Jason Silver watched the Dragon Slayer Team's fighting spirit suddenly flare back to life and grinned.
"Well, looks like they've gotten their fighting spirit back!"
Standing beside him, Nick calmly replied, "It's more than that. Their fighting spirit is even stronger than before."
Zack rolled his wrists and said, "Doesn't that make things more interesting? I'd like to see just how far they can go."
Miyamoto Tokima wore a faint smile.
"Let's take the court."
Everyone answered in unison, "Yes!"
...
The third quarter began.
The Black Dragon Team had possession.
After Nash Gold brought the ball into the frontcourt, he immediately activated the [Belial Eye] and began observing the future.
Seijuro Akashi responded by activating the [Emperor Eye] to interfere with him.
Nash Gold's vision blurred, and the future he saw instantly changed.
After catching a brief glimpse one second ahead, Nash Gold immediately made his move.
He dribbled several times in succession, manipulating Seijuro Akashi's center of gravity.
In the next instant, Nash Gold suddenly pulled the ball back.
Seijuro Akashi stumbled.
'Damn it! Just a one-second difference!'
His expression darkened. That single second was enough to keep him from adapting to Nash Gold's changes in rhythm.
Seijuro Akashi quickly steadied himself before he could fall.
However, by the time he regained his balance, the basketball had already vanished from Nash Gold's hands.
'No Motion Pass!'
Seijuro Akashi immediately understood. Nash Gold had already used his No Motion Pass.
Just as he suspected, the ball had already been delivered into Zack's hands.
The moment Zack caught it, his eyes changed.
He activated his Animal Instinct.
Taiga Kagami spread his arms and watched him closely.
At the same time, violent bolts of lightning began flickering in his eyes.
"Roar!"
In the next instant, an enormous creature wreathed in lightning appeared behind Taiga Kagami.
It was a fierce tiger.
An overwhelming pressure immediately bore down on Zack.
Zack felt it as well.
If Taiga Kagami were only using the Zone, Zack could still take him on one-on-one.
However, facing both the Zone and Animal Instinct at the same time would be much more troublesome.
Therefore, Zack chose the best possible option.
He passed.
And he sent the ball to the player in the best position.
Miyamoto Tokima.
The moment Miyamoto Tokima caught the ball, Daiki Aomine rushed forward and denied him any opportunity to shoot.
Lightning began flashing in Daiki Aomine's eyes as well.
He had also entered the Zone.
Ryota Kise fell silent when he saw this.
Out of everyone there, he was the only one who had not entered the Zone for a second time.
He still could not enter the Zone whenever he wanted.
Seeing how tightly Daiki Aomine was guarding him, Miyamoto Tokima instantly pushed his speed to its limit.
In the blink of an eye, he drove past Daiki Aomine's right side.
Daiki Aomine was startled and quickly turned to pursue him.
At the same time, Taiga Kagami moved into Miyamoto Tokima's path.
"You're not getting past me!"
Taiga Kagami stared at him with blazing eyes.
He felt as though he had entered a strange and extraordinary state.
His fighting spirit had reached its peak, and his body seemed to contain an endless supply of energy.
It was as though he had been injected with stimulants.
Taiga Kagami stood in front of Miyamoto Tokima, while Daiki Aomine closed in from behind.
Under normal circumstances, passing would have been the best choice.
However, Miyamoto Tokima did not pass.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
"You're only double-teaming me now?"
Miyamoto Tokima suddenly gathered the ball between them.
Taiga Kagami and Daiki Aomine's pupils contracted as they immediately closed in.
Miyamoto Tokima's shot was so fast that they had no choice but to jump early if they wanted any chance of blocking it.
Miyamoto Tokima raised the ball and shifted his center of gravity slightly upward.
Daiki Aomine and Taiga Kagami immediately leaped.
The moment they left the ground, they realized something was wrong.
Miyamoto Tokima had not jumped at all.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he lowered his center of gravity again.
Daiki Aomine's heart sank.
'Damn it!'
In the next instant, Miyamoto Tokima jumped straight into the two of them.
Their bodies collided in midair, and Miyamoto Tokima released the ball after absorbing the contact.
The referee's whistle sounded at the same time.
"Beep! Number Ten of the Dragon Slayer Team, foul!"
Swish!
The ball dropped cleanly through the hoop.
After landing, Taiga Kagami's eyes widened.
"It was [Earth]!"
Miyamoto Tokima stumbled back two steps after landing before regaining his balance.
He then looked at the two of them and smiled.
"All warfare is based on deception, Daiki."
Daiki Aomine gave a helpless smile.
"You're probably the only person who could pull something like that off."
Miyamoto Tokima smiled without replying.
The game continued.
Although the Dragon Slayer Team was still trailing, Taiga Kagami's fighting spirit remained at its peak.
He seemed incapable of growing tired as he repeatedly rotated on defense, ran fast breaks, chased opponents down, and scored.
At the same time, his strength and speed appeared to be steadily increasing.
Finally, during one of the Dragon Slayer Team's possessions, Taiga Kagami awakened.
Holding the ball with both hands as he faced Miyamoto Tokima, Taiga Kagami spoke with unwavering determination.
"Kuroko was right. Even in the depths of despair, a glimmer of hope still remains. He kept that hope alive."
"And I'll make that hope shine!"
In the next instant, the lightning in Taiga Kagami's eyes became dazzling.
Layers of starlight began radiating around his body, enveloping him in a brilliant glow that made him appear almost sacred.
At that moment, every other member of the team felt something strange.
It was as though they had all become connected.
Before, they had been five brilliant pearls, each shining beautifully on its own.
Now, a single thread had strung them together, transforming them into one magnificent whole.
The moment Daiki Aomine felt it, he smiled.
"So you finally made it in?"
Ryota Kise looked down at his hand and murmured, "This feeling..."
Seijuro Akashi appeared dazed for a moment before smiling helplessly.
"So this is what it feels like to glimpse the second [Gate]. It truly is... remarkable."
Atsushi Murasakibara's body stiffened briefly, but he quickly recovered.
"Roar!"
The fierce tiger behind Taiga Kagami unleashed a thunderous roar.
Taiga Kagami then shouted with determination, "Come on, Miyamoto Tokima!"
...
...
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