The sun was barely up when Royal Court gathered again for training. The air was heavy, not just with morning haze but with something new: Kiisi's presence.
She moved with grace in drills, weaving through cones like she had always belonged here. Her passes were crisp, her shot smooth, and her defensive stance made even Treasure struggle to get by.
Yet not everyone was welcoming.
Ebun avoided eye contact, sticking close to Jasmine."Don't you think this is… sudden?" she whispered.Jasmine shrugged, smiling faintly. "Maybe. But you can't deny she's good. Besides…" she nudged Ebun, "…you've got your own crush to worry about, remember?"
Ebun's cheeks heated instantly."Shhh! Not here!" she hissed.
Meanwhile, AJ couldn't keep his focus straight. Every time Kiisi called out his name for a pass, he nearly fumbled. King noticed, smirking."You good, bro? You look like you've seen a ghost."AJ glared, but King chuckled, clearly enjoying it.
Coach Tunde eventually gathered everyone mid-court."Listen up! Kiisi is here now, and she's not taking anyone's spot—she's earning her role like the rest of you. If anyone's got a problem with that, settle it here, on the hardwood."
The challenge was clear. Cadel smirked, ready for competition. Mia nodded seriously. Treasure cracked his knuckles. The message landed.
Royal Court would adapt—or fall apart.
Elsewhere…
At a packed arena across the tournament grounds, a storm was brewing.
Blackflame Academy faced the Thunderstrike Bulls in a high-stakes elimination clash. From the start, it was chaos—Thunderstrike's raw physicality clashed with Blackflame's speed and precision.
The score was tight for three quarters, but in the fourth, the Bulls unleashed their fury. A barrage of fast breaks, dunks, and suffocating defense left Blackflame scrambling.
Final buzzer: Thunderstrike Bulls 188 – Blackflame Academy 170.
Gasps erupted from the stands. One of the strongest academies had just been sent home.
But the biggest shock came after.
In the locker room, Zane Alkano, Blackflame's powerhouse, sat quietly, towel draped over his shoulders. His eyes burned—not with defeat, but with determination. He had already made his decision.
The very next morning, whispers spread across the tournament village:
Zane Alkano has transferred to Brook Academy.
The news hit like a lightning bolt. Brook—already a powerhouse with Telvin—had just gotten even scarier.
Back to Royal Court…
As they wrapped practice, Treasure scrolled his phone and froze."Uh… guys?" he muttered."What's up?" Cadel asked.Treasure turned the screen so they all could see. Headlines blared across social media:
"ZANE ALKANO JOINS BROOK ACADEMY – THE TITANS JUST GOT STRONGER."
The whole gym went silent. Even Kiisi's confident smile faded.
King clenched his fists."So it's them… Brook. They're building an army."
Coach Tunde's eyes narrowed, his voice low but sharp:"Then we'd better be ready for war."