If changing the rhythm doesn't work, then I'll use something else!
Ryota Kise made up his mind, and a faint golden glow began to radiate from his body.
[Copying] activated!
The next moment, Ryota Kise's entire presence changed, becoming sharp and aggressive.
Shuzo Nijimura's expression darkened.
He knew exactly who Ryota Kise was [Copying].
Daiki Aomine!
The next instant, Ryota Kise suddenly attacked.
He drove hard to the right, pounding the ball with his right hand.
His center of gravity dropped incredibly low, almost like a low-slung sports car hugging the ground.
With explosive speed, he shot past Shuzo Nijimura.
Shuzo Nijimura reacted quickly and gave chase, but he was still half a step behind.
Once Ryota Kise created that half-body-length gap, he gripped the ball in his right hand and planted hard with his right foot, launching himself into the air as if he were flying.
He held the ball in his right hand while using his left arm to legally shield it from Shuzo Nijimura, then flicked the ball toward the basket.
Shuzo Nijimura could only watch helplessly.
There was simply no way for him to block it.
The Formless Shot already had an unpredictable release point, and with Ryota Kise using his off arm to shield the ball, contesting it became even harder.
After enduring hellish training, Ryota Kise's stamina had improved considerably.
On top of that, he no longer needed to activate [Perfect Copy] to replicate the skills of the other members of the [Generation of Miracles].
Now, his [Perfect Copy] was reserved for only one person.
That person...
Was Miyamoto Tokima!
...
Possession changed.
Kirisaki Daiichi's ball.
Atsushi Murasakibara stood out of bounds and had just received the basketball when Miyamoto Tokima reached out a hand.
"Atsushi."
Seeing Miyamoto Tokima call for the ball, Makoto Hanamiya immediately understood and moved aside.
Atsushi Murasakibara didn't hesitate and passed the ball straight to Miyamoto Tokima.
After receiving it, Miyamoto Tokima turned and began advancing up the court.
At that moment, every player on Teikō Middle School became serious.
If Miyamoto Tokima was asking for the ball in the backcourt, it meant he intended to attack on this possession.
And once Miyamoto Tokima decided to attack, the threat he posed was enormous.
Of everyone on Teikō Middle School, Daiki Aomine felt the most pressure.
He was the one matched up directly against Miyamoto Tokima.
His expression was extremely serious as he waited.
Miyamoto Tokima dribbled forward step by step until he stood in front of Daiki Aomine.
Miyamoto Tokima remained upright.
Daiki Aomine crouched slightly.
"Ready, Daiki?" Miyamoto Tokima asked.
"Yeah, Miyamoto. Bring it on," Daiki Aomine replied seriously.
The corner of Miyamoto Tokima's mouth lifted.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Ripples burst across the entire court in an instant, spreading outward layer by layer and sweeping over everyone.
Off the court, the spectators immediately reacted.
"Holy crap, the Final Ripple!"
"Now this is hype!"
Miyamoto Tokima hadn't expected that everyone in this world apparently came equipped with special-effects vision.
On the court, as the [Eye of Truth] unfolded, Miyamoto Tokima instantly became aware of everyone's position.
Without hesitation, he began his drive.
He pushed the ball forward with his left hand and dropped his center of gravity sharply.
In an instant, he blew past Daiki Aomine.
Daiki Aomine, someone famous for his speed, had just been beaten with speed.
He immediately turned and gave chase.
Miyamoto Tokima didn't slow down at all.
He charged straight toward the paint.
Teppei Kiyoshi turned and immediately set himself on defense, ready to meet him.
He had expected Miyamoto Tokima to use a floater or some other finishing move in front of him.
But what Teppei Kiyoshi never expected was that Miyamoto Tokima had absolutely no intention of slowing down.
His speed never dropped.
At that moment, Teppei Kiyoshi understood what Miyamoto Tokima intended to do.
He was going to dunk over him!
Damn it!
Being Teikō Middle School's center really was a dangerous job!
Even though Teppei Kiyoshi had his reservations, he had no intention of backing down.
Retreating in the face of a challenge wasn't his style.
Besides, he was carrying the hopes of his teammates.
I'm carrying their hopes.
I can't back down!
Stomp!
Miyamoto Tokima planted his left foot hard and launched himself upward like a rocket, shooting straight toward the rim.
"Come on!" Teppei Kiyoshi roared.
He jumped with everything he had, reaching out with his right hand toward the basketball in Miyamoto Tokima's grasp.
"Miyamoto Tokima!!!"
Teppei Kiyoshi didn't retreat.
He met the challenge head-on.
His hand pressed against the ball.
But Miyamoto Tokima didn't care.
He said nothing.
He simply applied even more force.
The next instant, Teppei Kiyoshi felt an overwhelming power slam into his arm.
In the end, he couldn't withstand it.
His strength gave out.
BANG!
The thunderous sound of the dunk exploded throughout the arena.
Teppei Kiyoshi was knocked backward in midair.
Fortunately, Atsushi Murasakibara caught him in time.
Otherwise, Teppei Kiyoshi would have fallen flat on his back.
Miyamoto Tokima hung from the rim with one hand.
Only after confirming that Teppei Kiyoshi was no longer beneath him and had landed safely did he let go and drop to the floor.
Off the court, the spectators erupted.
What could possibly be more exciting on a basketball court than dunking over a center?
"Poster dunk! Poster dunk! Holy shit!!"
"Damn, that was insane, bro!"
"Guys, that was so satisfying to watch!"
"Holy shit! Did you just fire that straight at me?!"
...
On the court, after landing, Miyamoto Tokima said helplessly, "You'd rather risk getting hurt just to contest that? Why bother?"
If any other shooting guard had said something like that, people would have thought he had completely lost his mind.
A shooting guard expecting a center to step aside and let him dunk?
What kind of nonsense was that?
But when the person saying it was Miyamoto Tokima, the situation was different.
Teppei Kiyoshi smiled helplessly.
"I had no choice. I couldn't back down. I had to challenge you. If I had stepped aside, then I really would have lost."
Hearing that, Miyamoto Tokima extended his fist.
His intention was obvious.
Not to punch him.
For a fist bump.
Teppei Kiyoshi steadied himself, smiled, then extended his own fist and bumped it against Miyamoto Tokima's.
...
Possession changed.
Teikō Middle School's ball.
Seijuro Akashi received the basketball and began to think.
Although the game looked evenly matched right now, he knew that was only on the surface.
If Kirisaki Daiichi truly began pressing their advantage, the balance of the game could shift immediately.
Seijuro Akashi disliked being passive.
He preferred to keep the initiative in his own hands.
So he decided...
To attack first.
...