Personality Swap

In the 22nd episode, Chi Tong, who had previously passed the ball to his teammates, seemed to have given up on them and began playing alone.

The looks they gave Chi Tong became complicated. Sento seemed to understand, yet also seemed relieved.

He did not develop any negative feelings because Chi Tong was playing alone. On the contrary, during this time, he was doing everything he could to restrict Sawakita Eiji's movements.

He knew that Bright Marsh's other players were no match for Chi Tong now. With his basketball IQ being no slouch, he immediately made the right choice.

Coach Nakamura watched from the sidelines, his eyes flickering. Although he felt something was off, seeing the situation on the court begin to improve made him hesitate.

He was a young coach. Although he had become Noble High School's basketball coach, his abilities could not compare to those veteran coaches. After all, he was still young, and his experience and perspective were right there for all to see!

Steals, drives, and shots—one jaw-dropping play after another sent the entire crowd into a frenzy. It also placed unprecedented pressure on Bright Marsh. The gap that had previously opened between the two sides gradually narrowed: Sacred Radiance 76, Bright Marsh 80.

There were only two minutes left in the game when a piercing whistle tore through the gym. Bright Marsh called a timeout.

Bright Marsh's coach could no longer sit still and immediately called for a timeout.

He had originally thought this would be a completely one-sided game. Just like before, they would rely on Sawakita's absolute dominance to claim an easy victory and raise the championship trophy.

But reality gave him a savage slap across the face.

That Chi Tong who had suddenly appeared was not only absurdly strong, but his style of play also completely exceeded the coach's understanding. His ball handling flowed like silk, his passes were so precise they seemed capable of reading minds, his vision was broad enough to overlook the entire court, and his basketball IQ was outrageously high.

Most importantly, that move of his that made people fall over at the slightest provocation was like a thorn lodged in the coach's heart. For one brief instant, he had nearly thought Chi Tong was a professional player.

Was he really human?

Could an ordinary middle school student possess such skills? Sawakita Eiji was already the most outstanding student he had ever seen.

Yet even Sawakita Eiji might not be capable of such exaggerated plays.

The current era in the world of Slam Dunk was roughly the eighties or nineties. Moves as absurdly powerful as the Ankle Breaker had only appeared in America's professional league, and only a handful of times.

Yet now, this divine technique had appeared right in front of them, trampling on their dignity again and again.

Bright Marsh's bench.

Bright Marsh's players walked off the court looking somewhat dazed, as though they had just lived through a nightmare.

Their coach could no longer hold himself back. He rushed straight up to Sawakita Eiji and said firmly, "Sawakita, you defend that red-haired kid from here on out. No matter what, you cannot let him score again."

Sawakita Eiji nodded and immediately agreed to the coach's suggestion. He had also become interested in Chi Tong and wanted to see just how strong Chi Tong really was.

As if remembering something, he said, "By the way, Coach, if I switch to defend him, what about Sendoh?"

Bright Marsh's coach seemed to have anticipated this already. He swept his gaze over the players and said steadily, "Sacred Radiance only has two threatening players now. The other three are not worth mentioning. Our tactics remain unchanged. Continue the double-team strategy."

He paused, his gaze sharp, then continued.

"There isn't much time left in the game. We're ahead now. As long as we stick to them, we'll be the ones who win."

"Yes, Bright Marsh!"

The players answered in unison. The frustration Chi Tong had caused them was swept away at once.

Sacred Radiance's bench was no longer filled with its usual noise and fervor. An unusual heaviness hung in the air.

The players sat in their respective seats with their heads lowered. No one spoke, yet their eyes occasionally stole glances at Chi Tong on the other side. Their looks were complicated and cautious, as if they were looking at an unfamiliar monster—or something on the verge of losing control.

Sento gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel. His movements were slow, but his eyes remained fixed on Chi Tong. There was surprise in his gaze, confusion, and an emotion that was difficult to put into words.

Chi Tong still sat quietly where he was, his expression calm, as though he did not care about the strange looks directed at him.

He merely closed his eyes, as if regulating his breathing—or suppressing something.

Yet what unsettled everyone most was his eyes. Beneath his closed lashes, those mismatched pupils glimmered with flickering light. The halo that had once been clearly visible in the center of his pupils now seemed as though it might disperse at any moment, as if some inhuman power were struggling and surging within him.

The entire bench area seemed shrouded by that invisible aura. No one dared to speak, and no one dared approach. They vaguely felt that Chi Tong was hiding some secret—a secret that did not belong to this era or this basketball court.

And as the game continued, that secret was slowly beginning to surface.

Sento slowly withdrew his gaze, a bitter smile forming on his lips. He muttered softly, "Just who is this guy?"

"You bastard, you took advantage of me when I wasn't paying attention!"

Deep within his consciousness, Chi Tong roared. His voice exploded like thunder, carrying a trace of fury.

Meanwhile, Chi Tong's second personality, who currently controlled the body, slowly curled his lips into a smug, wicked smile. He said softly, with a teasing note in his voice, "There's one thing you got wrong. I didn't seize control of your body while I had the chance. You were the one who willingly handed control over to me."

"I willingly handed it to you?"

Chi Tong froze, his voice filled with confusion.

The second Chi Tong gazed deeply ahead and spoke in a low voice. "I already told you before: we are one. You are me, and I am you. In other words, your thoughts are also my thoughts."

"The reverse is true as well. My thoughts are also your thoughts."

He paused, a cold seriousness showing in his eyes.

"You simply refuse to admit it deep down."

"But no matter how unwilling you are to admit it, it exists as reality."

"What nonsense!"

Chi Tong gritted his teeth and growled. Powerful resistance surged from the depths of his heart. He did not want to believe it, nor could he accept it.

"Whether you believe it or not, my existence already proves everything."

"Hmph!"

The second Chi Tong sneered coldly, his voice like a blade piercing straight into the core of Chi Tong's consciousness.

At that moment, Chi Tong within the depths of his mind gradually fell silent. It was not the calm that followed anger, but speechlessness after a buried truth had been exposed.

He knew the second personality was right. At that moment, he truly had wavered. His doubts toward his teammates, his disappointment in their tactics, and his distrust of the team had all become a crack, quietly tearing open the deepest defenses in his heart.

And the second personality had burst forth from that crack.