Just as the two stood there in shock, Miyamoto picked up the ball whose trajectory had been altered.
Then he charged straight ahead.
"Oh no!"
The Shūtoku High players snapped out of it and immediately turned to chase him down.
Several of them rushed back on defense, and Shintaro Midorima also tried to retreat.
But the two burly men in front of him both showed faint smiles.
Shintaro Midorima twitched the corner of his mouth.
Well, too late now.
As Miyamoto pushed the fast break, ripples began to spread beneath his feet.
Kazunari Takao frowned in confusion at the sight.
A fast break, why activate the [Eye of Truth]?
Is it to track our positions and avoid getting blocked?
Just as Kazunari Takao was still trying to figure it out...
Thud! Thud! Thud!!!
Heavy footsteps thundered from behind him.
A tall figure instantly streaked past Kazunari Takao's side.
When Kazunari Takao got a clear look, his jaw practically fell off.
"What?!"
Atsushi Murasakibara was sprinting at full speed, his body glowing with a faint purple aura.
In no time, he had overtaken all the other Shūtoku High players.
[PS: Atsushi Murasakibara is not slow. In the original, after entering the Zone, he even managed to chase down Taiga Kagami on a fast break!]
Miyamoto naturally noticed Atsushi Murasakibara as well.
If his own big guy was running this fast, how could he let that effort go to waste?
Without hesitation, Miyamoto tossed the basketball high off the backboard.
The ball struck the upper part of the backboard and rebounded.
Atsushi Murasakibara caught it cleanly from behind.
Miyamoto didn't even turn his head. He immediately pivoted and sprinted back on defense.
Atsushi Murasakibara powered up and slammed the ball into the hoop.
BOOM!!!
Seeing this, the other Shūtoku players gradually slowed down.
Taisuke Otsubo was completely stunned.
He simply could not believe it. A center who already crushed him in strength could also be this fast.
Atsushi Murasakibara released the rim and dropped heavily to the floor.
Thud!
Crack, crack.
Even after he landed, the rim continued to shake violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.
Atsushi Murasakibara slowly raised his head and let out a long breath.
Behind him, the phantom of a giant bear flickered in and out of view.
If one looked closely, it was clear that his eyes...
were already beginning to change...
Shuzo Nijimura noticed this and shook his head helplessly.
"They're all monsters!!!"
Shuzo Nijimura had always been easygoing. He knew that sooner or later, these juniors would surpass him.
But when that moment truly arrived, it still stung.
'Sigh, in the end... I just didn't work hard enough.'
Shuzo Nijimura had already made up his mind. Once he got back, he would increase his training.
There was no other way.
If talent fell short, then effort had to make up the difference.
On the sidelines, Tatsuya Himuro clenched his fists.
He silently made a resolution as well.
Back at Yosen, he had been the team's prodigy and a core player.
But after coming to Kirisaki Daiichi, he had completely fallen to the bottom.
Everyone here was stronger than him, and more hardworking than him.
Even though he had been putting in effort since arriving, he still could not catch up.
So the only option left was to work even harder than everyone else.
Thinking this, Tatsuya Himuro subtly turned his head and glanced at the item inside his backpack.
It was the same book Makoto Hanamiya had.
[The Rational Use of Eloquence].
After seeing Makoto Hanamiya studying it in private, he had asked his mentor to help him get a copy.
He just did not know if the contents were the same.
...
On the court.
Kirisaki Daiichi continued using the same strategy as before.
Double-team Shintaro Midorima and leave Shinsuke Kimura open.
You want two points?
Take them.
As long as it is not a three-pointer, you can score as many twos as you like.
Kirisaki Daiichi was in the lead, so they were completely unfazed.
But while Kirisaki Daiichi stayed calm, Shintaro Midorima could not.
If he did not find a way to respond soon, the game would truly be out of reach.
So Shintaro Midorima decided to stop holding back.
He gently closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his entire presence had changed.
His gaze sharpened, like that of an eagle.
To be precise.
It was an eagle.
Because Shintaro Midorima's Animal Instinct was an eagle.
A soaring eagle.
Back in middle school, Shintaro Midorima had already awakened his Animal Instinct.
At first, it only allowed him to jump higher.
But by chance, he later fused with it.
That fusion not only increased his speed, but also greatly enhanced his hang time.
That was why Shintaro Midorima could perform movements in mid-air.
With his improved hang time, he also developed a new technique.
Mid-air shot adjustment.
He could jump without forming a shooting stance. Even if he leapt with one hand gripping the ball, he could adjust his form mid-air and release a perfect shot.
In other words... the current Shintaro Midorima... could execute a pull-up jumper.
And an extremely outrageous one at that.
Of course, full-court three-pointers were still not possible. He needed time to gather power.
On the court.
With his Animal Instinct activated, Shintaro Midorima suddenly accelerated.
Shuzo Nijimura and Shogo Haizaki were caught completely off guard.
Shintaro Midorima seized the opening and broke free into space.
Kazunari Takao seized the moment as well. The pass arrived right on time.
Shintaro Midorima caught the ball at the three-point line without any adjustment.
The moment he received it, he jumped.
Then, mid-air, he extended his shooting form.
His eyes locked onto the rim.
Then...
Shoot!!!
Shuzo Nijimura and Shogo Haizaki tried to contest, but stopped midway.
Shintaro Midorima was already airborne. They could not reach him in time.
In the end, they could only watch as he landed, turned around, and headed back on defense without hesitation.
That was his confidence.
Shuzo Nijimura and Shogo Haizaki both looked up, watching the ball drop cleanly through the net.
Well, the suspense was over.
Shuzo Nijimura spread his hands helplessly.
"Sigh, we got played."
He truly had not expected Shintaro Midorima to suddenly activate his Animal Instinct and catch them off guard.
Shogo Haizaki scratched his head.
"Next time, he will not get away."
Atsushi Murasakibara did not care about any of that. Holding the ball under the basket, he suddenly remembered something and asked with anticipation:
"Hey Miyamoto, can I play point guard?"
Miyamoto rubbed his forehead. Just as he was about to respond, a furious shout rang out.
It was Satsuki Momoi.
"No!! Way!!"
Atsushi Murasakibara jumped in fright. Seeing Satsuki Momoi standing on the sidelines with a face full of anger, he hurriedly ran out of bounds as if escaping, preparing to inbound the ball.
Everyone on the bench sat upright, cold sweat pouring down their backs.
Too terrifying.
She was way too terrifying.
The team tyrant!!!
...
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