"No way! Is there really a skill this ridiculous?"
"Aomine's speed combined with beast-like instincts… how are we supposed to stop a monster like that?"
Seiho's players couldn't help but groan after hearing the coach explain "Animal Instinct."
Matsumoto Iku frowned, deep in thought.
Animal Instinct isn't a conventional skill, so there's no theoretical way to counter it. Even in their national team days, facing an opponent with Animal Instinct was a serious headache.
"Akashi, any ideas?"
Matsumoto suddenly remembered Akashi Asuka, but when he looked at him, he froze.
With a dry towel draped over his head, Akashi now radiated an aura eerily similar to Aomine's.
"Could it be…?" Matsumoto whispered in disbelief.
At that moment, Akashi's seemingly lifeless eyes met Matsumoto's. "Ideas? I'm not thinking that far… just leave Aomine to me. I'll handle him."
"What…?"
"Fine, Aomine's yours then."
Seiho's players may have had objections, but Matsumoto made the call before anyone could argue.
============
The game resumed.
Akashi's change happened quietly.
Even Seiho's teammates didn't notice, but Aomine immediately sensed it in their one-on-one duel.
"You… could it be…?"
"Aomine, you look so happy! But can you really enjoy a game you're bound to lose?"
"Huh? What the hell are you talking about?"
For the first time in this state, Akashi seemed lazy and relaxed, but the instant he moved, Aomine felt a massive beast charging at him.
Powerful. Relentless.
In the blink of an eye, Akashi drove past to the three-point line, suddenly stopping and jumping for a shot.
"Three-pointer?"
"But… he failed all his previous threes. Doesn't he fear Aomine's steal?"
This choice of attack shocked everyone. Previously, Akashi's threes had been entirely limited by Aomine's speed and defense.
Now, with Aomine in Animal Instinct, could Akashi even attempt a three?
The answer became clear the next second.
Akashi released the ball quickly, but Aomine's speed and anticipation were faster.
At the moment Aomine reached for the ball, it surprisingly moved back slightly, just enough to create a gap.
Swish!
Akashi's fadeaway shot landed perfectly.
77:39.
"Fadeaway from the three-point line… he actually has this move?"
Hyuga Junpei nearly jumped out of his seat, and even Midorima Shintaro's pupils shrank at the sight.
Many players can perform fadeaways, but from beyond the three-point line? Extremely rare.
A stable form is essential for accuracy, even for Midorima. While Aomine can score with "no-rules shots" inside, a three-pointer usually lowers his success rate drastically.
"His body… how is it even possible to maintain that stability?" Hyuga muttered in disbelief.
Inside or outside the arc, this monster dominates with guard-level skills, practically stealing careers.
"This core ability is incredible, but… something feels off," Aida Riko pondered.
"Even if Akashi can shoot fadeaways, can he really bypass Aomine's Animal Instinct?"
"Of course not."
Before she finished, Midorima already answered.
"No one can escape Aomine's prediction in Animal Instinct. There's no counter. To beat a player with Animal Instinct, you either need overwhelming strength, or…"
Smack!
Akashi blocked Aomine's shot, sending the ball flying to Tsugawa, who immediately triggered a counterattack.
Everyone on Tōō Academy's side was stunned.
No one expected Akashi to stop Aomine in Animal Instinct.
Yet Aomine himself wasn't surprised. Straightening up, he grinned.
"Ah, so you have it too! Animal Instinct!"
"What? Akashi has Animal Instinct too?" Aida and others gasped.
"Exactly. That's the only explanation," Midorima said gravely, adjusting his glasses.
"Judging by current performance, Aomine and Akashi are evenly matched. The only reason Aomine can be stopped… is that Akashi also possesses Animal Instinct."
"And from what we can see, Akashi's might even surpass Aomine's."
Under the shocked gaze of both teams, Akashi slowly lifted his head, revealing lazy, relaxed eyes.
But this laziness was not weakness. It was the look of a true apex predator.
Tigers, lions, leopards, beasts with rivals still present in the wild.
But a certain apex beast, no matter how fierce, commands absolute dominance.
This was Akashi's awakened Animal Instinct, a mammoth.
=============
Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria