The first to rush forward was Murasakibara.
With his incredible reflexes and those super long legs, Atsushi could reach any spot inside the three-point line in just two or three steps.
Like Akashi, or maybe Akashi like him, the entire three-point area was their defensive range.
"Don't even think about shooting, Asuka."
Akashi was already in shooting stance, but the moment Murasakibara leapt to block, Akashi simply smiled and flicked the ball to Kasuga Ryuhei.
At the same time, Akashi darted into the paint, and Kasuga immediately passed the ball back to him. Akashi charged the lane without hesitation and leapt for a slam dunk.
Okamura Kenichi and Liu Wei tried to double-team, but the next moment, they were hit by a tremendous force. Despite sharing the same height, in front of Akashi, their strength seemed nonexistent.
BOOM!
CRACK!
Two sounds rang out simultaneously, the first from the dunk, the second…
Seiho and Yosen players stared at the rim torn off by Akashi in shock.
"Again… he tore it off!"
"What are these guys?! Even a metal hoop is like a toy in their hands!"
"Or… maybe it's the hoop's quality that's the problem?"
"What? Are you kidding? This is the national high school tournament! There's no way the equipment is faulty!"
Meanwhile, the organizers and equipment suppliers were turning green with panic.
This was a live broadcast. A broken hoop once would be dramatic, twice would be catastrophic.
"Replace the hoop, use the strongest one you've got!"
After a flurry of scolding, the staff quickly installed a new hoop, and the game resumed.
Murasakibara received the ball, charged straight into Seiho's paint, and delivered a thunderous dunk in return at Akashi.
BOOM!
The resounding slam could be heard even from the distant stands. Referees and staff flinched, fearing the hoop might collapse again.
Thankfully, the new hoop, though violently rattling under Murasakibara's assault, held firm.
"Tch~" Murasakibara's faint scowl barely registered.
"…Heh! Looks like Murasakibara and Akashi are really going at it," Kise Ryouta muttered, slightly amused.
Midorima Shintaro adjusted his glasses, unimpressed. "Dunking monkeys. What's so interesting about this? Do they think this is a slam dunk contest?"
"It's another unexpected development!" Yukio Kasamatsu sighed. Whenever the opponent was from the 'Generation of Miracles,' something unusual always happened.
Unlike the Tōō Academy match, this Seiho vs. Yosen game went all-out from the start. Both teams, normally ultra-defense-oriented, now exuded the intensity of offensive powerhouses.
BOOM!
Another earth-shaking dunk later, the score reached 16–14 in favor of Seiho.
On the surface, Yosen trailed by only one point. But in Araki Ayano's eyes, the situation was dire.
The opponent was scoring far too easily.
Despite Yosen's legendary defense since the preliminaries, no team had ever scored so effortlessly as Seiho.
"Especially that one…"
Her gaze fixed on Akashi Asuka, her glasses narrowing slightly.
This was the first time she'd seen such an opponent. Murasakibara's defense seemed utterly ineffective.
And unlike Murasakibara, this opponent had not only incredible physical attributes but also top-tier skills.
CLANG!
Liu Wei's shot bounced off. Okamura, Murasakibara, Akashi, and Tsutomu Iwamura, all nationally ranked centers, crowded under the rim, vying for the rebound.
Okamura gave his all to secure position, but no matter how he maneuvered, he couldn't outmatch Akashi. Not a single gap presented itself.
"Damn it… this guy's not just strong, his technique is top-notch too!"
Okamura fumed. As Murasakibara's teammate, he'd rebounded alongside him countless times before. Yet never had he felt so completely outmatched.
Genius has flaws. Murasakibara's overwhelming physicality allowed him to dominate without much technique, leaving many of the feats he achieved unattainable even for other centers with perfect skill.
Thus, while Murasakibara's technique was relatively weak, he had always relied on brute force to dominate inside.
Now, facing Akashi, Okamura couldn't even see an opening.
SLAP!
The rebound popped up. All four leapt, but Akashi snatched it first.
"M~i~ne~shi~"
Murasakibara's expression twisted with rage.
Being suppressed like this was highly frustrating.
"…Murasakibara's being dominated! Seven rebounds in, and he hasn't grabbed a single one, probably a first for him," Kise remarked.
Midorima remained calm. "Murasakibara has always relied on sheer physicality in the paint, avoiding learning technique. Until now, he had never faced a stronger opponent, so he remained untouchable."
"But now, against Akashi, physically equal, yet technically superior, Murasakibara might have finally found his natural enemy."
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria