Extra Basket-Chapter 68 - 55: White (11)

Time: 1:10 PM

Location: White Corporation HQ

The soft hum of the AC and the shuffling of papers filled the office of John White, CEO of White Corporation, a company dedicated to cutting-edge athletic supplements. Dressed in a pristine navy suit, he sat with his usual composed demeanor, signing off a stack of contracts, eyes sharp but calm.

Just as he reached for the next folder, a knock disrupted the rhythm.

"Come in," John said, not lifting his gaze.

The door creaked open and Eric Weck, his long-time assistant, stepped in—uneasy, hands trembling slightly as he held a tablet.

"Sir..."

John finally looked up, catching the tension on Eric’s face.

"Hmm?"

Eric hesitated for a second before speaking.

"Your wife... and your son... They’re not there."

John’s pen froze mid-air.

"...What do you mean?"

Eric swallowed.

"At the hospital, sir. They’re gone. I only saw your daughter, Lily... and she was crying."

The color drained from John’s face. He stood abruptly, his chair sliding back with a screech.

"What about Noah?! Where is he!?"

"He’s not in the house either, sir. Just your daughter. The maids say he was with your wife last night, but this morning—nothing."

"The CCTV," John barked. "Did you check it?"

Eric nodded quickly and handed him the tablet.

"Yes, sir. This is the footage."

John snatched it and pressed play.

The screen showed grainy black-and-white footage of the hospital hallway. Time stamp: 10:40 AM.

John watched. A figure—his wife—walking quickly, holding Noah’s hand. She looked over her shoulder. Seconds later, shadowy silhouettes emerged at the far end. They moved with precision, clearly not hospital staff.

Then—

The footage glitched.

When it returned, the hallway was empty.

John’s hand clenched the side of the tablet.

Despite his reputation for being cold and distant, especially toward his sons, his heart pounded with dread. He had always been harshest with Aiden, calling him untalented, pushing him away from basketball. But it wasn’t hate—it was fear. Fear that Aiden would walk a path filled with pain and disappointment. That his passion would break him.

But when Aiden got injured, John had been the first to call the best medical staff to the emergency room.

He remembered Aiden’s tears, and how tightly he had unconsciously gripped his father’s hand.

Now, it was happening again.

But worse.

"Contact every private investigator in the city," John said, his voice low but firm.

"Alert the company’s security division. I want facial recognition across every hospital and street camera in a 50-mile radius."

Eric nodded.

John stared at the paused footage—his wife’s fearful eyes frozen in the frame.

"Whoever took them..." he muttered, fury building in his chest, "They’ll regret it."

.....

Location: Mouth of Wilson Gymnasium

Time: 1:20 PM

Match: Vorpal Basket vs Thunderhawks

The gym buzzed with energy as students packed the bleachers, banners fluttering, and cheerleaders lined the court in perfect rhythm. The sound of sneakers squeaking on the polished hardwood was constant, echoing with every drill, bounce, and pivot.

On the Vorpal Basket side, chaos simmered under the surface.

Coach Fred clutched his clipboard like it was the last thing holding him together, sweat already forming under his arms.

"(Tsk. Why the hell are Ethan and Lucas not here?)" he thought, biting his lip. "(Even Evan’s missing... They picked today to vanish?)"

He turned his frustrated eyes toward his impromptu starting five.

Ryan Taylor (#11) stood tall but stiff, trying to project confidence.

Josh Turner (#8) adjusted the brace on his ankle, wincing slightly.

Brandon Young (#15) loomed silently at center, stretching out his long arms.

Coonie Smith (#6), now thrust into the role of starting point guard, sat silently on the bench, staring at his shoes.

Kai Mendoza, usually erratic but passionate, shot glances at the Thunderhawks like he was ready to brawl.

Only Jeremy (#42) sat on the bench, clearly nervous, bouncing his leg up and down.

"No Ethan. No Lucas. No Evan. What kind of lineup is this?" Ryan thought, looking to Coach Fred for a sign. "We’re walking into a slaughter."

On the Thunderhawks side, there was no panic. Only discipline.

Coach Lory Moore stood arms crossed, eyes scanning the gym.

"Where’s Charlotte?" she thought. "This isn’t like her to skip a game... And that boy, Lucas Graves, he’s gone too. Something’s wrong."

But her team?

They didn’t care.

Lena Kowalski spun the ball on her finger before flicking it effortlessly through the net. She smirked as she turned to her teammate.

"Hey Lena, looks like we’re playing against JV today. Graves and Albarado are out. Cakewalk."

Isabella "Izzy" Moreno tied her shoes, then looked up.

"Don’t get cocky, Lena. Play like it’s the championship. No mercy."

Sakura Tanaka, bouncing rhythmically under the basket, cracked her knuckles.

"I hope they try to come inside. I’m dying to block someone today."

Carmen "The Tiger" Delgado, stoic and silent, simply stared across the court at Brandon Young. There was no fear in her eyes—only calculation.

Eva Johansson, now starting as point guard in Charlotte’s absence, approached the half-court line with cool poise. She caught eyes with Coonie, offering him a small, professional nod.

"You ready for this?"

Coonie tightened his laces, stood slowly, and said under his breath:

"...I guess."

The referees walked to the center. One of them raised a hand and called:

"Captains, center court."

Ryan and Carmen stepped forward. Carmen’s arms were folded, stance relaxed but dangerous. Ryan tried to puff his chest, looking more serious than he felt.

"This won’t take long," Carmen said coldly.

"Yeah?" Ryan tried to grin, but it felt fake. "We’ll see about that."

Back in the huddle, Josh leaned toward Kai, keeping his voice low.

"Bro... my ankle still feels weird."

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"Then don’t land wrong," Kai whispered back. "Just pass it to me, I’ll shoot."

"Since when do you shoot?"

"Since we don’t got Lucas!"

On the sideline, Coach Fred shouted nervously.

"Defense first, don’t let Izzy get hot early! And someone please rebound!"

"I swear if we lose by 40... I’m faking a heart attack and quitting," he muttered to himself, clutching his clipboard tighter.

The referee raised the ball.

Whistle.

Tip-off.

Brandon Young launched himself skyward—his long arms stretched over everyone—and cleanly tapped the ball back to Coonie Smith, who scrambled to secure it.

"YES! Brandon got it!" Ryan shouted, stunned but pumped.

"Let’s gooo!" Kai yelled, already sprinting to the wing.

Carmen blinked.

"Tch. Stronger than he looks..."

Coonie, nervous but focused, called out the play.

"Two! Two!"

And just like that...

The game began.

Far away—beyond the school, beyond the gym—six missing players faced a different battlefield.

And neither side could afford to lose.

.....

Meanwhile The six teenagers—Ethan Albarado, Lucas Graves, Louie Gee Davas, Evan Cooper, Charlotte Graves, and Noah White—stood side by side on the mysterious court, tension thick in the air. A faint electronic buzz came from the walls. It didn’t feel like reality—it felt like a stage.

Then they saw them.

Venganza.

Five figures emerged from the shadows—wearing sleek, pitch-black and a little bit red jerseys with crimson outlines and the word VENGANZA etched in aggressive lettering across their chests.

The one in front stepped forward.

He had slick black hair, a lean but toned build, and a smirk that screamed arrogance. His eyes scanned the six players like a predator eyeing wounded prey.

He clicked his tongue and said:

"So, these are the people we’re up against?"

He tilted his head slightly.

"Tch. I thought they’d at least look like a challenge."

Vin Cruz – Captain of Venganza

The air felt heavier when he spoke.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "...This guy... he’s dangerous."

Lucas stepped forward slightly, glaring.

"Don’t underestimate us just because you don’t know us."

Vin’s smirk widened.

"Oh, but I do know you." He pointed directly at Ethan.

"Ethan Albarado."

Ethan froze for a moment. His fists clenched.

"What?"

Vin chuckled and turned to the rest of his team.

"Looks like I struck a nerve."

From behind him, four more players stepped into view—each one carrying themselves like wolves.

A broad-shouldered boy twirled the ball on his finger with unnatural grace.A sharp-eyed girl with electric blue hair cracked her knuckles, grinning wide.Another boy leaned casually against the wall, balancing on one foot, chewing gum.The final figure wore a blank expression, but his eyes glowed faint red—cold and analytical.

Vin crossed his arms.

"We’re called Venganza for a reason. We don’t play for fun. We punish."

Louie stepped up next to Lucas.

"I don’t know where the hell we are, but I know one thing..." He pointed at Vin.

"You guys are seriously pissing me off."

Charlotte’s eyes flicked between the enemy and her teammates.

"I think these guys are not just normal players. Something’s wrong with them..."

Evan looked to Ethan and whispered:

"Are we really playing them... for our lives?"

Ethan didn’t respond at first.

Ethan’s eyes locked onto Vin Cruz, standing at the front of the Venganza lineup like a living shadow. A heavy feeling sank in his chest.

(Scan these players, System.)

[System:] Affirmative, Host. Initiating...

Analyzing enemy lineup... Displaying now.

▌Vin Cruz (Team Captain / Combo Guard)

Level: ??? (Artificially Enhanced)

Core Role: Leader, Scorer, Enforcer

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 13

Layup Skill: 12

Dunk Skill: 11

Dribbling Skill: 14

Passing Skill: 13

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 12

Blocking Ability: 11

Steal Skill: 14

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 14

Endurance: 13

Speed: 13

Skills:

Aggressive Playmaker – Creates offense with forceful drives and confident decisions. Can get tunnel vision.

On-Ball Pressure – Strong defensive presence, but struggles with elite speedsters.

Leadership Boost – Teammates perform slightly better when he’s on court—more from intensity than chemistry.

Flare Control – Plays with emotion, which can help or hurt depending on the moment.

▌Kaia Volt (Shooting Guard / Speed Threat)

• Level: Enhanced (Mid Tier)

Core Role: Fast break scorer and energy spark

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 12

Layup Skill: 11

Dunk Skill: 10

Dribbling Skill: 12

Passing Skill: 9

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 10

Blocking Ability: 8

Steal Skill: 12

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 12

Endurance: 10

Speed: 14

Skills:

Quick Cut Mastery – Excellent at quick direction changes. Can be baited into mistakes.

High-Energy Press – Good full-court pressure defender, but burns stamina fast.

Explosive First Step – Deadly on fast breaks, but lacks control in traffic.

Overheat Risk – Plays better early; performance dips if forced into long shifts.

▌Zeke Monroe (Small Forward / Lockdown Wing)

• Level: Enhanced (Mid Tier)

• Core Role: Quiet defender, opportunistic scorer

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 12

Layup Skill: 8

Dunk Skill: 9

Dribbling Skill: 10

Passing Skill: 8

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 13

Blocking Ability: 10

Steal Skill: 11

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 11

Endurance: 12

Speed: 10

Skills:

Still Defender – Excellent at staying in front of opponents, but doesn’t force turnovers unless needed.

Silent Read – Rarely speaks—just watches and reacts. Takes time to warm up.

Rhythm Killer – Disrupts offensive flow with subtle body positioning.

Limited Creativity – Doesn’t create shots—needs system or kick-outs to score.

▌Dante Cruz (Power Forward / Vision Specialist)

• Level: Enhanced (Mid Tier)

• Core Role: Secondary playmaker, rebounder, stabilizer

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 10

Layup Skill: 10

Dunk Skill: 11

Dribbling Skill: 10

Passing Skill: 13

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 9

Blocking Ability: 10

Steal Skill: 8

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 12

Endurance: 11

Speed: 9

Skills:

• Calm Floor General – Controls pace, but isn’t fast. Struggles in fast-paced systems.

Strong Frame – Boxes out well and absorbs contact, but lacks burst.

Overhead Vision – Finds shooters and cutters easily—struggles when trapped.

Tunnel Setup – Will pass even when a shot is better, over-relies on creating for others.

▌Silas Korrin (Center / Paint Protector)

• Level: Enhanced (High Defense, Low Offense)

• Core Role: Rim protector, defensive anchor

[Offensive Attributes:]

Shooting Accuracy: 8

Layup Skill: 9

Dunk Skill: 12

Dribbling Skill: 6

Passing Skill: 7

[Defensive Attributes:]

Defense: 14

Blocking Ability: 15

Steal Skill: 9

[Physical Attributes:]

Stamina: 10

Endurance: 13

Speed: 8

Skills:

• Paint Lockdown – Extremely tough inside defender. Struggles on the perimeter.

Emotionless Focus – Doesn’t react or show emotion—hard to read, but slow to adjust.

Heavy Finisher – Finishes strong near the rim, but very little finesse.

Slow Decision Maker – Takes time to process on offense—best when kept simple.

Ethan stared at the profiles; eyes wide. His mind started to race.

(Fuck... their skills are way stronger than the Orlando Hoops...)

(...and their captain... Tsk... he’s even stronger than Alec Storm...)

(This is dangerous... this game is...)

Ethan felt it in his chest—a dull, pounding pressure that wasn’t just nerves. It was heavier than fear, deeper than tension.

His heart thudded like a warning drum.

(No... this isn’t just a game anymore. This... this is survival.)

He stepped forward.

His sneakers echoed against the polished court floor, his eyes locking onto Vin Cruz—their captain, their enforcer, the one with those cold, calculated stats burned into Ethan’s mind.

Every inch of Ethan’s body screamed caution, but his voice came out steady and defiant.

"If we win," he said, staring down the had slick black hair of a captain, "you let us go?"

There was a pause... then the walls themselves responded, voice distorted like it was crawling through wires and metal.

Greg.

"Yes, yes~!" Greg cooed, giddy and venomous.

"If you beat my little team... you all get to go back. Even Noah’s sweet, precious family."

The tone shifted—like the smile on his face twisted into something unspeakable.

"But..." he added, now low, deliberate, almost whispering.

"If you lose—game over. Literally."

Noah clenched his fists.

"You’re using this like it’s a game! You’re sick!"

Vin didn’t even flinch. He didn’t argue.

He simply smiled.

But it wasn’t a kind smile. It was the smile of someone who enjoyed breaking people who still had hope.

"Let’s see if you’re worth the trouble, little heroes."

A faint whir echoed from the center of the court. A silver pedestal rose slowly, mechanically, from the wood. On top—a basketball, humming with unknown energy. (Automatic tip-off kinda thing)

Above them, a voice—not human—rang out like a countdown from heaven or hell:

"Tip-off in 10 seconds."

The court lights dimmed slightly, casting long shadows beneath their feet. The ball levitated between both teams, energy crackling faintly.

Lucas, standing beside Ethan, leaned in, his voice hushed but urgent.

"Ethan.."

Ethan’s eyes darted across the court, reading positions, analyzing. His pupils pulsed faintly with data still syncing from the system scan.

Then, his voice cut through the noise—firm, decisive.

"Noah, stay put for now."

Noah, already stepping forward, froze mid-stride.

"What?" he asked, confused, his voice tinged with frustration.

Ethan turned slightly, not looking back, but speaking loud enough for Noah to hear.

"Don’t worry—I’ll tell you when I need you. But for now..."

He looked to the sideline.

"...we need Charlotte."

Noah’s jaw tightened. His fists clenched, knuckles white. He didn’t understand, not fully—but he trusted Ethan. Still, the sting was there.

Ethan finally looked back, locking eyes with him.

"It’s not because you’re not skilled."

"It’s because I need you for that plan."

There was a silence. Then Noah nodded once—tight, restrained.

"...Fine."

Behind them, Charlotte stepped forward, her eyes already narrowed at her matchup.

10...

Ethan took his place, locking eyes with Silas across the circle.

9...

Kaia bounced lightly on her toes, cracking her neck, energy humming off her skin.

8...

Zeke stood still, one hand in his pocket, gum moving slowly between his lips.

7...

Vin rolled his shoulders, lips curled like he already knew the ending.

6...

Dante adjusted his headband, eyes glowing faintly red—calculating, unblinking.

5...

Lucas exhaled hard, grounding himself.

This wasn’t a dream. This wasn’t a warm-up.

4...

The rest of the Vorpal players and Charlotte are locked in, adrenaline rising.

3...

2...

1...

The ball shot up—silently, flawlessly.

To be continue