The scoreboard still read 2–1, but the numbers no longer mattered.
The gymnasium was deathly silent. No one in the stands even blinked. All eyes were locked on the two figures at center court—Nijimura Shuzo and Shigure Akihito.
Both were drenched in sweat. Their jerseys clung to their frames, their chests heaving, breaths ragged. And yet, the pressure they radiated only grew heavier.
"Senpai…" Kuroko's voice trembled. His fists dug into his knees. "They're… they're going to destroy themselves at this rate."
Kise swallowed hard, golden eyes wide. "This… this isn't normal Zone anymore. They're… they're forcing each other deeper."
Even Aomine, who always claimed he'd never lose to anyone, could only mutter hoarsely, "What the hell are we even watching…?"
Shigure dribbled slowly at the top of the key. His head was slightly bowed, arcs of black lightning snapping faintly in his eyes. His dribbles echoed—tap, tap, tap—resonating in the suffocating silence.
Nijimura crouched low, aura blazing, the illusion of a lion roaring with arcs of lightning across its mane. His body screamed in pain, but his instincts were sharper than ever.
My stamina's near its limit. My muscles are screaming. My lungs feel like fire. But… my mind's clearer than ever. If this is what it means to fight in the abyss, then I'll fight until my soul burns out.
Shigure raised his eyes. For an instant, the arcs in his gaze flared brighter. His voice came low, cold.
"…Then let's finish this."
He snapped forward.
His rhythm exploded. Crossover left—hesitation—snatch back—the ball whipped between his legs, his body tilting unnaturally fast.
Nijimura mirrored perfectly. His lion's aura lashed forward, his steps crunching like thunder.
BAM!
Their chests collided, both refusing to yield. Shigure powered through, slipping a behind-the-back dribble and launching into a sudden pull-up jumper.
Nijimura's hand rose with him.
SMACK!
The ball ricocheted off his palm, spinning wildly.
"He blocked it again?!"
"No way, Captain Nijimura's keeping up with that speed?!"
Shigure landed, his face twisted with strain. He darted forward to recover the loose ball, but Nijimura was already there, muscles screaming as he ripped it away.
"Mine."
Without hesitation, Nijimura bolted down the court. His strides were monstrous, his frame surging forward like a predator scenting blood.
Shigure gave chase instantly.
Faster. Faster.
Their sneakers tore at the floor, the gym shaking from their impacts.
Nijimura hurled himself upward for a ferocious dunk
But Shigure was there again.
BOOM!
Their bodies slammed together midair, neither conceding. The ball flew loose, caroming against the rim, bouncing high into the rafters.
Both players crashed hard to the hardwood.
"Ugh!"
"Captain Nijimura!"
Gasps, screams, panic spread through the stands.
But before anyone could even breathe—both men staggered to their feet again.
Shigure spat blood onto the floor, his lips curling into a faint grin. "…Is that all you've got?"
Nijimura wiped his chin, grinning back. "Not even close."
The ball dropped from the rafters.
They both lunged.
CRASH!
Another brutal collision, their shoulders slamming together as they both reached upward. Fingers scraped. Nails tore. Neither released.
They landed hard, bodies twisting, still fighting for control of the same ball.
The referee's whistle was half-raised—but no one dared interrupt.
This wasn't a foul. This wasn't basketball. This was something primal.
"Captain…" Momoi whispered from the bench, her eyes shimmering. "Please… please don't break yourself…"
Beside her, Haizaki smirked through gritted teeth. "Tch. Bastards are insane. But that's Captain and Shigure-senpai for you. Freaks who'd rather die than back down."
At last, the ball popped free again, bouncing toward the sideline.
Both men lunged after it
SLAM!
They collided into the advertising boards, bodies crashing into the out-of-bounds area. Chairs toppled. Water bottles flew. Spectators shrieked and scrambled back.
"Both players out of bounds!" the referee barked.
The whistle cut the air like a blade.
But neither man moved.
They lay there, sprawled, drenched, their chests heaving like bellows.
And yet—both were laughing.
A hollow, breathless sound.
"Hah… hah… You…" Shigure rasped, head tilting toward Nijimura. "…still standing…"
Nijimura turned his head faintly, his grin weary, his eyes still blazing.
"You're perfect, Shigure…"
Shigure frowned. "…Hah?"
"If you hadn't appeared, I'd have been the protagonist of this story. But since you're here…"
Nijimura's gaze sharpened, his aura flickering even stronger despite his exhaustion.
"…I won't lose. Not to you."
Shigure's lips curved faintly, even as his arms trembled, even as blood dripped from his knuckles.
"…Then crawl back up from the abyss and show me, Nijimura."
The crowd was silent. Not a soul dared breathe.
Because they all knew
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
The ball was retrieved and placed back in play.
The scoreboard still read 2–1. But every player, every spectator, every coach in that gymnasium knew: the score was irrelevant.
This duel was no longer about numbers.
It was about survival.
It was about pride.
And it was about the abyss.
Two monsters had dragged each other into it
And neither was willing to let go.
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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