Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 510: Shizi Dogs vs. Juren Champions (13)

The final quarter began, not giving the players any time to think about what had happened during the last few minutes of the third one.

67-71.

There was no break, no substitutions. Both teams stuck to their starting five, the players who had been clashing head-to-head in the first quarter.

"It's all on the line now," Gina said, her voice pitched with exhilaration. "No breaks, no subs. The same line-up as before. This is going to be a battle to the very end, David!"

David bounced in his seat. "You're absolutely right, Gina," he replied. "We're seeing two teams at their peak, and it's anyone's game. But you've got to wonder—how much gas do they have left in the tank, especially with the intensity we've seen from Kai Guo?"

On the court, Kai glanced at his teammates, giving them a sharp nod. They had worked hard to close the gap, their efforts pushing them neck and neck with the Champions. Now, they were up by just four points, but Kai wanted more.

He needed more.

He knew he could do more.

Jian was standing across from him, his chest heaving as he sucked in deep breaths.

Sweat poured down his face; his eyes glazed with the realization that his opponent was catching up to him.

He couldn't hide the exhaustion anymore, and it was clear he was struggling to keep up.

Chaoxing cursed under his breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

He shot a glance at Jian, then back at Kai, before sighing in frustration. "This kid's insane," he muttered to himself. "I can't believe I was so excited to play with him. They should have been eliminated beforehand!" he lightheartedly exclaimed.

But Jimmy, standing by Jian's side, clenched his fists. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

In fact, he couldn't accept it. Kai couldn't be better than him. "There's no way," he muttered. "Please, there's no way."

Kai smirked as he caught the ball from Jinping, feeling everyone's eyes on him. The Elites, the Champions, the crowd—they were all watching, waiting to see what he would do next.

He dribbled once, twice, feeling the familiar rhythm of the ball against his palm. Contrary to what they believe, he still had a lot of energy left.

"The Champions couldn't stop him in those few minutes. Can they hold him back now?" David asked.

Jian stepped up to guard him, his stance wide, arms outstretched. He was panting, his breath labored, but he still managed to force a determined grin.

He was still better.

He was a natural player.

"It's not over," he said.

Kai's smirk deepened, his eyes narrowing in focus. "You're right," he replied smoothly. "It's not over—because I'm just getting started."

He moved in a blur, cutting to his left, then switching directions so fast it made Jian stumble. It was like Kai was gliding on the court; his movements were similar to landslides.

The ball was a natural extension of his body, and the way he handled it left the crowd gasping in awe. He drove into the paint, and for a moment, it looked like he was going for a layup.

But it was a fake.

Jimmy and Chaoxing both lunged to block him, their arms reaching high, but Kai pivoted on his heel, spinning out of their reach. He passed the ball behind his back to Jinping, who was already cutting to the corner.

Jinping caught it and immediately dished it out to Andy, standing beyond the arc. Andy, who had been cold from three-point range earlier, squared his shoulders and took the shot.

"Andy for three!" Gina screamed. "Can he make it this time?"

David held his breath. "This could be the turning point," he said. "If this goes in, they'll widen the gap to seven points. It's a crucial shot!"

The ball swished through the net, a perfect shot that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The scoreboard lit up, the gap now at seven points. It was an insane play, perfectly executed by the Shizi Dogs. The momentum had shifted entirely in their favor.

Jian's face fell as he looked up at the scoreboard, the reality of the situation sinking in.

Seven points.

That was a huge gap this late in the game, especially against a team like the Shizi Dogs. His breathing grew heavier, his hands clenched into fists.

He could feel something inside him snap like a taut string finally breaking under pressure.

He needed to do something.

Chaoxing ran up to him, grabbing his shoulder. "Jian, we need you," he said urgently. "You have to pull it together. We can't lose this!"

But Jian's eyes were distant, unfocused. He could hear Chaoxing's voice, but it felt like it was coming from far away. His thoughts were racing—spiraling out of control.

"I'm trying," Jian muttered, almost to himself. "I'm trying my best…"

But then, the realization hit him like a train. If he was trying his best, then did that mean this was it? Was this as far as he could go? Did he have a limit?

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Kai, standing a few feet away, looked back at him with that same smirk and that same confident glint in his eyes. He seemed so relaxed, so at ease like he wasn't even breaking a sweat. It was infuriating.

Was that how he looked like back then?

Jian clenched his jaw, his hands trembling. He'd never felt this kind of helplessness before. He'd always been the best, the strongest, the one everyone else looked up to.

Gina's tone was softer, almost sympathetic. "You can see the conflict in Jian's eyes," she said. "He's doubting himself. He's questioning everything. And in a game like this, that kind of hesitation can be deadly. I think this is the first time we've seen him like this.

Jian looked down at his hands, the same hands that had carried him to victory so many times before. They were trembling now, shaking with the weight of his own doubts.

"Have I… reached my limit?" he whispered, barely audible.

As he raised his head to meet Kai's gaze, he felt a cold, sinking sensation in his chest. Because, for the first time, he couldn't see a path forward. He couldn't see a way to win.

The final quarter wasn't over yet, but it felt like the end was already written.

"Am I not the best, after all?"