"Pass?"
"No way! Seriously?"
"That Murasakibara… he actually, "
When Murasakibara Atsushi passed the ball to Himuro Tatsuya on the outside, the first people to be shocked weren't even the Seirin players, it was the spectators who were once his teammates.
Several members of the "Generation of Miracles" simultaneously showed expressions of disbelief, as if witnessing something utterly impossible.
It's important to understand,
During junior high, most of the "Generation of Miracles" were considered a bit of a menace.
But even menaces had levels:
Kuroko and Akashi, due to their play styles and positions, rarely engaged in "menace-like" play, so they ranked lowest in that regard.
Next was Kise Ryouta, who joined the team only in his second year of junior high. His "maniacal" tendencies were still minor and influenced lightly by the Generation of Miracles.
Then came Midorima Shintarou.
And topping the list were Aomine Daiki and Murasakibara Atsushi.
On the surface, Aomine's playstyle seemed the most independent, but in truth, Murasakibara's level of menace was nearly on par with Aomine.
Under normal circumstances,
Unless Murasakibara himself chose not to participate in the offense, no one could ever receive a pass from him during a play.
"So that's how it is! That explains everything!"
Kogishi Teppei was the first Seirin player to receive Murasakibara's pass and fully realize what had happened.
At the start of the match, Teppei had sensed something unusual about Yosen's teamwork, but he couldn't pinpoint the source.
Now, he finally understood.
The anomaly came from Murasakibara Atsushi himself. Yosen's current tactics had finally integrated him as a member of the team.
Up until recently, Murasakibara had played as a free agent, separate from the group.
SWISH!
Himuro Tatsuya caught the pass and didn't disappoint, two points landed cleanly.
72:66.
·····
"No way… this joke isn't funny at all. That Murasakibara actually passed the ball."
Hyuga Junpei twitched his lips, trying to force a smile to ease his tension, but no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't come.
Up to this point, most of the Generation of Miracles teams Seirin had faced loved solo play.
In other words:
In past matches against a Generation of Miracles team, Seirin's five players weren't really battling the team, they were battling a single unstoppable player.
Even then, Seirin had suffered greatly.
As for a Generation-of-Miracles-level opponent who actually passes, Seirin had only encountered two before.
One was Rakuzan. But Akashi never left the three-point line, so that didn't really count.
The other was Shutoku. Although Midorima occasionally passed the ball, almost every pass contributed to the team's success.
When a player reaches Generation-of-Miracles level, they're not just the ultimate spear, they're also the ultimate bait.
That match was, up to now, one of Seirin's toughest games.
"Leave it to me, Captain!"
As Hyuga Junpei felt the pressure building, Kagami Taiga walked over and said, "I'll handle the defense from here. Just cover the next one for me."
The game continued.
It was Seirin's turn on offense. Their tactics still revolved around isolating Kagami while the others provided support.
In fact, Seirin had no other choice. Even a single Murasakibara was more than the rest of the team could handle defensively.
And now he was fully integrated into Yosen's team strategy.
Kagami Taiga drove into the paint and jumped from the free-throw line, meeting the defenses of Murasakibara Atsushi, Okamura Kenichi, and Liu Wei, three towering players over two meters tall, and executed a Meteor Jam.
Since Kagami had returned from overseas training earlier than in the original timeline and spent more time honing his skills, he could perform the Meteor Jam even without entering the [Zone].
Once in the [Zone], both the power and accuracy of the Meteor Jam skyrocketed. Even against three defenders over two meters, Kagami could make the play.
CLANG!
The basketball slammed heavily into the hoop.
72:68.
Yosen's players were surprised by Kagami's feat of dunking over three massive players, though not completely shocked.
They already knew that for a player in the [Zone], any "miracle" could become reality.
Without hesitation, Yosen immediately launched a counterattack.
Himuro Tatsuya drove into the paint. This time, Yosen's offense looked solid.
They had Murasakibara in the paint and Himuro on the outside, and now the two could coordinate effectively.
At first, Himuro thought he had the advantage. But just as his foot stepped roughly a meter beyond the three-point line, he suddenly felt a prickling sense of threat, like needles on his back.
"How… could this be? Is this already his defensive zone?"
Himuro's eyes widened as he looked toward Kagami, standing in the paint.
Kagami's eyes glowed with a fiery red electricity, and his body radiated complete relaxation.
[Animal Instinct] + [Zone]
Both states were active simultaneously, expanding Kagami's defensive coverage to an almost inconceivable level.
Himuro attempted a shot, but a terrifying aura swept over him instantly.
Kagami didn't move.
Himuro knew perfectly well that if he released the shot, Kagami would block it.
Himuro's eyes shifted repeatedly before settling on a look of resigned determination. "I really am no match for you now… Kagami… but even if I lose, Yosen hasn't lost."
Himuro used a fake to easily deceive Hyuga and passed the ball to Murasakibara under the basket.
The next moment,
Murasakibara and Kagami jumped simultaneously.
"Kagami, this time I'll crush you! Aaaaaahhh~~"
"Don't even think about it, Murasakibara! Uwoooohhh~~~"
Amid their shouts, their hands collided over the basketball in midair.
Even though Murasakibara hadn't removed his inner Safety Line, in sheer strength alone, Kagami in the [Zone] wasn't necessarily a match for him.
As the ball edged closer to the hoop, a massive hand suddenly shot out from behind Kagami.
Kogishi Teppei smiled softly and gently said, "Don't give up, Kagami. If one person can't do it, two can. If two can't, then three… Basketball isn't a one-person game!"
Teppei's arrival gave Kagami enormous encouragement, both mentally and physically.
With Teppei's support, the ball that had been inching toward the basket was pushed back slightly…
And this stalemate finally triggered Murasakibara's last fuse.
CRACKLE~
Purple sparks flashed.
The pair that had just held the advantage, Kagami and Teppei, suddenly felt Murasakibara's power surge. Before they could react, with a BOOM, the basketball slammed into the hoop.
KABOOM!
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria