Chapter Six

The moment Long Yan got the ball, a wave of anticipation filled the air.

Under Akagi's strong leadership, Shiozaki and the rest of the team quickly regrouped on defense, determined to protect their side of the court.

Akagi fixed his gaze firmly on Rukawa, then shouted at Kogure, "Kogure, keep an eye on him."

Akagi instructed, his voice filled with authority. He understood that defending Rukawa meant defending the entire team of first-year players.

Kogure eagerly accepted the challenge, opening his arms wide to block Long Yan's path to the basket.

He couldn't help but wonder about the rookie's capabilities that demanded such caution.

However, Kogure was not underestimating the enemy in the slightest. He knew better than to make that mistake.

Long Yan remained silent, a faint smile forming at the corners of his mouth. With a slow dribble, he advanced the ball across half-court.

Just as he was about to make his move, a voice echoed in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Task: Score two three-pointers.]

[Reward: Quick recovery]

'Quick recovery?'

Long Yan questioned, reading the task reward. Was it related to his physical strength?

For now, he couldn't dwell on it. After all, the system had gifted it to him, and he didn't want to let it go to waste.

Meanwhile, everyone watched as Long Yan stood still, offering no hint of his next move.

Someone called out, "Long Yan, pay attention to the time!"

The shot clock was ticking, nearing the 30-second mark, yet Long Yan showed no sign of passing or shooting.

Concern started to creep in.

Did Long Yan lack the knowledge of breaking through?

Ayako, observing from the sidelines, mirrored the confusion. Long Yan had shown great skill during their basic training.

What was he playing at now?

Not only Ayako, but even Akagi, who was diligently defending Rukawa Kaede, found himself perplexed.

Was Long Yan as impulsive as Sakuragi Hanamichi?

Was he an amateur?

It seemed that the game was nearing its end, and more practice would be needed.

Rukawa furrowed his brow, unsure of Long Yan's intentions. With time running out, he felt the urgency to speak up.

"Pass me the ball!" Rukawa urged, his voice tinged with impatience.

"Ayako, you see, Long Yan is indeed a beginner, so you should let me play," Hanamichi Sakuragi confidently suggested to Ayako.

At that very moment, Hanamichi Sakuragi noticed Long Yan's motionless figure and let out a heavy sigh, wearing a smug expression on his face.

Coach Anzai sat quietly on the chair, his brow slightly furrowed.

He couldn't help but wonder about this boy's intentions. What was he planning to do?

A profound silence fell upon the entire basketball arena, with many spectators feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement at Long Yan's lack of action.

"What a layman!"

"Doesn't he understand the rules of the game?"

The onlookers couldn't help but comment on Long Yan, expressing their incredulity one after another.

"The last two seconds!"

As the acting referee checked the time, he placed the whistle in his mouth, ready to blow it and signal the end of the play.

"It's all over, it's gone!"

Just as everyone began shaking their heads and letting out disappointed sighs, Long Yan firmly grasped the basketball with both hands.

He swiftly moved into his shooting stance, determination evident on his face.

"What is he doing?"

"Is he really going to shoot from this distance?"

"Is he serious? It's only halftime!"

The onlookers were taken aback by Long Yan's shooting posture, unable to comprehend his decision.

"Shoot? Long Yan, don't mess around!"

"Pass the ball to Rukawa Kaede!"

His teammates, witnessing Long Yan's shooting motion, felt their hearts race with anxiety.

From such a distance, the chances of scoring seemed almost impossible, let alone for Long Yan.

Rukawa couldn't help but furrow his brow, clearly puzzled by Long Yan's actions.

Was this guy simply fooling around?

Kogure, Akagi, and the rest of the team looked on in utter surprise, struggling to make sense of the situation.

An air of urgency filled the court.

Kogure instinctively lowered his hands, realizing there was no need to defend in this moment.

In the next second, Long Yan explosively jumped, launching the basketball high into the sky with a steady and perfectly arched trajectory that defied expectations.

*Beep!*

The piercing sound of the whistle reverberated through the arena, marking an unexpected turn of events.

The entire audience held their breath, their collective gaze fixated on the spinning basketball suspended in the air.

In the blink of an eye, the game had just begun, yet the atmosphere in the arena became electrically charged with tension and anticipation.

"Swish!"

A distinctive sound resonated through the court as the ball gracefully passed through the net, completing a perfect shot.

At that very moment, the spectators were left dumbfounded, their jaws dropping in disbelief.

"What? Did it actually go in?"

"Damn, that was incredible!"

"I think that kid just threw it randomly. It was pure luck."

The onlookers, witnessing the seemingly impossible long-range shot, erupted into a chorus of excited and bewildered reactions, their voices blending into a cacophony of amazement.

"What? It's a goal?"

"Huh?"

Yasuda and the other players on the court found it difficult to comprehend what had just transpired.

It appeared too surreal to be true.

Even Akagi, known for his stoicism, couldn't help but be taken aback by the unexpected feat.

"How is this even possible?"

Ayako, her eyes wide with astonishment, couldn't tear her gaze away from the ball nestling comfortably in the net.

"Damn it, he was just pretending!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi, consumed by envy, cast an envious glance at Long Yan, his teeth gritted in frustration.

"Hehehe, not bad, that first-year freshman. I wonder how he'll perform in the future,"

Coach Anzai remarked, nodding secretly in approval as he witnessed the flawless shot.

His curiosity piqued, he couldn't help but examine Long Yan more closely, contemplating the young player's potential.

Unbelievable as it was, Kogure's mind churned with a whirlwind of thoughts. He redirected his gaze towards Long Yan, filled with curiosity.

"Young man, was that sheer skill or simply good luck?"

"Well, senior, what do you think?" Long Yan responded with a mischievous smile, teasingly throwing the question back.

In truth, Long Yan had activated his long-range shooting skills to ensure the shot's success.

Failing would have been both embarrassing and detrimental to the team's momentum.

However, as the exhilaration of the moment subsided, Long Yan came to a realization.

Though the skill boasted a 100% accuracy rate, it still exacted a significant toll on his stamina.

Considering his current condition, he became acutely aware that he could only attempt a few more long three-pointers.

It became evident that he urgently needed to improve his physical strength; otherwise, he risked jeopardizing his performance and potentially embarrassing himself on the court.

As the other players, except for Rukawa, stood in stunned silence, Long Yan's voice thundered across the court.

"Get back on defense!"

His commanding words snapped his teammates out of their momentary daze, jolting them into action as they swiftly regained their defensive positions.

Rukawa, ever composed, nodded in approval at Long Yan's display and offered a few concise words of praise.

"Good job."

And that was all he said.

With Long Yan, the first-year player, leading the way and sinking a remarkable three-pointer, the team's spirits soared to new heights.

"Everyone, gather around! It's time to launch a counterattack. Let's show them the strength of our team!"

Akagi's resonant voice echoed throughout the basketball arena, carrying a powerful mix of determination and passion.

Long Yan's unexpected shot, whether intentional or not, had sparked a fire within him, fueling his inner fighting spirit.

Pass.

Dribble.

With every move, Long Yan pushed forward, steadily advancing towards the restricted area.

*Boom!*

The sound of thunderous impact filled the air as Akagi executed a forceful, high-flying dunk, emphatically reclaiming two points for the senior class.

The audience erupted in an explosion of exuberance, their cheers reverberating through the arena.

The score board now displayed a score of 2:3, with the senior class closing the gap.

"Akagi Takenori is serious!" the spectators exclaimed in awe, marveling at the sheer power and determination displayed by Akagi.