There was no mystical "Zone" effect like Kagami Taiga's.
But this—
This pure, unadulterated aesthetic of violence—
Was enough to suffocate the entire arena, to make every heart skip a beat.
59:49.
The lead returned to ten.
Makino Juro landed.
No rim-hang. No roar.
He simply brushed the dust off his hands and looked at the stunned Sendoh.
"Well?"
"How does that compare… to your three-pointer?"
His tone was so casual it sounded like he was asking what to eat for dinner.
Sendoh froze for two seconds.
Then—
He smiled.
But this time, there was no warmth in it.
No calm confidence.
What replaced it… was a scalp-tingling excitement.
Like a sleeping beast that had finally caught the scent of blood.
The BOSS—
Had entered Phase Two.
"Impressive."
Sendoh took a deep breath, scratching his signature spiky hair.
"Seriously… that was incredible."
"I hate to admit it, but right now—you're ridiculously strong."
He picked up the ball.
His gaze sharpened like a blade, his aura fully unleashed.
"But…"
"That just makes beating you more interesting, doesn't it?"
Ryonan ball.
This time, Sendoh's presence was completely different.
If before he was a composed commander—
Now, he was a god of slaughter charging into battle.
He pushed the ball up at high speed.
Rukawa Kaede stepped forward to pressure him—
"Whoosh!"
A simple behind-the-back dribble—
Followed by a lightning-fast spin move.
So fast there wasn't even an afterimage—
Like the scene had been fast-forwarded.
Rukawa didn't even react before he was left behind.
Couldn't even see the taillights.
"So fast!!"
Rukawa's heart jolted, cold sweat instantly breaking out.
This guy… was holding back earlier?!
Even without Makino Juro's absurd physicality—
A serious Sendoh, in terms of skill, awareness, and rhythm...
Was still top-tier in Kanagawa.
Stronger than the current Rukawa by a clear margin.
"YES!! Sendoh!!"
At that moment.
An extremely out-of-place cheer erupted from Shohoku's bench.
Everyone froze.
Akagi turned his head, eyes nearly popping out, veins bulging.
There stood Sakuragi Hanamichi—on top of a chair.
"Go, Sendoh!!"
"Crush that stupid fox!!"
"That's it! Beautiful! Destroy him!!"
He waved a towel enthusiastically—
Cheering for the opponent more passionately than Ryonan's own cheer squad.
"Sakuragi! Which side are you on, you idiot?!"
"Are you defecting?! You traitor!"
Mitsui Hisashi nearly kicked him on the spot.
Sakuragi completely ignored them.
Hands on hips, nostrils flared skyward, he watched the court smugly.
His eyes radiated a ridiculous sense of superiority—
As if he alone saw the truth.
"Hmph. Fools."
"What do you know? This is strategy. Big-picture thinking!"
Inside Sakuragi's mind, a "genius-level" logical deduction was unfolding:
If Sendoh beats Rukawa—
Then Sendoh > Rukawa.
Then Makino Juro will definitely beat Sendoh—
So Makino Juro > Sendoh.
Finally!
As long as this genius learns all of that lazy master Makino Juro's moves—
And beats him!
Then Sakuragi Hanamichi > Makino Juro.
According to that… what was it…
The transitive property?
Sakuragi > Makino Juro > Sendoh > Rukawa!
A perfect logical loop!
"WAHAHAHAHA!!"
Sakuragi burst into manic laughter, practically drooling.
As if he could already see himself standing at the top of the world.
"That makes that stupid fox the bottom of the food chain!"
"I'll surpass both Rukawa and Sendoh and become the number one high schooler in Kanagawa—"
"No, in all of Japan!"
"I really am a genius! I've already won this!"
As for how he'd beat his cheat-like master Makino Juro?
Sakuragi stroked his chin.
Well…
Things will work out when the time comes!
As long as he learns things like "Meteor Dunk" and "Super Ultra High-Speed Dribbling"…
Hehehehe…
The advantage is mine!
"What is that idiot laughing about?"
Miyagi Ryota looked at Sakuragi with pure disgust, like observing a single-celled organism.
"Probably… his brain has finally completely broken."
Kogure Kiminobu adjusted his glasses, sighing helplessly—
His gaze filled with gentle pity.
Back on the court.
After blowing past Rukawa, Sendoh faced Akagi's help defense.
With an exquisitely controlled double-clutch layup, he avoided the block.
The ball rolled around the rim...
Teasing everyone's nerves—
Before reluctantly dropping in.
59:51.
Sendoh Akira was single-handedly keeping Ryonan alive.
Makino Juro watched that battle-hardened hedgehog head and sighed.
"What a hassle…"
"Since when do bosses have second phases? Who designed this game?"
"Looks like if I don't beat you into submission, you won't give up."
He rolled his neck, cracking it loudly.
The faint blue light in his eyes deepened—
Like a black hole about to devour everything.
"Fine."
"Let's see whether your Phase Two stubbornness…"
"Or my cheat—"
"Oh, I mean… my talent…"
"Is stronger."
The oxygen in the arena seemed to thin.
Every breath burned like bellows scraping the lungs.
Miyagi Ryota dribbled past half-court, his palms slick with sweat.
Even without tight defense—
A chill crept up his spine.
Like being watched by a top predator.
The source—
Sendoh Akira.
That man with the broom-like hair.
"Tch, don't look down on me!"
Miyagi gritted his teeth and pushed off to accelerate.
But the moment he started—
A shadow swallowed him whole.
Not Sendoh—
But Koshino and Uekusa closing in!
Ryonan's defense had changed.
They were no longer passive punching bags—
But sharks that had smelled blood.
"Damn it!"
Miyagi was forced to pick up his dribble, scanning frantically.
Rukawa?
No good.
Sendoh wasn't pressing him—
But his positioning was like a seasoned hunter, ready to cut off any pass.
Akagi?
Uozumi was glued to him like a wrestling bear—locked in a brutal battle.
There was only one option—
"Take it!!"
Miyagi shouted, throwing the ball like a hot potato to the wing.
There—
Makino Juro stood lazily.
"Snap."
He caught it with one hand.
And the instant his fingers touched the ball—
The noisy arena fell into a one-second vacuum.
All eyes converged.
Because at that exact moment...
Sendoh, who had been watching Rukawa—
Moved.
Like teleportation.
He appeared in front of Makino Juro like a ghost.
Less than a meter between them.
Eyes locked.
The air crackled with invisible electricity.
"So eager?"
END OF CHAPTER
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