Miyamoto Tokima could hardly refuse Atsushi Murasakibara's request, so he agreed on the spot.
Meanwhile, Miyamoto Tokima's screen had left Jason Silver facing Taiga Kagami beyond the three-point line.
Against someone as powerful as Jason Silver, Taiga Kagami did not dare let his guard down.
He spread his arms, his eyes crackling with red lightning as he stared intently at Jason Silver. Every ounce of his attention was focused on the man before him.
His entire body was tense, ready to respond to Jason Silver's attack at any moment.
Sensing Taiga Kagami's intensity, Jason Silver grinned.
"You look pretty nervous, kid."
Taiga Kagami said nothing. He merely kept his arms spread and remained on full alert.
Seeing that, Jason Silver stopped talking and immediately launched his attack.
Despite his massive build, Jason Silver was anything but slow.
Like a truck suddenly roaring into motion, he drove past Taiga Kagami's right side.
Taiga Kagami stayed right on him without giving up his position.
But the next second, Jason Silver slammed into him.
A crushing wave of force struck Taiga Kagami, sending him staggering backward.
It took four full steps for Taiga Kagami to regain his balance.
Those four steps were all Jason Silver needed to charge into the paint and slam the ball through the hoop.
BOOM!!!
After landing, Jason Silver laughed loudly at Taiga Kagami.
"You've got speed, kid, but you don't have the strength! Go back and train some more!"
Taiga Kagami clutched his chest, which was still aching from the impact.
Hearing Jason Silver's taunt, he gritted his teeth and growled,
"You bastard!"
Possession changed hands.
The Dragon Slayer Team had the ball.
After bringing the ball into the frontcourt, Shogo Haizaki once again stopped well in front of Nash Gold.
He did not dare get too close. He was afraid Nash Gold might suddenly make a move.
Shogo Haizaki knew all too well how dangerous [Belial Eye] was.
While he kept his distance and surveyed the court, Nash Gold suddenly appeared right in front of him as if he had teleported.
Startled, Shogo Haizaki quickly moved the ball behind his back to protect it.
A behind-the-back dribble was the best way to keep the ball away from someone using [Belial Eye].
Nash Gold noticed the move and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Relax, Haizaki. I'm not going to do anything to you."
Cold sweat immediately broke out across Shogo Haizaki's forehead.
You're not going to do anything to me? Then turn off [Belial Eye] first! Who the hell would believe you otherwise?!
As if to prove he meant it, Nash Gold took several steps back.
The moment he did, Shogo Haizaki spotted something and whipped the ball away.
Jason Silver, standing in the paint, noticed the pass as well.
When he saw Shogo Haizaki throwing the ball toward an empty spot, he burst out laughing and gradually relaxed.
As far as he was concerned, Shogo Haizaki had gotten so nervous that he was seeing things.
He was not the only one who thought so. Zack and Nick, who were double-teaming Shintaro Midorima near midcourt, came to the same conclusion.
Only Nash Gold knew better.
Through [Belial Eye], he could clearly see a figure standing exactly where the ball was headed.
It was the boy who had confronted them at the bar yesterday.
Tetsuya Kuroko!
Tetsuya Kuroko suddenly appeared beside the ball and struck it hard with his right hand, sending it soaring into the air.
His abrupt appearance left Jason Silver, Zack, Nick, and the others frozen for a moment.
They were completely dumbfounded.
That brief lapse was all Atsushi Murasakibara needed.
Jason Silver had already let his guard down when he saw Shogo Haizaki pass toward an empty spot.
Then Tetsuya Kuroko appeared out of nowhere, and at the same time, a tremendous presence erupted behind him along with a fierce roar.
"Raaah!"
Jason Silver snapped back to his senses and spun around to jump, but it was already too late.
Atsushi Murasakibara had caught the ball and slammed it through the hoop.
Jason Silver froze, completely unable to understand how Tetsuya Kuroko had suddenly appeared there.
Miyamoto Tokima walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and said,
"Jason, you really need to stop celebrating before the play is over."
Miyamoto Tokima had already noticed that Jason Silver loved letting his guard down too early.
And he never did it halfway.
Jason Silver scratched his head sheepishly.
"Got it, Tokima-san. I'll change. I definitely will."
Miyamoto Tokima said nothing more and prepared for the next possession.
Meanwhile, on the Dragon Slayer Team's bench, Seijuro Akashi sat with his head lowered, silent for a long time as if lost in thought.
The others did not disturb him. They remained focused on the game.
With his head still bowed, Seijuro Akashi began speaking to his second personality within his mind.
Inside Seijuro Akashi's consciousness, his first personality said,
"I need your help."
The second personality sat on the ground and looked up at him.
"Hmm?"
The first personality continued,
"I can only use part of [Emperor Eye]'s power. An incomplete [Emperor Eye] cannot compete with Nash's [Belial Eye]. That's why I need your help."
The second personality lowered his head and thought for a moment.
"You know I might not get along with them."
The first personality smiled.
"That's not true. You and I are one. You possess all my abilities. You simply aren't as skilled at using them yet."
"You can also make passes that allow some of them to enter the pseudo-Zone, can't you?"
"Besides, I believe they accepted you the moment you chose to change."
A gentle smile appeared on his face as he murmured, almost as if lost in his memories,
"After all... they're our brothers."
The second personality suddenly raised his head, his pupils trembling slightly.
Then he slowly stood.
"In that case, let me help you."
The first personality smiled gently and shook his head.
"Not you... us."
The second personality stared blankly for a moment, then smiled with relief.
"That's right... us."
...
...
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.