Extra Basket-Chapter 154 - 141: Loan Shark (17)

Score: 89–89

Time: 4th Quarter

The scoreboard burned bright across the packed arena.

The tension was suffocating. Every dribble, every breath felt louder now.

Vorpal Basket had clawed their way back.

Now they stood equal face to face with a titan.

Ethan Albarado stood at half court.

His hands rested lightly on his knees, eyes fixed across the floor.

Not on the ball. Not on the rim.

But on Leonel Blaze.

"(You’re not a god. Not anymore.)," Ethan thought.

"(I’ve seen enough now. All of you. Every habit. Every twitch. Every decision... stored.)"

"(Time for the counterattack.)"

Lucas bounced on his heels, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Yo," he said, eyes scanning the court. "You seeing what I’m seeing?"

Ethan nodded once.

Not loud. Not flashy.

But the kind of nod that said "I’m ready."

"Let’s flip it," Ethan said. "Louie, go wild. Brandon — screen and cut after two seconds. Evan, loop. Lucas..."

Lucas grinned.

"Hit the dagger?"

Ethan returned the grin.

"Or set the fuse."

Inbound.

Evan took it up. Leonel hovered, low and loose, waiting for a mistake.

But this time Vorpal didn’t make one.

They executed the plan like lightning jazz.

Louie faked to the wing, spun under Malik’s blind spot.

Brandon set a back screen then ghosted into the paint.

Lucas cut backdoor.

Leonel’s eyes twitched too many moving pieces.

"(They’re overlapping options... no hierarchy — just chaos.)," Leonel thought.

"(I can’t anticipate it—)"

Evan faked the pass to Brandon — pulled both DeShawn and Noah with it — then kicked it to Lucas...

...who didn’t shoot.

He lobbed it.

And from the side—

ETHAN CAME FLYING IN.

One-hand catch.

Soft lay.

SWISH.

Score: 91–89. VORPAL TAKES THE LEAD.

The crowd lost it.

Ayumi clutched her clipboard, eyes wide, heart pounding.

"Did—did Ethan just—"

Kai stood up and shouted, "THAT’S OUR COACH, BABY!!"

Blazing Fox didn’t call timeout.

Leonel brought it down.

Fast. Fluid.

But now... Ethan was there.

Reading every step.

"(Crossover, left. Heels twitch. That means he’s baiting the pass.)"

Ethan shouted, "SWITCH ON THE DROP!"

Louie instantly covered Noah’s pop out.

Leonel hesitated something he never did.

"(They’re reading me. Adjusting faster. Calculating plays before they happen—)

He passed to Jace —

But Lucas was already there.

Deflected.

Stolen.

Fast break.

Lucas to Evan.

Evan to Louie behind the back pass to Brandon.

Brandon with the two-hand jam.

Score: 93–89.

And finally...

Leonel’s jaw tightened.

Coach Rios stood.

"Hey," he called to his team. "Now or never. Get your heads in."

Malik slammed his chest. "They’re just guessing lucky!"

"No," said Noah, eyes narrowing.

"They’re evolving."

Leonel stared at Ethan as they reset.

And Ethan met his gaze.

Two leaders.

Two minds.

Two worlds.

Ethan’s thoughts burned:

"(Every genius has blind spots.)"

"(Yours, Leonel... is that you’ve never had to change.)"

"(We had to. That’s why we’ll win.)"

...

The moment slowed.

The ball was returned to Leonel Blaze.

But something was different.

His body was still calm, breathing measured.

Yet a strange smile crept across his face.

Then he laughed.

Not out of mockery.

Not out of disrespect.

But something primal.

Something real.

A sound that echoed off the walls of the old Midtown Arena like a war drum cracking open the sky.

"Hahahaha..."

Ethan’s brow furrowed, eyes sharp, confused.

Leonel turned to him.

Still smiling.

Still loose.

But there was a tension in the air now like lightning about to strike.

"100 percent..." Leonel said, voice low and thrilling.

"And beyond."

The words hung in the air.

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

"Beyond?"

(He’s not bluffing.)

Leonel rolled his neck, the smirk never leaving his lips.

"You’re good, Ethan Albarado."

"Really good."

"But this is where the distance gets shown."

He snapped the ball behind his back with a crack, his foot sliding forward.

Jace, Malik, Noah, and DeShawn all seemed to lift not just physically, but spiritually. The intensity skyrocketed.

The temperature in the gym changed.

Even the crowd went silent not from fear, but from anticipation.

Like everyone sensed it at once...

Something monstrous was coming.

Ethan’s heart pounded.

"(This is different. his energy shifted. No hesitation, no test runs. He’s going to unleash it all...)"

"(How far beyond are we talking?)"

Lucas stood beside him, bouncing the ball slowly.

He looked over and said, "I don’t like that laugh." freewebnøvel.coɱ

Evan muttered, "That’s not a laugh. That’s a warning."

Louie just cracked his knuckles, "Then we better make sure we got answers for what’s coming."

Brandon exhaled through his nose.

Leonel brought the ball up.

No wasted movement.

Every step had intention.

Then—

He exploded.

Faster than before.

Too fast.

Ethan blinked and Leonel was already mid-spin. Evan tried to react but tripped over his own pivot. Louie rotated late.

Leonel ducked under, popped the ball behind his back, and floated.

Not jumped.

Floated.

Like gravity was beneath him, begging him to return.

His body twisted mid-air, and he released a fadeaway—

Perfect arc.

SWISH.

Score: 93–91.

Coach Rios pointed.

"Turn it up."

The press came instantly.

Vorpal didn’t even finish celebrating.