As the clock continued to tick down, Ueno realized that aside from the opponent's scoreboard steadily climbing,
their own remained frozen at zero.
He glanced at his teammates.
Every one of them was gasping for breath, eyes unfocused—no spark of resistance left.
There were still a few minutes remaining in the first half, yet the score already read 60–0.
They had barely played a dozen minutes and had already burned through two substitutions.
It wasn't just physical exhaustion.
The real damage came from the crushing mental pressure.
Catching the inbound pass and meeting Kise's easy smile, Ueno let out a quiet sigh.
Looks like I'll have to enter ZONE if we're going to score at all.
This gap in strength is ridiculous.
Still… the timing has to be perfect.
Because waiting on the other side—
—is the Generation of Miracles.
Dribbling forward, he found every lane sealed shut.
No passing angles. No openings.
Left with no other choice, he went solo.
A sharp burst off his right foot—he tried to blow past Kise's right side—
—but a quick swivel cut him off instantly.
Kise grinned."I'm pretty good too, you know. Don't underestimate me."
The smile vanished.
His right hand flashed out.
Thud!
The ball was slapped violently out of bounds.
Ueno had seen it coming, yet Kise's speed left him rooted in place, able only to watch the ball fly away.
Kise scratched the back of his head, sounding apologetic."Oops. Got a little carried away."
Ueno said nothing. He simply turned and jogged back to receive the inbound.
Watching his retreating figure, Kise's lips curled slightly.
"Interesting guy."
In all their matches—even against the so-called Uncrowned Kings—opponents had eventually cracked under pressure.
Yet Ueno remained ice-cold.
That composure stirred Kise's curiosity.
Taking the pass and feeling Kise press up again, Ueno sensed something snap.
Black lightning crackled behind his eyes.
Even a clay figurine has a temper—
—and Ueno had reached his limit.
He had planned to save ZONE for Teiko's bench players.
The safer option.
Not anymore.
Lowering his head, he smirked up at the smiling Kise blocking his path.
Enhanced ZONE—activate.
In an instant—
Black lightning tore through the court.
Kise's defense shattered as a streak of darkness ripped past him, carving a jagged afterimage across half the floor.
"No way—he actually…?!"
From the corner of his eye, Kise caught sight of Ueno's black No. 7 jersey blazing by, his grin erased by pure shock.
"Stop him—NOW!"
Akashi Seijuro's voice thundered as Ueno stormed toward the paint.
Every member of the Generation of Miracles abandoned their man and sprinted back.
Closest to the rim stood Murasakibara Atsushi.
With a roar, he planted himself in front of the basket, arms spread wide like an iron wall.
"You're not getting through!"
Ueno's entire body screamed—ZONE's backlash already flooding in—
—but this ball had to go in.
Black lightning flared.
He leapt, driving straight toward the rim, intent on dunking over Murasakibara.
"Like hell!"
Murasakibara jumped with him, massive hands swinging down to annihilate the ball.
BOOM—!
The ball was swatted skyward.
Both players crashed backward onto the court.
Yet—
In that instant, Ueno's eyes sparked again.
Ignoring the pain tearing through his body, he twisted, planted a foot against the floor, and rose once more.
Murasakibara stared in disbelief.
Ueno snatched the ball mid-air and slammed it toward the hoop—
—but another hand intercepted.
Aomine Daiki.
Resistance surged through the ball.
Every nerve in Ueno's body screamed.
His limits had already been surpassed.
Still—
this dunk would fall.
Inches from the rim, Ueno roared.
"Go IN!"
Black lightning exploded anew.
Under Aomine's stunned gaze, the ball ripped through the net.
As it dropped—
thud…thud…thud…
The sound echoed across a court plunged into silence.
Aomine and Murasakibara lay sprawled on the floor.
Akashi Seijuro stood frozen behind them.
For a heartbeat—
the arena was dead quiet.
Then—
Whistle!
"Count the basket!"
The stadium erupted.
Every eye locked onto the black-clad No. 7 who had stolen a point from the Generation of Miracles.
They roared for the lone scorer who had done the impossible.
Kise clenched his fists, his face dark.
Unforgivable.
He had let that point slip past him—shame burned into his chest.
"So this is the variable…"
Midorima muttered, adjusting his glasses as he caught his breath.
He had chased at full speed—and still arrived too late.
He hadn't imagined anyone could force their way through Aomine like that.
Aomine himself stared, instantly recognizing the state Ueno had entered.
Murasakibara glowered, veins bulging, ready to tear him apart.
From Teiko's bench, Kuroko watched in disbelief.
He had never seen anyone overpower both Murasakibara and Aomine head-on.
Aomine hadn't been at full speed—true—
—but Ueno had only jumped for that dunk after bulldozing Murasakibara.
Momoi, pale-faced, flipped frantically through her notes.
"Impossible… no, this can't be right…"
On the court, Ueno felt as though a convoy of trucks had run him over.
Every breath tore at his chest.
Face drained of color, drenched in sweat, he forced himself to stagger back on defense.
Maybe fifteen seconds in ZONE—
—and the price was monstrous.
He had overestimated his body.
And underestimated Enhanced ZONE.
Passing Kise, he caught the boy's bitter glare and couldn't help smiling.
"Sorry," he said hoarsely."Scored by accident."
The words had barely left his mouth when the world spun black—
—and Ueno collapsed, unconscious.