The sun rose over Royal Court Academy with the kind of brilliance that seemed to announce something greater than an ordinary day. But inside the practice gym, there was no celebration, no laughter—just the hard pounding of basketballs and the echo of sneakers across the polished floor.
Everyone knew the truth. Phantom Vortex had survived the unthinkable. They'd defeated Emberlight Dynasty in a record-breaking shootout, 523–522, on Drift's cold-blooded final shot. That meant only one thing: Royal Court would now face Phantom Vortex in the semifinals.
Coach Tunde stood at the center of the court, whistle hanging around his neck, his presence commanding silence. His eyes scanned the team—King, Treasure, Mia, Ebun, Jasmine, Cadel, AJ, and Kiisi. The main seven. The ones who carried the weight of history.
"This is no longer just about making it to the semifinals," Coach Tunde said firmly, voice echoing across the gym. "Royal Court has never been here before. But I'll be damned if we treat this as the finish line. This is preparation for war. Phantom Vortex is your opponent, and they will not show mercy. We will not either."
The group tightened into a circle, energy buzzing in the air. Everyone already knew Phantom Vortex's reputation—Drift's tempo, Joe's brute strength, Draco's long-range fire, Marve's accuracy, Sayrah's speed, Lucy's disruptive presence. It wasn't a team, it was a storm.
Roles Defined
Coach began assigning roles, walking slowly as he spoke.
King. "You will command. Drift controls rhythm, but you will not let him. You'll be our compass."King nodded, determination written across his face. "Then I'll set the tempo. His rhythm ends where mine begins."
Treasure. "You are our finisher. But Phantom Vortex will throw chaos at you. Don't force it—strike only when it matters most."Treasure spun the ball in his hands with a smirk. "When the moment's real, I'll be ready. Damn right."
Mia. "Your Gravity Step is our weapon against Drift himself. He speeds up, slows down—you bend space. His control ends when your foot lands."Mia gave a rare smile. "Then he won't be dancing on us. I'll make the court itself betray him."
Cadel. "You are our wall. Draco and Drift will try to crack you—don't let them breathe."Cadel's jaw clenched. "If they want points, they'll have to bleed for them."
Jasmine. "Your illusions are disruption. Phantom Vortex thrives on clarity and flow—take that away."Jasmine's eyes glimmered with mischief. "I'll make them chase ghosts until they forget what's real."
AJ. "Joe's strength is raw, but you manipulate weight itself. Redirect his force. Collapse his power."AJ tightened his fists. "He won't overpower me. Not in my paint."
Kiisi. "You are our spark. Your lightning reflexes will turn their mistakes into daggers. A single turnover could change everything."Kiisi nodded firmly, eyes burning. "I'll be the one to shift momentum when it matters."
The Scrimmage
"Simulation time," Coach barked. "Ola, Dan, Chibz—you're Phantom Vortex. Main seven, sharpen your blades."
The whistle blew.
Scenario 1: Drift Isolation. Ola, playing Drift, tried to weave tempo. Jasmine blurred illusions around him—phantom defenders closing in. Confused, Ola hesitated. King seized the ball, passed to Mia, who planted a Gravity Step. The court seemed to tilt; Ola froze mid-motion. Mia coasted to the rim.
Scenario 2: Joe's Power. Dan, acting as Joe, bulldozed down low. AJ bent gravity around him, making Dan's power slip off-balance. AJ stripped the ball, flicking it to Treasure. Treasure pulled up from deep, letting it fly—swish.
"Damn, too smooth," Treasure grinned.
Scenario 3: Draco's Shot. Chibz launched a deep three as Draco would. Cadel leapt, aura blazing, while Jasmine's illusions layered extra arms reaching for the ball. Chibz flinched, and Mia landed a Gravity Step into his shooting space, clean steal. King launched the ball downcourt. Kiisi blurred like lightning, finishing the fast break in an instant.
Final Words
The players regrouped, dripping with sweat, hearts pounding. Coach Tunde paced slowly, then stopped, eyes locking on each of them.
"This is how you win. Not as individuals. As one body. King leads. Treasure finishes. Mia bends tempo. Cadel defends. Jasmine deceives. AJ anchors. Kiisi strikes. That is Royal Court."
Silence fell—thick, heavy, but filled with belief.
Treasure finally broke it with a grin. "Ayo, if we run like this, Phantom's cooked."
King shook his head slightly. "Not yet. Drift isn't just another opponent. He's a test. And next week, we prove we're more than history—we're legends."
The team's eyes burned in unison. Phantom Vortex loomed ahead, but for the first time, Royal Court didn't just feel like challengers. They felt like destiny.