I want to reach 20 paid subscriptions on Patreon to complete this novel, as it has been over a month since the last subscription.
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'Damn it, it's Wildness?'
Kagami gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath.
'This is bad,'
Hyuga Junpei said gravely.
'Kagami…'
Just then, Kuroko called out.
At the same time, a basketball flashed past Seirin's baseline and landed in Kagami's hands.
Seeing this, the Shutoku players' hearts sank.
'Oh no, it's a super long-range pass!'
Kimura Shinsuke exclaimed.
They had seen this move back in the summer.
But they had completely forgotten about it.
The Shutoku players quickly stepped back to defend.
However, Kagami had already reached the three-point line.
Just a few more steps and he would be within dunking range.
Kagami gritted his teeth.
His stamina was almost gone.
To prevent Shutoku from widening the score gap…
This shot had to go in.
And just then.
A streak of green light flashed by, rapidly approaching Kagami.
It was Midorima.
Enhanced by his wild instincts.
Midorima moved like a snake slithering through the grass, his speed fluid and swift.
Kagami had already heard the strange sound behind him.
He pushed off the ground one last time, leaping up and raising the ball to dunk.
But before the basket could enter his hand, a hand slapped the ball, blocking his momentum.
"Midorima..."
Seeing the figure suddenly appear in his field of vision, and the hand that had suddenly appeared on the basketball, Kagami's pupils contracted.
He felt the force from the basketball increasing, and his hand was gradually being pushed backward.
'No... I can't hold on anymore.'
Suddenly, the force seemed to reach a certain level.
The basketball finally pressed down on Kagami's hand, then slapped away along with Midorima's hand.
Thump...
The basketball landed.
The Seirin team members were stunned by what they saw.
Izuki Shun exclaimed in shock.
'He actually managed to get back?'
Hyuga Junpei said with a grim expression.
'We're all exhausted after playing this much, and that guy can still run so fast, he's a monster.'
Kagami, panting heavily as he landed back on the ground, looked at Midorima before him, a wave of powerlessness washing over him.
'This guy is just too strong, completely different from us.'
Midorima looked at his opponent and spoke calmly.
"Looks like this is your limit. You said you'd defeat the Generation of Miracles, but is this all you've achieved?"
Hearing Midorima's merciless sarcasm, Kagami was speechless.
'Damn it, how could I lose like this? I need to be stronger.'
Kagami clenched his fists, trying to squeeze out the last of his strength.
Because the basketball rolled out of bounds.
So the ball went to Seirin.
However, the Seirin players were tightly guarded by Shutoku.
Izuki Shun couldn't find an opening to pass.
With the time for the ball to be served approaching, Izuki Shun gritted his teeth, found a slightly weaker spot, and passed the ball.
That spot was in Hyuga Junpei's direction.
Defending him was Shutoku's Kimura Shinsuke.
Seeing the basketball flying towards him...
Shinsuke Kimura used his superior physique compared to Junpei Hyuga to forcefully block his way.
This left Hyuga Junpei with no good position to receive the ball.
Desperate, he gritted his teeth and stretched out his arm.
Only then did his fingers touch the incoming basketball.
The basketball, poked by Hyuga Junpei, veered off course and flew away.
Fortunately, the basketball wasn't far from Kuroko.
Although Takao was tightly guarding him, Kuroko had successfully shaken off Takao's defense using his own attraction.
The instant the basketball flew towards him, he began to move.
Takao, reacting quickly, immediately took a step forward.
Seeing Kuroko already raising his arm, ready to swat the basketball away, Takao also promptly extended his hand, preparing to intercept the pass.
Kuroko's eyes suddenly flashed.
His hand, poised to swat the basketball, suddenly twisted, and then the speed at which he slapped the ball increased instantly.
A blur flashed by.
Thud…
Kuroko's fist slammed heavily onto the basketball.
The basketball, as if suddenly given a motor boost, flew rapidly in one direction.
A fast pass.
Takao's pupils contracted; he inwardly cursed.
On the other side.
Seeing the basketball hurtling towards him.
Kiyoshi Teppei was also startled, immediately raising his hands in surprise.
Thud…
A resounding sound echoed throughout the court.
Kiyoshi Teppei felt a sharp pain in his palms, but disregarding everything else, he immediately charged towards Shutoku's basket.
Otsubo Taisuke was not to be outdone, sticking close to his opponent.
The two, one attacking and one defending, quickly reached Shutoku's basket.
Kiyoshi Teppei gripped the ball with one hand, then raised it high.
"The right to shoot second." He activated.
Kiyoshi Teppei, seemingly about to shoot, scanned his surroundings.
But just then...
"Kiyoshi-senpai, watch out!"
The sudden shout startled Kiyoshi Teppei.
Then he felt a cool breeze behind him, and his hand went empty; the basketball had vanished.
"What?"
Kiyoshi Teppei's pupils contracted; a sense of foreboding washed over him.
When he turned around, he saw Midorima dribbling and charging forward.
The game clock ticked away.
The Seirin players' expressions grew increasingly anxious.
"We have to stop him!"
Aida Riko shouted from the sidelines.
Ah...
A roar erupted from Kagami's mouth.
His weary body was now faintly enveloped in a red glow.
Behind him, a phantom red giant tiger slowly opened its eyes.
A kingly aura began to emanate from his body.
'I must become stronger.'
Thinking this, Kagami's running speed increased exponentially.
Hyuga Junpei and Izuki Shun also blocked Midorima's path.
They absolutely couldn't let Midorima shoot a three-pointer now.
Otherwise, Seirin would have no chance.
He were caught between two wolves in front and a tiger behind.
Midorima's attempt to shoot was also interrupted.
His eyes flashed, and with a flick of his arm, he tossed the basketball to Takao.
At this moment, Seirin's paint was completely empty.
Hyuga Junpei and Izuki Shun had no time to recover.
Only Kuroko was guarding Takao.
However, given Kuroko's abilities, it was naturally impossible for him to defend Takao effectively.
Takao swiftly bypassed Kuroko and surged towards Seirin's basket.
He jumped and made a layup.
Swish…
The basketball went in.
Shutoku scored another 2 points.
98 to 103.
46 seconds remained in the game.
Looking at the 5-point difference and less than a minute left.
Aida Riko trembled with tension.
The hearts of the Seirin players were also pounding.
Seirin had possession.
Izuki Shun held the ball in both hands and let out a long breath.
Then his eyes hardened, and he raised the basketball to pass it to the team's most reliable player, Kiyoshi Teppei.
But just then…
Kagami suddenly spread his hands towards Izuki Shun, signaling for the pass.
"Here…"
Seeing Kagami's gesture, he hesitated.
But in the end, he passed the ball to Kagami.
Upon receiving the ball, Kagami was immediately blocked by Midorima.
Kagami didn't rush to attack, but instead adjusted his breathing.
The two locked eyes, yet remained completely silent for a moment.
Both stared at the oppressive aura emanating from the giant serpent.
Kagami's body began to change.
His hair moved without wind, and a surge of red flames rose around him.
A phantom tiger appeared behind him.
A bloodthirsty, ferocious aura began to spread outwards.
Sensing this aura, no less powerful than his own, Midorima's eyes narrowed behind his glasses.
He sensed the same aura emanating from Kagami as his own.
Wildness.
Snake and tiger faced each other.
The snake's head looked down, surrounded by green flames, its forked tongue unflinching in its killing intent.
The tiger's roar shook the heavens, red energy rose, its imposing and domineering presence overwhelming.
How much time had passed was unknown.
Midorima's figure flashed.
With his movement, the phantom snake behind him also moved.
Its tail lashed, its body leaned forward, its mouth swift, its fangs like knives.
Seeing Midorima strike first, Kagami's eyes widened, veins bulged in his legs, and he swung the basketball rapidly between his hands.
A tiger's roar shook the air, its claws moved like the wind, its eyes were fierce, and its aura was majestic.
For a moment, snake and tiger tore at each other.
Those around seemed to witness a terrifying scene of the earth collapsing and rocks tumbling.
Time ticked by.
The red and green figures continued to writhe and rage across the court.
Kagami's heart began to race with anxiety.
If he couldn't break through Midorima's defense and score, then this game would truly be lost.
However, his mind went blank, causing him to falter for a beat.
A flash of white light appeared on Midorima's glasses as he swiftly made his move.
Thud...
The basketball in Kagami's hands was swatted away.
Damn it.
Kagami's heart sank.
This sudden steal meant Seirin had lost this match.
It also meant that he had been completely defeated by his opponent.
'Damn it... Is it really over like this?'
Just as Kagami was sinking into deep doubt, a blue figure suddenly appeared where the basketball had flown.
Before anyone could react, Kuroko swung his hand, swatting the basketball towards Shutoku's inside game.
At that moment, not far from Shutoku's inside game, Kiyoshi Teppei was standing there, witnessing this scene perfectly.
Without a word, he strode towards Shutoku's paint.
Taisuke Otsubo sensed danger and quickly followed to intercept.
However, the shot was too sudden.
He was still a step too slow for Kiyoshi Teppei.
Kiyoshi Teppei reached Shutoku's paint at top speed, receiving the ball just as Kuroko dribbled it.
Without hesitation, he turned and leaped, slamming the ball down on the rim with one hand.
Clang…
The ball went in.
Seirin pulled back 2 points.
100-103.
Whistle…
A whistle blew.
"Seirin requests a timeout."
There were 22 seconds left in the game.
Momoi breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.
"Phew… This game was really intense. It seems Seirin hasn't given up yet!"
Ryu analyzed.
"Of course. If Seirin can regain possession, they might have a chance to tie the score, but they only have one chance."
Seirin's rest area.
Aida Riko said to the team.
"Now comes the most crucial moment. We must fight tooth and nail to get the ball back. Only then can we possibly turn the tide."
"Yes..."
The Seirin players replied in unison.
"Um..."
Kuroko suddenly raised his hand and said.
"I have a method. Do you all want to hear it?"
As soon as he spoke,
the Seirin players all turned their attention to him.
...
On the other side.
Nakatani Jinsuke spoke to Midorima and the others.
"The advantage is ours, but we still can't be careless. They will definitely fight desperately for the ball in the end. What you need to do is create distance and buy time."
Shutoku and the others nodded in agreement.
"Yes..."
"Let's end it here!"
Takao breathed a sigh of relief.
Midorima took a sip of water, then focused his gaze on Seirin's bench.
"We can't let our guard down. The match isn't over yet, as long as that guy's still on the court."
Huh?
Takao followed Midorima's gaze and fixed it on Kuroko.
...
Beep...
The timeout flashed by.
The players from both teams formed circles, encouraging each other.
The two teams then returned to their respective halves of the court.
This time, it was a final push.
Everyone's eyes were filled with unwavering determination.
Shutoku serves.
Takao, with the ball, began slowly pacing around his own half of the court.
It was obvious to anyone that the opponent was stalling for time.
The Seirin players, of course, wouldn't wait around like that.
They began to take the initiative.
Soon, everyone gathered in Shutoku's half of the court.
Seeing Izuki Shun and Kiyoshi Teppei approach, Takao immediately passed the ball to Miyaji Ryunosuke.
He specifically checked Kuroko's position.
So the basketball successfully landed in Miyaji Ryunosuke's hands.
However, suddenly, someone appeared in front of Miyaji Ryunosuke.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Miyaji Ryunosuke was startled.
Kagami Taiga.
He was no match for Kagami Taiga now.
With just one glance, he felt immense pressure.
The feeling of being stared at by a ferocious beast sent chills down his spine.
His eyes swept across the room, then he spotted Midorima, now open.
A surge of joy filled him, a silent thought running through him.
'Ha…is this guy desperate? He's actually abandoning Midorima to defend me.'
Without further thought, he tossed the basketball directly to him.
'Miyaji-senpai…no…that's…'
Hearing Takao's sudden shout, Miyaji Ryunosuke's heart tightened.
Just then.
Miyaji Ryunosuke clearly saw that someone had suddenly appeared in the direction he had thrown the ball.
His eyes widened instantly, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
The person who appeared was none other than Kuroko Tetsuya.
Kuroko caught the incoming basketball with ease.
Seeing this,
the entire audience cheered.
The Seirin team was overjoyed.
The cheers from the bench never stopped.
Suddenly, he felt a chilling wind approaching from behind.
It was obvious it was Midorima.
Just as the virtual serpent unleashed its fangs, Kuroko's toe twirled.
"The Vanishing Dribble" activated.
Whoosh…
A blur flashed before Midorima's eyes.
Kuroko directly broke through Midorima's defenses and appeared behind him.
Midorima gritted his teeth and quickly turned around, only to see Kuroko dribbling into his own paint.
Without hesitation, Kuroko reached the paint, stood still, and then lifted the basketball, assuming a shooting stance.
Seeing this, the eyes of the Shutoku members widened. They wanted to stop him, but it was too late.
Otsubo Taisuke went straight to the basket, leaped up, and raised his arms high.
"It's over… Seirin…"
Kuroko didn't speak, but instead pushed the basketball in his hand directly out.
The basketball grazed past Otsubo Taisuke's eyes and disappeared.
'How could this be?'
Otsubo Taisuke was shocked and looked back.
What he saw almost made him bite his tongue.
A figure had appeared high in the air above Shutoku's paint.
A fiery red figure, and a beast-like aura.
It was Kagami Taiga.
He caught the basketball pushed by Kuroko in mid-air, then slammed it down towards the basket.
Ah…
Kagami roared.
But no one was guarding him anymore.
Because everyone knew.
Even if this shot went in, Seirin would still be one point behind Shutoku!
Shutoku would still win.
And there were only three seconds left in the game.
Shutoku was going to win.
Clang!
But just then...
A loud crash drew everyone's attention.
Everyone saw Kagami, one hand wielding a basketball, forcefully slam it towards Shutoku's backboard.
The basketball struck the backboard and bounced away.
A person stood in the direction the basketball flew.
Upon seeing this person...
The pupils of everyone in Shutoku contracted, and their entire bodies trembled.
Hyuga Junpei...
Knowing something was terribly wrong, the Shutoku members belatedly ran towards Hyuga Junpei.
But it was too late.
Hyuga Junpei caught the rebounding basketball.
With no one guarding him, he aimed and shot.
The basketball flew out, tracing a beautiful arc, carrying the hopes of everyone at Seirin, and finally landed in the basket.
Swish…
Beep…
At the same time.
The final whistle blew, echoing in everyone's ears.
The game is over.
Seirin vs. Shutoku.
The final score is 103-103.
A tie.
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I want to reach 20 paid subscriptions on Patreon to complete this novel, as it has been over a month since the last subscription.
patreon.com/ayan41x