The Unknown Mercenary Episode 4

Chapter 4: Daniel the king of the court

The province simmered beneath the harsh noon sun, heat radiating off basketball courts and dirt roads. Suddenly, the shouting from the street shattered the sleepy calm.

“Bay2, naay dayo basketball, dili nila ma pildi!”
(“Bro! There’s a challenger at the basketball court—even the best can’t beat him!”)

Eyox burst into Daniel’s yard, barely catching his breath, face alight with excitement.

“Let’s go, someone’s making a scene at the court. Suave daw siya muduwa—no one stands a chance!”

Daniel wiped his forehead, a smile flickering.
“Ta, Ato tan-awon, basin lingaw pud ning dayoha.”
(“Let’s check it out, maybe this visitor’s actually good.”)

At the Street Court: Johnson’s Domination

As they neared the makeshift court, the shouts and laughter of a gathered crowd grew louder. In the center, Johnson stood tall, body loose but eyes keen and alert. One after another, local challengers fell, their confidence crushed by Johnson’s inhuman speed and raw strength.

Johnson snatched the ball mid-air, pivoted with impossible agility, and soared above his defender for a rim-rattling dunk. Gasps and applause erupted from the crowd.

(“The visitor’s on fire, no one can beat him!”)

He dribbled behind his back, lightning-fast, then used a crossover so swift it left his opponent stumbling. He drove to the hoop, launched himself, and hung in the air for a heartbeat longer than seemed possible before laying it in.

Even from a distance, Daniel’s eyes narrowed. Beneath Johnson’s easy grin was a flicker of something unnatural. A faint energy in his step, a power most wouldn’t notice—except for someone like Daniel.

The Challenge

The ball thudded to the dusty court as Johnson called, “Who’s next?”

Daniel stepped forward, his presence silencing the murmurs.

Eyox grinned, nudging Daniel: “Show them the real street basketball king.”

Daniel nodded, knuckles cracking. He met Johnson’s gaze.
“One on one. First to twelve. Winner takes the bets.”

The gathered crowd buzzed, cellphones raised, elders nudging each other.

Johnson cocked his head.

“You sure about that? You look chill, but… let’s see if you can hang.”

Daniel’s lips curled into a half-smile.

“You want a game? You got it.”

Court Battle: Human Versus Monster

The ball was tossed, and instantly Daniel took control. He moved with effortless precision, weaving through Johnson’s defense, spinning and gliding—his footwork a blur. With just 5% of his ability, Daniel was unstoppable. He faked left, then slashed right, rising for a fadeaway jumper à la Kobe Bryant—nothing but net.

Cheers erupted.

Crowd:
“Whoa! Mao na si Daniel, king gyud sa duwa!”
(“That’s Daniel, the king of the court!”)

Johnson struggled at first, every drive blocked, every pass stolen. Daniel powered through him like Shaq, dunking with pure, controlled strength. The crowd roared at every play, a local hero in his element.

When the Sun Shines and Rain Falls: A Shift

Suddenly, a curtain of rain began to fall—soft at first, but steady—even as the sun glared above. Eyox glanced up in surprise.

(“Strange, raining while the sun’s out…”)

Daniel’s eyes flicked to Johnson. At that moment, something changed. Johnson’s movements grew sharper, even faster, as if the rain itself had charged him up. Tikbalang blood, Daniel realized—a monster whose powers surged under this bizarre sun-rain.

Johnson launched into action. He swiped the ball with predator’s speed and exploded to the rim in a display of athleticism that left the audience breathless. He danced past Daniel with a dizzying step-back, then leapt for a sky-high tomahawk dunk.

Now Johnson controlled the court. Every fake, every move was superhuman. He hit impossible three-point shots, soared for put-back dunks, and even blocked one of Daniel’s powerful drives.

The locals howled with disbelief.

Crowd:
“Grabe! Murag dili na tao. Dayo na diay ang bida karon!”
(“Insane! He’s like something else. Maybe the visitor is the hero today!”)

Score after score, Johnson pulled ahead.

Unleashing the King

Yet Daniel wasn’t afraid—he was smiling inside, his heart racing.

Daniel muttered, “So… this is how you want to play.”

He tapped deeper into his strength, raising his level—10%, then more. The feeling was electric. He met Johnson’s speed and exceeded it, weaving through defenses. Daniel executed the classic Kobe phantom shot, slipping past Johnson for a feathery swish. For a moment, he mimicked Michael Jordan: a long, soaring dunk right over Johnson, drawing wild applause.

Crowd:
“Woooo! Daniel, idol gyud!”
“Pagka-kusoga, Daniel!”
“Woo, Daniel our Idol! A true king!”

The energy surged. Johnson slammed back with supernatural bursts, but Daniel countered with Shaq’s power dunk, rattling the rim with sheer force.

Back and forth they battled—no tricks left unused, no talent untested. Shoes squeaked, sweat flew, the ball thundered. The crowd was a cyclone of cheers and disbelief.

Finale: The Victory and a New Question

With the score tied at eleven, Johnson made a lightning cut and rose for a game-winner—but Daniel anticipated, swatting the shot midair. He reclaimed the ball, spun, and launched into a gravity-defying fadeaway—net.

Game!

The crowd went wild—cheers, whistles, and laughter filled the sunlit, rain-washed court. Daniel walked over to Johnson, offering a hand.

“That was a game. You’re good—too good for a normal player.”

Johnson grinned, chest heaving, eyes glinting with something strange.
“You too. Didn’t think I’d meet anyone at my level here.”

A look passed between them, an unspoken recognition of power.

Eyox, bouncing beside Daniel, was all smiles, but Daniel’s gaze was thoughtful. He’d seen what he needed to see. Their next encounter would not be public—he’d have his answers soon.

An enemy, or a fellow mercenary?

The court had no more questions, but Daniel did. That meeting would come—in Episode 5.