Possession changed hands as Velia of the Serbian Eagles brought the ball upcourt. The 16-point gap remained unmoved, like a massive boulder pressing down on every player of the Serbian Eagles.
That was Nash's intelligence on full display. If it were Jabberwock trailing by 16 points instead, players like Jason Silver, Nick, and Zack would likely already be drowning in frustration and emotional collapse. But now, the pressure was on the other side, and that was the result of Nash's early decision. From the very first quarter, they had gone all-out, steadily widening the score. It was a ruthless but correct choice.
The ball was passed inside, into the hands of David Russ. The moment he touched it, his primal, beast-like explosiveness erupted far beyond Zack's level. BOOM! He slammed it home with a ferocious dunk.
Inside the paint, Jason Silver, held down by the giant Jack, couldn't even get off the ground. Once again, he hovered on the edge of losing control. Silver felt suffocated. Oppressed. Completely pinned down by Jack's dominance.
And Haizaki Shogo wasn't feeling much better either. He was constantly shadowed by Levic, who had entered Zone and activated Blood Instinct. In a sense, Levic had become something like a more experienced, more physically refined version of Aomine or Midorima, stronger stamina, sharper instincts, and more complete defense. A truly troublesome opponent.
Possession switched again. Nash brought the ball up, activated Black and White Realm, and slipped past Velia before entering the paint, preparing to pull up. But Velia suddenly appeared right in front of him. His stance was low, perfectly timed, ready to contest the shot.
Nash's pupils widened. Velia had also entered Zone. His golden eyes now crackled with electric light, his aura transformed, his Illusory Eye felt like it had evolved into something far more intimidating. Nash pulled the ball back mid-motion. In a blur, the ball shifted into Haizaki Shogo's hands. Faced with Velia's sudden evolution, Nash chose the rational option, pass.
Shogo caught the ball, surprised. Velia had entered Zone too. The situation had escalated instantly. But there was no time to think. Levic was already in front of him.
Shogo dribbled, rhythm shifting rapidly. The ball flickered left and right, forcing Levic's weight to follow. Then a sudden burst. Man-and-ball unity. Shogo exploded past Levic on the right side and drove into the paint.
Levic reacted instantly, leaping from behind, reaching for a block. But in midair, Shogo pulled the ball back. He twisted and released a backward, off-balance shot. For a brief moment, time seemed to pause. Levic collided into him.
SWISH! WHISTLE! The shot counted. And one free throw.
Shogo landed, eyes sharp. Even Levic was stunned. Just now, it felt like he was facing Velia himself. Like an illusion. Like reality had been distorted for a split second. But it wasn't illusion. It was simply speed, so fast it created afterimages.
Shogo stepped to the free-throw line. He exhaled slowly. Shot. CLANG! Miss. But the ball bounced once, twice, three times on the rim. Everyone jumped for the rebound.
Shogo sprinted in from the free-throw line and leapt. A terrifying burst of athleticism, like a finishing dunk from the sky. He caught the rebound mid-air, and slammed it down. BOOM! WHISTLE! And-one completed. The score gap exploded to 20 points.
A feeling named despair began creeping into the Serbian Eagles. Then the whistle ended the third quarter.
Jack's face darkened. He had been trapped by Nash and Silver's double-team, unable to take off, unable to activate his No Fly Zone. And that single possession had turned into a 20-point nightmare. Pressure like that wasn't something anyone could ignore.
On the other side, Jabberwock erupted. Nash, Jason, Nick, Allen, Zack, and the bench players all rushed in. They surrounded Shogo. And then they danced. A chaotic, celebratory cowboy-style circle formed around him. Recognition. Respect. Victory affirmation.
At this moment, the core of Jabberwock was Haizaki Shogo. Because of that "flashy" play, the game had effectively been sealed. Money, victory, was already floating in the air like falling rain.
Back in the bench area, praise came flooding in. "Haizaki, my idol, accept my knees!"
"That last play was insane!"
"If you play like that, every girl out there is going crazy tonight!"
Shogo simply waved them off, gesturing toward Nash.
Nash's expression returned to calm seriousness. "There's still one quarter left. I don't want a collapse at the finish line. You understand?"
"Got it!"
"I'll go all out until the end!"
Confidence rose across the team. Shogo drank water, wiping sweat from his face. The intensity of this game was unlike anything he had experienced since arriving in this world. Exhausting, but addictive. Because even with a 20-point lead, no one could guarantee a miracle wouldn't happen. And in that atmosphere, his entire body felt like it was burning. Like it wanted to explode. Like it wanted to dominate everything left on the court.
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