Akashi wanted to persevere, but reason told him that doing so would only doom Rakuzan.
This team needed him, and he needed Rakuzan just as much!
Hiss~
Looking up again, the white steam on Yuuto's body was also dissipating, his white short hair returning to black.
His condition was better than Akashi's, but not by much.
The consumption from breaking the 100% limit with specialization and Demon-mode was massive; even Perfect Rhythm couldn't offset it.
However.
"It's over, Akashi!"
Even though the team was still trailing, Yuuto had already issued a declaration of victory.
"There is still time. The outcome is not decided yet."
Akashi stubbornly puffed out his chest, not letting himself show any sign of distress.
He was the leader of the Generation of Miracles, the helmsman of the aircraft carrier Rakuzan, and the future and face of the Akashi conglomerate.
Beep~
Rakuzan called their first timeout of the fourth quarter.
With both sides exiting the Zone/Demon-mode state, there were things he, the coach, could do now.
But on the first possession after the timeout, Rakuzan's offensive momentum was disintegrated.
Seiho's defense was full of targeted counters, locking down Rakuzan's shooting—especially Mibuchi Reo's—forcing them to step into the paint.
Then.
Whoosh! Yuuto, who was prepared, rotated back on defense at extreme speed. One hand blotted out the sun, denying Hayama Kotaro the chance to pass, and swatted the ball down quickly.
Yamashita Shio saw this and pumped his fist forcefully on the sideline.
His tactic worked!
This was a sheep-herding tactic, and the sheepdog was his most outstanding disciple, Yuuto.
"Blocked? Why did that happen?" Someone didn't understand.
Even in Demon-mode, he couldn't stop Rakuzan's team offense, so why did he suddenly succeed now?
"It should be targeted tactics. Seiho is deliberately letting Rakuzan's players... no, probably forcing Rakuzan's players into the paint."
"With declining stamina, shooting percentages inevitably drop. I guess Shirogane arranged to attack the paint during the timeout too."
"Even superior in tactics? Coach Yamashita, the old blade hasn't dulled."
Harasawa and the other two lamented.
Even the championship-winning coach Shirogane Eiji had times of miscalculation.
"As expected of the famous coach who earned the title of King."
Aida Riko suddenly felt she had a lot to learn; she wasn't mature enough as a coach.
To be honest, for most of this game, Yuuto and Akashi controlled the team offense, breaking away from tactics and playing with individual ability and talent.
What about Yamashita Shio and Shirogane Eiji?
They didn't treat themselves as spectators. They were constantly observing, constantly thinking, silently waiting for the moment the team needed them.
That led to the current scene.
If Shirogane Eiji had arranged a resolute shooting tactic during the timeout, perhaps Yuuto couldn't have completed this iron-blooded block.
Seiho's opportunity. Everyone remembered the coach's arrangement and flew to the front court immediately.
At this moment, their stamina advantage finally came into play.
Running like a pack of wolves, they executed a fast counterattack.
Kasuga Ryuhei received Yuuto's pass and smoothly sidestepped under the basket for a layup.
Not Akashi's kind of exquisite pass, but a no-motion pass, emphasizing speed!
"The Emperor Eye... can't stop it either!"
Collapsed.
Everyone was shocked. The curtain was really falling on this match.
"Reversed!"
"King Seiho, with only the last 8 minutes left in the game, has taken the lead again!"
"A lightning-fast first pass, cutting into Rakuzan's weakness like a scalpel. Player Kasuga Ryuhei hit the target in one strike!"
The Tokyo radio commentator stood up abruptly.
The TV audience.
Although they had anticipated this scene would come, when it truly appeared, they couldn't help but cheer and jump for joy.
It was a magical feeling. Even though Seiho was behind, watching the game gave them a sense of reassurance.
Especially seeing Yuuto score repeatedly, this reassurance became stronger, feeling like they wouldn't lose as long as he was there.
The balance was broken!
The scales of victory had tipped to Seiho's side!
Akashi realized their tactics had been seen through again. He wanted to score forcefully through individual ability.
Result.
Smack!
A jump shot after a sudden stop, but ruthlessly rejected by Yuuto.
"Blocked?! Akashi lost?!" Rakuzan fans' voices were trembling, feeling like they had lost everything.
The strongest generation in Rakuzan basketball history failed to achieve an unprecedented consecutive championship streak, and instead was going to lose?
Many fans found it hard to accept such a result.
But this was reality.
This batch of Rakuzan was indeed the strongest in history, but the opponent they encountered was also the strongest in history.
That Seiho Number 10 destroyed the Emperor almost single-handedly.
From the third quarter until now.
Driving inside and shooting outside, he alone blasted a crazy 34 points!
Counting his points from the first half, Yuuto had now scored a heaven-defying 59 points, along with 7 rebounds and 9 assists—an offensive and defensive unit.
Smack!
A solid, big block, like a slap to Akashi's heart.
Yuuto landed, squeezed past the opponent to grab the ball, exploded with speed to the three-point line, and hit a pull-up three-pointer.
Swish!
The ball went in. In the blink of an eye, the 5-point deficit turned into a 4-point lead.
"It's over. Rakuzan is really going to lose!"
People exclaimed, incredibly shocked.
Yuuto's body was slender, his gaze deep and determined. He held his follow-through, his right arm held high, exuding a ruler's dominance.
Rakuzan's players stared at him blankly, their expressions indescribably dejected, the confidence from the start gone.
Known as the Emperors of Development, they were now wretched, beaten until they lost their spirit.
"In the end, I couldn't persist until the last moment?" Akashi smiled bitterly.
The result exchanged for the sacrifice of his other self was this.
"It can't end like this! I am the proof of his existence; his meaning will be endowed by me." Akashi fought with all his might.
This time he still chose to attack himself, because the tactics had already been analyzed.
But Yuuto stood horizontally in front of him like a Wall of Sighs.
The sky went dark, the red Dead Spot emerged. Yuuto swept a cold glance and thrust his right arm out with full force.
Then...
Snap!
The ball was stolen. Akashi, who always delighted in stealing the ball, was stolen by Yuuto in a head-on one-on-one.
Not just passing, even his individual offense was "killed" by Yuuto.
Seiho's counterattack came again.
It seemed as if the game had only truly begun now, and everything before was just a warm-up.
One could clearly see their actions were swifter than Rakuzan's.
"The advantage of Seiho's Ancient Martial Arts running technique is showing. Their stamina is higher than Rakuzan's."
Many realized this final battle was really coming to a close.
Seiho played smoother and smoother, the advantage becoming more obvious as time passed.
This was exactly Seiho's favorite winning rhythm from the past.
The biggest advantage of the Ancient Martial Arts running technique was never that weird same-side limb movement, but the stamina advantage it brought, allowing them to maintain a high level of play even at the final moments.
...
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