Nash's presence changed. It wasn't loud, it wasn't flashy. There were no unnecessary movements, no wasted expressions, only absolute silence and control.
This was the true Nash, a world-class player forged through blood, pressure, and endless battles at the highest level. No extra thoughts, no hesitation, no distraction. Only basketball. Only victory.
This was the world Nash called, the Black and White Realm. It wasn't a technique, it was a state of being. In this realm, everything unnecessary disappeared. Only offense remained. Only scoring existed.
Haizaki Shogo narrowed his eyes at Nash, who now stood like a statue carved from pure intent. Even Levic's emerald "electric eyes" beside him felt distant in comparison.
That state, I want it. I want to take it apart and understand it. But this wasn't the time. First, break Levic, who had entered the Zone. Only then could he think further.
Jack, the towering captain of the Serbian Eagles, also noticed the shift. His brows tightened. Even Nash's usual calm domination was now something else entirely.
"See that, Mamba," Jack said calmly. "That is Nash. That's what a top-tier world player looks like." "That's terrifying," Velia muttered.
Jack nodded. "Jabberwock is dangerous now. Big Bear, you're joining the offense. We answer them with firepower." "Got it, captain." Jack made the decision instantly. If defense couldn't stop them, then they would outscore them. Simple, brutal, effective.
Velia brought the ball up and immediately fed it to Levic, who had entered the Zone. Levic caught it and froze.
A split second later, SIZZLE! WHOOSH! Electric-like tension exploded across the court. Levic's eyes widened. Haizaki Shogo was already there, his eyes carrying the same faint silver electric glow. And in an instant, he stripped the ball away.
Levic snapped back to reality and immediately chased, but it was too late. Shogo had already accelerated beyond reason. Even Levic in the Zone felt fear for the first time. Too fast, this is impossible.
BANG! A clean, effortless dunk. No excess force, no unnecessary motion, just execution. Perfect and absolute.
Haizaki Shogo landed as if nothing had happened. Cold, detached, unbothered. To him, everything except basketball simply did not exist. For a moment, it felt as if he was standing above the court itself, looking down at everyone else like insignificant pieces on a board.
The Serbian Eagles froze. Fear spread quietly, like ink dissolving into water. Jack's expression hardened. Velia's next inbound pass was already unstable under pressure, but Nash was waiting.
Nash's gaze shifted. Black-and-White Realm activated. He intercepted the pass cleanly, a single motion, no hesitation. The ball flew forward immediately.
At the same time, Shogo exploded again. Levic, still in the Zone, tried to recover, but he couldn't even track him properly anymore. Shogo cut through the defense, leapt, and the arena changed. Time felt suspended.
Velia stood under the basket. His body locked, his eyes widened. Death?
Jack reacted instantly. He kicked Velia aside. BANG! The ball slammed through the rim with violent precision. An alley-oop executed by Nash and Haizaki Shogo. Clean, merciless, absolute.
Velia barely survived it, but mentally, he had already collapsed. His lips trembled uncontrollably. "Th-this, what is this?" "Impossible." "God."
The referee's whistle sounded. Timeout. Velia was subbed out immediately. Score: 46-40. Jabberwock leads by 6.
Shogo exhaled and stepped out of the Zone. Energy saved, good.
The bench exploded. "Shogo, you're insane!" "You're a monster!" "You're a god!" He didn't respond, only glanced at Nash and Jason. Nash drank water calmly. Jason grinned like a maniac.
Shogo finally spoke. "Two minutes left in the second quarter. Give me the ball. I'll push this to double digits." Nash looked at him. Jason looked at him. Both nodded instantly.
Across the court, the Serbian Eagles regrouped. Coach's voice was sharp. "Number 10, you're in for Velia." Then Jack spoke. "We stop playing outside. Everything runs through me inside the paint."
Silence. Then relief. Yes, that was their answer. No more tricks, no more illusions, just brute force through the center. A simple solution, a desperate one. But sometimes, the only one left.