I want to reach 20 paid subscriptions on Patreon this week to complete this novel, as it has been over a month since the last subscription.
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The first match of Toho Kotei Gakuen concluded successfully.
The defeat of Kirisaki Daiichi was merely a minor incident.
The curtain fell.
No one cared about an eliminated team.
As the competition continued, Toho Kotei Gakuen fought their way through, defeating one opponent after another.
The schools that advanced were gradually revealed.
All the schools with the Generation of Miracles advanced without exception.
This naturally included Seirin High School.
During this period, a previously unknown school, with an invincible and arrogant demeanor, entered the public eye, attracting considerable attention.
That was "Fukuda Sogo Academy."
From the very first match, this school crushed its opponents with overwhelming strength.
Meanwhile, a name gradually became known to everyone.
That was "Haizaki Shogo."
The name "Haizaki Shogo" gradually spread throughout the high school basketball world.
At first, no one knew who "Haizaki Shogo" was.
Then someone recognized Haizaki Shogo and revealed that he was the White Devil.
This was like stirring up a hornet's nest.
Anyone who had heard of the White Devil flocked to watch the Fukuda match.
They all wanted to see the true face of this legendary White Devil.
At the Fukuda stadium.
The match continued as usual.
However, the atmosphere in the stadium was strange.
One side was arrogant and overbearing.
The other side was panting and looking defeated.
The situation was completely one-sided.
Looking at the score.
92 to 46, Fukuda was leading by a large margin.
Meanwhile, in the stands of the spectator area.
Momoi Satsuki watched the match below with a serious expression.
To be precise, she was watching Haizaki Shogo's match below.
'At this rate, advancing seems like a sure thing. I just wonder who he'll face first.'
She could tell from this match.
Haizaki Shogo was much stronger than he was in middle school.
The techniques Haizaki Shogo used earlier.
She was absolutely certain.
That was "Plunder," a technique he had back in middle school.
It was a talent unique to Haizaki Shogo.
The problem was, this "Plunder" was completely different from the "Plunder" she remembered.
'Has it evolved?'
Momoi wondered to herself.
She could tell at a glance.
Haizaki Shogo wasn't using his full strength in this match.
'This isn't good.'
Momoi murmured with some worry.
She knew whether Haizaki Shogo's "Plunder" could now steal techniques from the Generation of Miracles.
But she was certain.
Right now, Haizaki Shogo could basically steal 99% of his opponent's moves.
'I have to tell everyone this.'
Thinking this, she took one last look at Haizaki Shogo below, then turned and left.
After entering the passage, she picked up her phone and began typing.
After a long while, she pressed the send button.
Time passed quickly.
This day.
was the last stop before Toho Kotei Gakuen advanced to the top 16.
When Ryu learned his opponent's name, he was also stunned for a moment.
Because he saw a familiar name.
Seiho High School.
Ryu was naturally familiar with this school.
One of the three great teams of Tokyo, the King of the North.
In the locker room of Toho Kotei Gakuen.
Kugawa looked at the schedule in his hand and said.
"I heard that the opponent is one of the three great teams of Tokyo, I think it's the King of the North, their strength should be very strong!"
Hanafuji analyzed.
"According to my investigation, their kingship was already shaken in the summer, defeated by Seirin High School."
"Seirin?"
Kugawa seemed to have thought of something and turned to look at Ryu.
"I remember Ryu, you seem to be quite familiar with this Seirin, right?!"
Ryu, tying his shoelaces, replied.
"It's alright! A former teammate of mine attends Seirin, I've met them a few times before."
"I see!"
Kugawa stroked his chin and continued to ask.
"Are they really that strong? After all, they defeated a King; I think they must be incredibly powerful!"
Strong?
Ryu didn't know how to answer.
After all, they hadn't fought against them.
After thinking for a moment, he said,
"At this stage, Seirin's strength is only average, at best second-tier nationally. However, they have great potential; they might suddenly awaken and reach first-tier strength."
Hearing this, everyone from Toho Kotei Gakuen was shocked.
Seirin's potential is that great?
Seeing everyone's expressions, Ryu explained,
"That Kagami Taiga possesses talent on par with the Generation of Miracles."
Silence...
For a moment, the locker room was completely silent.
Hanafuji then spoke up.
"Yes, that's right. That guy named Kagami does possess considerable talent. I sensed a danger emanating from him, and he's constantly improving during the matches."
Kamimono asked Ryu with some doubt.
"You seem to have high hopes for Seirin!"
Ryu merely curled his lips into a meaningful smile.
"Ah... well, it's just a conclusion drawn from analysis."
Ryu didn't elaborate.
The nonsense that Seirin would advance all the way to the finals was simply unbelievable.
Besides, the current storyline has changed from the original.
He wasn't even sure if Seirin could advance to the finals this time.
However, Ryu didn't care about any of that.
Time passed by, minute by minute.
Soon, the match time was almost up.
The members of Toho Kotei Gakuen all walked out of the locker room and headed towards the battlefield for advancing to the top 16.
On the other side.
Seiho's locker room.
The atmosphere in the locker room was incredibly heavy.
Iwamura Tsutomu addressed the group with a serious expression.
"As you all know, our opponent today is the summer national champion, Toho Kotei Gakuen. You should all know their strength without me having to explain. Frankly, I don't think we'll be a match for Toho Kotei Gakuen."
He paused, then continued.
"However, no matter how strong they are, it won't shake our resolve. We are one of the three kings of Tokyo. Even the Summer League champions will be taught a lesson. This is our chance. If we defeat them, we'll qualify for the national championship."
"Oh..."
The members of Seiho responded in unison.
Hearing their captain's bold words, they all clenched their fists, their blood rushing.
A surge of heat filled their bodies.
Seeing his teammates' state, Iwamura Tsutomu nodded in satisfaction.
Then he looked at the bald man standing to the side and said,
"Tsugawa... you'll be guarding that Ryu, okay?"
The bald man was Tsugawa Tomoki.
Back in middle school, he had single-handedly shut down Kise.
His expression was excited as he grinned.
"Leave it to me, I'll keep a close eye on him."
Iwamura Tsutomu nodded, then addressed the group.
"Alright... then... let's go!"
...
As both sides lined up.
Tsugawa Tomoki's gaze remained fixed on Ryu.
A strange smile played on his lips.
"You're the Ryu everyone's been talking about! The national champion... I'm so envious! You must be really strong! I'll be guarding you! I'll keep a close eye on you."
Hearing his words, the members of Toho Kotei Gakuen were completely bewildered.
Where did this idiot come from?
Ryu merely glanced at him indifferently, then said calmly.
"You're still far from good enough!"
Huh?
Tsugawa Tomoki was stunned, not expecting Ryu to be so calm.
He was about to say something more, but Iwamura Tsutomu stopped him.
"Tsugawa... shut up! The game's about to start, focus on defense!"
Hearing the captain's words, Tsugawa Tomoki shut up.
However, he still stared at Ryu with a lewd grin, as if looking at a submissive wife.
Whistle
The whistle blew.
The game between Toho Kotei Gakuen and Seiho High School officially began.
To Seiho's utter surprise, Toho Kotei Gakuen gave them a shock right from the start.
Kamimono easily won possession.
The basketball landed in Hanafuji's hands.
Hanafuji started dribbling, disappearing from Kasuga Ryuhei's sight almost instantly.
Although Kasuga Ryuhei had watched Toho Kotei Gakuen's games and videos, the experience of playing live was completely different.
His eyes couldn't even catch Hanafuji's figure.
Hanafuji successfully broke through and went straight to Seiho's basket, scoring the first two points with a layup.
Only two seconds had passed on the clock.
Kasuga Ryuhei was still standing in Toho Kotei Gakuen's half of the court.
However, this was just the beginning.
In the next quarter...
Toho Kotei Gakuen's strength completely shattered the expectations of the Seiho members.
Those who had thought they could put up a fight before the match now realized how ridiculous that idea was.
The most frustrated of all was Tsugawa Tomoki.
Ryu had almost completely ignored him, as if he didn't exist.
Whether on offense or defense, he didn't care whether Tsugawa Tomoki was beside him or not.
After several rounds of back-and-forth, Tsugawa Tomoki couldn't even touch the hem of Ryu's clothes.
Several times, he was caught off guard during defense, his footing disrupted by Ryu's quick breakthroughs, causing him to fall to the ground in a rather disheveled manner.
Toho Kotei Gakuen was unstoppable.
Seiho, on the other hand, was retreating steadily.
At the end of the first quarter, Toho Kotei Gakuen already held a terrifying 30-point lead, 34-4.
As they walked off the court, the Seiho players were numb.
They never imagined that their strength was so vastly inferior to the champion team.
"Is this the strength of the national champions…"
Iwamura Tsutomu muttered to himself, sitting on the bench.
Tsugawa Tomoki's eyes were vacant, his expression blank; the lewd smile on his face had vanished.
This was only the beginning.
In the time that followed…
Toho Kotei Gakuen remained fiercely aggressive, their momentum unstoppable, attacking from all five points and leaving Seiho utterly helpless.
Toho Kotei Gakuen's score soared.
The difference in strength between the two sides was simply too great.
The former kings of the North were now being mercilessly crushed by Toho Kotei Gakuen, like children.
The second quarter ended.
The score was 70-10.
At the end of the third quarter.
The score had reached 106-18.
Until the final whistle blew for the fourth quarter.
On the scoreboard at this moment.
144-24, the striking red number caught everyone's eye.
Toho Kotei Gakuen defeated Seiho High School, successfully advancing to the top 16.
Seiho, filled with resentment and humiliation, left the Winter Cup stage.
The news that Toho Kotei Gakuen had defeated one of Tokyo's three top teams by a massive margin quickly spread throughout the high school basketball world.
Everyone was stunned when they heard the news.
They wondered if they had misheard.
That was Seiho High School, one of Tokyo's three top teams, the King of the North!
They had been defeated by over a hundred points!
How could this not be shocking?
The most astonished were the schools in Tokyo.
They could hardly believe it was true.
They knew how strong Seiho was.
If Seiho was like this, what would happen to them?
The thought was terrifying.
Suddenly, everyone became even more wary of Toho Kotei Gakuen.
No school wanted to face Toho Kotei Gakuen so soon.
Other venues.
Besides Toho Kotei Gakuen advancing,
other schools with the Generation of Miracles also gradually qualified for the next round.
Whoosh…
On Shutoku's court.
Midorima hits a three-pointer, sealing the victory.
Although the game isn't over yet.
The red "156-66" on the scoreboard is particularly striking.
This means Shutoku has successfully advanced to the round of 16.
On Kaijo's court.
A yellow figure jumps with the ball, seemingly unfazed by the double-team.
He tucks the ball into his stomach, then pulls it to the side with one hand, finally flicking his wrist to toss the ball up.
The ball glides over the heads of the two defenders, landing precisely in the basket behind him.
Whistle…
The referee blows the final whistle.
Kaijo successfully advanced to the round of 16.
On the Rakuzan court.
Akashi used his signature Ankle Breaker to shake off two opponents, then calmly dribbled to the basket.
He took the shot.
Beep…
The final whistle blew.
Rakuzan successfully advanced to the round of 16.
On the Tōō court.
A streak of blue light swept across the court.
Clang…
The sound was deafening.
Aomine hung suspended in the air, gripping the rim with one hand, the basketball already fallen and rolled to the side.
Tōō's opponents, panting heavily, collapsed to the ground.
Beep…
The final whistle blew.
Tōō Academy successfully advanced to the round of 16.
On the Yosen court.
The entire arena fell silent.
The scoreboard displayed a striking 102-0.
All eyes were fixed on the purple-haired boy on the sidelines.
He stood silently beneath the basket, like an ancient, unchanging mountain, standing for millennia, suppressing all invading enemies.
Their opponents watched in despair, utterly helpless, forced to accept the cruel reality of elimination.
On the Seirin High School court.
Ah…
A wild roar echoed throughout the arena.
Kagami Taiga, holding the ball in one hand, slammed it into the opponent's basket.
The deafening crash shook the arena.
The rim's mournful thud seemed to lament the humiliation it had just suffered.
Kagami turned around, and behind him, a blue figure that had been empty but had suddenly appeared, extended a fist.
The two fists collided, as if signaling the end of the game.
Whistle…
The whistle blew immediately.
Seirin High School has successfully advanced to the top 16 of the National Tournament.
After more than a month of competition and elimination, weaker schools were ruthlessly eliminated.
The remaining 16 schools will be the top 16 in this Winter Cup national competition.
All schools will have three days to rest.
After three days, the round of 16 will officially begin.
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I want to reach 20 paid subscriptions on Patreon this week to complete this novel, as it has been over a month since the last subscription.
patreon.com/ayan41x