On the court, Seijuro Akashi stopped after bringing the ball into the frontcourt.
As if sensing something, the rest of the Dragon Slayer Team began moving into position in an orderly pattern.
Nash Gold naturally noticed and watched Seijuro Akashi warily.
Seijuro Akashi was already a point guard, and now he had opened the second [Gate] as well. The threat he posed was undoubtedly greater than Taiga Kagami's!
All Nash Gold could do now was interfere with Seijuro Akashi's passing as much as possible and keep him from getting comfortable.
Even though his [Belial Eye] could no longer see the future, he could still read muscle movements!
Suddenly, Nash Gold noticed Seijuro Akashi's muscles twitch ever so slightly.
The next instant, white light flashed from Seijuro Akashi's hand, and the basketball vanished.
Nash Gold's eyes widened in shock.
That was his own...
No Motion Pass!
The ball instantly reached Shintaro Midorima.
Emerald-green lightning erupted from Shintaro Midorima's eyes!
Shintaro Midorima had entered the Zone!
Once in the Zone, Shintaro Midorima's jumping height became absurd.
Even when Nick immediately entered the Zone himself, he still couldn't reach Shintaro Midorima's shot!
The basketball soared high into the air, tracing a rainbow-like arc before dropping through the hoop.
Swish!!!
After the basket, Nash Gold looked at Seijuro Akashi and smiled.
"Interesting. Have you learned it?"
"No." Seijuro Akashi glanced at his right hand and shook his head. "Not yet. I still can't get rid of my habitual movements."
"Oh?" Nash Gold looked intrigued. "You know I have the [Belial Eye], and you still told me your weakness?"
Seijuro Akashi smiled.
"Because I want to grow too. And the best environment for growth is pressure."
Nash Gold paused for a moment, then smiled.
"I take back what I said before, Seijuro Akashi. You've completely earned my recognition. Both your convictions and your basketball skills."
"So from this point on..." Nash Gold closed his eyes, and his presence suddenly became terrifying. "I'm going all out!"
In an instant, streaks of lightning began flickering around Nash Gold's eyes. Even with his eyes closed, the lightning continued to shine through.
At the same time, an overwhelmingly powerful presence erupted from his body, and violent lightning exploded behind him!
"Screech!"
A gigantic pterosaur burst out from behind Nash Gold and soared above the arena.
It circled overhead before spreading its enormous wings and hovering high above the court.
At that moment, Nash Gold slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes had changed.
They now resembled those of the pterosaur, while the golden rings in them had grown noticeably dimmer.
Seijuro Akashi watched the transformation cautiously.
Nash Gold gave him a calm glance, then turned halfway around and held out his hand.
Jason Silver saw the gesture and passed him the ball.
After receiving it, Nash Gold slowly began bringing the ball up the court.
Once he reached the frontcourt, his eyes remained completely still.
He didn't even look around.
He moved almost like a machine.
Seijuro Akashi watched him warily, his brows furrowing.
A sense of danger welled up inside him.
Nash Gold still didn't shift his attention. His gaze remained fixed straight ahead.
Then he attacked.
He began dribbling at high speed, driving and spinning in rapid succession.
But every movement was seen through by Seijuro Akashi's [Emperor Eye].
Seijuro Akashi never lost position, sticking tightly to him the entire time.
Suddenly, Nash Gold burst to the right.
Seijuro Akashi immediately moved to cut him off.
But in the next instant, white light flashed from Nash Gold's right hand, and the basketball disappeared.
Seijuro Akashi assumed Nash Gold had passed to a teammate on the right.
Then he realized...
The ball had gone left!
More precisely, Nash Gold had sent it left with a behind-the-back pass!
But how had he seen what was happening on that side?
Seijuro Akashi had been blocking Nash Gold's view of the entire left side!
And even now, Nash Gold's eyes hadn't moved at all. They remained fixed on the same spot.
Seijuro Akashi suddenly realized something and looked up.
Above the court, Nash Gold's Animal Instinct, the pterosaur, was beating its wings while surveying everything below.
Seijuro Akashi concentrated, focusing specifically on the pterosaur's eyes.
With the [Emperor Eye], he finally saw what was strange about them.
Its eyes were far too lively!
And those beast-like pupils were unmistakably surrounded by white rings of light!
That was the [Belial Eye]!
"You noticed?" Nash Gold suddenly asked.
Seijuro Akashi immediately snapped his attention back to him.
Nash Gold's eyes still hadn't moved at all, yet a faint smile appeared on his otherwise calm face.
The sight was unnervingly eerie.
"Looks like you figured it out." Nash Gold spoke calmly. "That's right. My 'eyes' are in the sky right now. I can see the entire court. No movement can escape my sight."
"It's a shame the 'future' has been sealed away, though. Those eyes of yours really are like mine. Their power is formidable."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Seijuro Akashi took a deep breath, his expression changing slightly.
He hadn't expected Nash Gold to possess an ability like this.
He had actually transferred his 'eyes' to his Animal Instinct, allowing the Animal Instinct to act as his vision and survey the entire court for him!
Something like this was probably only possible for Nash Gold.
On the other side, Nash Gold's pass reached Miyamoto Tokima.
The moment Miyamoto Tokima caught the ball, Shogo Haizaki, surrounded by milky-white light and crackling electricity, immediately pressed up against him.
The instant he closed in, he focused with everything he had.
At the same time, he [Pillaged].
No.
He [Copied] the person he wanted to [Copy]!
Whoosh! Whoosh, whoosh!!!
Ripples instantly spread out from beneath Shogo Haizaki's feet.
Seeing them, Zack blurted out, "Seriously? One goes down and another one takes his place?!"
Nick's expression didn't change at all.
"If this were earlier, it might have been troublesome for a few minutes. But now, the real thing is standing right there on the court."
The ripples made it obvious to everyone who Shogo Haizaki intended to [Copy].
That's right.
The person Shogo Haizaki wanted to [Copy] was...
Miyamoto Tokima!!!
...