The atmosphere of Team Jabberwock surged, while the expressions of the Backboard Breakers turned grim.
Sizzle~ Sizzle~ Sizzle~
At that moment, another player on the court entered the Zone. Nash was the first to notice Aiden. Teal-colored electrical currents crackled from Aiden's eyes, and the atmosphere instantly turned eerie. The previously grim expressions of the Backboard Breakers began to shift. With Aiden entering the Zone, Charles was finally freed, allowing him to carry the offensive burden while Aiden took over defending Shidou Ryusei.
Nash's expression grew solemn as his focus sharpened. However, Shidou Ryusei walked over and patted him. Nash turned to look at him.
"It's not your time to act yet."
Pink-gold flames flickered like serpents in Shidou's eyes.
Flow.
Nash exhaled slowly and nodded. The situation on the court became increasingly complex.
On Jabberwock's side were Shidou Ryusei in Flow and Wildness: Komodo Dragon, Nash with the Demon King's Eye and Domain, and Jason Cibor in Savage Tyrant. On the Backboard Breakers' side were Charles and Aiden in the Zone, along with Tylon in the Stone Domain.
"Tch… you guys are seriously making this difficult for me," Jason muttered as he stood at the top of the arc, dribbling slowly while sweat rolled down his face.
Nash stood before him, golden eyes narrowing slightly, a smirk of total control on his lips. "I've already seen through your dribbling."
Jason didn't respond. He took a deep breath, his gaze becoming calm and focused.
"Classical."
His dribbling rhythm suddenly changed. It wasn't modern crossovers or flashy streetball moves, but something primitive and pure—Classical ball handling.
In the first second, Jason pushed lightly with his right hand, letting the ball swing left like a pendulum. Nash's Demon King's Eye predicted it instantly, and his body leaned accordingly. However, Jason's wrist suddenly flipped, pulling the ball back at the last moment—a perfect pull-back crossover. Nash's pupils shrank as his balance wavered, though the Domain allowed him to stabilize instantly.
In the second second, Jason didn't pause. He followed with a behind-the-back step-back. Nash reacted immediately, sliding to block him, but at that exact moment, Jason pulled the ball across again, executing a double behind-the-back misdirection. Even the Demon King's Eye struggled to keep up, as Jason's rhythm subtly broke conventional logic.
In the third second, Jason lowered his center of gravity and used a drag-step change of pace. For a split second, a crack appeared in Nash's Domain.
Now.
Jason exploded forward and pulled up for a jumper. Nash jumped to block, but he was half a beat too slow. His fingertips missed the ball by mere millimeters.
Swish.
45—47.
Silence filled the arena.
Nash stood still, his golden pupils trembling slightly. For the first time, a trace of shock appeared in his Demon King's Eye.
"Classical dribbling…" he murmured.
Jason landed and exhaled slowly. "Basketball doesn't always need such complex calculations."
Nash smirked slightly. "Oh? So there's a fourth style?"
Jason felt a sudden tension in his chest. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Without another word, he turned and ran back on defense.
Nash advanced with the ball, his expression calm yet mocking. "Classical dribbling," he said coldly, "is nothing more than a fusion of your Jazz, Reggae, and Electronic styles."
Jason's pupils contracted.
He saw through it.
In that brief moment of hesitation, Nash moved. A simple crossover—clean and minimal—but impossibly fast. Jason reacted too late, and Nash had already slipped past him like a phantom.
"Damn it!" Jason gritted his teeth and chased back, but Nash was already inside the three-point line.
Aiden rotated instantly, his Zone-enhanced reflexes sealing off the driving lane almost completely.
Nash smiled.
Holding the ball in his right hand, he executed a subtle behind-the-back fake. Aiden's balance shifted for just an instant.
Snap.
With a hidden elbow motion, Nash sent the ball flying across the court like a cannonball.
An elbow pass.
Shidou Ryusei was already in position. The moment he caught the ball, he rose up and released a three-pointer.
Swish.
48—47.
"Haha! What a pass! How did you even see me?" Shidou laughed as he walked over for a high-five.
"Basic," Nash replied calmly.
Aiden remained frozen in place. Even in the Zone, he hadn't been able to intercept that pass.
Nash walked past Jason, his voice low and filled with mockery. Jason clenched his fists, frustration building inside him.
Seeing this, Tylon took control and brought the ball across half-court. Nash stepped up to defend, but Tylon passed immediately to Charles on the left wing. Charles caught it and shot without hesitation. Nick's defense collapsed instantly.
Swish.
The score was tied again.
One minute remained.
Nash advanced and passed to Shidou. A jab step flowed into a spin move. Aiden rotated quickly, but Shidou followed with a front crossover. At the same time, his pupils glowed as he predicted Aiden's movements. He slipped past on the left, then instantly changed direction and drove past on the right, leaving behind afterimages that made it seem like there were two of him.
Reaching the paint, Shidou chose not to dunk. He knew Tylon's Domain was waiting. Instead, he pulled back. Tylon stepped up to contest.
Shidou moved the ball behind his back and, with another hidden elbow motion, sent it flying behind Tylon.
Jason caught it.
He jumped.
Boom.
A powerful two-handed dunk shook the rim.
After landing, Jason bumped chests with Shidou. "What was that pass?"
Shidou glanced at Nash, who smiled in return.
Jason immediately understood—it was the same elbow pass.
Perfect Copy.
With eight seconds left in the third quarter, Tylon held the ball at the high post, sweat forming on his forehead. Charles was completely locked down by Nash. Even in the Zone, he couldn't break free.
"Tch…"
Tylon scanned the court and locked onto Aiden. He fired a bullet pass toward him.
"Too naive!"
Shidou reacted instantly. His prediction activated, and he lunged forward, intercepting the ball just before it reached Aiden.
Snap.
He stole it cleanly and burst forward in transition.
"Get back!" Tylon shouted, but it was too late.
Aiden chased with everything he had, but Shidou—enhanced by Flow and Wildness—was even faster.
One step inside the line, Shidou leapt. His body stretched like a drawn bow as he pulled the ball behind his head.
Boom.
A devastating tomahawk dunk.
The rim shook violently.
"ROAR—!"
Shidou's roar echoed through the arena.
Beep.
The third quarter ended.
Nash walked over to him with a satisfied smile. "Well done."
50—47.
The score reflected the intensity of both offense and defense. With quarters lasting only ten minutes, everything pointed to one thing—
The true battle would begin in the fourth quarter.