Prologue - The Elite Five

In the realm of high school basketball, legends were born, and among them stood 'The Elite Five.' 

Originating from diverse schools, their names alone made other players tremble in their shoes. 

Each player, a virtuoso in their own right, was united by a shared passion for the game of basketball. However, it was as rare as diamonds to see them in the same court. 

Yet here they were now—two members of 'The Elite Five' playing against each other before their very eyes. 

"Zheng receives the pass, eyes locked on the hoop. The defense converges, but Fang sets up a screen. Zheng takes a step back and creates the separation. It's a high-stakes gamble, and Zheng finally takes the aim!" 

"...and he makes it!" the commentator exclaimed, causing the right side of the bleachers to break into cheers. 

"Eagles, stand up tall. 

Hoops are calling; hear the call.

High and mighty, wings unfurled,

Eagles soar, rule the world!"

However, their cheers were cut short when Fang Liu, the youngest member of 'The Elite Five,' stole the ball from his opponent's hands and landed an effortless lay-up. 

"It's a tie once again!" the female commentator shouted. "This game feels like it's never going to end!"

Under the gymnasium lights, the squeak of basketball shoes echoed against the polished court. 

Each dribble resonated with precision, the ball bouncing almost in sync with the cheers of the audience. 

In the heart of the court stood the two teams—Huolan Guardians and Ying Eagles. 

"We welcome you again, ladies and gentlemen, to the clash of titans here at the Interhigh Preliminaries!" David Chou, a well-renowned commentator, exclaimed, his voice booming through the speakers and setting the court for the epic showdown. 

"It seems like the teams are putting everything they have into the game. I've never seen them play this intensely in the league before," Lisa Liang, the female commentator, said. 

"Well, of course," David chimed, "This is potentially the final game of the year for one of the two teams. Whoever wins this game will represent Beijing in the Interhigh National Basketball League!" 

The camera panned across the sea of colors as fans waved their respective team's banners high up in the air. The cheerleaders performed mesmerizing routines in the bleachers, only adding to the tension felt in the court. 

"Three minutes left," a frail-looking young man muttered from the seats of the players. He was wearing the representative green uniform of Huolan High, and his eyebrows furrowed as he watched the team's movements. 

He calculated their dribbles, passes, and shoots, taking note of the mistakes they had made in his trusty notebook. 

"Too hasty," he whispered as the team's center fumbled the ball, causing it to land in the hands of Ying Eagle's captain—Zheng Zhang. 

The boy watched as the prodigy passed through the players of Huolan High with great speed and precision, even landing the shot despite the odd circumstances. 

"Zheng makes it! He creates a two-point lead, and now, with less than two minutes on the clock, we cannot predict who will take home the trophy," Lisa Liang exclaimed. 

The young man gazed at Zheng with sparkling eyes, admiring his undefeatable skills. 

It was no wonder he was part of 'The Elite Five.' 

However, he couldn't stay happy for too long since he realized his team was now losing by two points. 

"Time out," he quietly said. 

"The coach of the Guardians calls for a time-out!" David said. "Let's see what kind of strategies they are going to implement to surpass the Eagles." 

The group of sweaty boys walked to their bench, each with furrowed eyebrows. 

Meanwhile, the frail young man moved his wheelchair to their side, smiling at them in respect. 

"Don't just smile at us, waterboy. Do your job." 

Kaiden's smile dropped as he quickly filled up the cups with water to give them to the exhausted team. However, as he got to Fang Liu, his hands trembled, causing some of the liquid to spill onto his expensive shoes. 

Kaiden's eyes widened as Fang threw him a glare. 

Fang didn't say anything, yet Kaiden felt the immense detestation in his gaze. 

However, Henry yapped as soon as he saw this. 

"Goodness. You can't even pass water correctly? Who even allowed a disabled kid to become our waterboy?" he exclaimed, causing Kaiden to cast his eyes to the ground. 

"I apologize," he muttered. 

"That's enough," the coach said, snapping them back to reality. 

They talked about their strategies while Kaiden made his way back to his original spot. 

'Henry sure does talk big for a player who already has four fouls,' Kaiden thought, wanting to say it out loud. However, he knew it would only cause him trouble. 

He was just a waterboy, after all. 

A water boy who couldn't even walk. 

The game resumed, with both teams looking more fired up than ever. 

The clock started, and the scoreboard displayed a nail-biting two-point lead in favor of the Ying Eagles. 

"Thirty seconds left!" David Chou almost shouted. 

"Fang Liu, the rising star of Huolan High, is making his move from beyond the arc!" Lisa exclaimed, her voice rising in tandem with the crowd's intensity. "But wait, there's Zheng Zhang, the towering force of Ying Academy." 

In a flash, the court transformed into a battleground between the two members of 'The Elite Five.' 

Fang Liu, determined to take the crown, attempted a three-point shot that could alter the course of the game. 

The ball soared through the air, and Kaiden held his breath along with the crowd. 

Time seemed to slow down as the ball left Fang's hands. 

"He's going to make it," Kaiden said, already predicting the trajectory of the shot. Excited screams could already be heard from the left side of the bleachers while those on the right exclaimed in disappointment. 

However, the crowd fell into a hush as Zheng defied gravity and deflected the ball away. 

For a second, silence reigned inside the court, only to be broken by David Chou. 

"Unbelievable block by Zheng Zhang! The Eagle's defense is truly impenetrable!" he exclaimed. 

Then, the buzzer sounded, signifying both triumph and defeat. 

"Congratulations to Ying Academy for winning the championships and making it into the national league!"