NOVEL NEXT Chapter 87: Blowing the Lead
The players came back on the floor, lights burning down, crowd noise smashing like waves. This second half felt more like a final than an opener. Both sides stood in the same way they had before halftime. No switches, no safety net.
The commentators rode the sound.
"Blacklist rolling with the same starting five here in the second half. That's a little risky; they let the Diggers back in it. You'd figure Jinzo or Mac might get a run for some fresh legs, but not this time. Looks like Blacklist will rely again on their captain."
The second commentator backed him up.
"Yeah, it's unusual, but maybe they want consistency. Keep the rhythm, trust the five that started. Could just be a strategy to steady things out."
"And the Diggers aren't changing either. They're betting Salida keeps him chained."
On the bench, Daliah leaned toward Victoria.
"Shouldn't we throw Jinzo and Mac back in this quarter? To balance things a little?"
Victoria didn't lift her eyes from the clipboard.
"Do that, and I'm holding the crown again. That's not the deal."
She tapped the board once.
"The contract's clear. I gave him the crown. Nash runs it. This is his trial. He learns whether he's always right or too arrogant. If he fails, he burns with it. If he wins, we know it's real, and he gets the crown."
Daliah's lips curled faintly as she glanced at the court.
"So you'll let him gamble with all of us?"
Victoria slid her glasses higher, eyes locked on Nash, jogging up to the line.
"It's not a gamble if he's the ace. It's the weight he asked for."
Nash stretched out on the floor, rolling his shoulders, feeling the blood rush a little hotter than usual.
After what just happened with Nia, he couldn't help but feel loose, almost giddy. Then, the world sent him a message.
SYSTEM QUEST: BREAK THEMCondition: Score and lead Blacklist to victory.Reward: +20C per point. +10BP if win. MVP Bonus locked.
His chest tightened. There it was, the rarest and most awaited gift from the system. He almost laughed out loud.
This time, it was even better. Credits for every point, a fat bonus if he took the W, and an MVP bonus cherry on top? Perfect.
And just a few minutes left before his Permanence quest would end. Two girls already waiting for him after the game. Life lined up like dominoes.
Nash inhaled sharply, eyes narrowing. He shut everything out, the crowd, the lights, the noise.
In his head, there was only the court, only the ball, only the win. He told himself: calm, sharp, unstoppable. This was it. Right now, nothing could touch him.
[CONDITION TRIGGERED: ZONE – STATS x2 TEMPORARILY]
The commentators picked it up from their box.
"Blacklist's whole night rests on him. He's their engine. Shut him down, Skull Diggers take this one."
"Exactly. And you better believe the Diggers know it. Salida's assignment doesn't change. Stick to him, stay on him, force him to break."
Salida squared up, sliding into his lane. This time no smirk, no lazy tease. She looked serious now. After his last jab, she wasn't going to hold back.
"You barely reacted before," she said, voice low. "Guess I gotta go even harder this half. Mark my world, I'll make you cum right here on court."
Nash finally looked down at her, grin stretching wide.
"Already did. But you're missing the point. What matters isn't blowing early, it's having enough ammo to go for another round."
She blinked, taken aback. He leaned closer, eyes sharp.
"Let me teach you a lesson. I'm not here to pop and fold. I'm here to destroy you and your team."
He stepped forward, and then, something seemed to spread from him. A sort of aura, invisible yet the feeling was there, rolling off him and making even her stumble for breath.
"You think you can make me come? Then you can smile. By the time this ends," Nash said, voice low, "nobody's gonna see me coming… except you."
Salida's eyes flickered, lips parting, but Nash was already gone, ball in his hand.
She spun, catching only a blur of movement before the swish tore through the net. Score: Blacklist 52 – Skull Diggers 49.
The whole hangar shook. The fans were on their feet, screaming, jaws hanging open.
Even the benches froze, Blacklist's squad rising as one, the Skull Diggers stuck in shock.
Each staff dropped clipboards, trainers leaned forward. Nobody noticed the pass, nobody saw the motion, just Nash, already scoring.
Salida's eyes were wide, her head whipping back. When the hell did he even get the ball?
Next play, Skull Diggers pushed hard. A fast swing pass aimed for Salida, clean… until Nash appeared.
Out of nowhere, his hand snatched it mid‑air. Gasps exploded across the arena. He was gone before anyone blinked.
"Stop him!" one of the Diggers yelled, sprinting hopelessly.
Too late. Nash rocketed forward, launched a disorder shot off one leg, body twisted awkward, and it dropped straight through.
Score: Blacklist 55 – Skull Diggers 49.
The Diggers' coach ripped his clipboard in half screaming
"Somebody catch him! Don't let them increase the gape!"
But no one could.
Salida staggered, her own coach barking at her from the sideline. But she wasn't listening.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, not from running, this was something else. Every word he'd said earlier looped in her head.
The way he moved, the fire in his eyes, and more than anything... That scent. That burning, erotic, sweet scent.
Her nipples brushed against her jersey, stiff and aching. Heat coiled low in her stomach.
What's wrong with me? Why's he so hot?
She bit her lip, dazed.
And Nash was still everywhere. He cut around her on the next possession, too fast for her to even react.
Three Diggers rushed on him in panic, arms up. Nash sprinted straight at them, then cut his speed instantly.
He bounced the ball, his smirk flashing, then the ball snapped into Alicia's hands.
Wide open with no one to stop her.
She blinked in shock, the crowd gasping at how fast it shifted, then fired. Net.
Score: Blacklist 58 – Skull Diggers 49.
The crowd exploded.
"Blacklist is running away with it!" the commentator roared. "It's all Nash Blaze, he's rewriting the game!"
On the sideline, it was another story. Skull Diggers' coach's face was red, his players whispering.
"What's happening? He's only one man... why can't we stop him?"