"Your physical data is declining exponentially. You have no chance left, Akashi."
Yuuto dribbled rapidly to the top of the three-point arc. In front of him was an unresigned Akashi, putting up his final resistance.
"You're the same. Your breathing and heartbeat tell me you're near your limit too."
Even at this moment, Akashi refused to admit defeat.
Yuuto's condition had indeed declined. No one could maintain their peak for 40 minutes, not even a player named Jordan.
But in comparison, his condition was much better than Akashi's—this was the greatest strength of the Star Bible.
Wasting no more words, he launched into action, tangling fiercely with Akashi.
The sky went dark again. The red Dead Spot bloomed, emitting an eerie sheen, pulsing like the heart of Rakuzan.
Finally.
Whoosh~
In the middle of his dribble, Yuuto flicked his five fingers. The ball seemed to travel through space-time, landing in Omuro Yoshikazu's hands.
Mayuzumi Chihiro still wanted to use his lack of presence to block Omuro.
Yuuto looked on coldly, his expression unwavering. The Dead Spot seen by the Demon Eye was an absolute and irreversible result.
As for Omuro Yoshikazu, the moment he caught the ball, he didn't even realize that he could clearly see Mayuzumi Chihiro's presence.
Turning with a post move, he squeezed into the paint, spun, and banked the shot in.
"The time limit for Misdirection is up."
When it rains, it pours. Rakuzan's troubles came one after another, problems erupting continuously.
Even Akashi couldn't manage the overall situation at this stage.
Shirogane Eiji wanted to make substitutions, but thinking back to what happened during the break, he gave up.
This match was likely over. He didn't want to blow the players' confidence further; they still had the Winter Cup to play.
Only...
Facing such a Seiho, facing a player like Yuuto, did they really still have a chance to win?
Shirogane Eiji sighed silently.
Coaching Rakuzan for so many years, he had won countless honors and experienced an unknown number of great battles.
But no battle, not even the ones lost, gave him a stronger sense of defeat than Yuuto and Seiho today.
The point difference unknowingly reached 8 points.
Even though Akashi tenaciously hit a jump shot with individual ability in the next round, it was a drop in the bucket. Rakuzan's collapse was inevitable.
Last three minutes of the game.
Yuuto executed a double step-back to the three-point line and pulled up for another three.
In front of him, Akashi stumbled.
His Emperor Eye was still powerful, a top-tier talent, but his body had reached its limit.
Shirogane Eiji wanted to substitute again.
His disciple was right; the bodies of the Generation of Miracles weren't fully ready yet. They couldn't support their talents.
Playing like this carried the risk of injury.
And Akashi?
He just stubbornly told his coach with his eyes: don't take me out.
No matter what, he had to fight. Even if the result was destined to be defeat, he would fight until the last second of the game.
Yuuto didn't dislike such players.
Giving up was always more shameful than persisting. No one could question such a "fool."
And for such an opponent, the greatest respect was to go all out.
Bam~
After passing three people in a row, a tomahawk dunk shook the rim violently.
People's hearts skipped a beat. This Seiho King was truly too heaven-defying, seemingly invincible, frighteningly unbelievable.
"This is the first time I've seen such a player in Japan," Harasawa and the other veterans lamented.
This was a monster never seen before in Japanese high schools. Perhaps he was qualified to compete with the chosen ones across the Pacific.
"It's not over! It's not over yet!" Akashi shouted, charging forward. His perseverance ignited the blood of everyone in Rakuzan.
However, the result was already destined.
Seiho didn't lose to anyone in their hunger for victory.
Mibuchi Reo and the others had at least won a championship. What about Kasuga Ryuhei and his team?
They had never tasted victory.
In the last year of high school, in the most important game, they gave their all.
At this moment, both sides were still fighting desperately.
Akashi used a teammate's screen to pass the ball, but although Hayama Kotaro's drive got past Tsugawa Tomoki, he was thwarted by Iwamura Tsutomu.
The former captain of Seiho completed a beautiful block. Then, they turned for a fast counterattack.
Akashi chased but lacked the strength; his body was protesting his actions.
Whoosh~
The ball passed through layers of defense without warning, landing in Iwamura Tsutomu's hands. The latter forced a dunk over Nebuya Eikichi with sheer power.
This dunk pushed the point difference into double digits.
Rakuzan persisted for three quarters, but collapsed in the final moments.
"Oh~~~"
The whistle tore through the air. The referee blew the final whistle ending the game.
Only at this moment did Akashi stop running.
Lost!
Lost to the same opponent again!
His eyes stung, filled with immense pain, but he could only tilt his head back to let the tears flow back in.
The arena fell eerily silent.
The fans had expected this result for a long time, but when the moment arrived, it plunged people into a brief silence. Everyone was incomparably shocked.
The arrogant Rakuzan, the so-called Emperors of Development, were defeated just like that.
Then...
Boom!
The arena boiled over. A cacophony of noise, voices like a tidal wave, sweeping every corner.
Fans who came from Tokyo to Kyoto loudly vented their emotions.
Some girls hugged each other, jumping up and down.
Even the three women beside Kasugano Haruka hugged each other at this moment.
In contrast.
The Rakuzan fan section was deathly silent.
Some of them, like the players on the court, closed their eyes in pain, not wanting to see, unable to bear witnessing this cruel result.
The strongest Rakuzan lost. They couldn't accept such a cruel outcome.
Golden confetti fell from the sky above the court.
Just as brilliant as last year.
Yuuto stood at center court. Before him was Akashi, head tilted back.
He was waiting for the other to recover.
This proud man didn't make him wait long. Akashi ultimately didn't let a single tear fall, though his eyes were already red.
Seeing him like this, some female fans completely broke down, crying sadly while shouting things like "Akashi-sama."
"You won. Congratulations!"
"Yeah."
Yuuto wouldn't kick him while he was down at a moment like this. He reached out and shook hands with Akashi.
At the same time, the broadcast announced the result of the match.
"The 88th Summer Inter-High Final. Seiho High School versus Rakuzan High School. The winner is the number one seed from the Tokyo district, Seiho High School..."
It ended.
Yamashita Shio took a deep breath. For a man of his age, he almost couldn't control his emotions.
These years, the old man hadn't had it easy, losing until he almost wanted to retire.
Fortunately, he had an eye for talent and brought Yuuto back to Seiho.
...
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