Chapter Nine

Right as Sasaoka called for a fast attack, Rukawa promptly sprinted towards the frontcourt.

In that crucial moment, everyone sprang into action, their reflexes kicking in.

"Is he going for a steal?" someone exclaimed.

"What astounding speed!" another voice chimed in.

It was only at that instant that Shiozaki and Ishii, positioned at the backcourt, managed to react.

"Seems like that rookie possesses an exceptional prowess. He not only scored three-pointers consecutively, but now he's executing an airborne steal," Shiozaki remarked.

"I never would have expected such formidable skills from a newcomer," Ishii added in surprise.

"Akagi and the others are in danger!"

As Long Yan's exceptional performance unfolded, the crowd of onlookers couldn't help but admire him in awe.

"Wow! Amazing!"

"He's so handsome!"

"Come on, freshman!"

Some female students couldn't resist cheering as they witnessed Long Yan's remarkable combination of good looks and exceptional gameplay.

In an instant, Long Yan's prowess overwhelmed everyone present, leaving them astounded.

Off the court, Ayako's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, her pretty face filled with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

"Long Yan, are you truly a beginner?" she marveled, unable to believe the extraordinary display of skill from someone supposedly new to the game.

Long Yan's exceptional performance, surpassing even the skills of a seasoned player like Rukawa Kaede, left no doubt that he was more than just a beginner.

Kogure couldn't bear to accept this reality.

"Damn, we underestimated that kid," He muttered in frustration.

"Get back on defense!" Akagi exclaimed, taken aback by the interception of the ball.

Long Yan's every move exceeded his expectations, prompting him to immediately rally Yasuda and the rest of the team to swiftly return to their defensive positions.

Without wasting a moment after the steal, Long Yan continued to dribble the ball with lightning speed, charging towards the frontcourt.

Kogure, caught off guard by Long Yan's agility, struggled to keep pace.

"Stop their fast breaks!"

Akagi commanded, determined to prevent Long Yan from scoring easy points in transition.

If the first-year team were to score in this situation, it would be a severe blow to their pride and reputation.

In a matter of moments, Long Yan made his way towards the basket with the ball in his possession.

(Ding!)

(Mission: Complete five assists)

[Reward: Accurate passing]

[Accurate passing skills: long pass, short pass, back pass, success rate increased to 90%. The farther the distance of the pass, the more physically demanding it becomes.]

The situation felt akin to attempting a full court shot, and a sudden system notification resonated.

Long Yan was momentarily stunned, surprised by the multitude of tasks triggered during this training match. However, he welcomed the challenge with enthusiasm.

"Five assists? That's simple," He thought confidently.

With a deliberate and elegant leap, he gradually ascended into the air.

Witnessing this, Kogure swiftly followed suit, leaping into the air and exerting all his effort to disrupt his layup.

However, in the blink of an eye, his grin widened upon seeing Kogure jump.

"Senior, I apologize, but you've been deceived once again," he taunted.

Before Kogure could react, Long Yan hurled the basketball he held directly towards the rebound.

"His intention isn't to shoot!!" someone shouted.

In that moment, Akagi and the rest of the team reached the basket, witnessing Long Yan's cunning move.

They immediately shouted at Kogure, but it was already too late.

By the time he comprehended what had happened...

"Boom!"

The sound of a powerful dunk echoed through the court.

Rukawa Kaede, with an air of handsomeness, swiftly followed up with an impressive alley-oop, forcefully slamming the basketball into the basket.

When Long Yan executed the steal, he glanced at him, who immediately understood the plan.

After successfully scoring, Rukawa offered a bit of praise, saying,

"Beautiful pass!"

"Better than some idiots," he added, casting a disdainful gaze towards Hanamichi Sakuragi on the sidelines.

With the seamless cooperation between Long Yan and Rukawa Kaede, the two-on-one play was executed flawlessly.

Sasaoka and the others who rushed over saw Long Yan and Rukawa Kaede teaming up to expand the score again, and their faces were full of excitement:

"Long Yan, Rukawa, well done!"

At this time, Kogure was very helpless.

What is this called? It was completely played with and applauded.

Akagi glanced at him and comforted him.

"Kogure, keep the rhythm, the ball just now really can't be helped."

"Work harder!"

Although he was aggrieved, he still nodded his head at Akagi in response.

Akagi serves.

"Stay steady, pay attention to Long Yan's steal."

After handing the ball to Kogure, Akagi trotted up and opened his mouth to remind him.

"Come on, let's defend this possession," Akagi urged his teammates, his voice brimming with determination.

In that moment, the Kuwata team's confidence soared, and they swiftly marked their respective defensive assignments.

Meanwhile, Long Yan flashed a warm smile at Rukawa.

"Rukawa, let's collaborate a few more times." Long Yan exclaimed, his optimism shining through.

'With you by my side, completing five assists will be a breeze,'

Rukawa immediately nodded, acknowledging the plan they had in mind.

Just as the referee's whistle pierced the air, signaling the end of the first quarter, the score displayed on the court left everyone astounded.

It stood at an astonishing 17:4, favoring Long Yan's team.

The first-year freshmen team maintained a significant lead, leaving their opponents trailing far behind.

During the short breaks, Kuwata and several other teammates gathered around Long Yan, their faces filled with a mix of envy and admiration.

"Long Yan, is it true that you're just a beginner?" they asked, their voices laced with awe.

"It's incredible," they added in genuine amazement.

In the subsequent plays, Long Yan skillfully drew the attention of the opposing defense, creating numerous scoring opportunities for Rukawa Kaede.

To Kuwata and the other first-year players, it felt as though they were facing a two-on-five situation, as Long Yan showcased extraordinary skills that seemed almost monstrous in nature.

"I've studied various tactics from books before, so it's paying off a little," he modestly replied, accompanied by a smile.

He wisely chose not to reveal the existence of the system, keeping it as his own secret.

Even if Long Yan were to reveal the truth, he was afraid that no one would believe him.

So, he decided to come up with a plausible excuse to evade the subject.

"Hahaha, well done!" Ayako exclaimed, her hands patting the shoulders of Long Yan and Rukawa Kaede in approval.

"Keep up the great work!" she encouraged them, her optimism evident.

"I'm really optimistic about your potential," she added, expressing her high hopes for their future.

As Ayako patted their shoulders, her touch lingered a little longer on Long Yan, sensing something extraordinary in him that surpassed her initial expectations.

On the other side, Kogure sat on the chair, his face displaying extreme embarrassment.

In his confrontation with Long Yan, he found himself completely outplayed and dominated.

Long Yan seemed to effortlessly control the game, overpowering him both in attack and defense.

The sheer dominance displayed by Long Yan left him feeling utterly crushed and helpless, unable to find a way to counter his opponent's every move.

He had once doubted himself, wondering if he was truly too weak.

However, deep down, he couldn't help but feel a sense of joy witnessing Long Yan's exceptional strength.

It appeared that Long Yan had already reached the level of an official player, and with Akagi, Long Yan, and Rukawa on the team, the overall strength of Shohoku would undoubtedly improve significantly.

This was exactly what he, as the vice-captain, had hoped to see.

"Hahaha, that Long Yan guy, he's been hiding his true abilities so well. It seems like we've all underestimated him greatly," he chuckled, acknowledging the impressive skills Long Yan had showcased.

"And Rukawa Kaede, not bad at all. Perhaps we can truly achieve our goals this year," he added, his optimism growing.

Akagi wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel.

Despite his team being far behind in the score, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment witnessing the strength displayed by Long Yan and Rukawa.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the court, a spectator voiced their disapproval.

"Boss, your team is playing quite poorly,"

An audacious voice suddenly disrupted the atmosphere inside the basketball hall.