The Soul Arena buzzed with energy. Screens flickered, displaying highlights from the last match — Riku's black-flame shot against Kaori. His name trended again, even among upperclassmen.
But there was no time to bask in fame.
Across the court, a flash of blue lightning streaked through the air.
"Iris Volt," Kaori whispered, pointing. Her eyes widened. "She's the fastest point guard in the academy… maybe the world."
Riku tilted his head, watching the girl float above the court. Her hair glimmered like silver sparks, and her body left faint afterimages that flickered across the arena. Lightning danced along her arms as her spirit, Volt, coiled around her like a living electric whip.
"You ready for a real challenge, Phantom Boy?" Iris shouted. Her grin was wild, electric energy crackling in every movement.
Riku smirked. "I was born ready."
Lira's voice whispered in his mind. Speed-based spirit. She doesn't just attack physically — she attacks perception itself.
"Then perception's about to get schooled," Riku muttered.
---
The whistle blew.
Iris shot forward. The moment her feet touched the court, a blur of afterimages split from her body — five of her, ten of her, each moving along different trajectories.
Riku's eyes darted, scanning. The stadium slowed around him as he calculated the angles. He tossed the ball lightly, letting Lira's phantom extend from his shadow to form a temporary barrier.
Lightning struck. One of Iris's afterimages collided with the shield, dissipating into sparks. Another attempted a side swipe — Riku spun, dodged, and left a shadow echo in his place.
Bam!
The real Iris smashed the ball toward the hoop mid-spin.
Riku reacted instinctively, sending the ball into a phantom afterimage of himself — it bounced off a shard and redirected, grazing the hoop.
Point 1 — Iris.
The scoreboard glowed.
Riku grinned. "Fast. Not fast enough."
---
The next exchange was madness.
Iris darted left, then right, her spirit lightning snapping around her. Every dribble left arcs of electricity in the air, creating trails of glowing blue that twisted and bent reality around the court.
Riku adjusted. Phantom Zone Level Two activated instinctively — shadow afterimages stretched in every direction. He moved through them like smoke, dodging one, faking another, and pivoting off a floating shard to launch the ball at the hoop.
It grazed the rim. Almost missed.
But Iris reacted instantly, her spirit extending a whip of lightning to nudge it in midair — Point 2 — Iris.
The crowd exploded. Energy crackled in the air. Players around the arena whispered:
"Did she just steal the shot midair?"
"That's insane!"
---
Riku's pulse accelerated. Level Three Phantom Zone.
His shadows merged with Lira's energy, forming a single, fluid phantom double that mirrored his motions in a delayed rhythm. He ran, feinting left, dodging right, flipping backward over a shard, all while bouncing the ball in perfect sync with the shadow echo.
Iris blinked. She smirked. "Not bad."
She zipped forward — lightning splitting the court, afterimages blurring the line between reality and illusion. She leapt, twisting midair — impossible speed — to slam the ball.
Riku timed it perfectly, shadows guiding him. He jumped higher, catching it with one hand, spinning 360, and redirecting the ball midair with Lira's phantom pushing.
Swish — Point 1 — Phantom.
The scoreboard balanced: Iris 2 — Riku 2.
---
Both players paused, barely a heartbeat apart. Energy radiated around them, glowing arcs of black and blue intersecting like storm clouds.
Lira whispered, She's analyzing you — every move, every microreaction.
Riku's lips curved. Good. Means she's worth it.
Iris's eyes gleamed with a mix of thrill and challenge. "You can't just survive this… you have to outthink me."
Riku bounced the ball lightly. Then I'll do both.
They lunged simultaneously. Court shards cracked under their feet. Lightning and shadow collided midair, arcs of energy spinning, crackling, and bending the environment itself.
The first round of scoring done, the arena watched with bated breath. Two warriors, two spirits, one court — and the real battle was just beginning.
---
To be continued…