Just as the game reached a deadlock, the key figure to break through—Charles—awakened first!
Charles barely received the pass off Kline's screen, and Nick stuck to him like a shadow.
"Don't even think about getting past me!"
Nick lowered his center of gravity, spreading his arms wide. His defense was airtight, giving Charles no space to drive or shoot.
Sweat dripped continuously from Charles's forehead; he could feel time slipping away rapidly.
7 seconds...
5 seconds...
Suddenly, the cheers from the stands seemed distant. In his vision, there was only the rim—and Nick in front of him.
4 seconds...
A strange calm descended upon Charles. The world seemed to slow down—Nick's breathing, the noise of the crowd, even his own heartbeat became crystal clear.
3 seconds...
The basketball in his hands seemed alive; every bounce resonated with his heartbeat.
Nick sensed something was wrong. His pupils contracted, and his stance became even more cautious.
"Something's not right..."
Alarm bells rang in his mind—but it was too late.
2 seconds...
Charles made a probing step to the right. Nick instinctively followed.
But the moment his weight shifted, Charles pulled back, pushed off with both feet, and leapt straight up. His takeoff was incredibly fast—he created enough space before Nick could react.
"Impossible!!"
Nick jumped desperately, but Charles, in the Zone, had a release point at least ten centimeters higher than usual. The ball sailed over Nick's fingertips.
1 second...
The ball left Charles's fingertips, tracing a perfect parabola.
Charles could clearly see it spinning. With each rotation, the basket seemed to grow larger in his eyes.
He was certain—
It would go in.
Swish!!!
41—45!
Backboard Breakers lead by 4!
The arena exploded. Spectators leapt to their feet, the roar nearly lifting the roof.
Nick landed and stared at the rim in disbelief, then at Charles. Silver-gray currents flickered in Charles's eyes, and an invisible aura enveloped his body.
At the same time, Tyronn called for a substitution:
Aiden in — Prince out!
"Zone?" Nick said, his voice filled with rare shock.
A flicker of surprise crossed Nash Goldo's golden pupils.
"I didn't expect... he'd be the one to break the stalemate."
Shidou Ryusei stared at Charles. He couldn't deny it—he felt envy. He still hadn't found the trigger to enter the Zone.
Jabberwock inbounded.
A dangerous smile curved Nash's lips. If observed closely, black lines were gradually forming within the golden halo of his Demon King's Eye.
His vision expanded instantly. Every detail on the court came under his control.
Jason watched him closely, ready to shut down his drive.
But—
In Nash's eyes, everything had already been analyzed.
A simple crossover—
Jason's center of gravity collapsed instantly. His body seemed pulled by an invisible force as he staggered sideways.
Nash slipped past like a phantom, driving straight into the paint.
"What?!!!"
Jason's eyes widened—he hadn't even seen how Nash broke through!
Jason Cibor locked down Tyronn, preventing him from interfering.
But just as Nash was about to finish—
A black afterimage flashed!
"Don't think about scoring easily!!!"
Charles, in the Zone, rotated back with terrifying speed. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, his arms spread wide like an impenetrable wall.
Nash grinned, golden light blazing in his eyes.
"If you can stop me... then try it!!!"
He stopped abruptly—
Then executed an ultra-fast fake!
Charles's center of gravity was forcibly pulled, his body tilting uncontrollably.
"Crap!!!"
Nash seized the moment and stepped back—
Swish!!!
The ball sliced cleanly through the net.
43—45!
The crowd erupted again.
"He actually fooled Charles in the Zone?!"
Aiden's eyes widened.
"No..." Charles muttered as he stood up slowly, the gray currents in his eyes burning even brighter. "Just now... it felt like my body was being pulled by an external force. It must be the ability of those eyes."
Nash stood beyond the three-point line, looking down on the court like a monarch, a proud smile on his lips.
"Zone? Nothing special."
Shidou stared at Nash, excitement blazing in his eyes. He had never seen Nash use such power before.
Coming to America with Nash—this was the best decision he had ever made.
Jason Cibor glanced at Shidou. "What do you think? First time seeing Nash like that, right?"
Shidou nodded.
"That's the advanced ability of the Demon King's Eye—Demon King's Domain! I was shocked the first time I saw it too!"
Jason spoke proudly, as if it were his own power.
Shidou couldn't help but think about his own Demon King's Eye. Could he develop something similar?
"Shidou, you guard Charles," Nash said.
Since Jason had to contain Tyronn, Shidou—being the strongest available—had to take on Charles.
Backboard Breakers' possession.
Jason pushed the ball forward and immediately passed to Charles as soon as he crossed half-court. The ball landed perfectly in Charles's hands.
Shidou lowered his center of gravity, a maniacal smile forming.
"Zone state? Heh... let me see how fast you really are!"
Charles didn't respond.
His pupils contracted—
And then he moved.
His first step was so fast it seemed to tear the air.
Shidou's nerves tightened instantly. His body reacted on instinct, barely keeping up.
"So fast!"
Even compared to Aomine in the Zone, Charles felt even faster.
Nash's eyes widened. "Even Shidou can barely react?"
But Shidou was still Shidou.
His body moved beyond rational thought.
Charles changed direction—
Shidou followed.
Stopped—
Matched.
Step-back—
Still there.
"Tch..."
Gray electricity flickered in Charles's eyes.
Even in the Zone, he couldn't shake Shidou easily.
"What's wrong? Is that all?" Shidou grinned fiercely.
Charles ignored him.
The gray currents intensified.
Suddenly—
A double change of pace.
Illusionary Step!
Shidou's balance shifted slightly.
A tiny opening—
Charles exploded through!
"Not a chance!"
Shidou twisted his body to chase.
But Charles had already jumped—
Fadeaway—
Swish!!!
43—47
Shidou stood still.
Not frustrated—
Excited.
A wild smile spread across his face. His pupils shrank, his breathing quickened, every muscle trembling with excitement.
"Ha... now this is interesting!"
He licked his lips, staring at Charles like prey.
Charles returned to defense, but—
His heart skipped a beat.
(Why is he still smiling?)
Even in the Zone, Shidou kept up.
(His body... like a wild beast.)
A sense of danger began to grow.
Nash brought the ball up.
"Shidou..."
No reply.
Shidou was already moving—cutting straight toward the paint.
Charles followed, predicting his movement.
But Shidou had no pattern.
Pure instinct.
Like a wild beast.
"Tch!"
Charles focused completely.
Nash's pass came—sharp and precise.
Shidou caught it.
Charles was already there, arms wide, sealing all space.
But Shidou smiled.
"You think the Zone can stop me?"
The moment he caught the ball—
His muscles swelled.
His pupils narrowed into vertical slits.
His grin turned feral.
"Ha... this is more like it!!!"
Wildness: Komodo Dragon!
Charles lowered his center of gravity, analyzing every possibility.
But—
Shidou used no technique.
He slammed his foot into the floor—
Creak!
And exploded forward like a cannonball.
Charles moved to block—
BOOM!!!
Their bodies collided mid-air.
A heavy thud echoed.
Even in the Zone, Charles was forced back half a step.
That gap—
Was enough.
Shidou soared upward, raising the ball high—
And slammed it down!
CLANG!!!
The rim roared.
Shidou hung on it with one hand like a tyrant.
Charles was blown back, stumbling.
45—47
For a moment, silence—
Then chaos.
"Are you kidding me?! He dunked on a Zone player?!"
Aiden stared in disbelief.
Shidou dropped down and looked at Charles.
"The Zone? Nothing special!!!"
Charles stood up slowly.
The gray electricity flickered.
His calm was gone.
(Can his wildness suppress the Zone?)
He took a deep breath.
The gray energy surged again.
Nash watched carefully.
"That guy... isn't as simple as we thought."