Taboo Stepson System-Chapter 53: Confrontation/Challenge

" If you want to beat me so bad. Why don’t we dunk on the court? I don’t mind taking you guys together."

Gasps rang across the hallway as Miles’ words resounded in everyone’s ears.

Tyler froze, thinking he had misheard, but no, the arrogant grin on Miles’ face said enough.

" Now you’re truly pushing your luck, vermin."

The quiet Kelvin finally spoke up, obviously triggered by Miles’ words.

He had been observing Miles’ appearance all this while, and noticed several changes. A few being that Miles had probably been to the gym, his slack cowering shoulders were replaced by confident ones. His looks clearly improved and there were no scar marks from the wound they inflicted.

"Vermin? Hehehe- let’s see on the court." Miles jested.

Unseen to the eyes of everyone present, Miles summoned the system’s holographic screen on standby.

’I have 14,090 Taboo Points. Let’s get this on with.’

"Alright, Ben I’ll handle this." Slamming his a fist into his palm, Kelvin disdainfully walked over to Miles.

"I don’t what you think you’ve become, wannabe. But if you waste my time, you’re going to pay for it in the most brutal way possible."

Kelvin threatened, his eyes flashing with sinister glint. His quiet facade was only a ruse to observe his target, before striking, he was no less of a bully than the rest of the group.

Chuckling dryly...

" I promise to let you in on a little secret if you do manage to win. Let’s go shall we?"

Following Miles’ words, the hallway erupted into a clamour as everyone tailed behind, heading towards the school’s court.

"Damn, today is lit as fuck."

"Oh God, thank you for not making me miss this."

"Hurry! Hurry!"

"Do you know who the other boy is?"

"He’s a junior who is often bullied by them."

Some people who recognised Miles quickly explained to their counterparts.

" A bullied victim stands up to his bullies. What an epic plot."

Like a rushing tide, the news of Miles facing up Kelvin spread and every student who heard it instantly diverted their direction to the basketball court.

At this moment, a young girl had just arrived at school and got wind of the news. Josephine’s heart skipped and she also ran to the basketball court.

In a classroom, another young girl was just arranging her books when suddenly someone dashed into the class.

" Quick! There’s about to be a showdown between a student named Miles and Kelvin."

" Shit!"

Everyone left in the class stood up and began sprinting.

Whilst, upon hearing Miles’ name Chloe’s heart skipped and she stopped what she was doing.

_

"It’s him, he challenged Kelvin."

The second of the Hayes triplet muttered to her sisters upon recognising Miles who stood on the court.

___

’Purchase Basketball Talent.’

Under the eager eyes of the spectating student, Miles felt an odd strange sensation overwhelm him.

’Fuck.’ He cursed inwardly as his bones shifted and readjusted itself beneath his skin.

"Huh? Why is he just standing there?"

The crowd instantly burst into murmurs as Miles stood stiff on the court like a statue, while Kelvin took off his jacket and raised his sleeves.

thud! thud! thud!

"Cat got your dick? Where did the courage go?"

Kelvin’s voice echoed, laced with ridicule that earned a roar of laughter from the crowd as he bounced the ball with skilled mastery.

"Miles." Josephine muttered worriedly.

_

’Damn you system. I should have done this yesterday if you had stated the prerequisite to giving me the talent.’

Knowing his aura was rapidly losing points, Miles had a tint of regret. Currently, he couldn’t move any part of his body.

Just then,

[Basketball Prodigy Talent successfully integrated!]

[Special Stats Focus has been gained.]

[Focus: when Basketball Prodigy Talent is in use, you’ll enter a zone mode and your focus is optimised to the fullest.]

[Focus: +10]

The moment the screen popped up, Miles’ perspective of light dulled. His vision darkened, becoming black purple and Kelvin’s figure became highlighted by a hollow white light.

Holographic lines traced the part of the court within his view, creating a map of it. Pointers marked the court, an instruction layout was randomly glowing in his vision with percentages of a ball thrown from there to enter the basket hovering in the air.

’I’ll be damned.’ Miles was momentarily dazed witnessing such a game-like effect.

It felt sci-fi.

[Ding!]

Suddenly a red warning sign flashed before him for the first time.

[Agility too low. 95% chance of passing out from brain exhaustion. Stamina loss.]

’Shit.’

Seeing the warning sign, Miles cursed and quickly switched to the Taboo Store.

[+1 Agility Stat Card-400x7]

[+1 Stamina Stat Card-400x2]

[Agility:16.5→23.5]

[Stamina:20→22]

Miles went from being rich to being broke, 400 Taboo Points was what was left of 14,000 in the blink of an eye. But at the same time, the surge of strength in his body was inexplicably good that he had to twitch his limbs.

"-I commend the cat for having a good taste for big things unlike some people."

In response to Kelvin’s ridicule, Miles retorted back in a much more brutal manner. A stray bullet that struck the heart of many.

"Also, I was just warming up, no need to panic."

Kelvin frowned and wanted to do a come back but-

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Miles’ limbs cracked out loud as he stretched them

The spectating crowd fell silent before, shocked gasps and cries rang out. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Jeez, what the fuck was that?"

"Since when did he become a beast?"

The boys were in awe and the girls’ hearts fluttered in shock.

From the corner of his eyes, notification for reaching 30% Infatuation gauge flashed rapidly.

’Hehehe. Keep it up, fall for me.’

This was the exact reason he chose to go high profile, for fame. And he had one of the best stepping stones, talented Kelvin to push him to it.

"Enough! Let’s get this over with."

Kelvin shouted, fuming from the attention Miles received because of a little crack stunt.

He wanted to put Miles back where he belonged, a loser that cowered in fear at his presence.

"I’ll go first. I hope you can keep those bones of yours cracking when this ends." Kelvin sneered and stepped forward.