NBA: Built to Dominate

Chapter 2: The Beast Awakens

(The new book is on the way! Your support means everything!)

Early the next morning, Georgetown University's coach, John Thompson, arrived at the arena. Every year, the selection of new recruits was a significant event, and Thompson always approached it with the utmost seriousness.

However, today, as he entered the gym, he was greeted by an unexpected sound the steady rhythm of a basketball bouncing. Curious, Thompson lingered at the doorway and peered inside.

"Bang!"

A towering figure leaped from near the centerline, dribbled past the free throw line, and soared through the air. Time seemed to slow as the player's massive frame twisted gracefully, completing a dunk with ease. The rim groaned under the force of the slam.

"Whoo~"

Alex Mo landed effortlessly, letting out a deep breath of satisfaction. He grabbed the ball with one hand, his palm swallowing it entirely, and turned only to lock eyes with the stunned Coach Thompson.

"Coach Thompson?" Alex said, surprised.

Thompson took a moment to collect himself. The sheer athleticism he had just witnessed was startling. He nodded, smiling. "You're up early, Alex."

"Went to bed early last night. Nothing better to do this morning, so I figured I'd train a bit," Alex replied casually, spinning the basketball in his hand.

Thompson chuckled, giving Alex a friendly pat on the arm. His fingers lingered for a moment, feeling the steel-like muscles beneath. This kid is built differently.

"Well, keep it up," Thompson said, though his thoughts were already racing. He had seen plenty of talented recruits over the years, but Alex Mo was something special.

Thompson jogged back to his office, scribbling Alex's name onto the roster for the second team. This kid doesn't even need a trial. He's exactly what the team needs.

Later that morning, the freshmen gathered in the arena for the team selection process. Alex found himself seated next to a fellow recruit a wiry guard named Malik who couldn't stop tapping his foot nervously.

"You don't seem too worried," Malik said, glancing at Alex, who was lazily spinning a basketball on his finger.

Alex grinned. "Just trying to enjoy the moment."

Malik let out a short laugh. "Man, I heard some guys in the locker room talking about you. They said you're a freak of nature. That true?"

"I guess we'll see," Alex replied with a shrug, but his tone carried quiet confidence.

The gym buzzed with energy as the assistant coach, Jenkins, explained the rules for the knockout games. Each match was 20 minutes long, split into two halves. The focus wasn't on teamwork it was about individual performance.

"Show us what you've got," Jenkins said. "And remember, only the best move on."

When Alex's first game began, his team was pitted against a group of players who seemed more interested in showing off than playing smart basketball.

The tip-off was a formality. Alex, standing half a head taller than his opponent, won it with ease.

Moments later, his team's point guard pulled up for a three-pointer that clanged off the rim.

Before the opposing players could react, Alex exploded into the paint, grabbing the rebound and dunking the ball over two defenders. The sound of the rim snapping back into place echoed through the gym.

The crowd went silent.

"Did he just...?" Malik, sitting courtside, couldn't finish his sentence.

Back on defense, Alex swatted away an attempted layup with such force that the ball bounced out of bounds and nearly hit a coach. The arena erupted into scattered applause.

After the game, Alex wandered outside to clear his head. The warm sun felt good on his skin as he strolled through the campus.

He stopped by a small café and ordered an iced coffee, catching snippets of conversations from other students. Some were talking about classes, others about weekend plans. Alex couldn't help but feel a little out of place. He had spent so much time focused on basketball that normal college life felt like an entirely different world.

"Hey, you're that guy from the gym, right?"

Alex turned to see a group of students standing nearby, their eyes wide with recognition.

"Uh, yeah," he said, unsure of what to say next.

"You were insane out there! That dunk? Man, you're like a superhero or something," one of them said, miming the motion of a slam dunk.

Alex laughed, feeling a small swell of pride. "Thanks. Just doing my best."

As he left the café, he thought about how different his life had become. Basketball had always been his passion, but now, with his enhanced abilities and the system's guidance, it felt like he was carrying the weight of something far bigger than himself.

That evening, as he prepared for bed, the system chimed in:

"Ding! Congratulations, host! You have completed your first team trial. Progress updated. Next task: Prove your dominance by leading your team to victory in the final trial."

Alex smirked, lying back on his bed. "Let's see how far I can take this."