The Soul Arena had changed.
Yesterday, it was a training court.
Today, it was a battlefield.
Riku stood among hundreds of players, each one flanked by their glowing spirits — angels, demons, beasts, and weapons, all humming with soul energy. The entire stadium pulsed with power; it felt like standing in the center of a storm.
A massive hologram flickered to life above the court. The emblem of the Soul League shone — twin wings wrapping around a flaming basketball.
Then, a voice thundered through the arena.
> "WELCOME, CANDIDATES! THE DRAFT TRIALS BEGIN NOW!"
The announcer's words echoed like thunder. The crowd of players erupted into shouts — some excited, others trembling.
Riku barely blinked. His hands were in his pockets. Lira floated behind him, arms crossed, unimpressed.
"Seems crowded," she said.
He smirked. "That's what makes it fun."
---
A figure descended from above, landing with a soft shockwave that cracked the floor.
Golden hair, eyes like molten sunlight — Nyra, the Celestial Referee.
The crowd went silent. Even the spirits bowed slightly — divine pressure leaked from her every step.
"Listen carefully," she said, voice calm but commanding. "The Soul League Draft is not about teamwork — not yet. It's about worth. Today, you'll prove your resonance, not through words, but through performance."
She raised her hand. Instantly, glowing hexagonal screens surrounded the players, each displaying a number.
"Each of you will be ranked based on the Soul Index — a measure of synchronization, spirit stability, and emotional output. You start at Rank 1000."
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
Nyra continued, "You'll rise or fall based on performance in direct matches. Every win raises your rank. Every loss drops it. Simple. Brutal. Fair."
Then her smile sharpened. "Survive this stage, and you'll earn your Soul League license."
She turned, eyes locking directly on Riku. "And yes… even you, Phantom Dribbler."
The crowd broke into murmurs — they all recognized him.
Riku simply smiled. "Guess hiding's not an option anymore."
Lira chuckled. "You love it."
---
The first trial began moments later.
Dozens of courts formed across the arena, each with glowing lines of soul energy. Riku's number flashed: COURT 23.
He strolled over — Kaori Blaze was already there, flames flickering around her shoulders.
"Great," she said, rolling her eyes. "You again."
"Don't act like you're not happy to see me."
"Please. I'm just here to crush your ranking before you get cocky."
Her spirit, Inferna, appeared behind her — a flaming archer with a molten bow. The air shimmered from the heat.
Lira materialized beside Riku, her aura cool and sharp. "Let's not waste time, Master."
"Who's wasting?" Riku said, spinning the ball once.
Nyra's voice echoed overhead:
> "MATCH START — COURT 23!"
---
Kaori moved first — faster than flame. Her spirit fired a burning arrow that split into three, each one shaping into a fiery clone of herself.
"Triple Blaze Drive!" she shouted.
The court became a blur of heat. Most players would've panicked. Riku just dropped low, shadows swirling around his feet.
He moved like smoke. One second he was there, the next he wasn't.
Lira's voice was calm in his mind. Pattern — right flank, double mirage attack. She's testing your read speed.
He grinned. Then let's pass the test.
He vanished.
A heartbeat later, he reappeared directly behind one of her flame clones — slamming the ball off the court, creating a shockwave of shadow. The clone exploded into sparks.
Kaori's eyes widened. "Tch—still the same reckless playstyle."
"Still works," he said, already mid-spin.
She jumped, shooting from midair. The flaming shot curved unnaturally, bending through the air toward the hoop.
Riku hurled his ball upward at the same time — it collided with hers mid-flight, cancelling both shots in a burst of black and red fire.
They landed simultaneously, eyes locked.
The scoreboard flashed: 0–0.
---
Minutes passed.
Dribbles echoed like gunshots.
Each attack was faster, sharper, more desperate. The crowd around their court began to gather — other players pausing to watch.
"She's insane!"
"No — look at his movement! He's reading her spirit's arrows before they even fire!"
Lira's tone was steady but urgent. You're syncing too fast, Riku. Your pulse is hitting Phantom limits.
"Can't slow down now," he muttered. "She's heating up."
Indeed, Kaori's flames turned from red to blue — the sign of maximum resonance. Inferna's voice echoed through the arena, Blaze Mode — Ignition Level Three.
The temperature spiked. The air shimmered.
Kaori vanished in a flash of blue fire, reappearing right in front of him, her shot already halfway formed.
"Got you!"
But Riku smirked. "You sure?"
A phantom hand shot from the ground — Lira's projection — grabbing Kaori's ankle for a split second.
It was enough.
Riku pivoted, spinning behind her, releasing the ball with one hand. It curved through the heatwaves and dropped perfectly into the hoop.
Swish.
Point 1 – Phantom.
The crowd went wild.
Kaori landed, panting, flames dimming slightly. "Damn it…"
Riku spun the ball casually on his finger. "Round one's mine."
She glared but smiled. "Don't celebrate too early."
---
Nyra's voice boomed overhead.
> "MATCH END – SCORE 1–0. RANK UPDATE: RIKU VANE #431 → #219."
The holograms lit up — his rank jumping hundreds of places instantly.
Players around the court murmured in disbelief.
"He climbed that fast…?"
"He beat a top-300 player in the first round?"
"Who even is that guy?"
Riku stretched his arms, calm as ever. "Guess we're climbing."
Lira smirked faintly. "And the higher you climb…"
"…the bigger the fall, yeah, yeah," he interrupted. "Let's keep playing."
Kaori blew a strand of hair from her face. "Next time, I'm the one climbing over you."
"Then make sure you catch up first," he said, walking off.
---
Far above, in the observation chamber, Nyra watched through the crystal monitors.
Behind her stood three shadowed figures — the League's top officials.
One of them spoke quietly. "The Phantom Dribbler. He's dangerous."
Nyra's golden eyes gleamed. "That's what makes him perfect."
To be continued...