Chapter 47: The Game Begins
The air in Pinnacle Academy's stadium crackled with anticipation. Holographic displays flickered to life above the court, casting a soft blue glow over the gathered crowd. Zed Mac, his face partially obscured by the familiar phoenix-emblazoned mask, stood at the edge of the court. His eyes, usually sharp and focused, seemed distant as he gazed at the sea of faces in the stands.
A gentle vibration from his wrist caught his attention. Zed glanced down at the sleek, metallic band encircling his arm -- a gift from Jadyn. The nanochip [microscopic electronic device] embedded within pulsed with a soft red light, warning him of elevated stress levels. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. As he did, he felt the Dimensional Fluid [mysterious substance enhancing physical abilities] coursing through his veins, a cool, tingling sensation that seemed to ebb and flow with his heartbeat.
Please if you have read that it was referee that admnistered tip-off at the beginning of this match, it's not. It's the crew chief. And he's a human not an AI. As for during Zed's practice with his teammates back then, the referee was free to admnistered the tip-off because it wasn't an official game.
Forgive me for the oversight.