20demayo Chapter 65 The Final Battle: A Suffocating Start
Chapter 65 The Final Battle: A Suffocating Start
On the evening of June 2, at the Harbin Convention and Exhibition Center Gymnasium.
The air was thick with a suffocating, almost solidified tension, more oppressive than a sauna during the hottest days of summer.
This is no ordinary basketball game; it's an arena, a path of carnage.
The 12000-seat stadium was packed to capacity, but the sea of red seemed heavy, because everyone knew that Yao Ming was not on the Chinese team tonight.
The players' tunnel was deathly silent, with only heavy breathing audible.
The Chinese team's locker room door was tightly shut, and the air pressure inside was so low it made your ears ring. Lin Hao sat on a bench in the corner, shirtless. Team doctor Lao Zhang was giving the bandages on his ankle a final tightening.
It was an old injury sustained during the semi-final match against Lebanon, and it was now painfully constricted, but Lin Hao didn't even flinch.
"Haozi," Coach Jiang Xingquan gripped the tactics board tightly, his knuckles white from the force, "I'll say it one last time. Daba will start in place of Yao Ming. Your only task is to destroy his spirit."
"Understood." Lin Hao's voice was calm, but this calm was brewing a storm.
"Those bastards from the South Korean team," Coach Adijiang gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, "you all have to put up with Fang Chengyun's mouth and those underhanded tricks. The referee today is definitely from West Asia; biased refereeing is a given."
"Endure?" Batel slammed his fist on the storage cabinet with a loud crash. "I hate people who pull dirty tricks more than anything in my life! Haozi, if they dare to use this as a cover, I'll cripple that bastard!"
"Big Bus!" Jiang Xingquan shouted sternly, "If you dare to get ejected, I'll break your legs! Your job is to fight with your bare hands. Even if you have to commit five fouls, you must keep the Korean team's inside players shut down outside the paint!"
"Don't worry, Coach." Lin Hao stood up, cracked his neck, and said, "Baymax will handle the defense, and Durant will handle the blocks. I'll... tear their defense apart."
Just then, the mechanical voice rang in Lin Hao's mind again.
[Ding! Ultimate Mission: Single-Core Championship Win, activated.]
【任务要求：1.率队击败韩国队；2.个人数据：30分+10助攻+5抢断；3.特殊约束：零技术犯规（无论裁判如何针对，你必须忍耐）。】
[Mission Reward: S-Rank Talent - "Iron Fortress". The host will be immune to all devastating injuries and diseases throughout their career.]
Lin Hao's pupils suddenly contracted.
Zero technical fouls.
This means that no matter how the South Korean team plays, attacks, or insults him, he has to endure it like a saint. If he explodes and the mission fails, he will lose the god-like talent that keeps him away from injuries.
"Haozi?" Teaching assistant Zhang Yongjun looked at the dazed Lin Hao. "Say something! You fucking say something!"
Lin Hao raised his head, his eyes blazing with fury, but he suppressed his anger.
"Coach," Lin Hao's voice was as cold as ice, "bring me my jersey."
It was a brand new No. 7 jersey. Lin Hao put it on, zipping it all the way up to cover the veins on his neck.
"Tonight," Lin Hao looked around the arena, at the faces of his teammates, some young and some mature, "those referees want us to lose, the Korean team wants us to die. So we'll use our fists to knock their teeth out and shove their whistles back into their bellies."
The opening ceremony took place at 7:30 p.m.
The players from both sides enter the field.
When the Chinese team entered the game, there was no thunderous applause. The fans looked at Battier and Du Feng, at the interior defense without Yao Ming, their faces filled with worry and anger.
When the South Korean team entered the field, the group of guys in red and black jerseys looked like a swarm of bloodthirsty red ants. Fang Chengyun walked at the front, a thick gold chain hanging around his neck. When he passed the Chinese team's bench, he deliberately stopped and made a throat-slitting gesture in Lin Hao's direction.
The entire stadium erupted in deafening boos.
"Corrupt referee! Get off the court!"
"Murderer! Get out of China!"
The referee team entered the court. Sure enough, it was that familiar face—the West Asian referee who ejected Yao Ming in the semifinals. He coldly surveyed the Chinese team's bench, his face expressionless.
Lin Hao stared intently at the referee, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. [Technical Foul: 0/0] He had to silently repeat the number in his mind, reminding himself not to act impulsively.
Beep! ~ The competition begins.
The referee throws the ball. Battier faces South Korean center Ha Seung-jin.
Before the referee could even throw the ball, Ha Seung-jin slammed his elbow into Battul's ribs!
"Ugh!" Batel groaned, his massive body swaying slightly.
The referee made no comment.
The ball was tossed up. Battier, using his weight advantage, flicked the ball towards Lin Hao.
Lin Hao received the ball, his eyes sharp as knives. He dribbled across half-court, and Fang Chengyun immediately closed in.
This is not defense, this is murder.
Fang Chengyun clung to Lin Hao like a leech. His right hand gripped the hem of Lin Hao's jersey tightly, his nails almost digging into the flesh; his left hand, like a saw, cut back and forth along Lin Hao's dribbling path.
"Beep!" The referee whistle sounded.
The entire audience felt a chill.
The referee points to Lin Hao.
"White team (China) committed a traveling violation! Possession changes!"
"I'll fuck you!" Battul shouted from the sidelines, trying to rush onto the court, but was held back tightly by Jiang Xingquan and Adijiang.
Lin Hao was clearly pulled, causing the ball to slip from his hands, but the referee called it a traveling violation.
Lin Hao didn't argue. He gritted his teeth, tasting blood on his tongue. He glanced at the system panel in his mind: Technical Foul: 0/0.
endure.
South Korea attacks. Fang Chengyun has the ball and, facing Lin Hao's defense, makes an extremely shady move—he shoves the ball directly into Lin Hao's throat!
"Cough cough!" Lin Hao coughed violently, bent over, and felt as if his trachea was on fire.
The referee made no comment.
"How about it? China's clown." Fang Chengyun smiled provocatively, even reaching out to pat Lin Hao's face.
Lin Hao straightened up, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, his eyes lifeless. He dribbled, forcing his way through. Fang Chengyun's hands clamped down on Lin Hao like crab claws, his knees relentlessly pounding into Lin Hao's legs.
Lin Hao jumped forcefully, lost his balance in the air, and threw the ball toward the basket.
"Swish!" The ball went in!
They should be punished even more!
"Beep!" The referee blew his whistle and pointed at Fang Chengyun—a defensive foul.
The entire venue erupted in cheers!
Lin Hao stood at the free-throw line, his breathing eerily steady. He calmly sank the shot. 3-0.
In the following rounds, it became a one-man war for Lin Hao. The South Korean team adopted the dirtiest "hack-and-swap tactics." As soon as Lin Hao got the ball, the South Korean players pounced on him like mad dogs, slamming, pulling, and kneeing him.
There are 7 minutes left in the first quarter.
China is on offense. Lin Hao breaks through and passes the ball to Zhu Fangyu on the baseline. Just as Zhu Fangyu is about to shoot, South Korea's Lee Seung-jun jumps up, not to block, but to slam his knee into Zhu Fangyu's lower back!
Zhu Fangyu crashed heavily to the floor like a kite with a broken string, clutching her chest and gasping for breath for a long time.
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone was waiting for the referee's whistle.
The referee ran over, looked at it, and then—made no comment.
They didn't even call a foul!
"Murder!" Zhao Dabao cried out from the stands. "That's murder! Is the referee blind?"
Zhu Fangyu rolled on the ground in agony. Lin Hao rushed over to help him up. Looking at the arrogant faces of the South Korean team, his killing intent erupted like a volcano. But looking at the referee, he swallowed back the profanity.
[0 technical fouls.]
Lin Hao substituted Zhu Fangyu and took possession of the ball himself.
"Come on, you piece of trash." Lin Hao looked at Fang Chengyun coldly.
Lin Hao activated "killing mode." He stopped passing the ball and organizing play. He became like a runaway bulldozer, relentlessly crushing the South Korean defense.
Facing Fang Chengyun's defense, Lin Hao directly engaged in physical confrontation. The "thump" sounds of their muscles colliding could be heard even through the screen. Lin Hao blew past him in one step and entered the penalty area, where the South Korean center forward came to cover.
Lin Hao leaped into the air, caught the ball with one hand, and slammed it into the basket with all his might over the head of the South Korean center!
"Clang!"
Violent dunk!
Fang Chengyun was knocked to the ground, while Lin Hao twisted his ankle badly when he landed, but he stood on one leg and did not fall.
"Beep!" The referee blew his whistle, and the South Korean team committed a blocking foul.
A penalty kick, and it's in!
The chants for MVP were deafening.
There are 4 minutes left in the first quarter.
South Korea attacks. Bang Sung-yoon has the ball, and Lin Hao is on full defensive end. Bang Sung-yoon tries to use his speed to get past him, but Lin Hao doesn't retreat but advances, using his chest to withstand Bang Sung-yoon's attack!
"Bang!"
The two collided heavily. Fang Chengyun, a defender, was actually knocked back three steps by Lin Hao, another defender, and almost fell on his backside.
"Beep!" The referee blew his whistle, and Fang Chengyun was found guilty of traveling.
"You call that traveling?!" The roar of the fans in the arena almost lifted up.
Lin Hao stood still, without roaring or protesting. He simply walked silently to the referee, pointed his finger at the referee's eyes, and then pointed at his own eyes.
Those eyes were cold and lifeless, devoid of any human emotion.
The referee felt uneasy under their gaze and instinctively took a half-step back.
In the next defensive possession, South Korea served. Lin Hao appeared like a ghost in the passing lane.
"Snapped!"
A clean and decisive steal!
Lin Hao dribbled the ball forward, leaving him the only player on the court. Fang Chengyun frantically chased back, but seeing he couldn't catch up, he stretched out his foot to trip Lin Hao's supporting leg!
This is an action that will definitely cripple a person!
Lin Hao had anticipated this, and he forcefully pulled his leg back in mid-air, twisting his body into an unbelievable angle to avoid the kick. However, he also lost his balance in the process, tossing the ball towards the backboard with one hand.
"Clang!"
Goal!
Lin Hao fell heavily to the ground, even rolling twice.
The entire room fell silent.
Lin Hao got up, dusted himself off, and made a throat-slitting gesture at Fang Chengyun.
Fang Chengyun's face turned deathly pale.
The whistle blew to end the first quarter.
China trailed by 4 points, 18-22.
Lin Hao stood in the center circle, sweat dripping from his chin. He looked up and glanced at the stands. In the highest box, Yao Ming, wearing a baseball cap, was staring intently at the audience.
"Yao Ming," Lin Hao murmured to himself, "look at me. Watch how I won this damn game without you."
[Mission Progress: Points 10, Assists 3, Technical Fouls 0/0]
Lin Hao felt the power about to erupt within him and walked towards the bench. In the locker room, an even more brutal battle awaited him.
Chapter 66 The Final Battle (Part 2): The Flesh Mill and the Silent Dressing Room
The second quarter begins.
During the midfield jump ball, Battulga, with his amazing wingspan, passed the ball to Lin Hao.
Lin Hao dribbled the ball past half-court, his vision blurring as sweat or blood trickled into his eyes. Fang Chengyun clung to him like a leech, this time even more aggressively, using his forearm to tightly choke Lin Hao's neck, attempting to strangle him during the dribble.
"Beep—!"
The referee's sharp whistle rang out.
The entire audience felt disheartened.
The referee's finger pointed stiffly at Lin Hao.
"White team (China) commits double dribble violation! Possession changes!"
"What the hell?!" Battier erupted on the sidelines, his massive body slamming into the GG sign like a mountain. "He was clearly choked and lost the ball! Are you blind?!"
Coach Jiang Xingquan rushed onto the field, roaring with a red face and a thick neck, only to be ejected from the game by the referee! Coach Adijiang had no choice but to take over the reins in this crisis.
Lin Hao stood still, neither roaring nor protesting. He simply clenched his teeth, tasting the strong metallic rust on his tongue. He stared at the referee's deathly face, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, and the cracking sound of his bones grinding together could be heard.
[Technical foul: 0/0]
endure.
China is on the attack. Lin Hao stops calling out tactics and directing runs. He waves for everyone to spread out, passes the ball to the bus, and clears one side for a one-on-one attack.
Fang Chengyun wore a sinister smile, his body hunched low, like a mad dog ready to devour its master.
Lin Hao started dribbling, and the sound of the ball hitting the ground was powerful. Fang Chengyun grabbed the ball with one hand while choking him with the other. Lin Hao suddenly accelerated, and Fang Chengyun immediately kicked him hard in the ankle!
This is an action that will definitely cripple a person!
Lin Hao had anticipated this. He forcefully pulled his leg back in mid-air, twisting his body into an unbelievable angle, sliding past the defender like an eel. However, this also caused him to lose his perfect shooting form, and he could only barely toss the ball toward the basket.
"Whoosh!"
Goal! Another penalty kick is needed!
The entire stadium erupted in cheers! A sea of red roared through the crowd!
"Beep—!" The referee blew his whistle and pointed at Fang Chengyun, indicating a defensive foul.
Lin Hao stood at the free-throw line, sweat streaming down his eyelashes and into his eyes, stinging painfully. He took a deep breath, his mind flashing back to Yao Ming being ejected from the game, and to Zhu Fangyu being knocked away.
"This shot is for Yao Ming."
"Swish!" The first free throw went in.
"This goal is for Yi Jianlian."
"Swish!" The second free throw went in.
20:22.
With 8 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the tragedy escalated.
South Korea is on offense. Fang Chengyun has the ball, and Lin Hao is on full-court defense. Fang Chengyun tries to use a screen to get past him, but Lin Hao stubbornly squeezes past the screen and sticks to him like glue.
"Beep—!"
The referee whistle blows.
The entire audience felt disheartened.
The referee pointed at Lin Hao – illegal use of the hand, defensive foul.
This was Fang Chengyun's fourth personal foul, and his final foul. According to the rules, he could not commit any more fouls.
Fang Chengyun stood at the free throw line, taking the first shot.
"Beep——!" The referee whistle sounded.
The entire room fell silent.
The referee points to Fang Chengyun – penalty kick violation, goal disallowed.
Fang Chengyun was so startled that his hand trembled, and he missed the free throw.
Second penalty.
Fang Chengyun made his move again.
"Whoosh!" It goes in. 20 to 23.
The game continues. Lin Hao has the ball, and Fang Chengyun is defending him. Lin Hao forces his way through, and the two engage in physical contact.
"Bang!"
Lin Hao was knocked back three steps, and the ball slipped from his grasp!
"Beep——!" The referee whistle sounded.
The referee pointed at Lin Hao – traveling violation!
"Fuck your mother!" the commentator slammed his fist on the table in anger. "This isn't a foul? This is intentional homicide!"
Lin Hao got up from the ground and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. He looked at the referee, his eyes filled with no anger, only endless coldness. He walked up to the referee, pointed to his own eyes, and then pointed to the referee's eyes.
The referee felt uneasy under their gaze and instinctively took a step back.
Lin Hao didn't eat the T. He resisted the urge.
[0 technical fouls.]
With 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the storm arrived.
Lin Hao was like a tireless killing machine, scoring relentlessly. He stopped shooting three-pointers and flashy moves. He simply charged in, fought back, and put the ball in the basket in the most brutal way.
Lin Hao drives to the basket, and Fang Chengyun commits a foul. Lin Hao makes both free throws. 22-23.
South Korea attacks, Lin Hao steals the ball and launches a fast break. Fang Chengyun frantically chases after him, but seeing he can't catch up, he stretches out his foot to trip Lin Hao's supporting leg!
Lin Hao had anticipated this, and he forcefully pulled his leg back in mid-air, twisting his body to avoid the kick. However, he also lost his balance and tossed the ball towards the backboard with one hand.
"Clang!"
Goal! Another penalty kick is due!
"Beep—!" The referee blew his whistle, and Fang Chengyun committed a blocking foul.
Lin Hao stood at the free-throw line, his breathing eerily steady. He calmly sank the shot. 23-23.
The chants for MVP were deafening.
With two minutes remaining in the second quarter, it was the final judgment.
South Korea attacks. Bang Sung-yoon takes a three-pointer—
"Bang!" The basketball hit the back of the rim and bounced out!
Battier grabs the rebound! China has possession!
Lin Hao dribbled the ball forward, leaving him the only player on the court. Fang Chengyun pressed him relentlessly, even pulling at Lin Hao's jersey until it tore, revealing the protective gear underneath.
The referee did not blow the whistle.
Lin Hao drove into the paint, and facing a triple team, he leaped high and tossed the ball toward the basket in mid-air.
"Whoosh!"
Goal! Another penalty kick is needed!
"Beep—!" The referee blew his whistle, and the South Korean team committed a blocking foul.
Lin Hao stood at the free throw line, sweat running down his eyelashes and into his eyes, stinging painfully.
"For China."
"Swish!" The first free throw went in, making it 24-23.
"For my own sake."
"Swish!" The second free throw went in, making it 25-23.
South Korea's final attack saw Bang Sung-yoon attempt a three-pointer.
"Bang!" The basketball hit the back of the rim and bounced out!
Battier grabs the rebound! Game over!
China leads 25-23, going into halftime!
Halftime, in the locker room.
Silence as death.
There were no cheers, no applause. Only heavy, labored breathing, like a broken bellows, and the beeping of medical equipment.
Lin Hao sat on a bench, shirtless. Team doctor Lao Zhang was stitching up the cut on his brow bone, the needle and thread making a sickening "sizzling" sound as they pierced the flesh. Lin Hao didn't even flinch, as if it weren't his own flesh.
His jersey was torn and hung on his body like a tattered flag that had been through the ravages of war.
"Haozi..." Zhang Yunsong looked at his injury, his eyes red and his voice choked with emotion, "We can't play this game anymore. The referee won't let us win."
Lin Hao didn't speak. He looked down at his hands, which were covered with bloody scratches from fingernails and teeth marks from bites.
"Who said we can't play?" Lin Hao finally spoke, his voice hoarse and cold, devoid of any human emotion, as if it came from hell. "In the second half, give me all the balls."
He raised his head and looked at Coach Adijiang, his eyes burning with a ghostly blue light.
"Coach, the bus doesn't need to get off in the second half."
Batel suddenly looked up: "Haozi?"
"Let me finish," Lin Hao interrupted him, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Go up there. Don't worry about tactics or fouls. You have only one mission—to kill."
"If the Korean team dares to enter the paint, you'd better attack them relentlessly! Pull them, yank their shirts, knee them—go as hard as you can! Even if you get five fouls and foul out, you have to push their inside players out of the paint!"
Looking into Lin Hao's lifeless eyes, Batel nodded fiercely: "Don't worry, Haozi! If I don't break his legs, I'm not a Batel!"
Lin Hao then looked at Li Nan and Zhang Yunsong on the bench.
"You guys," Lin Hao pointed at them, "leave the perimeter open. As soon as the ball gets to me, you guys go for the rebound. If I miss, you guys go for the rebound. We're going to drag the game into a quagmire, until they suffocate!"
"Understood!" the crowd roared in unison, their voices filled with determination.
Lin Hao glanced at the system panel in his mind.
[Mission Progress: 18 points, 4 assists.]
"In the second half," Lin Hao stood up, tore open a can of yellow peaches, and took a big gulp. The sweet syrup dripped down his chin, mixing with blood, making him look incredibly ferocious. "I'm going to beat them into submission."
He walked to the locker room door, his back to everyone, his voice as cold as ice.
"If anyone dares to hold us back, don't blame me for disregarding team spirit."
After saying that, he pushed open the door and walked into the stadium, which was filled with malice and murderous intent.