The arena trembled like a living thing. Cracks crawled across the floating court, leaking red smoke that pulsed in rhythm with Vexa's heartbeat.
Her body glowed with shifting symbols, her hair rising in the static wind. When she opened her eyes again, they weren't eyes at all—just endless spirals of chaos.
"You're strong, Riku Vane," she said softly, her voice echoing through every corner of the arena. "But the Shadow League doesn't reward strength."
"What does it reward?"
She smiled. "Survival."
The hoops exploded outward, reforming into rotating rings of light and shadow. The crowd of phantoms screamed in unison, their cheers merging into a droning chant: "Chaos! Chaos! Chaos!"
Lira whispered, She's merging her spirit's dimension into the court. The game's reality is bending.
Riku twirled the ball once, feeling his pulse sync with Lira's again. Then we bend harder.
---
The whistle screamed.
Vexa moved first—faster than before, flickering like a glitch in time. Every step she took left streaks of red lightning. She threw a pass that split into three identical paths; one fake, one trap, one real.
Riku dashed through the illusions, his shoes sparking against the cracked glass. The moment his fingers brushed the ball, it vanished.
"What—?"
Something slammed into his back. The ball had reappeared behind him—straight into Vexa's hand. She spun, slammed it through the hoop midair.
Point 1 — Vexa.
The crowd erupted. The noise wasn't cheering—it was worship.
Lira's tone darkened. She's feeding off them. Their belief amplifies her chaos.
Riku cracked his neck. "Then we take her spotlight."
---
The ball reappeared in his palm. He crouched low, shadows flaring under his sneakers. The Phantom Zone shimmered around him like waves of dark heat.
He faked right—disappeared left. The afterimages split into three, then five, each one moving with independent rhythm. Vexa blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
Riku launched upward, twisting mid-spin. Lira's energy burst from his shoulders, her phantom hands guiding his form.
He hurled the ball behind his back, bounced it off a floating shard, and redirected it midair.
Vexa tried to intercept—but the shadow echo struck her shoulder, pushing her off-balance.
Point 1 — Phantom.
The scoreboard flickered again: 2 | 1.
Riku landed, breathing hard, sweat dripping down his neck. "You're not the only one who bends reality."
Vexa wiped the corner of her mouth. "Then stop holding back."
---
She raised both arms. The red smoke spiraled upward, forming a dome around the court. Every spectator vanished—only darkness remained, filled with floating lights.
"This," she whispered, "is the Chaos Arena. No rules. No boundaries."
Lira's eyes widened. Riku, this isn't part of the match—this is her realm!
He grinned. Perfect.
Vexa lunged. Every motion warped the air—speed, direction, even sound itself twisted around her. Riku tried to track her but she split into afterimages that attacked from every angle.
A kick to the ribs. A flash to his left. Another slam of energy that threw him backward.
Pain seared through his body, the ball slipping from his hand.
"Got you," she whispered, appearing right in front of him.
But Riku smirked through the pain. "Do you?"
The shadow beneath her feet rippled—and Lira's phantom rose from it, gripping her ankles.
Riku snatched the ball from midair, spun low, and slammed it forward. The shadows followed his movement like a tidal wave, carrying the ball straight through the hoop.
Point 2 — Phantom.
The Chaos Arena wavered. The lights flickered.
Vexa staggered back, stunned for the first time. "You're syncing beyond safe limits… You'll burn your soul."
"Maybe," Riku said, breathing hard. "But I'll win before that happens."
---
She screamed—not in fear, but exhilaration. "Good! Then let's burn together!"
Her aura exploded, forming wings of chaos energy. Every part of the court dissolved into crimson shards. The hoops shattered; the ball turned to flame.
And yet, the game continued.
She surged toward him, eyes glowing. "This point decides everything!"
"Then I'll take it!"
They collided midair.
Shadow and chaos crashed, creating shockwaves that rippled through the air like torn space. Every bounce of the ball now felt like thunder, each dribble warping the court further.
Riku's hands moved faster than thought—behind-the-back, side-switch, crossover, feint. Vexa mirrored every motion perfectly.
Then—
Thump.
She vanished.
The sound of a heartbeat echoed. Riku turned—too late. Vexa reappeared behind him, shooting with one hand, the ball leaving a trail of burning crimson light.
He dove, shadows exploding from his body. Lira shouted, NOW!
He reached out—his fingertips barely touched the ball—just enough to twist its spin.
It hit the rim.
Bounced.
Once.
Twice.
And rolled out.
Gasps echoed through the arena.
Before Vexa could react, Riku grabbed the rebound and launched it full-court.
A single line of black flame traced its path through the air.
Silence.
Then—
Swish.
Clean.
Point 3 — Phantom.
The scoreboard froze.
Vexa fell to her knees, chaos energy flickering out. The court slowly reformed, the crowd reappearing in stunned silence.
Riku stood in the center, panting, his hands shaking slightly.
Vexa looked up, smiling weakly. "You shouldn't exist in this world, Riku Vane."
"Yeah," he said, still catching his breath. "People keep saying that."
She extended her hand. "Then prove it again in the League."
He clasped it firmly. "Wouldn't miss it."
The crowd erupted.
Above the shattered court, new glowing text appeared in midair:
> WINNER: TEAM PHANTOM (Riku Vane) — ADVANCES TO SHADOW LEAGUE MAIN STAGE
As the arena faded back into darkness, Lira whispered in his ear, voice softer now.
"You realize what that means, right?"
"Yeah," he said, eyes fixed on the vanishing crimson sky. "We're officially on their radar."
To be continued...