Zzzz~~
At the very back of Seiho, Akashi Asuka's eyes began to glow with electric light, spreading like serpentine dragons, coiling around his limbs.
A pressure, like the foreboding weight before a volcanic eruption, radiated outward.
Yet few noticed.
At this moment, the entire arena was captivated by Seirin's performance.
Three minutes remained.
On the court, the score read 107–95.
Though it seemed there was still a 12-point gap, given Seirin's recent momentum, 12 points were no longer enough to halt them.
No.
To be precise, the danger had shifted, from Seirin to Seiho.
"Damn it! Where are these guys drawing their strength from?!"
Kasuga Ryohhei, protecting the ball, watched the Seirin players in front of him. Their energy seemed endless; despite exhaustion, their momentum only grew. Sweat dripped relentlessly down his jaw.
Seiho's formation remained relatively stable, but facing such a relentless team, even Kasuga's resolve began to waver.
And for a player, a wavering mentality meant vulnerability.
Snap!
A sudden hand, like lightning, snatched the ball from Kasuga.
It was Kagami Taiga. After entering the second ZONE gate, not only would his entire team become a seamless support system, but Kagami's own strength would also increase thanks to his teammates.
Under these conditions, his offense and defense power multiplied.
"No… damn it, stop him!"
Kasuga reacted instantly, but his speed paled compared to Kagami in the ZONE.
In a single spin, Kagami had charged nearly nine meters forward.
Tsugawa Tomoki and Omuro Yoshikasu tried to chase, but the gap widened relentlessly.
"Damn it!"
Tsugawa didn't give up, but the disparity was cruel. Seiho lacked Seirin's explosive potential.
In an instant, Kagami reached Seiho's free-throw line. Only Akashi Asuka stood in the paint. Kagami passed to Kuroko Tetsuya and flashed a lightning-fast spin around the defense, rising for an alley-oop.
Don't ask why Kuroko was there.
"It's synchronicity and anticipation," is the answer.
Even entering the second ZONE, Kagami couldn't hope to beat Akashi one-on-one. But in the Team Coordination ZONE, a two-person play was unstoppable, even for Akashi.
Kagami had faith in this.
BOOM!!!
His hands slammed the rim with a tremendous roar.
Yet he showed no excitement; instead, his eyes reflected disbelief, and a hint of fear.
The ball had vanished mid-dunk.
Zzzz~~~
Under the hoop, Akashi held a basketball in one hand, black lightning enveloping him. His eyes swept the court with no emotion, then he suddenly surged forward.
Thud, thud, thud~~
Akashi advanced deliberately. Even Kuroko returned to defense as he crossed Seirin's three-point line.
But the next second…
Swish!
The sound of a ball hitting the net pierced everyone's ears.
All Seirin players froze.
"Eh… 99?"
"What… just happened?"
Even the audience and referees were dumbfounded. Only after a delay did the referee blow the whistle.
Beep~~
Seiho's basket counted. 110–95.
Seirin stared blankly at the scoreboard, but soon regrouped, preparing a new counterattack.
From the baseline, Kuroko passed to Kagami. Kagami had just stepped beyond the three-point line when a shadow appeared. Before he could react, the ball vanished, only to reappear in Seirin's hoop.
Swish!
The scoreboard clicked to 113–95.
No doubt about it: if the previous basket could be called an accident, this one was undeniable.
"Woooahhhh~~~"
"What just happened? Did you see that?"
"So strong… even Seirin's ace is powerless against Akashi!"
The spectators who had seen it were stunned. This monster… was he even human?
·····
"What just happened?"
Satsuki Momoi was dazed. What had occurred exceeded normal vision limits. Only highly skilled players could grasp it.
Aomine Daiki's face mirrored shock. Even when previously defeated by Seiho and Shutoku, he had never looked like this.
"Another… third gate?"
"What?"
Momoi looked worried.
Then Aomine laughed wildly, clutching his face: "Hahaha… I see now! I see it! I admit it! You win this round, Akashi Asuka!"
"Hey~ Aomine, you alright?"
"Of course! I feel better than ever!"
His eyes blazed with a new light.
"I always thought the ZONE had only two gates. From the moment I saw the second, all my focus went to it. But I was wrong. The ZONE isn't limited to two gates. With Kuroko's help, Seirin opened the second gate. That was teamwork. But Seiho had no such key, and Akashi, with his own power, found the third gate, personal power, true limit-breaking power!"
Aomine's eyes shone with manic intensity.
Since Seirin opened the second gate against Rakuzan, he had been pondering how to do the same. He realized he couldn't.
He had gradually embraced team play after losing to Seiho last term, but it was only acceptance. His style couldn't change overnight.
Moreover, Aomine wasn't willing to change. He could never become Kagami Taiga.
Until this moment, Akashi showed him a new path.
Basketball is a game of infinite possibilities.
Relying solely on teamwork is wrong. Relying solely on self is also wrong.
The ZONE itself is a state of unlocking potential.
Akashi hadn't merely found a third gate. He had created a new second gate.
The ZONE gates are infinite; every player's potential is different. How could the same strength be replicated?
·····
On the court, black lightning enveloped Akashi. A bright skill symbol blinked on the mental panel:
[ZONE (120%)]
Limit-breaking power not only boosted his physical attributes, but slowed time in his perception, making all movements appear in slow motion.
His "Demon King's Zone" expanded unbelievably, covering the entire three-point area.
Seirin's Team Coordination ZONE passed at incredible speed, but Akashi didn't need to intercept every pass, only the final shot mattered.
BANG!
Kagami's "Meteor Jam" was swatted away by Akashi with ruthless precision.
He advanced alone at lightning speed to Seirin's three-point line.
A momentary pause, Kiyoshi was out, guarding the hoop. Then, without a fake, Akashi bypassed him at extreme speed.
"Not if I can help it, Akashi!"
Kagami's eyes sparked electricity as he blocked him.
"Huh?"
Akashi was surprised, their combined strength had increased by 30–40%.
"Can it really reach this level? Too bad… still a bit short!"
With a roar, Akashi's power surged, overwhelming Kagami.
"Damn it! Hold on!"
Just as Kagami was about to be crushed, a hand shot out from behind, Teppei Kiyoshi.
"If one can't do it, then two will! Basketball isn't a one-man game!"
His appearance gave Kagami strength; for a moment, it felt as if the pressure could even subdue Akashi.
"Interesting. Both of you exploding at once? True fate's power. But… I'm still the Demon King!"
Crackle~~~
Black lightning doubled around Akashi.
Boom!
Kagami and Teppei flew back three meters, while Akashi slammed the ball into the hoop.
Beep~~
The whistle rang. The match ended.
"Game over!"
"The All-Japan High School Winter Cup Finals, winner: Seiho High School!"
"Score: 118–100."
"Oooooh~~~"
"Seiho! Seiho! Seiho!"
Seiho players flooded the court. Fans cheered the school anthem.
On Seirin's side, players slumped helplessly, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Heh… unbelievable. I don't even have strength to feel sad."
Hyuga Junpei smiled wryly. Only traces of sweat, or tears, slid down their faces.
After a brief celebration, the awards ceremony began.
Champion: Seiho
Runner-up: Seirin
Third Place: Rakuzan
Seiho stood beneath their giant cheering banner. Matsumoto, Kasuga, Akashi, Iwamura, and Kuroko raised the trophy.
Teammates grinned, patted each other's shoulders, and the camera clicked.
All that was beautiful was frozen in the frame.