"Kainan… Kainan… Kainan…"
"Kings… Kings… Kings…"
"Emperor Maki… Emperor Maki… Emperor Maki…"
Inside the arena, the crowd erupted into a thunderous roar. Cheers and applause for Kainan and Shinichi Maki reverberated like a physical force, making eardrums tingle.
The scattered claps had converged into a wave so powerful, it seemed the roof might lift. This energy surged directly into the Kainan players, fueling their fighting spirit.
The Ryonan players watched the stands, their expressions complex. The 8-0 run had narrowed the score and subtly shaken their morale. All eyes fell on Akashi, their team's anchor.
But he showed no panic. Instead, a faint, knowing smile curved his lips. He looked at Shinichi Maki and murmured:
A wild concentration, huh? Interesting.
Shinichi Maki's increased speed and reaction weren't just physical—they came from a heightened mental focus, a beast-like state. Predictions became sharper, movements more unpredictable. Yet Akashi expected this.
Possession Ryonan
Akashi advanced slowly, basketball bouncing rhythmically: thump… thump… thump…
Shinichi Maki paused, narrowing his eyes. "The rhythm… it's slowed."
He lunged like a hawk, aura peaking, eyes locking onto Akashi's every move, muscles taut, ready to pounce.
But Akashi remained calm, dribbling steadily. Each bounce seemed to tap at Maki's nerves, dismantling his focus bit by bit.
Around them, Ryonan gradually mirrored their captain's calm. Sendoh smiled faintly, slowing to match Akashi's rhythm. Uozumi inhaled deeply, regaining his resolve in the paint. Koshino and Fukuda adjusted, awaiting Akashi's command.
Akashi's voice, calm and even, broke the silence:
"The stance you're striking is mere feigned wildness. Perhaps it has some effect… but not much."
Maki's eyes sharpened, the aura around him intensifying. "Are you looking down on me?"
Akashi lifted his gaze, voice still controlled, every word dripping with certainty:
"Something fake, no matter how well mimicked, can never be real. Since you cannot tell the difference, I will show you what true wildness is."
The Transformation
At once, Akashi's composed calm shattered. His eyes lifted, eyelashes fluttering, the gentleness gone, replaced by a feral coldness. This wasn't a forced expression—it emanated from his bones and blood, raw, predator-like.
A silent roar seemed to echo across the arena. Behind him, a phantom lion appeared, mane flowing, amber eyes brimming with dominance, every breath suffocating. The space around him seemed to solidify under this aura.
Shinichi Maki's pupils constricted. He no longer saw Akashi—only a colossal lion, teeth bared, roaring silently. The pure, crushing power enveloped him like an invisible cage, making every movement instinctively hesitate.
How… how could this be…? Maki's thoughts stumbled. He had faced the fiercest opponents, battled in life-or-death National Tournament games, yet nothing felt like this. This was no cultivated or mimicked aura—this was an innate kingly presence.
Fingers trembling, sweat soaking his palms, Maki could barely speak. The concentration he had gathered shattered like a child's toy. Two dimensions of power had collided: years of training versus raw, absolute dominance.
The Drive
Without warning, Akashi moved. Blurring past Maki, the ball in hand, his speed beyond visual capture. A gust of air, charged with wildness, brushed past Maki.
He raised his arm, but it moved too slowly. Akashi slipped through, launching toward Kainan's half-court like lightning.
Coach Takato leapt from his chair, shouting in panic: "Stop him! Don't let him reach the basket!"
Kiyota Nobunaga and Muto Tadashi lunged to block, but Akashi's wild aura surged, freezing them mid-step. Muscles stiffened, arms froze, fingertips trembling. The primal fear in the aura paralyzed them.
Undeterred, Akashi approached the basket. Takasago Kazuma braced to block. At the final moment, Akashi leaped. The wild aura erupted again, striking like an invisible shockwave. Takasago felt the figure in front of him expand, his defense faltering.
Akashi slammed the basketball down with one hand.
Clang! The hoop rang violently. The net quivered. Takasago stumbled back, stunned, eyes wide in disbelief.
The referee's whistle followed immediately: defensive foul. Basket counts, one free throw awarded.
The stadium fell silent for a heartbeat—then erupted.
"Oh my god… is he a monster?"
"So scary… like being stared at by a wild beast."
"His movements… Shinichi Maki didn't even react!"
Even players from other schools were stunned, rubbing their eyes. Basketball suddenly felt like something else entirely—almost supernatural.
Uozumi and Ryonan teammates watched, awestruck. Sendoh alone remained calm, a faint smile on his lips. This wildness… far beyond junior high… fully controlled… a mature predator.
Free Throw
Akashi approached the line. Calm, unshaken. He dribbled twice, eyes locked on the hoop.
Ready… shoot.
Swish. The ball passed cleanly.
Ryonan 43 – 29 Kainan.