Ben smoothly slide past the pick as he continued to follow the ballhandler. he sticks with him as he cut through the paint. then waited for the last moment before jumping with him for the block.

Gotcha!

The bastard knew he had no shot as Ben's entire frame covered his shot window.

...and then the shooter twisted in the air and pass the ball to their big guy who jammed the ball with emphasis. Another freaking highlight of the week.

The bulls were killing them. 68-90 in the third quarter.

Ben played solid minutes and he had 11 rebounds, 6 assist, and 6 points. all in all, not a bad work, but still kinda pathetic compared to 32 points by Scott Vernon. The problem with the guy is he is also trying to smash the record of turnovers in one game. He already has 13.

Ben inbound the ball and the point guard brought the ball to the other side of the court, then he gave the signal for play box-11. Everyone scrambled as Ben's team went to their assigned position and the defenders scrambled to cover them.

The play was simple. Ben goes near the paint for a postup with the other team's power forward. It was already established early on that Ben have the power advantage against the guy.

He smirked. If they only knew how much...

Ben boxed him out into the proper position and if there is no help then he can just bore through, but if double or triple team arrives he is to pass it out to a waiting Vernon or another outside shooter for a jumper, hopefully, a three.

That was where Ben got all his assist so far.

And so Ben pushed his guy inch by inch and kept getting closer to the rim. His defender kept cursing as he gets pushed around and started to "accidentally" smack Ben more and more with knees and slapped in the arm or an elbow at the back.

But Ben kept his concentration and focus on his goal. So far, so good, he thought. Keeping his eyes at his flank, and watching for a snatcher. Finally, the double team came and hands flew all around his vision. He waited until the second guy was committed before he bounces the ball outside to Vernon who is waiting ten feet away.

Vernon had an open shot but choose to drive the ball into the paint for a dunk. The center from the other team met him in the air and there was a foul. The ball was nowhere near the net.

Vernon cursed and pushed the other guy and a brawl almost started. Everyone was pushing and shoving and the mouths were moving almost a thousand miles per hour, firing rapid description of once heritage, sexual preference, and graphic description once mama.

The referee sorted everyone out and gave Vernon and another guy on the other side a technical foul. The bulls shoot their free throw from the technical and it went in. Vernon shoots 3 from the line and it also went in.

When it was the other team's turn, they were able to move the ball around quite efficiently. Ben's guy tried to shake him by moving all over the court from one corner to the other, but Ben was right behind him.

The ballhandler noticed Ben's tenacity and ignored his teammate despite that he is asking for the ball. Besides, another guy became open, Vernon's guy, after losing Vernon in a pick.

The guy grabbed the ball, step back into the three-point line, got a good look at the basket, then shoots in one fluid motion. Ben was about to go and help when the guy releases the ball.

Ben wanted to swat the ball before it reached its apex, but apparently, no professional athlete can jump straight up for 20+ feet in the air. So he just watched the ball arc in the air and hit nothing but net.

Ben groaned silently. They just have enough time to inbound the ball before the horn announced the end of the third quarter.

Dejectedly, he and his team huddled for the break. Vernon is still angry with what he called an illegal pick but the rest is already talking about what they can do for the last quarter.

"Those 3's are killing us. We have to be in their faces to stop those shots."

"Easier said than done. Those bastards are good with those picks."

Ben nodded, agreeing with his teammates. being the newest guy in a group of veterans, Ben barely gives his opinion in this first few games.

"Just give me the damn ball!" shouted Vernon to be heard in the noisy crowd. Then he turned to Ben. "Backup over here is taking his sweet time before he passes the ball. No wonder we can't get near them. Do your job, fucking replacement!"

Ben just smiled at the superstar which irritated Vernon even more. ben wondered what would actually happen if the guy takes a swing at him. He already decided not to retaliate, only to position his face just at the right angle to break the bastard's arm and hopefully take him out for the rest of the season. That will be a-

A flash of killing Ki activated in the crowd and Ben whirled to face it. Someone is out there, he thought. He let his own aura spread out and he found them near the lobby.

Ben turned to his coach and whispered. "Coach, I need to take a piss," He said.

The coach looks at him in disbelief. "Are you fucking kidding me?!" She roared. "We are in the middle of a fucking game."

Ben smiled back at her sheepishly. "Game jitters," was all Ben said.

Aimee Gallagher sighed and dismiss him with a wave of her hand. "2 minutes, Sulla. If you are not here after that, you will not play for the next week. You got me?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Ben saluted then run out of the court.

Ben's feet... and Ki brought him to an out of the way lobby on the second floor. And there he saw a man wearing black silk robes who is just standing there, waiting for him. The moment he saw the man, he sighed, for he knew who he was dealing with.

"Hello Benjamin," The man said, his eyes boring into Ben's own.

"Hello, little Brother," Ben replied, as he walks towards the man.

The fake smile on the man's face slowly vanish. "Only a clansmen can call me that," He said in a low voice. Suddenly two women dress in black from head to toe materialized in Ben's side and grabbed him with powerful Ki-enhanced arms to disable him.

A sudden burst of his own pure Ki came out of Ben and both Shul-altana warriors slammed at the walls on either side of him. The walls actually created a crater from the impact and both women were suddenly unconscious from the Ki display. The man in front of him barely moved.

Now Ben's eyes are glowing in a golden light from the outpouring of a massive amount of ki from his body. 4 more shul-altana female warriors materialized around him but none was brave enough to approach him again. One young female warrior was looking at him with fear in her eyes.

"Tell your warriors not to surprise me like that again or I might accidentally kill one of them."

"You are as barbaric as ever," the man said. "You never deserve mother's trust nor the right to lead our clan."

Ben sighed. "What the hell do you want, little brother, I have a game to finish."

The man stared at him with an incredulous face. "So you actually went through it?! threw away your honor for that stupid game?!"

Ben sighed then turn around, "Leave this place right now before I throw you all out."

"Four of the Shul-Altana warriors are missing for the last 2 weeks. All of them are assigned to watch you."

Ben stopped, he wasn't surprised that the clan was still monitoring him, but 4 elite warriors are missing?

Ben slowly turned back. "And you think I have something to do with this? You have some nerve, Michael," Ben said coldly.

"We don't," Said the man named Michael. "At least not anymore. Another Shul-altana was checking up on you when the last warrior went missing. So we knew you have nothing to do with it. But still, the fact remains that they are all missing while assigned in following you is too much of a coincidence. We need your help."

Ben stared at him. This man's hatred of him is only surpassed by his commitment to the clan. He knew how much personal pride must the man swallow to asked for his help. And so he sighed, then look at his watch... and started panicking.

"Crap! I'm gonna be late!" he said. "Meet me at the bar called "Sanzo" at 11th street!"

And then he ran back to finish the game.