"Let's settle this, Yuuto!"
Kagami roared. The 80% limiter had been shattered, and his body's potential was climbing toward 100% at a visible rate.
Don't ask how Yuuto knew—the data changes radiating from his opponent were all flooding into his eyes.
But even with the Zone, the situation won't change when the next quarter arrives.
On the court, Yuuto and Kagami had already begun their clash.
After entering the Zone, Kagami once again possessed the qualifications to stand before Yuuto.
But—
Hum~
The world in Kagami's eyes went pitch black once more, and a red Dead Point suddenly bloomed.
"Why?!" Kagami was stunned. He'd clearly entered the Zone, so how could this still...
No, wait—could it be Weakness Correction? Just from that brief period?
Kagami could scarcely believe it.
In such a short time, Yuuto had already completed all his corrections for dealing with Kagami in the Zone.
He bit down hard on his lip, trying to move, but his body refused to obey.
Kagami's heart trembled. This was the level he simply could not surpass no matter what!
"Please don't give up, Kagami-kun!"
At that moment, Kuroko's voice came from behind him.
Just as Yuuto was about to blow past Kagami's flank, Kuroko blocked his path.
"Kuroko?!"
"How did he manage that?!"
Everyone was stunned.
Had Kuroko actually seen through Yuuto?
"No. But he saw through Kagami's movements." Akashi's expression finally shifted—he was witnessing something he hadn't anticipated.
"Saw through Kagami's movements? You mean..."
"No, he read Kagami's movements and moved in the opposite direction at the same time."
"Unlike the Emperor Eye, this is an alternative 'Emperor Eye' born from the combination of Misdirection's exceptional perception and his absolute synchronization with Kagami."
No one had expected this development.
Kuroko had actually managed to block Yuuto's path at this moment, reversing what had seemed like an irreversible situation.
"What Kagami-kun lacks in vision, I will compensate for!"
Kuroko lunged forward, reaching out with everything he had.
The result?
Slap!
To everyone's shock, Yuuto stepped back at that exact moment, evading the steal attempt.
"What?!"
"He dodged it? But that was only the first time..."
People understood that Yuuto's Weakness Correction required analysis before he could complete his evolution.
But this time, Kuroko had only used this defensive technique once!
"He simply saw it coming." Akashi calmed himself. "However, even though he dodged, Yuuto can no longer do whatever he pleases like before."
Indeed.
Though he'd evaded, Yuuto couldn't score at will like earlier.
He couldn't easily break through Kagami and Kuroko's double-team.
"What about passing?" Kasamatsu Yukio asked.
"That's probably not feasible either—at least not high-quality No-Motion Passes." Kise answered.
Yuuto wasn't facing Akashi right now. The circumstances were completely different.
There were three major differences.
First, Yuuto was now facing two people. His passing lanes were extremely limited, making it easier for Seirin to predict his target.
Second, Kagami's physique and athletic talent, after entering the Zone, had fully caught up to Yuuto's level.
This was something even Akashi hadn't possessed back then. Fighting one-on-two was even more difficult than facing Akashi had been.
In fact, in the original story, Akashi's alternate personality had been defeated by Kuroko and Kagami using their coordinated counterattack.
"Regular passes won't work either?"
"That's the third point. Right now, Kagami's defensive range is the same as Yuuto's. Passing to others isn't very meaningful."
They had sealed off nearly all of Yuuto's options, forcing him to challenge Kuroko and Kagami alone.
Of course—
What Kise said wasn't absolute. If Yuuto wanted to pass, he still could. Whatever Akashi could do, he could do as well.
It was just that the risk would be higher. This Seirin team always managed to defy expectations. He would handle this himself, push himself one step further, and completely extinguish Seirin's last embers of hope.
While they were talking, Yuuto had already made his move.
His movements, refined after his brain's analysis and correction, became even sharper—completely different from before.
Thump thump thump~
The basketball bounced at a speed almost too fast for the eye to follow, leaving afterimages.
Then—
Yuuto's figure split in two, simultaneously attacking both sides of Kuroko and Kagami's defense.
"What a monster!" Seirin's players gaped in disbelief. How could such a person exist?
But—
Slap!
Yuuto felt control of the ball slip away.
Kuroko and Kagami had sealed both flanks simultaneously, one left and one right.
Kagami had entrusted his back to Kuroko, and Kuroko had absolute faith in him.
"This is trust! The power of Light and Shadow!"
Midorima was moved, because his alley-oop three-pointer also required entrusting everything to his teammates.
Seirin's counterattack began.
People barely heard the whoosh before the basketball was spinning at high speed, tearing through the air toward the frontcourt.
Hyūga Junpei finally had a perfect shooting opportunity.
Facing an empty paint, he chose a long two-pointer without hesitation.
It went in!
Seirin cut the deficit to under 30 in one push.
They shouted, high-fived in celebration, seeing hope once more.
Many casual spectators cheered excitedly at this new variable in the game.
Akashi didn't join them. He remained calm, as if his earlier surprise had been an illusion.
What he saw was a momentary vacancy in Yuuto's eyes—analyzing, thinking, completing his evolution.
Perhaps no one wanted to face strong opponents more than Yuuto did.
"At this rate, even Kuroko and Kagami's combined defense will be broken."
Indeed, it would be fast.
When Yuuto appeared before them again, Kuroko and Kagami's expressions grew even more grave.
The pressure emanating from Yuuto had visibly increased.
He was correcting his movements, searching for the breakthrough to shatter their partnership.
At this rate, Dead Points belonging to both of them would likely emerge as well.
Golden light erupted from Yuuto's body.
He wasn't angry—rather, he seemed even more pleased. This was the outcome he wanted.
His movements became even more restless, more complex.
"Adding feints to deceive Taiga's sensory system and directly collapse their defense?" Himuro Tatsuya guessed.
If Kagami didn't react, then Kuroko's "Emperor Eye" couldn't take effect.
That was certainly one method.
But—
"No, he's not deceiving Kagami—he's simultaneously deceiving both Kuroko and Kagami."
"Can that really be done?"
Imayoshi Shoichi and the others were shocked.
"It can be done. Kuroko's athletic ability is far inferior to Yuuto's and Kagami's. He doesn't have enough time to think—he must react instantly."
In other words—
Yuuto had to fool Kagami while also using Kagami to fool Kuroko.
Slap!
Yuuto's step-back three was blocked. He'd gotten past Kagami, but Kuroko had blocked his path and leaped into the air to contest the shot.
"Now Seirin's odds aren't just 1% anymore, Yuuto!" Kagami shouted.
He absolutely refused to accept that their chances were only 1%, let alone that this 1% rested solely on his shoulders. Because Seirin was a team.
Yuuto didn't respond, turning to immediately give chase.
Kagami didn't understand—the 1% he'd spoken of was about to become reality right now.
...
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