The court was still shaking from the dunk.
Mika landed light, like a shadow, but the rim groaned behind her, spinning on one bolt. Dust rose around her shoes. The silence hit first. Then a flood of confused noise, people cussing, yelling, stomping. She didn't celebrate. She didn't have to.
> That was her introduction.
And it wasn't even full power.
One of the older players cursed and walked off the court, grabbing his elbow. Mika had made contact on the jump—just once. She didn't hit hard, didn't foul. But the guy was holding his arm like it had been clipped by a train.
That's when she felt it.
> That wasn't just strength. That was pressure.
---
As she stepped off the court, a blue interface flickered in her eyes again—faint, like a screen behind her thoughts.
> [Final Zone Directive]
— Basketball Points: +48
— Playstyle Evaluation: "Control-Burst Hybrid"
— MVP Rating: ★★★☆☆
— Street Tier: Apex – Eligible for Hidden Trial
New Quest Unlocked: "Awaken Rhythm: The Breath of Flow"
➤ Condition: Sense the movement of three different players without using your eyes.
➤ Reward: Unlock Flow Rhythm [Form 1: River Step]
Mika tilted her head, still walking.
"Without my eyes, huh?" she muttered. "Y'all playin' ninja games now."
A kid walking nearby stared at her like she'd spoken another language.
She had.
---
That night, back in the orphanage dorm, Mika stood barefoot in the hallway while everyone else slept. Her eyes were closed. The light buzzed overhead. Her breathing slowed.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
She listened.
Far outside, three people were still on the court. Their sneakers squeaked like whispers. The bounce of the ball hit sharp, then soft. Wind rushed through broken fencing.
> Step. Pause. Step. Drive.
She didn't need to see them. She could feel them now.
> Court Instinct: Spark Level reached.
> [Quest Completed]
Flow Rhythm unlocked: Form 1 – River Step
> A low dash-technique that mimics natural water rhythm. Ideal for evasive openings and mid-drive side shifts.
A grin crept onto her face.
> "Let's go."
---
The next morning came fast. She didn't eat. She didn't stretch. She just walked out to the same street court like it was her job.
And to her, it was.
Another group of players was warming up. Teenagers, mostly. One had on cracked armor-pads over his shoulders, the kind used in low-level court matches. Another had an old headband marked with "Tier 5: Flame Drip" in faded red letters.
Bloodline players.
Mika's eyes narrowed.
> "Didn't expect to see no rich boys slummin' it."
They noticed her fast. The tall one sneered.
"Hey, doll," he said. "This ain't dress-up day. Your pretty face's gonna crack when I body you."
Mika didn't flinch. She bounced the ball once.
> Thump.
Loud. Intentional.
"Keep talkin'. I'll put you on the floor and take your shoes home with me."
That hit a nerve.
The guy stepped forward, his pressure spiking—not consciously, but instinctively. The air felt heavier. Two other players around him backed up without realizing why.
> Pressure release.
That was a sign of awakening. This wasn't some street-level wannabe. He had bloodline potential, maybe already blessed by one of the minor gods.
But Mika didn't step back.
In fact, she took a step forward.
> Court Pressure: Countered.
The system pinged again, but she barely noticed.
---
> [System Notice]
— Rhythm Anchor detected
— You are resisting pressure from a Tier 5 bloodline: Flame Drip
— Your body is syncing with hostile rhythm
— Calculating benefit…
Mika didn't know what half that meant.
What she did know was that the guy across from her had fire in his veins and a temper to match. She could use that.
"First to seven," she said. "You and me. No calls. No crying."
Someone laughed on the sideline.
"No way she's serious."
"She's twelve!"
"Watch her get cooked."
The flame boy cracked his neck. "Hope you like heat."
He tossed her the ball.
---
First drive.
Mika took off with River Step—a flowing side skip that mimicked a ripple of water just before it breaks. Her steps barely made a sound, but her angle? Nasty.
She was at the rim before he even planted.
> Layup. 1–0.
The court was quiet.
Second drive.
He went heavy, shoulders down. Tried to burn a hole through her midsection with a spin drive powered by his pressure. Mika timed it, slid back, spun, and used his momentum against him.
> Steal. Fastbreak. 2–0.
Third.
He activated his Flame Pulse—his aura spiked, and the air grew hotter. He didn't say a word this time. Just came at her like a demon.
> Court Pressure: Class 1 Burst detected.
Mika's system pinged like mad.
She didn't care.
She stepped into the pressure and exploded past him with her own rhythm—not dodging, not countering, just slipping.
> "You press? I flow."
> Layup. 3–0.
The crowd?
Losing it.
---
> [SYSTEM LOG]
— Pressure Resistance: +2
— Basketball Points Earned: +72
— Bloodline Sync Sampled: 12% Flame Drip structure recorded
You are eligible for System Unlock: Court Sync [Copy Protocol – Locked until Tier 3]
---
When the match ended—7 to 2—Mika didn't gloat.
She just walked past him.
"You talk loud," she said. "But your rhythm don't say nothin'."
He didn't respond. Couldn't.
His pressure was broken.