"Generating scene... Inserting characters... Generation complete."
"Whoosh!" As the sound effect signaled that the scene had finished loading, Ken Kaneki realized he was standing in the Utah Jazz's home arena, wearing a white Jazz jersey. The crowd's cheers and shouts crashed over him like a tidal wave. Even with his mental fortitude, he couldn't help feeling nervous.
"So this is the system's Virtual Training Ground. It's pretty realistic." Ken looked himself over. "I wonder what Jordan's level is on easy mode..."
"Hey, Russell! Watch out, Jordan!" Just as Ken was lost in thought, Karl Malone's anxious voice rang out behind him.
"Russell? Who the hell is Russell..." Ken was still dazed from entering the famous-moment instance for the first time. Jordan was already right in front of him.
"He's fast!" Ken's pupils contracted. Jordan seemed not to notice him at all. With one simple step, he turned into a blur and slipped past Ken on the right.
"Oh, crap, I'm done for!" Ken hurriedly shifted his stance to block the route Jordan was bound to take, but it was already too late. The instant he made contact with Jordan, his whole body stiffened. He felt as if he had lost control of himself and was frozen in place.
"Fall down." Jordan spoke, and as his words fell, Ken felt his balance gradually slipping away. He toppled backward. In his despair, he watched Jordan calmly step back, gather the ball, and shoot. The basketball swished through the net.
"Boom!" A deafening roar erupted—cheers, shouts, boos, and curses all blending together.
"Argh!!!" Ken pounded the floor in frustration. The bitter taste of being defeated at the buzzer filled his mouth. "Again!"
As soon as Ken spoke, a flash of white light swept past, and the scene returned to the beginning.
"Hey, Russell!