The one ready to receive the pass from Kuroko Tetsuya was none other than Kagami Taiga.
After catching the ball, Kagami immediately launched a fast break. Omuro Yoshikasu set up his defense along Kagami's path, but to his shock, Kagami didn't even slow down. With a single, breathtaking change of direction, he bypassed Omuro entirely.
"How… how is this possible? So fast!"
Omuro's pupils constricted sharply.
He knew he probably couldn't stop Kagami in his current state, but he hadn't expected to be unable to even delay him for a single second, a near-impossible scenario in past matches.
Even though Omuro's presence on Seiho wasn't overwhelming, Seiho was a defense-oriented powerhouse. With Omuro's defensive level, even a Generation of Miracles member couldn't entirely ignore him.
Until now, the only people who could almost erase Omuro's defense were Generation of Miracles members in the Zone.
"Wait… could it be that he's already, "
Omuro turned sharply, but Kagami had already broken past Seiho's three-point line. The next obstacle: Tsutomu Iwamura.
Iwamura hadn't been assigned to guard Kagami specifically; he was originally battling Kiyoshi in the paint. But Kagami's speed was so extreme that even Akashi Asuka lagged half a step behind. To be safe, Iwamura had to step up and help defend.
Yet even with Iwamura ahead and Akashi behind, Kagami didn't slow down. At the free-throw line, he leapt with raw, unstoppable power.
BOOM!
The Meteor Jam Dunk hit the hoop like a falling star, crashing past Iwamura's defense and Akashi's pursuit.
Beep~
The referee's whistle confirmed the basket.
0–2.
Seirin scored first.
·····
The crowd erupted like a powder keg.
"Ohhh~~~"
"What a play! Beautiful!"
"To score first off the Demon King himself… incredible! Seirin's No. 10!"
"Charge! Charge! Charge, Seirin!"
The awe wasn't limited to the audience. Several Generation of Miracles and Seirin's coach, Aida Riko, were stunned to their feet.
Compared to the crowd, Aida's shock was mixed with disbelief and concern.
"How… how is this possible? Kagami is already in the Zone?"
Red lightning flickered in his eyes, the calm expression radiating a suffocating aura, proof that the match had barely begun and Kagami had already entered the Zone.
This was a sudden, unexpected event, even leaving Aida momentarily flustered.
So far, Kagami had entered the Zone multiple times, even opening the second door of the Zone against Rakuzan.
But previously, he entered only at critical moments, always forced by circumstances.
This time was different.
Kagami entered the Zone right at the start and had semi-actively pushed open the first door himself.
"Oh? Found the 'key' already? But isn't that a bit rushed?"
To open the door to the Zone, besides talent, one needs the 'key.' Only those who possess the key can actively open it.
So far, many had entered the Zone in junior high basketball, but only three had truly mastered the key: Akashi Asuka, Aomine Daiki, and Akashi Seijuro.
And soon, a fourth, Kagami Taiga, would join them.
As in the original story, the one who taught Kagami to find his key was Aomine Daiki. The lesson came after Seirin defeated Rakuzan, but Kagami hadn't yet fully mastered it.
So, technically, his entrance into the Zone at the start of the match was unexpected, even to himself.
But now that it had happened, there was no turning back.
·····
"Tch~ that's why I hate playing against monsters like you! Us mortals don't even exist!"
Kasuga Ryuhei clicked his tongue, dribbled past half-court, and passed to Akashi.
He knew his limits.
If Kagami were in his normal state, he might attempt a solo drive. With his skill, he could protect the ball even if he couldn't break through.
But facing a monster in the Zone, he had no choice but to leave it to Akashi, another 'monster' in his own right.
"Interesting… full power right off the bat! But are you sure this will quickly give you an advantage?"
Akashi faced the already zoned Kagami, watching with interest, neither rushing to shoot nor drive.
This puzzled many.
"What's he doing? Chatting mid-game?"
Fans expected a high-stakes duel between Akashi and Kagami, yet Akashi held the ball and didn't move.
"Tch~ this bastard is still playing dirty as usual!"
Some were confused; others instantly saw through Akashi's plan.
"What are you talking about, Aomine?"
Satsuki Momoi asked, glancing at Aomine.
"Nothing, just irritated by his methods. He could fight head-on but always uses tricks."
Momoi's eyes narrowed in understanding. "You mean Kuroko? What did he do this time?"
"No, he did nothing at all!"
The speaker was not Aomine but Imayoshi Shouichi, the sly black-framed glasses type.
"But because he did nothing, Kagami is now… well, in quite a bad spot!"
"Why?"
Kousuke Kazunari looked puzzled.
If Momoi had sharp eyes but lacked experience, Kazunari had experience but limited vision, he couldn't grasp the Akashi-Kagami dynamic.
"It's simple. The Zone isn't sustainable. Power surges, yes, but stamina drains even faster."
"Normally, entering in crucial moments is fine. But starting the game in this state is risky."
"Even worse, Seiho's Akashi is applying subtle pressure."
"Akashi may seem passive, but this standoff conserves his stamina while Kagami's focus depletes in the Zone. One possession may be minor, but over time… he'll burn out before the real battle begins."
Kazunari shivered. "You guys' tactical minds are scary. Just a few actions, and you deduce so much!"
"The scary part isn't me, it's the monster on the court. I'm only hindsight; the one in the moment saw Kagami enter the Zone and immediately planned this. His mind works faster than mine."
Imayoshi shook his head.
He left unsaid: With raw power, Akashi didn't need tricks; Kuroko could have matched Kagami directly.
But Akashi chose the subtle approach.
Even if it looked shameless, even if it compromised dignity, even if the advantage gained was minor…
That cunning pursuit of victory is what makes Seiho truly terrifying.
·····
Akashi's trickery didn't waste much time. Kagami, understanding the value of every second in the Zone, moved to pressure Akashi's positioning.
Akashi circled Kagami along the perimeter, buying a few extra seconds until finally trapped in a corner. Then he used his back-to-basket technique to drive toward the hoop.
Kagami defended with full force. But a second later, he realized he couldn't stop Akashi's drive.
"This guy… stronger than Murasakibara."
Previously, Kagami suppressed Murasakibara's power in the Zone. He intended the same with Akashi.
But as Akashi exerted full force, Kagami understood his mistake.
"No way! Even zoned Kagami can't stop him?"
Outside the court, Himuro Tatsuya gaped.
"Of course," said Murasakibara, unimpressed. "His strength rivals mine, and unlike me, he shows no mercy."
If you didn't know Murasakibara, this might sound like bravado, but it's not.
Previously, he held back against Seirin, respecting an unspoken safety line.
Akashi, however, uses full strength against any opponent.
And his full strength now exceeds even Murasakibara's peak from the Interhigh. With a Power stat of 90, he's reached professional center level.
Kagami realized he couldn't withstand Akashi's raw force and judged him stronger than Murasakibara.
Yet in reality, this wasn't Akashi's full strength, he couldn't sense it yet.
For ordinary people, a ten-ton bulldozer feels the same as a twenty-ton one.
BOOM!!!
A savage dunk shattered the hoop, making the entire frame groan.
Kagami staggered back, chest thudding, nearly toppling to the floor.
2–2.
The sheer power difference left Seirin stunned. The shock almost forced Kagami out of the Zone, but he barely maintained focus.
If he had lost composure, the game might have ended right then.
For a player, leaving the Zone voluntarily or being forced out is entirely different:
Voluntary exit: natural.
Forced exit: psychological collapse.
In the latter case, the player may be sidelined for this game, or longer.
But… the opponent is the main cast. Even if shattered, recovery could happen in ten minutes.
After Seiho's counterattack, it was Seirin's turn for the second offensive play.
Although Kagami failed to stop Akashi, stopping a zoned Kagami wasn't easy either.
Still, he had no intention of risking it all at the very start.
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria