Chapter 78 : VS Toō Academy X - The Unstoppable Aomine

Zone.

It is a state when the focus and the concentration of players suddenly increased astronomically during the game, granting them their maximum potential for a short time span. A state that every sports player would die to get.

The downside? Nobody knows how to activate it for the first time and what is the requirement to do it, and the harsh after-effect of the zone which is quite dangerous. If the physique is not good enough, you would find your body burned, all the muscles cramped, and all the energy that holds your body vanished instantly.

Honestly, Aomine still thinks it is like using doping in the middle of the game. Not that he would protest though, as it is good to have a hidden weapon in an emergency. He could still remember the first time he activated the zone vividly.

It was during a 2v2 close scrimmage between him and his former teammates, where he was cornered by Murasakibara and Midorima alone. His teammate at that time, Kise, was not as strong as he is right now, and could only be a burden against his opponents.

At first, it seems impossible for him to win the game. But on the verge of defeat, his body suddenly got lighter, his mind was clearer, the ball in his hand was almost like an extension of his body, and he could see all the players on the court moving in slow motion. Even Akashi, the player with the best eyes he had ever known, couldn't even keep up with his movement.

It was a mind-boggling experience, if only he didn't pass out due to the exhaustion.

After that, with Momoi's help, he experimented this new power of his closely, trying to find out what else it could do. And just like he expected, his speed is getting faster, his vision is getting better, and his shoot is even getting more accurate to the point that scared even himself.

That is the big reason why he always sprouts 'the only person who can beat me is me' nonsense, because he couldn't imagine anyone could stop him in this mode.

However, his physique couldn't hold this power quite well. After a lot of trial-and-error sessions, he and Momoi figured out he could use this power safely for only five minutes. After that, his stamina would drop rapidly until he couldn't move any single muscle inside his body. That is why he decided to only use zone in an emergency.

But in this game, Aomine got carried away. He shouldn't be, he knows. And by the disapproval gaze from Momoi, he knows he would get scolded after the game. But he didn't care. Seeing as Furihata and Kuroko refused to go down and keep fighting him stubbornly, even managing to get this close to him, he couldn't help but feel excited. Right after the first time he entered the zone, he has never met any worthy opponents like this. He just hopes that both of them could survive long enough to satisfy his hunger.

'Let's see how long you can last, Seirin.'

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Riko glanced at her two first-year players on the court worriedly. She could see both Kuroko and Furihata are tired already, sweats dripping down their cheeks. She knows both of them are probably the worst in the stamina department compared to the other players who were on the court. But if she pulled them off right now, the momentum they gained before would vanish instantly, especially after seeing another sudden outburst from Aomine.

She didn't know what is that, but the aura surrounding the power forward suddenly changed, not just like the first outburst. If the first one only gave her serious and not-giving-a-fuck vibes, this time, it feels like Aomine suddenly becomes untouchable. And that is what she worried the most.

"Coach, don't you think it is time to pull out Kuroko-kun and Furihata-kun? They looked dead-tired there." Izuki voiced her worried too, and was also prepared to enter the game again. However, Riko shook her head and decided to delay the substitution for a while.

"If I pull them out now, do you think you can do a better job stopping Aomine or keeping us alive in an offense as they did here?"

Izuki is speechless at her question.

"That is really unfair, Coach." The point guard replied bitterly after a second. "You know I am not that kind of flashy player like them. There is no chance I could replicate what he did here."

"I thought so too." Riko nodded. "That is why I decided to wait for a moment to see how this game would develop. We are still holding the momentum here, so pulling out those two would not be beneficial for the team. But by doing so, I also put them on the edge, so I need you to always be prepared to come in anytime I ask. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Coach!"

Yeah, Riko finally decided she would put more trust on her rookies. She just hopes that they could prove she is not in the wrong here.

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Furihata didn't know how it could be possible for a player to gain a sudden boost of power in the middle of the game. But here he is, receiving the end of that twice just in a day.

The first time, he could adapt to Aomine's speed pretty quickly. He didn't know it was a fortunate or an unfortunate event, considering somehow, it provoked the power forward to unlock the second power boost, which was far more terrifying than the first one. He doubts he could be able to stop him this time.

'Damn me and my big mouth. I need to stop talking big and not jinxing myself.' He cursed himself inwardly.

Furihata still remembers the day when he talked about the generation of miracles with his teammates, and how confident he was when he said Aomine is not the strongest among all of them. Oh, how wrong he is, as the power forward is proving it right now by being annoyingly unstoppable.

"Phantom, don't freeze around like that! Keep moving!" He shouted at Kuroko as his teammate just stand like a stone in the middle of the court, didn't even move his body.

He himself is not in a better position. He was guarded tightly by Aomine, and the only thing that prevent the tanned power forward to steal the ball from him is by guarding the ball in such a way that it would result in a defensive foul if Aomine tried to force himself.

But this time, luck is not on his side. Right when his eyes wandered around the court, trying to search for any teammates who are in a better position, Aomine moves his body slightly toward the ball in his hand, forcing a reaction from his instinct. Furihata flinched for a moment, trying to put his other hand in front of the ball, protecting it from getting poked by Aomine. But before he could notice, the ball vanished from his possession, along with Aomine in front of him.

"WHAT?! GODDAMNIT!"

Furihata turned around immediately, just to see the power forward already on the other side of the court, throwing a powerful dunk like it was nothing. Furihata gritted his teeth in frustration, not liking the new development of this game. Before Mitobe could pass the ball to him to start the game again, he shouted at his senpai,

"THERE!"

He pointed his finger at Hyuga who approached from afar, while he himself ran toward the other direction, trying to attract Aomine's attention.

"So, you want to play cat and dog again, huh? If that is what you want!"

Suddenly, to Furihata and all Seirin players' shock, Aomine changed his direction, from guarding Furihata to Hyuga, covering about ten meters distance in a second, enough to make the captain slip the ball.

"SHIT!"

Hyuga tried to recover the ball, but unfortunately, Aomine is way quicker than him. The power forward grabbed the ball immediately and before anyone could stop him, he burst into the paint area like lightning, throwing another powerful dunk to Mitobe.

*BAAAAM!*

"COME OOOON!!!"

Almost all of the audience stood up from their seat and give the power forward a big applause for the dominance Aomine showed during the last few minutes. Furihata who saw all of that just showed a helpless desperate expression, not knowing what to do.

'If a player like Aomine could get power up twice in a game, what could his opponent do?'

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Author note :

Sorry for the short chapter :)

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-Zeta Faes-