"Don't compare me to you. I'll never be like you."
"If what lies ahead is truly hell, then I'll become the most dangerous demon."
Yuuto didn't waste more words on Nash.
He turned and began delivering punishment.
With his Correction complete, Yuuto's strength rose another level.
In one-on-one matchups, Nash was no longer his equal.
Seeing the pressure from Yuuto mounting, Nash once again thought of his teammates, passing the ball out.
"Coward!"
"Say what you want. The last one standing is the winner!"
Nash knew all too well the consequences of failure. He absolutely wouldn't accept losing here.
Nick caught it, stepped back to the three-point line, and rose to shoot.
The result?
CRACKLE—
A blue bolt of cold lightning erupted.
Aomine exploded with extreme speed, blocking Nick before the release.
"Zone? A second one?!"
Jabberwock was stunned. Kagami and Kise had already shocked them earlier—now another?
Another one appearing?
Of course it wasn't just one more.
"If that's the case, I have nothing to hesitate about either."
Akashi murmured, closing his eyes and sinking into his mental world.
When he opened them again, deep crimson lightning burst from his eyes.
CRACKLE—
Another Zone?!
Seeing this, Nash's expression finally shifted—somewhat panicked.
But it wasn't over.
At this sight, Kagetora didn't hesitate either, waving his hand to sub in the rested Kagami for Midorima, strengthening the defense.
The moment Kagami stepped on court, the first thing he did was open Zone's gate.
As deep crimson lightning erupted from his eyes, Yuuto's side now had three people in the Zone.
Everyone except Yuuto and Murasakibara had unlocked 100% of their potential!
"These monkeys!" Nash's expression was beyond ugly.
The Zone—why could they enter it so easily?
He couldn't understand.
Actually, it was simple!
Because Asian basketball was purer—at least school basketball was.
American basketball definitely had more talent. The NBA was the world's strongest league.
But such a league had one problem.
When players earned too much, they inevitably became less pure about basketball.
Many people didn't even start playing because they genuinely loved the game—they just happened to have the talent, and basketball could earn them fortunes and luxurious lives.
In fact.
Many former prodigies rapidly fell off after entering the league, failing to realize their potential.
These young men who earned in their youth what ordinary people couldn't make in a lifetime—upon becoming millionaires or even billionaires, they began living lavishly, squandering their gifts.
The league banning high schoolers from the draft was partly for this reason.
That league wasn't just the highest level of competition—it was also the world's biggest stage for fame and fortune.
But the Generation of Miracles and their peers? Their reasons for playing were purer, making it easier to enter the Zone.
With Yuuto's entire side erupting, Nash couldn't even find passing options.
No matter which teammate he fed, there was no guarantee.
Kagetora was forcing Nash to face Yuuto one-on-one.
"This is where cowards end up."
Yuuto crossed the three-point line. Under Nash's shocked gaze, he drained an ultra-deep three.
He just stood there, doing nothing special.
Yet Nash felt like he was seeing his former self—once that confident and bold.
Back then, he believed he was the center of the world.
He hadn't even respected Jordan, thinking it was merely a matter of being born too late.
Now? He languished in amateur club ball, playing the street basketball he once looked down upon.
"Damn it!" Nash gritted his teeth, cursing internally.
His mind was chaos, his play without rhythm—hesitating to pass, hesitating to shoot. In that indecision, Yuuto kept finding openings to extend the lead.
Then.
The third quarter ended. The score was now 77-63—Jabberwock had collapsed at the end of the quarter, letting a 14-point gap open.
"If I were you, I wouldn't bother playing the fourth quarter. Start drafting your apology instead."
"You know how it is—Japanese people worship strength. Especially someone like you."
Yuuto's mouth was vicious beyond measure, dragging even Akashi and the others into it.
Kagetora's face darkened instantly, though considering Yuuto had just saved his neck, he chose not to argue.
Seconds later, the final quarter began.
With Nash rattled as the team's core, all of Jabberwock fell into disarray.
Meanwhile, Yuuto's side rode his leadership with sky-high morale.
Whenever someone tired, substitutes rotated in seamlessly.
Kise, Midorima, Haizaki, Kagami, Kuroko, Akashi, Aomine, Murasakibara...
Everyone got their moments, showcasing their abilities.
Just three minutes in, the lead ballooned to 20. Jabberwock entered garbage time.
The arena erupted—a sea of noise, voices crashing like waves from every direction.
They all felt a weight lift from their chests, a surge of pure satisfaction.
The only slight disappointment was that Yuuto wasn't Japanese.
Fortunately, word was he had two Japanese girlfriends.
Credit to those two girls—that made Yuuto practically a son-in-law of Japan!
No complaints there!
And so, this battle reached its conclusion. Jabberwock and Nash suffered a crushing defeat—Nash dismantled one-on-one by Yuuto.
News spread rapidly through television and internet across Japan. Countless fans celebrated.
"Had to be that guy."
Kasuga Ryuhei looked at his phone, shaking his head with a wry smile.
He'd participated in that exhibition match a week ago. The abuse had given him nightmares.
Now?
He felt he could sleep soundly tonight.
Because his former king had avenged them all!
"Nice work, Atsushi." Okamura Kenichi was watching the stream.
Seeing Murasakibara's growth this game—even suppressing Jason Silver—he couldn't help but feel proud.
Because all those post moves Murasakibara used? He'd taught them himself.
"You didn't get much spotlight, but Kise—you've grown up."
Kasamatsu spoke to Kise through the screen.
Kise's performance had been impressive—explosive moments, even if Nash had swatted him down.
But that fighting spirit was exactly what a Kaijō captain needed.
"Now maybe Shin-chan will actually train seriously." Imayoshi chuckled.
"That idiot four-eyes still hasn't touched the Zone." Miyaji Kiyoshi was frustrated.
He believed Midorima was equal to any Generation of Miracles member, but he'd never accessed the Zone—a constant source of worry.
Inside the arena.
As the final second ticked away, the game officially ended.
Kagetora's hastily assembled team had won this revenge match, crushing Jabberwock by 23 points!
Golden confetti rained down like a championship celebration.
Yuuto stood at center court, hands on hips.
Though just a friendly exhibition, the feeling of victory was simply addictive.
"Yu!"
The moment the game ended, everyone on the bench rushed onto the court. Momoi's target was clear—she charged straight at Yuuto with a running tackle. He caught her steadily.
"Ah, that shameless Momoi!"
Sora was right behind the bench. She was shy, hesitant.
But watching Momoi's brazen charge, she couldn't hold back anymore and ran onto the court too.
Under the golden "rain," three figures embraced...
...
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