I Died on the Court, Now I'm Back to Rule It-Chapter 146: Horizon VS North Wolves : Declaration of Freedom 4

One dribble.

Layup.

61 – 57.

"They’re not calling plays—they’re syncing minds!"

"This is Maestro’s basketball. Dirga isn’t leading. He’s composing!"

...

"Slow it down," Gaito muttered as he crossed halfcourt.

But his voice wasn’t calm anymore.

It was cracking.

Minato curled left. Haru flared out.

Riku fought for space under the rim.

But Horizon’s defense?

Tight. Interlocked. Unbreaking.

Dirga didn’t press Gaito.

He mirrored him.

A shadow with eyes.

Every screen?

Neutralized.

Every angle?

Cut.

Taiga hedged. Rei rotated.

They weren’t defending anymore.

They were anticipating.

Gaito kept probing.

But no open lane.

No rhythm.

He passed out—reluctant.

Minato caught at the top.

Aizawa stepped up.

Their fourth one-on-one of the quarter.

Minato hesitated.

Then drove hard—right side.

Aizawa didn’t yield.

Step for step.

Hip to hip.

Minato dropped his shoulder.

Aizawa absorbed it.

Minato spun—

Aizawa stayed glued.

They rose together.

Mid-air collision.

Minato twisted—reverse layup—

Missed.

The ball kissed the rim and rolled out.

Rikuya sealed the board.

Snatched it.

Outlet to Dirga.

The gym pulsed like a heart under pressure.

"With 1 minute and 38 seconds left—Horizon has the ball!"

"Minato had the angle—but Aizawa read him like a mirror!"

Dirga crossed halfcourt slow, lungs heaving steady.

His fingers tapped against the ball like a pianist testing keys.

Eyes scanning.

Clock ticking.

He called out—voice sharp:

"Rei!"

Rei looped to the wing, Haru chasing tight.

Dirga fed him.

Then cut through, brushing shoulder to shoulder with Taiga.

Handoff fake.

Passed to Taiga.

Defense stuttered.

Dirga flared back to the arc.

Caught the return.

The Wolves collapsed.

Minato sagged into the lane—ready to contest.

Aizawa drifted behind the action.

Wide corner.

Dirga paused.

Then fired the pass—

Left corner.

Aizawa caught it like he knew it was coming since yesterday.

Minato lunged.

Too late.

Aizawa rose.

Release.

Swish.

63 – 57.

"AIZAWA AGAIN!"

"He’s not running away from Minato—he’s rising over him!"

"This is the fourth quarter fire Horizon was waiting for!"

...

The Wolves’ bench called for calm.

Timeout?

No.

They waved it off.

One last stand.

Minato took the ball himself.

Eyes on the floor. Breath steady.

Then he looked across at Aizawa.

No smirk. No insult.

Just a nod.

And then he drove.

Hard.

Aizawa let him go—

Just for a step.

Then shadowed back.

Clean.

Minato rose.

Aizawa went with him.

Mid-air collision—shoulder to shoulder.

Whistle.

Foul.

Minato walked to the line.

The crowd quieted like someone pulled the breath out of the gym.

He bounced the ball. Once. Twice.

Looked up—eyes on Aizawa.

His voice came soft.

Low.

"I meant what I said."

Aizawa blinked.

"You’re finally not me."

Minato shot.

First free throw: good.

Second: good.

63 – 59.

Dirga brought the ball up.

Chest rising.

Eyes locked.

The Wolves pressed now—tight, urgent.

Rei staggered to the right corner.

Aizawa drifted left, hiding behind the arc.

Dirga waited.

Watched.

Then called for motion.

Passed to Rei.

Rei attacked baseline—hard.

Help rotated fast.

He kicked it back.

Dirga caught it top of the key.

Shot clock ticking.

5.

Dirga stepped back.

He launched.

Deep.

The gym held its breath—

Clank. freewebnøvel.coɱ

Miss.

The rebound bounced high.

Rikuya and Riku collided.

Riku won it.

Passed to Gaito.

Wolves ran.

Haru darted wide—transition three forming.

Dirga cut across the arc like a blade and leapt—

Tipped it midair.

The ball spun wild.

Loose.

Minato dove.

Snatched it off the floor.

Stood.

Turned—

Aizawa was already there.

Minato didn’t hesitate.

Pulled up from the wing.

Quick trigger.

Aizawa read it.

Jumped—

Blocked.

Flat-out rejection.

The ball bounced hard off Aizawa’s forearm and hit the court.

Taiga caught it.

Secured it.

"This is not a rivalry anymore!"

"This is a declaration of freedom!"

"Aizawa has become the player only he could be!"

...

Timeout: Horizon.

Their bench stood.

Coach Tsugawa didn’t raise his voice.

He pointed at the scoreboard.

"Four-point lead. Thirty-two seconds left."

His voice stayed level.

"We don’t stall. We move."

"We stay compact. We cut, we shift. Make them chase us."

"And remember to breathe."

He looked at Dirga.

"You end it."

Dirga nodded once.

Then turned to the others.

No fear in his face.

Just control.

And fire.

...

Inbound.

Dirga received the ball in the backcourt.

Minato met him early—low stance, sharp eyes.

Dirga dribbled up—slow and deliberate.

Gaito shadowed off-ball, shoulders sagging. Breathing heavy. Legs dull.

Rei moved across the top.

Taiga feinted a screen.

Shot clock hit 12.

Dirga drove.

Minato switched over.

Double team.

Dirga backed out—dragged them both.

Behind the defense, Aizawa ghosted from the corner.

Wide open.

Dirga passed.

But Aizawa didn’t shoot.

He smiled.

Then passed again.

To Rei.

Open.

Catch.

Three.

Bang.

66 – 59.

"This crowd is losing its mind!"

"Unselfish. Ruthless. Unified. This is Horizon’s signature now!"

...

Final minute.

Gaito didn’t hesitate.

He brought it up fast.

Minato and Haru cleared to the wings.

Isolation.

Dirga waited at the top.

Feet spread. Breathing steady.

No more Godframe.

No more Maestro State.

Just instinct.

And Black Mirage.

Gaito jabbed hard—right.

Dirga didn’t react.

Gaito feinted left—spin gather.

Dirga’s eyes stayed locked on the hips, not the ball.

Timing.

Foot rhythm.

This is it. The real move.

Gaito dropped his weight—attacking the left foot.

Then snapped forward, elbow rising—

Crossover incoming—

That’s when Dirga struck.

[Black Mirage: Counterveil – Trigered]

Not a gamble.

A dismantling.

He moved like he was skipping frames of film.

Hand met ball.

Ball left fingers.

Gaito froze.

The sound?

Snap.

Not contact.

Not struggle.

Just precision.

Steal. Clean.

Dirga didn’t even run.

He turned.

Took three slow steps backward.

And cradled the ball to his chest.

The Wolves stopped moving.

Minato exhaled.

Gaito stared at the hardwood like it had betrayed him.

The possession had been perfect—

Until Dirga took it apart like it had never existed.

The announcer’s voice punched through the roar.

"He didn’t intercept the play—he unwrote it!"

"That’s not just a steal. That’s a statement!"

Dirga walked toward the center circle.

No celebration.

No fist raised.

Just a quiet look toward the Wolves’ bench—

—and a deeper one toward Aizawa.

The horn sounded.

...

FINAL SCORE: Toyonaka Horizon 66 – Sapporo North Wolves 58

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