coach Vargas pulled me aside the moment the Reapers called timeout.
"You activated a high-level Aura this early? What are you trying to do, start a Rift?"
"A what now?"
He blinked. "You're serious."
"No," I said quickly. "Just… playing dumb. Totally a joke."
His eyes narrowed. He didn't believe me. Not fully.
But he let it go.
The timeout ended, and Zion came back on the floor with a different energy. The kind that turns playoff games into battlefield legends.
The scoreboard blinked: Reapers 22 – Cavs 19. Two minutes until halftime.
Then the Court trembled again.
📶 SYSTEM UPDATE: ZION LEE — UNIQUE EVENT TRIGGERED
Aura Skill "Titan Slam" has Evolved into:
— TITAN DOMAIN —
Effect: Expands Zion's control over Court radius. All inside experience -10% mobility and +50% contact pressure.
A swirling crimson glyph erupted beneath his feet. The Court itself twisted, warping into an obsidian-and-scarlet grid.
And suddenly—everything hurt.
My legs were heavier. The ball felt like a cannonball. And when Zion brushed against me on a screen, I felt like I'd been sideswiped by a truck.
SYSTEM ALERT: You are inside an ENEMY DOMAIN
Movement Penalty: Active
Aura Drain: Accelerated
Recommendation: Retreat or Overcharge Skill
I glanced at the bench. No one moved. No one else could even tell what was happening. They thought I was just playing sloppy.
And then Zion turned to me.
"You like pretending to be King?" he asked. "Then wear the crown and break like the rest."
He charged.
I barely had time to react. My Aura flared, and I blocked his dunk at the rim—but the impact sent me flying back.
I crashed to the hardwood. A second too long. The pain wasn't just physical—it was metaphysical, like my very soul had been body-checked.
⚠️ Passive Effect "Clutch Instinct" Disabled — Aura below 10%
Temporary Fatigue Status: [Overload]
Hidden Stat Unlocked: "Spirit Core Fracture" — Mild
I gritted my teeth. My hands were shaking.
So this was it.
I wasn't LeBron. Not really.
And now, I was bleeding like any other rookie.
But that's when I heard it. Faint. Almost a whisper in my head.
☁ SYSTEM OVERRIDE OPTION: Do you wish to use a Fragment of the [True Crown]?
Cost: ???
Side Effect: ???
Consent Required: [Y/N]
I stared up at the PrismDome lights.
The Game Masters were watching again.
This was what they wanted.
A test.
And maybe… a warning.
My body screamed no.
But my pride whispered yes.
So I smiled through the pain and whispered, "Y."
The Court went silent .