The powers in Kuroko no Basket are… absurd—utterly absurd.
And yet, within that absurdity, they somehow make sense.
Take Kagami's Second-Stage Zone, for instance
A Direct-Link Domain.
It's the realm Kagami entered after grasping the true essence of teamwork, allowing him to understand his teammates' intentions with nothing but a glance. Through it, the entire team could synchronize their movements at Zone-level speed, achieving ultra-high-speed coordination.
Then there's Hagioka Kasayuki's Second-Stage Zone—its signs could already be seen back in that move, the Okayama Miracle.
This one is a Direct-Bestowal Domain.
By wielding the power of an even stronger Zone, he enhances his own Unseen Instinct, and through it, assists, propels, and guides his teammates—opening pathways they once couldn't command across their "Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, and Thunder."
Until every teammate shares the state of Unseen Instinct.
And the key to it all
lies in the intensified Unseen Instinct empowered by the Zone.
Spectator Stand.
"So…"
"What exactly is that 'Unseen Instinct' supposed to be?"
Kise Ryōta, staring blankly at the monster-like Akashi Seijūrō who was calmly explaining, looked utterly lost. The same confusion was written all over the faces of the other Miracles, Midorima included.
"You can think of it," Akashi said evenly, "as an advanced version of Nijimura-senpai's ability. A state that lets you react almost simultaneously with your opponent—moving as if being pulled along by their rhythm, sustaining a continuous chain of responses."
"It's a fusion of heightened vision, data gathering and processing, game sense, instinct, and experience—countless perceptual and predictive elements all at once."
"That's how they achieve that uncanny, unreachable synchrony with their opponents."
"As for that Okayama Miracle that granted the entire team this ability…"
"It was entirely based on trust and understanding among the players."
"Through Hagioka Kasayuki's eyes…"
"His habits…"
"His movements…"
"All culminating in an all-encompassing form of orchestration."
"He served as the central hub, using every subtle cue to let his teammates instantly grasp his intent—and carry it out."
"!?"
Midorima's whole body trembled.
"You're saying…"
"The way Rakuzan's players were able to move almost perfectly in sync with Hagioka Kasayuki—their level of perception and prediction…"
"All of that came from his direction?"
Akashi nodded—then shook his head. "Not quite that simple. That orchestration works both ways… through mutual trust, comprehension, and familiarity."
"It's the ultimate form of chemistry that only time can forge. And now that Hagioka's Zone has deepened even further, it's undoubtedly strengthened that connection by amplifying himself."
"It's not that a deeper Zone is inherently miraculous…"
"It's that such a Zone frees one's consciousness from the traps of individuality—preventing them from slipping into instinctive solo play and instead…"
"…allowing them to fully become a force for the team."
"A stronger Zone…"
"Greater individual power…"
"Enhanced Unseen Instinct…"
"And through this chain reaction…"
"By granting that elevated Unseen Instinct to his teammates, by letting everyone act with sharper perception and prediction, and by using himself as the nexus to correct each micro-step's technical flow…"
"He pushes the team forward, one element after another…"
"Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, Thunder"
"And thus…"
"The Direct-Bestowal Zone is achieved."
Achieved.
But the Generation of Miracles were stunned.
"..."
Was that even humanly possible?
Midorima, who thought deeper than the rest, couldn't help but shudder. To imagine how much information Hagioka Kasayuki had to process simultaneously—it made his scalp tingle.
And even more terrifying
That he could convey all of that predictive awareness, in real time, to every Rakuzan player on the court.
Both the sender and receiver
What kind of monstrous chemistry would that take?
On the Court.
Rakuzan's possession.
The ball was in play.
Point guard Tondo Kaoru advanced it up the floor.
Facing him was Kaijō's captain, Kasamatsu Yukio, tense and unyielding.
He couldn't help it—he had to be tense. Even though the overwhelming aura of Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, and Thunder had subsided, leaving only Unseen Instinct active, the pressure was still suffocating.
He knew too well that any of those forces could erupt again at any moment!
Kasamatsu: "?"
!!
BOOM!
A roar of thunder split the air!
In an instant
Tondo Kaoru's feet sparked with lightning as he burst forward at blinding speed!
"Tondo Kaoru drives!"
"So fast!"
"That's 'Swift as Lightning!'"
"Even Kasamatsu can't keep up!"
"Wha?!"
As Tondo blew past Kasamatsu, his eyes were already tracking Shigure Akihito and Nijimura Shuzō.
Sensing their positions in that fleeting instant, he veered away from their defensive range and slung a pass toward the sideline—where Tajika Makoto was cutting up the wing!
A one-handed flick
Swift as the Wind!
The ball tore through the half-court like a gale!
Its force was immense!
Under Unseen Instinct, Tajika Makoto braced himself—Immovable as the Mountain!
Smack!
He cleanly caught the rocket pass that would've been impossible for most to handle.
Tajika's eyes flashed—he could feel every position on the court. Instantly, he swung the ball into the paint, right to Hino Shinya, who had just used Hagioka's screen to shake off Fukasaya Reiji!
Turn—jump
"Fierce as Fire!"
He launched into a dunk toward the rim!
This one's mine—Hino Shinya's slam!
But at that exact moment, a searing heat rushed in from his flank—a heavy, oppressive aura closing in!
Ssshhh!
In the blink of an eye, closing the gap, chasing that lightning-fast pass
Was Kurokami Shinji, sprinting with a burning black flame swirling around him!
His eyes, lit by that dark fire, gleamed with an icy brilliance!
"Go for it~"
"Shinji! Take him down!"
Shigure Akihito's voice rang from the bench, as the entire Kaijō lineup—though still baffled as to how Shinji had awakened a power so like Shigure's—leapt to their feet in exhilaration after being crushed moments ago by Rakuzan's Fivefold Domain.
BOOM!
A deafening clash!
Kiyota Nobunaga—Jump-Stop Block!!
Hagioka Kasayuki's first attack after entering his Second-Stage Zone
was blocked by Kurokami Shinji!
END OF CHAPTER
CROWN BEFORE THE MIRACLES
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