Chapter 278: Chapter 265: The king vs The Challenger

The storm of cheers from the arena echoed like thunder, but on theChicago Raptors’ bench, a different storm brewed silent, heavy, pressing.

Coach Jenkinsstood with his clipboard pressed to his chest. Under the arena lights, the sweat on his forehead glistened like cold dew. His breathing wasn’t steady.His eyes weren’t on the court... they were on the Gods.

His fingers twitched.

Crack.

The plastic edge of the clipboardsplit slightly under his grip.

He hadn’t even noticed.

Around him, the young Raptors were stretching, tightening their shoelaces, breathing slowly to control their excitement. But Jenkins... Jenkins’ hands were shaking.

He had seen many prodigies.

Many monsters in youth basketball.

Butthis... this was something else.

He called out, voice barely more than a whispercoarse, as if it had scraped against fear on the way out.

"...Jalen."

The name cut through the noise.

Jalen Carter turned.

Calm steps. No rush. His aura didn’t flare, it simplyexisted, heavy and controlled, like a king choosing not to draw his blade yet.

Coach Jenkins met his eyes... and for a moment, he hesitated.

(This kid... is still only fifteen. I’m supposed to guide them... supposed to protect them from pressure like this.)

(But look at this arena... look at those monsters across from us... I can’t lie to them–)

He swallowed, his voice low and trembling with honesty that felt almost too raw to speak in front of his players.

"I hate to admit it..."

His eyes flicked toward Zeus standing across the court, surrounded by his team of gods like a divine court.

"They’re too strong... and I’m... scared."

The words landed likea confession.

Some of the players nearby flinched, instinctively looking at their coach thepillarof their team hearing him name his fear.

Jalen’s brows shifted. Not in disappointment. Not in confusion.

In understanding.

"Coach?"he said, not with doubt...but with clarity, as if urging him to continue.

Coach Jenkins let out a deep exhale... like expelling the fear from his lungs.

Then slowly despite the tremor still in his fingers, he forced a smile.

Not a confident one.A determined one.

He stepped forward, eyeslocking onto Jalen’s like steel meeting fire.

"...But."

The word cut through the tension sharply.

"I trust you."

His voice gained strength.

"I trust our team."

His hand, the one clutching the clipboard, slowly relaxed letting the cracked plastic rest at his side.

He spoke through clenched teeth, fear still present... but no longer in control.

"We won’t go down that easily."

The players behind him straightened subconsciously. A few fists clenched. Shoulders rose.

Jalen looked at his coach really looked and somethinghumble yet fierceflickered in his eyes.

Slowly... he closed his own hand into a fist, knuckles tightening.

He didn’t shout. He didn’t pose.

He just spoke, calm, steadylike a king confirming a sentence.

"...Coach."

Jenkins held his breath.

"I’m going to win this."

Timestilledfor just a second.

Then the arena roared again but for Chicago Raptors,a different fire had already been lit.

The arena lights cut down like divine spotlights.

Each step onto the polished floor sounded like awar drum.

Chicago Raptors walked in.

Thunder in their footsteps silent, heavy, felt in the chest more than heard.

Then... the air changed.

From the opposite tunnel, the team known asThe Godsemerged.

They didn’t walk like players.

They advanced likeentities, like this court was built forthem, like the floor existedbecause they stepped on it.

The crowd roared.

But in the middle of that noise,there was silence.

Becausetwo peoplehad locked eyes.

Jalen Carterstood at the center circle.

Hands behind his back. Posture straight. Face unreadable.

Across from him,Zeusapproached, each step calculated not rushed, not lazy.

His presence was like athrone lowered into a battlefield.

They stoppedsix feet apart.

The world around them blurred.

Wind pressure formed between them even without motion.

Both teams slowed, watching because this wasn’t just a match opening.

This was a declaration.

Jalen exhaled slowly, aura condensing behind him like a storm trying not to form.

He spoke not loud, not arrogantjust absolute.

"I am Jalen."

Notnice to meet you.

NotI’ll show you.

JustI am here.

Zeus didn’t blink.

He looked at Jalen

Not like a rival.

Not like a warrior.

Like a king looking at an insect that thought it was a comet.

He didn’t speak.

Hetilted his chin slightly, as if even acknowledging the introduction wasbeneath him.

The air between themcrackedlike glass.

Suddenly—

BOOM.

A pressure wave burst outward.

Both benches stiffened as the courttrembledfor a split heartbeat.

No one moved.

Butevery soul in that arena felt it.

Two kings stood at center court.

One already crowned.

One coming for the throne.

Referee stepped forward, clearly shaken but doing his duty.

His hand lifted the ball.

Jalen didn’t even look at it.

His eyes...never left Zeus.

Zeus gave the slightest smirk,the kind that said

"This court was mine before you learned to walk."

Jalen’s pulse stayed steady.

(Then watch closely... as I take it from you.)

The referee tossed the ball upward.

But it didn’t feel like a simple throw.

No

It felt like aHeavenly Decreelaunched into the air, deciding whichkingdomwould stand... and which one would kneel.

Jalen didn’t bend his knees in a rush like rookies do.

He stood perfectly still until thelast millisecond, eyes locked on Zeus not on the ball.

Zeus... didn’t even bother adjusting his stance. His posture was regal, mocking in its ease.

As if the ball would bow to him on its own.

BAM—

Aura ignited.

Jalen’s aura:

Sharp. Lightning-like.A blade forged from pure will, cutting upward through gravity.

Zeus’ aura:

Heavy. Sovereign.A golden pressure that didn’t rise, it expanded, declaring all space above asalready his territory.

The courtcrackedbeneath their feet.

Spectators leaned forward without meaning to.

Inner Worlds Collide

Jalen (thought):(This time... I don’t care about talent. I don’t care about destiny. I will drag you down from that throne with my own hands.)

Zeus (thought):(A cub with ambition are amusing. Very well. Entertain me... while you still breathe.)

JUMP.

The floorsnappedunder their launchdust flicked up like explosions.

Both kings rose.

Timestretched.

Every heartbeat in the arena slowed. Fans had their mouths open, frozen mid-cheer.

Jalen’s right hand extended like a spear.

His vertical leap feltinhuman, like gravity allowed him passageonly because he forced it to.

Zeus didn’t reach.

He ascended.The airpartedfor him like subjects kneeling before royalty.

The ball reached peak height...

And there,their fingertips touched it together.

Impact

CRACKKKKK—

A shockwaverippledfrom the contact point, scattering dust across the polished floor.

The refereestumbled back. Some players instinctively shielded their eyes.

It wasn’t a tip-off.

It was a collision between two realities one that ruled... and one that refused to be ruled.

Jalen’s fingerscurved, redirecting the ball with forcenot upward, but forward, a direct aggressive push,a declaration of war.

Zeus’ eyes narrowed.

For the first time...

He exerted real force.

Their auras flaredgold vs white lightning, swirling in a cyclone above the court.

The ball finally broke freelaunched toward Tyrese.

Raptors possession.

The whistle officially blew.

And just like that... Chicago Raptors vs The Gods had begun.

To be continue

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com