The second quarter reached the 5-minute mark. The home team Dragon Slayer Sword called their first timeout of the game. The current score was 36-34, with Dragon Slayer Sword still maintaining a slight lead over their opponents.

However, the situation wasn't as favorable as the score suggested. Mainly, their paint defense had been completely destroyed by Jason Silver alone. While Kagami was willing to coordinate with Murasakibara to defend against Jason Silver together, the purple giant had absolutely no intention of cooperating with anyone.

From elementary school to Teiko to Yosen, he had always been the sole guardian of the paint. Help? Only rookies needed help. True powerhouses solved problems by themselves.

Seeing Murasakibara's attitude, Aida Kagetora could only feel a headache coming on. Such defense definitely couldn't stop that monster's rampage. If it weren't for Tendou always stepping up at crucial moments, the score would have been blown open long ago - how could they possibly be leading?

"However, is this kid a bit too strong?" Aida Kagetora quietly glanced at the technical statistics. Tendou, who didn't seem to be showing off much, had unknowingly scored a team-high 13 points. Every time the team's offense stalled, he would quietly salvage the situation.

Nash had also noticed this problem. The game was somewhat deviating from his plan. According to his script, after their center got going, it should have been time for them to pull away with the score. Yet halfway through the second quarter, even though Jason Silver had single-handedly scored 15 points and perfectly neutralized their inside offense, looking up at the scoreboard, the Evil Dragons were still the trailing team. That comedian had used points, assists, and steals to stubbornly keep them in the game.

"The most troublesome one isn't those little kids from last night, but this comedian instead?"

Just as Aida Kagetora was contemplating defensive strategies, Tendou approached Akashi and asked, "How is it? Can you see through it?"

"Ah, although it wasted some time, I've already seen through it." Akashi smiled confidently.

Nash had another nickname - the Floor General. This referred to his transcendent passing ability. He could always use his court vision to create excellent scoring opportunities. Seeing through Nash's passing, which rivaled Tendou's own, wasn't an easy task.

"That's good. Go ahead and do your thing - I've got your back."

Then he had Momoi give a hair tie to Murasakibara.

"Atsushi."

"Take care of that big black guy."

"Play like you did when you faced me that time."

Ever since his match with Tendou ended, Murasakibara had sealed himself away again. Because aside from Tendou, there wasn't a second player in the entire nation who could withstand his power. Not wanting to injure people, Murasakibara had been holding back intentionally.

But now wasn't the time for him to 'pity his opponents.'

Before Aida Kagetora could give orders, Tendou had already arranged everything. The Aida father and daughter felt that compared to themselves, Tendou was more like this team's coach.

As always, when it came to teaching players, they were professionals. But when it came to being coaches, they weren't quite up to par.

...

The game continued. Evil Dragons' possession.

Nash thought for a moment during the timeout and decided to stick with his strategy. As long as the opponents couldn't find a way to deal with their center, they could keep going down the same path, attacking their weak point relentlessly.

He dribbled across half court, his eyes observing everything around him. Then, when Jason Silver established position, he flicked his wrist sharply and sent the ball out.

But just as he released it, a chill suddenly crawled up his spine.

"This feeling!"

Just like at the very beginning, no - it should be even more intense. He looked down and saw two golden rings rapidly expanding from Akashi's pupils.

"This kid!"

"Smack!" Nash's pass was swatted away by Akashi.

This sudden turn caught everyone on the court off guard. Nash finally confirmed it - even though he didn't want to believe it, this kid before him possessed talent that rivaled his own.

"You're too arrogant, Nash." Akashi stared Nash down without backing down.

While he was still putting on airs, Tendou had already charged ahead like a stallion.

"Beautiful!"

"He intercepted it!"

"Generation of Miracles' Akashi Seijuro!"

"Dragon Slayer Sword's counterattack opportunity!"

"Tendou Kaisei got the ball - such incredible speed! He's left everyone far behind."

"A transition three-pointer... and it's good! Beautiful!"

With the TV commentator's passionate roar, the arena's audience erupted in excitement. The bench players like Takao and Midorima also jumped up.

"He intercepted it!"

"As expected of Akashi!"

"This way, the Evil Dragons' inside-outside connection is severed!"

This was absolutely the best news since the game began. As long as they could defend against the Evil Dragons' formula, it would be Dragon Slayer Sword's advantage. Now it was the Evil Dragons' turn to have headaches about how to solve Dragon Slayer Sword's offensive momentum.

Aida Riko excitedly pumped her fist, feeling like the hope of saving her old man's life was growing stronger. But then she noticed Nash's expression.

There was surprise, disbelief, but notably absent was any panic... This expression was very familiar to her. Last year, when facing Kirisaki Daichi twice, Tendou had worn this same expression. Every time they mounted a comeback and exceeded their limits, Tendou's expression had been just like this.

This made an ominous feeling rise in her heart. Looking back at Tendou, he similarly lacked his teammates' excitement. He was very calm, his peripheral vision sweeping over Nash, seemingly waiting for something.

The gap had reached 5 points.

Nash once again brought the ball to the three-point arc, facing off against Akashi.

"I thought it was just an illusion, but to encounter one in a place like this..."

"But from that last offensive play, I can finally confirm it."

Nash suddenly said something out of nowhere, causing Akashi to furrow his brows involuntarily.

"You have the same eyes as me."

What? The same eyes?

Nash's words left everyone on the court and bench completely bewildered. The same eyes? The Emperor Eye?

They didn't believe it, but what happened next forced them to believe. Two golden rings identical to the Emperor Eye suddenly burst from Nash's pupils without warning, spreading rapidly across the entire court with him as the center.

"To defeat me, you're still far from ready, monkey."

Nash feinted left, shook off Akashi, and directly whipped the ball out.

What would happen when two teams that could both see the future faced off? People had witnessed this once before, a year ago. The stronger person would completely dominate.

"Can't intercept it!"

"Which means..."

"Akashi is no match for Nash!"

The Rakuzan people had thought Tendou was unique. Having defeated Tendou, Akashi wouldn't lose to anyone else. Yet in today's game, another one had appeared.

"We who have the same eyes - do you know why you can't stop me, kid?"

"I know."

Huh?

Nash's smile suddenly froze, and the words at the tip of his tongue were forcibly swallowed back.

"When two people who can both see the future face off one-on-one, the stronger one will hold the absolute advantage."

"You want to ask why I know this so clearly?" Akashi stared directly at Nash, completely motionless, because he had absolute faith in the person standing behind him. He said, "Tendou taught me."

As soon as the words fell, Nash's pupils immediately contracted. Under his Demon's Eye gaze, a black beast suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

Then, that comedian burst through the monster and intercepted his pass.

"Smack!"

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