Chapter 261: Shattered Defenses

Hey guys, I'm still recovering today.

But I'm feeling a lot better and could write two chapters today. So, I decided to post it right away.

Enjoy the read y'all!

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Every member of Fukuda Sogo had their eyes honed to a keen edge as they fixated on Seirin's players. Their determination surged, vowing not to let Kuroko slip through their senses again.

Seirin's players couldn't help but break into a sweat as tension gripped their bodies.

"...Whoa, check out those piercing gazes."

"They're like true beasts..."

Hyuga nervously adjusted his glasses while Kiyoshi nodded in agreement.

Just by observing, they discerned that Kuroko had regained the use of his ability as his misdirection went back online.

They realized that their surprise attacks wouldn't catch him off guard again, especially since players with keen senses like theirs were Kuroko's natural adversaries.

Kuroko himself understood this, his expression turning grim.

On the sidelines, Kagami clenched his fist tightly, muttering, "...This isn't enough."

"...He's truly on an entirely different level!" He continued.

Kuroko couldn't help but turn as he caught wind of Kagami's mutterings. However, what he witnessed left him taken aback.

Kagami's lips curled upward, and his body trembled...

...with excitement!

In Kagami's subconscious, he sensed an inexorable descent into the depths of the zone. Suddenly, a formidable pressure enveloped his diminutive frame.

Turning around, Kagami encountered another colossal door, emanating a pressure like none other, leaving him in astonishment.

"Does this mean there's another level of zone behind this door?" he mumbled in shock.

A surge of excitement coursed through him as he pondered, "If I could open it, would I be able to face him on the same level?"

Ecstatic, Kagami moved closer to the door. However, just as he was about to reach it, he glimpsed a faint silhouette standing before the door, seemingly guarding it, before snapping him back to reality.

"Huh?" he mumbled, confused.

Kagami found the silhouette strangely familiar. However, the loud cheers from the audience snapped him out of his thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, he declared, "...Let's focus on the game."

The match resumed, with Fukuda Sogo players advancing cautiously this time. Tsuna dribbled the ball slowly, his solitary figure exuding an overwhelming pressure that filled the entire court, putting everyone from Seirin on edge.

Kagami who was fully immersed in the zone, keenly felt Tsuna's pressure vividly, his heightened focus amplifying the intensity of the moment.

However, instead of aggressively closing in on Tsuna, he suddenly took a step back, his eyes igniting with brighter intensity, red sparks streaming across his pupils.

This unexpected move left everyone in the court surprised. Even Tsuna himself raised his eyebrows in mild astonishment.

"...Kagamicchi seems to be getting even deeper. Has he already reached the bottom?" Kise mumbled aloud, prompting a frown from Aomine.

"Deeper? What do you mean by that?"

Kasamatsu asked, to which Midorima slightly adjusted his glasses before answering, "Being in the Zone is like sinking into water. The more the user taps into the Zone, the deeper they sink. Once they hit the bottom, the user unlocks 100% of their potential..."

"Still, this might not be enough unless he opens that door..." Aomine added.

Kise's expression turned grim as he nodded, "That's right..."

"Which door are we talking about?" Kasamatsu frowned as he inquired.

"Underneath, there is a second door..."

"..."

Disregarding the silence, Aomine continued, "...Zone beyond the Zone."

However, this door is guarded by a mysterious gatekeeper standing in front of it. If anyone wanted to open the second door to the Zone, they would have to pass the gatekeeper and unlock the gate.

"...There is actually such a thing?"

Kasamatsu didn't have much knowledge about the zone since it was a privilege granted to only a select few. Still, he found himself in disbelief upon learning about the existence of the second door.

Meanwhile, everyone in Fukuda Sogo could vaguely sense Kagami's zone expanding even from a distance. This posed a challenge for Tsuna to shoot from afar, given Kagami's proficiency in jumping force.

"This is getting fun, Taiga..." Tsuna's casual remark echoed through the court, sending a ripple of surprise among everyone present.

There was an air of nonchalance about Tsuna as if the intensity of Kagami's expanding zone was nothing more than a passing amusement.

In a surprising twist, Tsuna nonchalantly closed the distance between them, catching Kagami off guard.

Meeting Kagami's gaze head-on, Tsuna broke the tense atmosphere with his words, "You're getting better at an impressive rate, even in the middle of the game. It's quite ridiculous..."

"...No, you're the one who's ridiculous!" Hyuga's internal roar matched the intensity of the unfolding scene.

Kagami's zone had expanded, reaching new dimensions.

Despite lacking the sharp senses of those in Fukuda Sogo, even he felt a shiver down his spine. 

Yet, Tsuna treated this formidable zone as if it were a mere stroll in the park, his demeanor betraying a confidence that further fueled the escalating tension on the court.

"He's truly a monster!"

While most would label the Generation of Miracles as monstrous, Hyuga now grasped that the true embodiment of a basketball monster resided in Fukuda Sogo's Captain.

Without a moment's hesitation, Kagami's instincts kicked in, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead as he lunged to steal the ball from Tsuna's grasp.

Yet, Tsuna, seemingly a step ahead, anticipated Kagami's move.

A subtle step backward coerced Kagami to accelerate, setting the stage for what would unfold next.

In a sudden, breathtaking twist, Tsuna executed a sharp dive and a swift crossover, effortlessly dismantling Kagami's defense.

Even in the deeper state of the zone, Tsuna maneuvered through Kagami's defense with ease, bursting forward with a speed that left the crowd in awe.

Knowing he couldn't access the second level of the zone, Tsuna almost dismissed its existence entirely.

To him, the zone was merely a playground.

Tsuna understood that relying on the unruly power of the zone yielded diminishing returns, making it less appealing.

Gritting his teeth, Kagami turned and chased Tsuna's elusive figure. However, it seemed futile as Tsuna effortlessly soared toward the basket.

"I can't let you have it easy, Fukuda Sogo's Captain!" A resounding roar echoed through the court, igniting a spark of hope in Kagami's eyes.

With a determined spirit, he accelerated, refusing to let Tsuna's graceful ascent go unchallenged.

The response came swift and determined—it was Kiyoshi who leaped into action. His hand reached out, aiming to intercept the ball in Tsuna's grasp.

However, Kiyoshi's eyes widened in disbelief as the force of the dunk hit him, a realization dawning upon him that he had miscalculated.

"Thank you for buying me some time, Senior!"

Kagami's voice echoed, his figure materializing alongside Kiyoshi. Together, they extended their hands toward the ball, forming a united front to thwart Tsuna's impending dunk.

"Naive!"

Tsuna's shout filled the air as he concentrated his strength, channeling it through his entire arm.

With sheer power, he shattered through the combined defensive effort of Kiyoshi and Kagami, asserting his dominance in the soaring clash above the rim.

Kagami exclaimed, "Wha!?"

"Fucking monster!"

Kiyoshi couldn't hold back the loud curse that escaped his lips.

The gymnasium trembled as Tsuna executed a resounding dunk, sending shockwaves through the air.

The clash concluded with both Kagami and Kiyoshi crashing onto the ground, their eyes looking up at Tsuna with a nonchalant gaze that sent shivers down their spines.