Liu Chuanfeng, in particular, walked slowly onto the court. The aura around him remained icy, but now that chill carried a fury suppressed to its absolute limit.
His gaze was like an ice-coated blade, fixed firmly on Sendoh nearby, his eyes seething with anger and resentment that refused to subside.
What he had always wanted was a fair, head-on showdown. He wanted to defeat Sendoh with Wildness activated and his full strength unleashed, proving his ability.
But he had never imagined that Sendoh would undermine him this way, using tactical calculations to wear down his stamina bit by bit, only revealing his Wildness trump card once he was utterly exhausted.
This kind of crafty war of attrition angered him far more than losing in a direct confrontation.
The thought that his all-out effort had merely become a stepping stone in his opponent's strategy sent Liu Chuanfeng's fury surging as though hot oil had been poured over it. Even his breathing felt scorching.
He clenched his fists, his nails nearly digging into his palms. Even with almost no stamina left, he would never concede defeat.
Soon, Shohoku launched another attack.
This time, however, Ryonan's defensive intensity rose another notch, sealing off Shohoku's attacking lanes like an impenetrable iron net.
The moment Shohoku advanced, they could clearly feel the pressure bearing down on them.
Ryonan's players guarded them more tightly and moved faster. Every pass and every change of direction met tremendous resistance, making offense extraordinarily difficult.
Miyagi Ryota lowered his center of gravity and handled the ball cautiously, his eyes darting across the court as he urgently searched for a passing opportunity.
His nerves remained taut the entire time. He constantly watched for a sudden move from Chi Tong, afraid of having the ball stolen again.
But even with all that