Miyamoto Tokima's smile grew wider, and he felt genuinely happy for Seijuro Akashi from the bottom of his heart.
'Seijuro, looks like you really have figured it out.'
Seijuro Akashi said seriously:
"I'm starting now, Tokima."
Miyamoto Tokima brought his focus back and smiled.
"I'm looking forward to it."
The next moment.
Seijuro Akashi's crimson eyes suddenly erupted with violent lightning!
That lightning was even stronger than before!
Zone!
The instant he entered Zone, a lion once again appeared behind Seijuro Akashi. However, this lion was slightly different from the one before.
If the previous lion had been sharp, domineering, and utterly self-assured, then this lion was full of majesty while also carrying a trace of gentleness.
After appearing, the lion raised its head and roared toward the sky, then slowly sank into Seijuro Akashi's body.
That's right. After Daiki Aomine, Seijuro Akashi was the next person to enter Zone and awaken the Animal Instinct within his body!
After the lion entered Seijuro Akashi's body, the lightning in his eyes visibly calmed down.
At the same time, Seijuro Akashi's aura underwent an astonishing change.
At that moment, Seijuro Akashi looked more like a refined young gentleman than a basketball player.
After entering Zone and awakening the Animal Instinct within his body, Seijuro Akashi launched his attack.
The basketball in his hands was like a dancing spirit, constantly leaping between his palms.
Seeing Seijuro Akashi attack, Miyamoto Tokima naturally did not hold back either and immediately stepped forward to defend.
At the same time, one [Iron Wall] after another rose up from the ground!
But Seijuro Akashi himself was like a spirit as well, constantly brushing past the [Iron Walls] and dodging them one by one.
Off the court.
Daiki Aomine shot to his feet when he saw this, his eyes filled with surprise.
"Akashi, is this your real strength?!"
From Shūtoku's side.
Shintaro Midorima watched the scene on the court, his hands unconsciously clenching.
'Akashi...'
...
On the court.
Seijuro Akashi continued breaking through, pulling back, and changing direction. Every movement was beautiful to watch.
But Miyamoto Tokima did not give in either. He did not lose his position in the slightest and kept Seijuro Akashi tightly defended.
Other people might not have noticed, but Seijuro Akashi saw it clearly.
He noticed faint flashes of lightning flickering in Miyamoto Tokima's eyes.
At that moment, Seijuro Akashi understood something, and his heart filled with even deeper emotion.
'So, Tokima, you've been in Zone all along? Even in daily life?'
'As expected, Tokima. You're the real monster.'
Seijuro Akashi shook his head helplessly, then immediately pulled back and gave up on attacking. Instead, he passed the basketball to Reo Mibuchi on the other side.
The moment Reo Mibuchi caught the ball, his heart trembled.
'What a comfortable pass!'
After catching the ball, Reo Mibuchi felt unbelievably comfortable. He felt as if even if he shot right away, the ball would go in.
And in fact, that was exactly what he did.
After receiving the basketball, Reo Mibuchi jumped straight up from where he stood. As he jumped, the technique for using [Void] suddenly appeared in his mind.
He subconsciously used [Void], and his entire body rose into the air with incredible smoothness.
Makoto Hanamiya wanted to jump at that moment, only to realize that even with his hands raised, he could not leave the ground at all.
'Damn it! How is it [Void]?!'
After Reo Mibuchi jumped, the basket seemed as vast as the ocean. Then he flicked his wrist, and the basketball sank cleanly into the hoop!
Swish!!!
After scoring, Reo Mibuchi looked at his own hand in disbelief, his voice tinged with excitement.
"This... this unbelievably smooth [Void]... did I really shoot that?"
The next second, lightning belonging to Zone flashed in Reo Mibuchi's eyes.
Of course, it was still pseudo-Zone, but the current pseudo-Zone was far, far stronger than before!
Reo Mibuchi had entered pseudo-Zone!
Possession changed.
Kirisaki Daiichi's ball.
Miyamoto Tokima slowly brought the basketball up the court. After arriving in front of Seijuro Akashi, he said:
"Seijuro, I'm coming."
Seijuro Akashi smiled and nodded, then spread his arms and said:
"Come on!"
Miyamoto Tokima smiled, then dribbled the basketball and began his attack.
Miyamoto Tokima first broke through from the left side, then, the instant Seijuro Akashi stepped back, he chained it into a no-slowdown change of direction.
Seijuro Akashi had no way to adjust his position in time and could only force himself to stay steady.
And yet, even in that situation, there was not the slightest panic on Seijuro Akashi's face.
After Miyamoto Tokima's no-slowdown change of direction, just as he was about to enter the paint, he found Reo Mibuchi standing in front of him.
Miyamoto Tokima froze for a moment, then pulled back beyond the three-point line, crouched, jumped, and shot!
The movement was unbelievably smooth!
Reo Mibuchi charged forward, trying to block the shot, only to realize he could not jump at all!
Reo Mibuchi's heart jolted.
'It's actually [Void]!'
Because of [Void], Miyamoto Tokima's shot was a little slower than a normal shot, so...
"Ahh!! Don't underestimate me!!!"
Chihiro Mayuzumi roared as he ran over. Then, using Reo Mibuchi as a springboard, he stepped hard on him, making Reo Mibuchi lose his balance and uncontrollably fall sideways.
Rather than saying Chihiro Mayuzumi stepped on Reo Mibuchi, it was more like he kicked him!
And it was precisely because of that springboard kick from Chihiro Mayuzumi that he jumped even higher than usual!
The very tips of his fingers barely grazed Miyamoto Tokima's basketball!
Miyamoto Tokima froze for a moment. He had not expected Chihiro Mayuzumi to rush out at a time like this.
Because just now, all of his attention had been on Seijuro Akashi and Reo Mibuchi. He had not noticed Chihiro Mayuzumi, that shadow, at all!
Like many ordinary people, if Miyamoto Tokima was not paying special attention to someone with a faint presence like Tetsuya Kuroko or Chihiro Mayuzumi, he would subconsciously overlook them too.
After all, their presence was far too weak. As a normal person, Miyamoto Tokima really could ignore them if he was not paying attention.
However, Miyamoto Tokima's shot was still too tricky. Even though Chihiro Mayuzumi had stepped on Reo Mibuchi to jump up, he only lightly grazed the basketball.
After the shot went in, Miyamoto Tokima gave Chihiro Mayuzumi a focused look. Next time, he would not make that mistake again.
The Phantom Sneak on the court truly lived up to his reputation!
...
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
p-@-treon/GhostParser (45 Chapters Ahead)
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.