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Ryu took a deep breath, thinking about Aomine's speed just now. 'Looks like it's time to use that move. Aomine, you'd better watch out.'
As soon as Ryu finished speaking, his entire aura changed.
Immediately afterward, wisps of red flame surged continuously from Ryu's body.
His aura suddenly intensified.
"What?" Aomine Daiki's pupils contracted.
He felt as if the Ryu before him was a predator waiting to pounce.
Both he and the crowd outside the arena stared wide-eyed, looking utterly incredulous.
"What is that?"
"What's with that aura around him?"
"Hey! Are we really watching a basketball game?"
Nijimura Shuzo had lost count of how many times he'd been shocked.
He knew his talent couldn't compare to these five freaks.
But seeing Ryu and Aomine possess such strength... the blow to him was immense.
"These two guys." Shintaro Midorima, on the other side, recovered from his shock.
His heart was far from calm. "What exactly is that? Wildness?"
Atsushi Murasakibara retorted, "I don't think so. The situations with Ryu and Aomine seem quite different."
Shintaro Midorima adjusted his glasses, staring intently at Ryu, muttering to himself, "Is this your true strength?"
Seijuro Akashi remained silent throughout.
But a closer look revealed that his eyes were trembling slightly. 'Is the gap between me and the two of them really this vast?'
Having been raised with the Akashi family's values, he was taught to strive for excellence in everything he did.
The victors were recognized, the losers forgotten in the dust of history—this was his guiding principle.
But now, seeing Ryu and Aomine's growth, he felt an overwhelming urgency.
How could he, Seijuro Akashi, be left behind? Absolutely not.
Murasakibara Atsushi withdrew his gaze from Ryu, then picked up his delicious stick and continued eating.
He had already mentally rehearsed the match against Ryu and Aomine.
He couldn't win… he was completely outmatched…
"Ryu-kun… Daiki…" Momoi Satsuki stared blankly at the two facing off on the court.
Her gaze was mostly fixed on Ryu.
Today, she had truly seen something new.
She and Aomine Daiki had grown up together.
She used to accompany Aomine to various places to play basketball whenever she had free time; she had practically grown up with basketball.
But Ryu's situation was completely beyond her comprehension.
On the court, Aomine Daiki's pupils contracted again and again, his heart filled with shock. "You… what is this?"
Ryu stood still, holding the basketball in both hands, a slight smile playing on his lips. "The aura of a ferocious beast resonates with your wild nature."
"Ha... is that so?" Aomine Daiki's blood was practically boiling.
He had never felt so excited.
Aomine grinned, revealing a row of pearly white teeth.
His gaze towards Ryu held a hint of madness and aggression. "Then let's begin!"
With that, Ryu lowered his stance.
Aomine Daiki followed suit, bending down as well.
The two stared at each other silently and tensely, the atmosphere palpable as the final shot would seal their fate.
Whoosh…
Whoosh…
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, two streaks of lightning, one silver and one blue, flashed towards the basket.
Ryu and Aomine were like two ravenous, bloodthirsty beasts.
Their eyes were fixed on the bright orange round prey.
They fought like hungry wolves tearing at each other, like a battle between monster and monster, fixated on one another, determined not to give up.
Ryu and Aomine moved from beyond the three-point line to inside the paint in an instant, and then back again in the blink of an eye.
Their movements were almost instantaneous.
At this moment, only the swishing of their shoes and the thud of the basketball hitting the ground filled the arena.
The crowd outside the court was completely stunned.
The second and third-year students, led by Nijimura Shuzo, gaped.
They stared in disbelief at the two men on the court moving like the wind.
The duel between Ryu and Aomine was completely beyond their comprehension.
"Is this what the captain meant by the difference in talent?" a second-year player stammered, dumbfounded. No one answered him. The facts were undeniable.
Time ticked by as Ryu and Aomine locked in a stalemate.
Three minutes later, Ryu was panting heavily, his jersey soaked with sweat.
Aomine Daiki wasn't in much better shape.
He was also breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his skin.
Heh…
Just then, Ryu suddenly grinned.
'Hmm?' Aomine Daiki narrowed his eyes, becoming slightly wary, wondering why Ryu was smiling.
Ryu spoke, "It seems this style of play doesn't work for you anymore."
Ryu felt quite helpless.
Aomine Daiki's speed was now no less than his—even a few points faster.
This wasn't to say that Ryu was slow; it was more accurate to say that Aomine Daiki's talent focused purely on agility, while Ryu's because of body emphasized a balanced approach across all attributes.
Ryu's words had barely left his lips when Aomine's pupils contracted.
Ryu's movements suddenly changed.
Unlike his previous orthodox style, his movements now were completely unrestrained and wild, devoid of any discernible pattern.
He was like a drunken, bouncy toy, his dribbling posture extremely exaggerated, with moves that no normal person could perform.
Even Ryu himself couldn't predict his next move.
Aomine Daiki's pressure suddenly increased, but he didn't give up.
Familiar with streetball, he reacted to the seemingly chaotic dribbling.
The two began a new round of competition.
However, this time it was clear to everyone: Aomine Daiki was visibly hesitant.
Ryu dribbled the ball swiftly and agilely, seemingly without any strategy, approaching the basket step by step.
Aomine Daiki could only offer brief resistance.
Just as Ryu was about to break through his defense, Aomine roared, unleashing his full potential.
His speed increased even further.
Ryu, who had been dribbling with relative ease, was momentarily stopped by Aomine's sudden change of direction.
The two were now inside the paint.
Ryu's pupils contracted, and he prepared to force a shot right in front of Aomine Daiki.
Even if Aomine could stop him in time, he could always change his shot into a "tightrope walk." In his current state, it would be difficult for Aomine to stop him inside the paint.
Ryu bent his knees, just about to jump and shoot.
Squeak…
Just then, the basketball court doors opened.
"Stop…"
Ryu and Aomine Daiki paused.
The others outside the court also looked over at the sound.
"Coach Shirogane, Assistant Coach."
Shirogane Kozo and the assistant coach entered the court. The "stop" was spoken by the assistant coach. Kozo Shirogane walked to the edge of the court and said to Ryu and Aomine, "Let's end this match as a draw for now!"
Everyone was confused by Shirogane's words.
Ryu didn't care, but Aomine Daiki couldn't stand it. He asked, somewhat dissatisfied, "Coach, why is that? We were almost at a decisive point."
Hearing Aomine's questioning tone, the assistant coach reprimanded him. "Enough, Aomine, the coach is doing this for your own good."
Shirogane waved his hand and then spoke gently to Ryu and Aomine. "Your duel just now was spectacular; I almost couldn't bear to stop you. But your actions were too dangerous, more than you can handle right now. I don't want you to suffer lasting injuries because of a momentary victory, which could affect your future development."
"Ryu, Aomine." Speaking of which, Shirogane Kozo turned to Akashi, Midorima, and Murasakibara.
"Akashi, Midorima, and Murasakibara. You five are the most talented players I've ever seen as a coach. I hope you can fully develop, instead of seeking momentary pleasure and regretting it for the rest of your lives."
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