At this moment, the court fell into an eerie silence, as if the air itself had frozen.
After completing his dunk, Aoi slowly turned around, a wicked smile on his face. His gaze swept over the Sannoh players one by one.
The Sannoh players stared at Aoi in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief, as if they were facing a monster.
"I didn't expect this guy to have 'wild instinct' too," Fukatsu Kazunari said, his gaze heavy with a mix of caution and a hint of complex emotions.
He knew very well that 'wild instinct' was rare on the basketball court, but considering Aoi's displayed talent and power, it didn't seem impossible that he might possess it.
Sawakita Eiji let out a long breath. The initial surprise faded from his face, replaced by a slight smirk, and his eyes now burned with intense fighting spirit.
The game switched to defense.
Sannoh had possession.
Bang...
Bang...
Bang...
Sawakita Eiji dribbled, steadily making his way toward Shohoku's half-court.
With each step, his momentum rose like a swelling tide.
A suffocating aura emanated from him, spreading outward in all directions.
For a moment, behind him, the shadow of a wolf seemed to materialize, its head raised, howling.
Awooo...
The wolf's howl seemed to tear through the sky.
Aoi keenly sensed a similar aura from Sawakita Eiji. His gaze sharpened, and a smile of anticipation spread across his face. He murmured, "'Wild instinct,' huh… come on… I can't wait."
As his words ended...
Boom...
In an instant, Aoi's aura exploded like a volcano, surging forth with even more power than before.
This aura was more violent, like a storm, sweeping through the court and filling the air with a crushing pressure that seemed to invade the hearts of every person present.
Behind Aoi, a black panther's shadow materialized.
The panther was fierce, powerful, and it roared angrily at the Sannoh players, as if warning them not to challenge him.
Roar...
The roar was deafening, forcefully suppressing Sawakita Eiji's 'wild instinct' that had just erupted.
This… how is this possible?
The Sannoh players' pupils shrank in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
They never imagined that Aoi's 'wild instinct' would be so terrifying.
"What kind of pressure is this?" Matsumoto Minoru exclaimed, his eyes wide, his voice trembling with shock.
Nobe Masahiro swallowed hard, his gaze blank, muttering, "This kind of pressure... how could it be?"
Fukatsu Kazunari furrowed his brows tightly, his gaze serious. "This feeling... I'm starting to feel fear. This guy's 'wild instinct' is even more terrifying than Sawakita's."
Sawakita Eiji himself was frozen in place, shaken by this sudden change, and waves of uncertainty surged through his mind. 'What kind of 'wild instinct' does this guy have? Could it be... his is stronger than mine?'
He had always believed his own 'wild instinct' had reached its peak.
But now, Aoi's aura made him feel an unprecedented sense of danger.
However, Sawakita Eiji quickly shook his head, shaking off these thoughts.
He understood that now was not the time to focus on these things. The outcome of the game was not determined by the strength of their 'wild instinct.'
After calming his mind, Sawakita Eiji's eyes glinted with resolve. He dashed forward like a flash of black lightning, speeding toward Shohoku's half-court with the ball.
His speed surged dramatically, faster than before, and he became like a white blur, darting across the court.
At the same time, Aoi transformed into a striking red blur, with a visible trail of light behind him, charging straight at Sawakita Eiji.
As they collided, a breathtaking scene unfolded in front of everyone.
Sawakita Eiji dribbled, his speed startling, his movements like a ghost, evading Aoi's relentless pursuit with every step, while also keenly seeking any opening to break through.
Aoi matched him, never giving him a moment's rest, staying close and refusing to let up.
At that moment, they were like two wild beasts, locked in a fierce battle. Though no blood was spilled, the atmosphere of their clash was so intense, it was as though one could smell the blood in the air. Both were locked in combat, neither willing to yield.
As time passed, the struggle continued, second by second.
The surrounding spectators widened their eyes, their mouths agape, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
The intense and dramatic showdown they witnessed was something none of them had ever seen before. The shocking scene deeply etched itself into everyone's hearts.
Even the players of the Kainan team were left stunned, unable to comprehend the unbelievable scene before them.
Kiyota Nobunaga's face was filled with disbelief as he couldn't help but exclaim, "I can't believe it, this is even more intense than the game against Maki-senpai."
Maki Shinichi furrowed his brows tightly, his eyes rapidly scanning between Sawakita Eiji and Aoi.
From their actions, Maki Shinichi clearly sensed a feeling of threat.
This wasn't just the pressure brought on by raw strength. It was something stemming from 'wild instinct,' a natural suppression.
This sensation made him uneasy, as though bound by invisible shackles.
"Is it a 'wild instinct' level suppression?" Maki Shinichi speculated in his mind.
Although the strength of 'wild instinct' didn't necessarily correlate with actual strength, breaking through this was no easy task.
While he was thinking, Maki Shinichi suddenly froze, as though realizing something crucial. "Wait a minute, I've awakened 'wild instinct,' does that mean that guy..."
His gaze immediately locked onto Fukatsu Kazunari like a sharp sword.
On the court.
Sawakita Eiji struggled against Aoi's tight defense, slowly advancing toward Shohoku's paint.
He could never shake off Aoi's relentless harassment, who was like an unshakeable plaster on his side, blocking every possible gap.
Matsumoto Minoru was anxious, trying several times to help, but Aoi and Sawakita Eiji were moving too fast, leaving him no chance to interfere.
He gritted his teeth, frustration and bitterness mixing inside him.
He knew full well that the reason he couldn't match Sawakita Eiji was multifaceted.
Apart from the difference in strength, the main issue was that he hadn't awakened 'wild instinct.'
Although he held the title of Sannoh's "second ace," he knew deep down that compared to Sawakita Eiji, he still had a long way to go.
At this point, Sannoh had little time left—only 5 seconds remained.
Sawakita Eiji started to feel anxious.
If this deadlock continued, this attack was likely to fail.
A few times, he considered passing the ball, but every time that thought crossed his mind, a strong sense of danger rose from the depths of his heart.
With years of intuition and experience, he forcibly suppressed the impulse to pass.
He felt that if he passed the ball, Aoi would immediately intercept it like a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey.
He never expected Aoi's strength to be so much greater than he had anticipated.
Not only was his strength overwhelming, but his 'wild instinct' was also much stronger than his own.
Should he take the shot?
Or should he pass?
Sawakita Eiji was torn, uncertain of what to do.
At that moment.
A terrifying aura suddenly erupted behind Aoi.
His pupils contracted sharply. Before he could react, his body collided with something.
Looking closely, he saw that it was none other than Sannoh's captain, Fukatsu Kazunari.
At that moment, Fukatsu Kazunari was exuding a similar aura to his own.
Wild instinct?!
Aoi's eyes flashed with surprise.
He hadn't expected that anyone else from Sannoh had awakened 'wild instinct.'
But he quickly understood.
After all, this guy in front of him was known as "the strongest point guard in the country."
If Maki Shinichi could awaken 'wild instinct,' there was no reason Fukatsu Kazunari couldn't.
Although Fukatsu Kazunari's aura was weaker compared to his own or Sawakita Eiji's, it was clearly stronger than Maki Shinichi's.
No wonder Maki Shinichi lost to this guy.
Aoi's movement was momentarily halted by Fukatsu Kazunari's unexpected block.
Sawakita Eiji seized the opportunity and, like a wild horse breaking free, circled into Shohoku's paint.
Shohoku's players were unprepared and were instantly shocked.
Akagi Takenori hurriedly moved to block.
However, Sawakita Eiji's speed was simply far beyond what Akagi Takenori could match.
As Akagi Takenori moved up, Sawakita Eiji leaped high, preparing for a dunk.
Ah...
Akagi Takenori shouted loudly, spreading his arms wide as he jumped as well.
But in the air, Sawakita Eiji's body twisted like a flexible serpent. His dunk motion changed instantly. He skillfully maneuvered his body to slide past Akagi Takenori's armpit, then completed a beautiful reverse layup.
Swish...
The ball went through the net.
Shohoku 45 – 44 Sannoh Kogyo.