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"Then we burn together."
Riku's veins glowed violet. His shadow split, fractal patterns covering the floor. Lira's form merged with him completely—her phantom crown flickering above his head.
> Phantom Mode... active.
The air imploded.
Riku vanished. The next instant, he was in front of Aiden, hand gripping the ball like it weighed nothing. His eyes blazed violet-white.
He crossed once—and reality staggered. Aiden's blade missed by a breath.
Then came the second cross.
And everything stopped.
Time itself seemed to flicker, the light of the domain cracking under the strain.
> Impossible! Aiden's voice echoed, distorted. He's bending—
Riku spun, moving faster than the eye could register. The court shattered beneath him.
He jumped, twisting midair, both hands gripping the ball. For a second, the phantom queen's wings spread from his back—vast and dark.
"End of court."
He slammed it.
The blast ripped through the domain. Light exploded, shattering into shards that rained like stars. The cathedral dissolved, returning to the real arena.
When the smoke cleared, Riku was standing alone in the crater, breath shallow, body steaming. The scoreboard blinked: 3–0.
Silence. Then the crowd detonated into roars.
Kaori punched the air. "Hell yeah, Phantom!"
But Aiden was still standing—barely. His spirit cracked, light leaking from its wounds. "That... power isn't human," he whispered.
Nyra floated down, her expression unreadable. "Match concluded. Victory—Team Inferno."
She walked toward Riku, each step soundless. "Impressive. But you broke three resonance regulations and used a forbidden fusion mode."
Riku looked up at her, unflinching. "Then disqualify me."
Nyra paused. "You want to be punished?"
"I want to keep playing."
For the first time, her lips curved slightly—an almost invisible smile. "Very well. I'll grant you probation. But know this, Riku Vane—every step you take echoes beyond this court."
Her hand brushed his shoulder, light surging briefly through his body. "The gods are watching."
She turned, ascending into golden light and vanishing from sight.
> You attracted a goddess's attention, Lira whispered. That's rarely a good sign.
Riku smirked weakly. "Guess I'm good at bad luck."
Kaori jogged over, tossing him a towel. "You're insane," she said. "But you're ours now."
"Feels like home already," he replied.
> You nearly died, Lira muttered. You call that home?
"Yeah," he said, smiling faintly. "That's basketball."
The crowd still chanted his name as he walked off-court, the lights dimming behind him. Somewhere deep in the celestial levels above, unseen eyes tracked his every move.
And in the darkness of the spirit realm, a voice that hadn't spoken in centuries stirred from its slumber.
> So... the Phantom Queen has chosen again.
The air quaked. Ancient chains began to crack.
> Then let the Soul War begin.
To be continued...