章 16: The Beast Within

Shiro glided back on defense, his movements as smooth and precise as a finely-tuned machine, every step executed flawlessly.

Just moments ago, he'd delivered a dazzling pass with incredible speed and technique. But now, he seemed calm, as if the one who had stunned the court with that play was someone else entirely.

'What terrifying speed!' Kiyoshi, also a point guard, couldn't help but marvel inwardly, his eyes reflecting admiration as he locked onto Shiro.

'Focus up! It's our turn to attack!' Kiyoshi inhaled deeply, gripping the basketball with steady hands. Dribbling forward, his expression was one of unwavering confidence.

As he advanced toward the frontcourt, he found himself face-to-face with Akashi. Though he was relatively short, Kiyoshi sensed an opportunity to take him one-on-one and made up his mind to teach this opponent a lesson.

However, when Akashi's sharp gaze met his, a wave of pressure washed over Kiyoshi.

There was an undeniable authority in Akashi's eyes—a silent warning. Kiyoshi suddenly realized that this seemingly smaller opponent harbored a hidden and immense potential. Yet, rather than fear, an eagerness to challenge surged within him.

Without hesitation, Kiyoshi decided to drive past him. He feinted to the right, pushing the ball in that direction before launching a powerful sprint.

But Akashi wasn't fooled. His intuition had read Kiyoshi's intentions perfectly, positioning himself just in time to block the path.

With a loud thud, Kiyoshi barreled into Akashi, sending him crashing to the floor.

BAM!

The referee's whistle echoed sharply: "Beep!No. 4 from Shoei High, offensive foul. Teiko ball!"

Kiyoshi's face darkened. He hadn't expected Teiko's point guard to not only see through his strategy but also skillfully draw the foul.

The crowd murmured in awe at Akashi's seemingly supernatural ability to anticipate the play. It was a flawless defensive maneuver.

At that moment, Shiro sprinted toward Akashi and extended his hand.

"Are you okay?" Shiro asked calmly.

"Yeah, no problem" Akashi grasped Shiro's hand and pulled himself up.

With a quick pass from Shiro, Akashi regained possession, dribbling with meticulous control. Time seemed to slow as he advanced the ball up the court.

On the left wing, Aomine exploded into action, signaling for the pass with an outstretched hand. Akashi's eyes gleamed, and without hesitation, he sent the ball flying toward Aomine.

No wasted motion. No hesitation. Pure precision.

Aomine caught the pass, his gaze locked onto the power forward guarding him. His opponent loomed, but Aomine showed no fear. With smooth, controlled dribbling, he shifted the ball to his right hand, seamlessly executing a hesitation move.

He lowered his shoulder, tilted his body slightly, and followed with an in-and-out dribble that left his defender completely off balance. Like a ghost slipping past, Aomine sliced through the defense.

As the center rotated over to help, Aomine leapt into the air without hesitation. Spinning in midair, he performed a stunning 360-degree layup, twisting his body to complete the move gracefully.

The opposing center, towering over Aomine, was left helpless—completely unable to block the shot. The ball kissed off the backboard and dropped cleanly into the hoop.

"Unbelievable! That kid is insane!" one spectator gasped, eyes wide with amazement.

"No wonder he replaced Shuzo Nijimura in the starting lineup!" another whispered.

The arena buzzed with excitement as the crowd whispered about Teiko's incredible freshman players.

'Every single one of these rookies is a monster' Kiyoshi thought, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead. This game wasn't going to be easy. Far from it.

The scoreboard updated: 5-0 in Teiko's favor.

Kiyoshi refocused, driving the ball across half-court with speed and purpose. Analyzing the defense, he signaled to his shooting guard for a pick-and-roll. His teammate instantly responded, setting a screen.

Akashi and Midorima switched on defense, leaving Kiyoshi face-to-face with Midorima. Undeterred, Kiyoshi powered forward, leveraging his strength to push through.

Midorima fought back fiercely, but the difference in physicality between a second-year and a first-year began to show. Kiyoshi broke through, storming into the paint.

Without hesitation, he leapt toward the hoop. But waiting for him was Murasakibara, Teiko's towering center.

Like a rocket, Murasakibara soared upward, his massive frame poised to block the shot.

A sly grin spread across Kiyoshi's face. At the peak of his jump, he flicked the ball backward—a crafty behind-the-back pass—to his own center, now wide open under the basket.

With Murasakibara tied up by Kiyoshi, their center took full advantage, leaping for an uncontested layup. The ball banked off the glass and fell smoothly through the net.

"Yes!" Kiyoshi and his teammate exchanged a celebratory high-five.

The scoreboard now read: 5-2.

The crowd roared with excitement, energized by Shoei's first points.

Before anyone could fully react, Shiro was already sprinting down the court like a bolt of lightning.

Akashi spotted him immediately, his eyes narrowing with intent. Standing on the baseline, Akashi whipped the ball forward with breathtaking precision.

The ball rocketed across the entire court—a bullet pass, perfectly timed and laser-accurate.

Shiro leapt into the air like a predator striking its prey, snatching the ball in one fluid motion. With all his strength, he slammed it into the hoop with an earth-shattering dunk.

BOOM! The arena fell silent, stunned by the sheer force of the play.

The scoreboard now read 7-2 in Teiko's favor.

Kiyoshi's pupils dilated as disbelief washed over him. 'That... that kind of talent... I've never seen anything like this '

On the bench, Momoi clasped her hands over her mouth, stunned by Shiro's display.

'Unreal... I had no idea he was so good'

Shiro's entire body radiated an aura of cold, unrelenting power—a chilling presence that spread across the court like a stormfront.

Everyone's eyes were drawn to him, as if mesmerized by the ominous force he exuded. Even the boldest players felt a flicker of fear deep within.

"This... is that the Animal Instinct?" Aomine muttered, wide-eyed, his voice trembling slightly.

He stared at Shiro, as if confronting a beast from the depths of his nightmares.

Shiro slowly turned his gaze toward the rest of the players, his cold, piercing eyes seeming to strip them bare. It was as though a giant predator had emerged on the court—a prehistoric Megalodon, terrifying and unstoppable.

Its sleek, dark scales shimmered ominously under the lights. Rows of razor-sharp teeth gleamed with menace, and when it opened its massive jaws, a swirling vortex seemed to form from within.

The sheer intensity of Shiro's presence was suffocating. The air itself felt heavy, and every player on the court sensed the overwhelming danger looming before them.

This was no ordinary opponent. This was a force of nature.