Beep...
The referee's sharp whistle sounded.
Hainan called a timeout.
The situation had changed as swiftly as a violent storm, catching everyone off guard.
Left with no other choice, Takato Riki could only call a timeout first.
He had originally been able to sit back and remain composed, but Qing Junce's displayed strength—especially his "wildness," which surpassed even Maki Shinichi's level—had completely disrupted his plans and caught him utterly unprepared.
Huff... ha... huff... ha... huff... ha...
As soon as the Hainan players came off the court, they all began gasping for breath.
Sweat rolled down their cheeks like beads slipping from a snapped string.
Their exhaustion was not simply the result of depleted stamina. It came from the immense mental pressure weighing on them from deep within.
Qing Junce was like an insurmountable mountain standing before them, the pressure he exerted almost suffocating them.
On top of that, Maki Shinichi had repeatedly suffered setbacks in his clashes with Qing Junce, keeping their nerves taut and leaving them afraid to relax even for a moment. Their mental fatigue spread like a rising tide.
The calm composure Takato Riki had shown at the beginning of the game was nowhere to be seen now.
His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression grave, and his heart filled with anguish as he desperately pondered how he could restrain Qing Junce.
What on earth could he do?
Shohoku's bench.
"Thanks for the effort." As always, Shimizu Kanon handed Qing Junce a towel and some water the moment he came off the court. Her voice was gentle, and her eyes curved with a smile.
Qing Junce's lips lifted. He took the water and tipped his head back, gulping it down as if he wanted to swallow all his exhaustion from the court in one go.
"It's