Chapter 122 Victory is the only way to prove it.
The last two minutes.
Immortal Path activates Ace Mode.
1 minute 45 seconds
He changed direction and stopped abruptly, then leaned back and shot a jumper over Zebei's arm!
79:79
1 minute 12 seconds.
He steals the ball from Shen Jin, drives deep into the penalty area, fakes a pass, and shoots!
81:79
38 seconds.
Two steps beyond the three-point line, an ultra-long-range pull-up jumper!
82:81
10 seconds.
Uozumi slapped Kawada on the shoulder with his giant hand: "I'm sorry!"
He intentionally fouled, sending Kawata to the free-throw line.
First penalty – a knock on the front!
Second free throw – Goal!
82:82
Final 3 seconds
Sendoh receives the ball, and Sawakita sticks to it tightly.
Dribble between the legs, step back, jump—
Zebei's fingertip brushed against the basketball—
Whoosh!
The net flips up—
Beep—!
The final whistle blew.
An eerie silence fell over the entire stadium.
The scoreboard was glaringly bright:
Lingnan 84-82 Mountain King
"They...they won?" someone in the audience stammered.
The next second—
"Aaaaaah, Ryonan won!!!"
The eruption of cheers nearly lifted the roof off, and the Sannoh support area was instantly engulfed by the boiling crowd.
—Ryonan bench
Coach Taoka looked dazed: "We... beat Sannoh?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Bo Yinyao excitedly rushed forward, almost knocking him over: "Coach! We really won!!"
On the field, Uozumi knelt down and cried bitterly, Fukuda roared to the sky, while Sendoh was pressed down by his teammates and showed a rare, embarrassed smile.
——Xianbei Auditorium
"I'm rich!"
The five clowns of Sakuragi's gang jumped right onto the seats.
Gao Gong hugged the money box tightly and kissed it passionately: "Sister Yin, you are the reincarnation of the God of Wealth!"
Yohei counted his money with a smile: "Three months' worth of barbecue money is covered!"
Noma had already pulled out his notebook: "What are the odds for the next match?"
Rukawa silently stuffed the money he won into Kanon's backpack.
Hua Yin's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Did you make a killing?"
Rukawa hugged her expressionlessly: "...A win-win situation."
The Sannoh team members stood in silent formation.
With red eyes, Zebei reached out his hand to Sendoh: "Next time..."
"I won't let you win next time either." Sendoh smiled and grasped his hand.
...
Final day.
Shohoku Lounge.
Mitsui had his eyes closed, classical music flowing from his headphones—
For the first time since the national competition, he did not anxiously bounce his legs or crack his knuckles.
Sakuragi brought his red head close to Mitsui's face: "Mitsui, are you shaking?"
"Stop talking nonsense." Mitsui suddenly opened his eyes and punched Sakuragi on the shoulder. "Shohoku has already come this far..."
My fist trembled slightly. "I just felt like I was just one step away... I had to make all my three-pointers!"
Hanon's heart seemed to be stirred by Mitsui's words, and Akagi was also slightly taken aback.
“Mitsui-senpai,” she walked up to Mitsui and looked him straight in the eye, “in our hearts, you have always been the number one shooter in the country.”
Mitsui was stunned for a moment, then broke into a bright smile: "I'll remember that."
"My sis's being unfair!" Sakuragi jumped up. "Isn't this genius the best in the country?"
"Smack!"
Hanon flicked his finger, striking him on the forehead: "Wait until we win this match—"
Everyone will know this fact.
Rukawa Kaede lowered his head, adjusting his wrist guards, like a warrior about to go into battle, wiping his sharp blade.
Hanon walked over, her fingertips lightly brushing against the letters on the wristband: "Ready?"
Rukawa raised his head, his indifferent fox-like eyes burning with a scorching fighting spirit.
"Um."
A simple syllable, yet it carries immense weight.
Kanon smiled.
She knew.
This "hmm" contains "I will definitely win," "Wait and see how I perform," and even more so, "For you."
An announcement came from outside the door:
[National Tournament Finals, Shohoku vs. Ryonan, starting in 10 minutes]
The light at the end of the passage grew brighter and brighter, and deafening cheers surged forth like a tidal wave.
Hanon unconsciously clenched her fists.
Even after experiencing countless professional competitions, this pure, passionate excitement still makes her heart race.
Basketball is just a game, but at this moment, it seems to have become the whole world.
The moment I stepped onto the field, blinding lights shone down.
She has come this far step by step, and it seems that she has also become part of this fervor.
Most importantly, I am one of the creators of this madness.
The basketball arena is so spacious and bright, it seems to extend infinitely, encompassing the whole world and presenting endless possibilities.
Hanon turned her gaze toward the rest area of Ryonan.
Yinyin leaned half her body out over the railing, waving her arms frantically: "Yinyin! Over here!"
Sendoh leaned back in his chair, glancing towards Shohoku. That familiar, languid smile held the same sharpness he had displayed when defeating Sannoh.
Kanon instinctively reached out to raise her hand in greeting—
The light in front of me suddenly dimmed.
Rukawa subtly turned to the side, completely blocking her view of Sendoh.
Huayin: "..."
He didn't say anything, but it was as if he had said a thousand words.
"Focus on preparing for the competition." She poked his side with amusement.
Rukawa grabbed her wrist and pressed her palm against his left chest. Through the thin team uniform, she could clearly feel his rapid and powerful heartbeat.
“I will crush them.” His voice was low, but his eyes burned with an astonishing intensity.
The cheers from the audience grew louder and louder:
"Shohoku got to where they are today by luck!"
"Bullshit! They wiped out Hainan!"
"But Ryonan defeated Sannoh!"
"Two Kanagawa rookies... This tournament is insane!"
Hanon looked up at the dome.
I used to think that winning or losing was just a matter of statistics, but now I truly feel it—
I am standing on the stage of history.
When she turned to face her teammates, Hanon's voice was like a quenched knife:
"You've made history by getting this far. Beyond the victory, I hope you enjoy everything on the court, every shot and every heart-stopping moment."
Kanon said to Miyagi:
"Sendoh's rhythm... steal it. His changes of direction, steals, plays—"
"These are all the best teaching materials prepared for you."
She turned to Mitsui:
"Your shooting never needs to prove anything."
She gently patted his shoulder, "Don't strive for perfection today—"
"As long as it's enjoyable."
Mitsui's breathing was steady: "Yes, Coach."
Kanon cupped Sakuragi's red hair in her hands: "You're always protecting others... Don't think too much today."
"You are allowed to do three things,"
"Arrogant laughter, frantic dunks, and—"
"Let Lingnan weep."
Sakuragi's pupils contracted sharply, then he grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth: "I've been waiting for this for ages!"
Kanon reached out and adjusted Rukawa Kaede's wrist guard:
"My sword... has finally learned when to draw it."
"You know how to cooperate with others and how to get more opportunities from your teammates. This is what I'm most proud of; you have a broader perspective."
"So today, can I do whatever I want?" Rukawa asked back.
"All freedom is relative. Deep down, you know exactly what you want."
Everyone looked in the direction of Rukawa Kaede.
"Finally, remember this," Hanon looked around at everyone, "Ryonan's most terrifying trait is their stability."
Immortals possess an innate ability to control rhythm—I don't care what your rhythm is, you have to follow my rhythm.
So today—
"We need to play more flexibly and intelligently."
The entire Shohoku team responded in unison: "Yes!"
Across from him, Sendoh was lazily spinning a basketball.
The match is about to begin, and everyone is going onto the field.
Every step was taken with utmost seriousness by Rukawa and Sakuragi.
I have never been bathed in such bright light before; even the beating of my heart seems to have a special meaning.
In the instant their eyes met, the two mortal enemies understood the same resolve:
win.
We must win.
Because the woman who changed Shohoku was standing on the sidelines.
Because of her existence—
We must prove it with victory.
The weight of their entire world rests on this stadium.
Akagi and Uozumi are standing on the center line.
Akagi had done countless jump balls, but the moment he jumped, the entire arena witnessed an explosive force that broke through the visual barrier.
"drink--!"
Akagi's roar was so loud it seemed to shatter eardrums. His arm flashed in the air as he knocked the ball down!
Miyagi darted out like lightning, but just as he received the ball—
"squeak!"
A screeching sound came from the right.
Deep in Miyagi's mind, he recalled the moment during a previous confrontation when the opponent stole the ball from him as he turned around.
He won't make the same mistake twice!
He suddenly changed direction, barely dodging the sneak attacking hand.
Turn around, sway your shoulders, accelerate—
Sendoh had caught up to him.
Miyagi made a sudden stop in an attempt to shake off Sendoh, but Sendoh simply slid down and blocked Miyagi's path.
Sendoh had a faint smile on his face. His gaze was not oppressive, but Miyagi had the illusion that he had been locked onto by the other party and could not escape.
"Don't be nervous." Sendoh's voice was tinged with laughter, but his eyes were fixed on Miyagi's dribbling rhythm. "Take it slow."
Miyagi raised an eyebrow, then abruptly stopped and changed direction—
As if anticipating this, the immortal took a step to the side, his slender figure completely blocking the path to breakthrough.
Miyagi was about to pass the ball to the back when he found that Sakuragi, who was supposed to receive it, was tightly blocked.
Rukawa came rushing in—
Miyagi made a diagonal pass to the back, his hand just as he pushed it backward—
"Smack!"
Sendoh suddenly lunged forward, his back stretching out with incredibly taut lines, his body seemingly passing under Miyagi's arm, his fingertips clearly striking the ball and completely changing its passing angle!
The basketball traced a bizarre arc and was stolen by Fukuda!
Rukawa Kaede instantly changed direction.
—Ryonan launches a rapid counterattack!
Rukawa and Fukuda struck the basket like two bolts of lightning.
Fukuda's emergency stop and data return—
My heart was in my throat, everyone was wondering which team would win the first goal.
Yueye was ready to receive the ball, and the moment he raised his hand—
A figure chased after him from behind!
Sakuragi leaped up without hesitation, and Koshino watched with wide eyes as the ball was knocked down, without him even having a chance to touch it.
"Wow!" The entire audience gasped.
"It's Sakuragi! He successfully stopped the first ball!"
Sendoh blinked and sped up to defend. He caught up with Sakuragi, but Sakuragi was too fast, and the distance between them quickly widened.
Ayako exclaimed, "Sakuragi seems to be even faster!"
A glint of admiration flashed in Hanon's eyes: "It's not speed, his dribbling has evolved to the point of muscle memory."
Just as Sakuragi was about to switch the ball from his right hand to his left, Sendoh suddenly accelerated, his arm reaching out—
Sakuragi quickly raised his shoulder to protect the ball.
But Sendoh was a monster. He instantly adjusted his center of gravity, moved towards the front of Sakuragi's touchdown point, stretched out his other arm, and suddenly hooked the ball back.
"Damn it! You bastard..." Sakuragi hadn't finished his trash talk.
Sendoh's smile flashed past Sakuragi's eyes; he simply regarded Sakuragi as an interesting fellow.
In the blink of an eye, the immortal path swept across the entire area like a whirlwind.
Miyagi's interception was easily neutralized by his behind-the-back dribble, and Mitsui's defense was shaken off with a convincing fake.
Sendoh drove straight for the basket.
Akagi leaped up, blocking his layup path, but he just smiled calmly and passed the ball to Fukuda in mid-air.
Fukuda received the ball and sprang up, about to complete a dunk—
"Don't even think about it!!!"
Sakuragi soared into the air like a rocket, his large hands swatting the basketball with tremendous force!
Fukuda's pupils contracted sharply, and he abruptly stopped his dunk attempt, his wrist flicking—
"Whoosh!"
The basketball was passed back to Sendoh outside the three-point line.
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