The next morning, golden sunlight spread softly across the basketball court as a cool breeze swept through, refreshing and clear.
The Rustbucket was parked nearby. After leaving the museum yesterday, everyone had come here to rest and recover.
Early in the morning, Ben ran over to Lucian's bed with a basketball in his arms. "Cuz, let's go play! It's such a nice day!"
"Play ball?" Lucian, still half-asleep, perked up instantly. "Let's go. I'm in."
Ever since arriving in this world, he hadn't played basketball once. Back home, he had been a key player on his high school team—he loved the game. Even between classes, during ten-minute breaks, he'd drag his friends out to the court for a few quick shots...
The court was empty at dawn, so Lucian and Ben didn't need to wait for a team. They began shooting right away.
"Watch me!" Ben gritted his teeth, gripping the ball to his chest before hurling it forward with all his strength.
Thud! The ball slammed hard against the backboard and rebounded instantly, landing neatly in Lucian's hands.
"Ben, that's not how you play basketball." Lucian smiled lightly, spinning the ball on his fingertip. "Your shooting form matters. It's easier to fix it now than later."
Watching the ball spin perfectly, Ben's eyes lit up. "Cuz, teach me! I wanna play like you!"
Over the next half hour, Lucian patiently corrected Ben's shooting form and taught him how to dribble. As he guided Ben, he gradually regained his old rhythm—the ball control, the fluid movement, the precision in every shot.
"Looks fun. Can I join?" Gwen walked over, a simple, ancient-looking pendant hanging from her neck.
Seeing her, Lucian passed her the ball with a smile. "Gwen, take a shot."
Gwen's face flushed as she began dribbling, but her inexperience quickly showed—the ball slipped from her hands again and again.
"Alright, just give it a try," Lucian said, barely holding back a laugh.
Ben smirked at the sight. "Relax, that nerd's not making a shot. She looks like she couldn't lift a chicken."
"Doofus! I'm a karate master," Gwen huffed, tossing the ball in defiance.
But she was too far from the hoop, and with just one hand, the ball didn't even reach the two-point line before diving straight toward the ground.
"Woof!"
Out of nowhere, a playful golden retriever broke free from its leash, sprinting under the falling ball. With a strong leap, it headbutted the ball back into the air—straight toward the hoop.
Swish! The ball traced a perfect arc and dropped cleanly through the net.
"Oh yeah! Who's the best?" Gwen cheered, grinning triumphantly at her cousin.
Ben's jaw nearly hit the floor. "No way... that actually went in? Total dumb luck!"
Even Lucian was stunned. The effect of that charm was unbelievable.
He noticed the Charm of Luck around Gwen's neck glowing faintly with golden light—it looked truly magical.
"That was just luck," Ben muttered, refusing to believe it. He glared at the smug Gwen. "If you're so good, do it again."
Gwen snorted. "Doofus, watch and learn."
She stepped back to the three-point line, turning her back to the hoop.
A backward three-pointer!
Lucian's eyes narrowed. Scoring from that range wasn't hard—but hitting it backward? That took impossible precision.
Holding the ball in one hand, Gwen flicked it powerfully over her shoulder toward the hoop.
Whoosh!
A strange gust of wind swept across the court, slowing the ball's momentum. It started to drop—falling short, straight toward the one-point line.
Just when it looked like a total miss, the golden retriever appeared again!
Tongue lolling, it leapt up, bumping the ball skyward with its head.
Whoosh!
The ball ricocheted off the side of the Rustbucket, bounced onto a nearby sun-dried mattress, then sprang upward—landing on an overhead cable.
A sudden gust blew through, rolling the ball along the wire directly above the hoop. It dropped—and swish! Perfectly through the basket again.
Ben stood frozen, eyes bulging in disbelief.
Is... is this even possible?
"How about that, doofus?" Gwen clapped her hands and laughed.
"It was just luck," Ben said, waving it off, clearly refusing to admit defeat.
"The power of that Charm of Luck is unreal," Lucian murmured to himself. Could using magic that strong really come without any side effects?
Just then, Gwen yawned, looking a bit drowsy.
"I'm getting sleepy again, Cuz. You guys keep playing." With that, she turned to leave.
Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out from nearby.
"Help! Someone's stealing my purse!"
Everyone turned toward the voice. A fashionable middle-aged woman was sprinting after a group of young men, panic written across her face.
About five or six of them stood together, their hair dyed in every color imaginable—they looked like a mismatched cartoon team. Piercings, skinny jeans, flashy outfits... the textbook definition of street punks.
"Hero time!" Ben shouted, rushing behind the Rustbucket. He slammed the Omnitrix, but no matter how hard he pressed, it wouldn't pop up.
"Come on, you stupid watch!"
Meanwhile, Gwen, who had seen the robbery, had already dashed forward to block the thugs.
Lucian tried to stop her, but she didn't hear him and charged straight ahead.
With no other choice, Lucian ran to the Rustbucket, pressed the Omnitrix, switched to an alien hero, and slammed his hand down.
Thud!
A flicker of green light flashed and quickly faded.
He looked down at his tiny hands, then up at the Rustbucket, which now seemed impossibly huge beside him.
Grey Matter!!!
...