Murasakibara Atsushi's transformation happened much faster than anyone expected, but that wasn't entirely a bad thing.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Akashi!"
Standing beneath the basket, Murasakibara slowly curved his lips into an excited grin.
"Let's start the second round."
The Seiho players were stunned by the change in him. They could feel the shift in his presence, but they didn't understand it. With both strength and technique being suppressed, how could Murasakibara possibly turn the tables?
Could it be, he also had Animal Instinct… or had entered the Zone?
The next moment, they got their answer.
Yosen passed the ball into the paint, and once again, Murasakibara and Akashi Asuka faced each other one-on-one under the rim.
Previously, the two giants had clashed four times, and Murasakibara had lost every single time. Everyone thought the result would be the same again. Anyone could clearly see the overwhelming gap between Akashi and Murasakibara down low.
But then, the unexpected happened.
BOOM!
The collision between their towering bodies produced a deep, terrifying thud. Murasakibara pushed backward with Akashi pressed behind him.
Even though Murasakibara was incredibly strong, under normal circumstances, that strength was still not enough to move Akashi.
But without any warning, Murasakibara's power surged.
In an instant, his strength seemed to explode by at least twenty percent.
Even Akashi couldn't withstand it outright. He had no choice but to step back to reduce the impact.
Step.
"How… how is that possible? Akashi actually stepped back?!"
The Seiho players were stunned. To some spectators, a center being forced back didn't look like much.
But Seiho's players knew the truth.
They knew just how terrifying the strength hidden inside Akashi Asuka's massive frame truly was.
To move him even a little was already astonishing.
Boom… boom… boom…
Murasakibara's power didn't stop.
It continued to swell.
As if something inside him had burst open, an endless tide of strength surged out from deep within.
"What's going on? Where is this strength coming from?"
"He was being crushed earlier, so how is he suddenly equal to Akashi now?"
"Don't tell me… he entered the Zone!?"
The sudden eruption left Seiho utterly confused. Their guess wasn't baseless.
Players did sometimes perform beyond their limits in high-stakes matches, but no matter how much a player tried, some things simply could not be changed.
For example, raw strength and speed.
These were fundamental attributes. They could not be significantly increased just through momentum or emotion.
The only state capable of unlocking an extra 20% of a player's physical potential,
was the Zone.
However… in this case, Seiho guessed wrong.
==========
"Oh? So he'd actually been holding back his strength this whole time?"
"Hmm… well, I suppose that makes sense. With that kind of physique in junior high, he must've felt like he was going too far. With a kid's mindset, it's only natural he'd place a limiter on himself. Honestly, Akashi's the one whose mentality is a bit abnormal…"
In Seiho's bench area, Matsumoto Yukinori spoke calmly. His seasoned coaching experience allowed him to understand the situation instantly.
Murasakibara hadn't entered the Zone.
He had simply removed the internal safety lock that had limited his physical power.
"Coach? What do you mean?" Kitayama Yuzuki asked curiously.
"Just what I said. Most likely, Akashi's pressure triggered him to release a subconscious 'safety line' he set on himself."
Excessive strength wasn't only dangerous to opponents, it could also harm the user himself.
Though Murasakibara sometimes seemed merciless on court, what he truly sought was victory, not physically injuring opponents.
So back in junior high, he had subconsciously placed a limit on his own power, so he wouldn't hurt others.
But now, stimulated by Akashi Asuka, that safety line was slowly erased.
Hearing this, Kitayama's expression turned surprised.
"So… that means he's actually kind of… gentle? I mean, he held back so he wouldn't hurt people…"
"Of course."
Matsumoto nodded.
"Basketball is one thing. But respecting an opponent means playing at your best. Even if he looks cruel in a match, that's only one side of who he is."
Matsumoto had seen many players who were completely different on and off the court.
Kitayama found that interesting, but another question came to mind:
"Wait, if Murasakibara is only now showing his full strength… doesn't that mean Akashi is in danger?"
Matsumoto shook his head calmly.
"Not quite. Even if their strength is equal, compared to Akashi, Murasakibara is still too inexperienced."
==========
As if in response to his words the court shifted again.
Just as Murasakibara finally forced Akashi into the restricted zone and was about to turn and dunk,
Snap!
The ball vanished from his hands.
At the exact instant Murasakibara went into his shooting motion, Akashi reached in from behind and stole the ball.
Stealing the ball from Murasakibara was no simple feat. Even though his dribbling wasn't refined, his massive body naturally shielded the ball.
But this time, the one stealing was Akashi Asuka.
And he had done it from behind.
That kind of steal required identical reaction speed, timing, and physical ability.
Something Murasakibara had never encountered before,
Until Akashi.
=============
Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria