On the court, a dazzling milky-white light erupted from Daiki Aomine's body.
His entire figure seemed bathed in radiance, brilliant and eye-catching.
Watching the milky-white light surrounding Daiki Aomine, Miyamoto Tokima unconsciously murmured,
"Perfection?"
"No. It's more than just perfection!"
The moment Miyamoto Tokima finished speaking, another kind of light erupted from Daiki Aomine's body!
The desolate radiance born from being repeatedly defeated by Miyamoto Tokima and experiencing defeats as bitter as hell.
The resolute radiance born from his strong will, from picking himself back up and striving once more toward his goal.
The radiance of love, born from his passion for basketball and the genuine joy it brought him!
With all three radiances gathered within him, Daiki Aomine underwent a complete transformation and awakened the ultimate quality of Selfless!
The true [Pinnacle of Perfection]!
Boom!
In an instant, streaks of golden light began spreading through the milky-white glow surrounding Daiki Aomine.
His usually flat blue hair stood on end.
His sharply defined features took on an almost sacred quality.
Even his entire presence changed completely.
Sacred and dazzling.
"Miyamoto." Daiki Aomine smiled brightly, his voice overflowing with joy. "I'm coming!"
An excited smile also appeared on Miyamoto Tokima's face.
Because he could feel a considerable threat coming from Daiki Aomine.
This was something he had never experienced before!
"Alright! Come on, Daiki!" Miyamoto Tokima said with a smile as he settled into a defensive stance.
Still smiling with joy, Daiki Aomine raised his right hand and launched his attack.
In an instant, Daiki Aomine broke past Miyamoto Tokima's right side.
Even Miyamoto Tokima, while in his normal state, froze for a split second and allowed Daiki Aomine to gain half a body length on him.
And that wasn't all.
Daiki Aomine kept accelerating and changing direction, maintaining that half-body advantage over Miyamoto Tokima the entire time.
This was the first time Miyamoto Tokima had ever found himself in this situation!
Thud!
After forcing his way into the paint, Daiki Aomine planted his left foot and leaped, completely ignoring Miyamoto Tokima.
Naturally, Miyamoto Tokima wasn't about to let him have his way and jumped after him.
But Daiki Aomine seemed to know exactly what Miyamoto Tokima was thinking!
In midair, he folded his body and turned the layup into a reverse layup!
And not only that, Daiki Aomine was finishing from behind the backboard!!!
To block the shot, Miyamoto Tokima had jumped far higher than the backboard itself!
With no other choice, Miyamoto Tokima gave up on the block and watched through the backboard as Daiki Aomine hooked the ball out from behind it.
The basketball traced an N-shaped arc through the air before dropping into the net.
After the basket, a flicker of pleasant surprise crossed Miyamoto Tokima's mind.
He looked at Daiki Aomine, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile.
"Daiki, you really did give me a surprise."
Daiki Aomine smiled back.
"Of course! Miyamoto, I've been waiting for this day for a long time!"
At that, Daiki Aomine's expression turned serious, and his tone became solemn.
"Miyamoto, activate your Animal Instinct!"
Miyamoto Tokima paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"As you... wish..."
Boom!
In an instant, black mist vast enough to blot out the sky poured from Miyamoto Tokima's body.
The mist continued rising, radiating a terrifying presence.
It gathered above the gymnasium, forming a massive, oppressive cloud of darkness!
Rumble!
A bolt of lightning flashed through the black mist.
Then, a pair of blood-red beast eyes slowly opened within it.
Daiki Aomine's expression changed, and his heart surged with emotion.
'It's here!'
Boom!
The next moment, an enormous black dragon emerged from the mist, its massive body completely filling the space above the basketball court.
It twisted and coiled through the darkness, radiating an overwhelming and terrifying aura!
Sitting on the bench, Ryota Kise's eyelid twitched wildly.
"Hey, hey, hey, seriously?!"
He had seen Miyamoto Tokima's Animal Instinct before, but this time it was far more terrifying than the last!
On the court, Daiki Aomine stared fixedly at the black dragon above the backboard, his eyes flickering.
In this situation, he had no choice but to go all out!
"Whoa, is that fog?"
"What the hell is that? It even has special effects?"
"Whoa, that's way too cool! I've only ever seen stuff like that in the NBA!"
The spectators immediately erupted into commotion, stunned by Miyamoto Tokima's Animal Instinct.
...
Possession changed hands.
Kirisaki Daiichi's ball.
Miyamoto Tokima dribbled forward step by step, black light radiating around his body. His presence was oppressive and terrifying, like a king ruling over the night.
Daiki Aomine spread his arms, his entire body radiating the sacred light of the [Pinnacle of Perfection], the ultimate quality of Selfless, like a god of daylight.
Standing opposite each other, the two looked like night facing off against day!
"Hah..." Daiki Aomine joked, "Miyamoto, doesn't this feel like a battle between the messenger of day and the messenger of night?"
"It does, but..." Miyamoto Tokima replied, "night is the natural state of the universe. Day only exists because there happens to be a ball of fire near you."
Daiki Aomine froze.
"Huh? A ball of fire?"
Seeing his reaction, Miyamoto Tokima shook his head helplessly.
He had forgotten that Daiki Aomine was terrible at academics...
"Never mind. Forget it," Miyamoto Tokima said. "Are you ready?"
Daiki Aomine's expression changed instantly. He nodded and settled into a defensive stance.
Miyamoto Tokima dribbled slowly at first, but then the rhythm grew faster and faster!
Thump, thump, thump!
The next second, Miyamoto Tokima seemed to transform into a true god of the night, streaking past Daiki Aomine with a trail of black mist behind him.
Daiki Aomine's heart jolted, and he hurriedly turned to chase.
Screech!!!
The sharp sound of sneakers grinding against the floor rang out.
Miyamoto Tokima stopped on a dime!
Daiki Aomine also stopped instantly, but Miyamoto Tokima's release was simply too fast!
Swish!
The ball dropped cleanly through the hoop!
Daiki Aomine's eyes flickered as his brows drew together slightly.
This... was going to be troublesome.
Over the next several possessions, that trouble became very real.
Even though Daiki Aomine had activated the [Pinnacle of Perfection], the ultimate quality of Selfless, he still struggled to handle Miyamoto Tokima once Miyamoto Tokima activated Animal Instinct and went all out on offense.
...
...
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