The Clash of Geniuses!

The atmosphere on the court froze solid the moment Shirakawa's aura erupted.

Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the two players on the court.

They knew the real show was only beginning now!

Kaede Rukawa lowered his center of gravity, spread his arms, and fixed his full attention on Shirakawa and the basketball in his hands.

Shirakawa's figure was reflected in his icy eyes as his mind raced, analyzing every possible offensive move his opponent might make.

However, Shirakawa's offense could not be analyzed by conventional logic.

"Bang!"

Shirakawa suddenly accelerated. There were no unnecessary feints—just the purest, most primal burst of speed!

His entire body became a white bolt of lightning as he charged straight toward Kaede Rukawa's left side!

"So fast!"

Kaede Rukawa's pupils contracted sharply.

This speed was faster than any opponent he had ever faced! It was even a notch faster than when Shirakawa had blown past Ryota Miyagi earlier!

But he was Kaede Rukawa, after all!

His reaction speed and lateral movement were equally top-tier!

In that instant, he had already completed a defensive slide, his body like a black shadow as he firmly cut off Shirakawa's driving lane!

He stopped him!

"He defended it!"

"As expected of Kaede Rukawa! His reaction is too fast!"

The players on the sidelines had barely let out their cries of surprise.

But in the next second, their voices caught in their throats.

Because Shirakawa, whose path had been blocked, not only did not slow down, but completed an unbelievable crossover in full sprint with an incredibly bizarre rhythm!

The basketball seemed glued to his hand, moving from his left hand to his right with almost no airtime at all!

His body followed the ball's change of direction, forcibly turning from the left side to the right!

It was a sudden stop-and-go change of direction that completely defied human biomechanics!

"What?!"

Kaede Rukawa's brain had no time to process this sudden change.

His body was still moving left from inertia, and he could only watch helplessly as Shirakawa flashed past him on the right!

Blown past in one step again!

It was the same unreasonable, overwhelming domination Shirakawa had used to get past Ryota Miyagi earlier!

"Damn it!"

A flicker of shock crossed Kaede Rukawa's eyes, but he did not give up!

He abruptly stopped and turned, forcibly twisting his body around before breaking into a mad chase after Shirakawa, who had already penetrated the paint!

His recovery speed was astonishingly fast!

Almost the instant Shirakawa was about to lay the ball up, he had caught up from behind. He leaped high, his long palm viciously swatting toward the basketball in Shirakawa's hand!

It was a chasedown block worthy of a top-ten highlight reel!

"He caught up!"

"Block him!"

Everyone's hearts rose into their throats.

Yet Shirakawa, hanging in midair, showed no panic whatsoever.

It was as though he had eyes on the back of his head. He did not even look back.

At the very moment Kaede Rukawa's palm was about to touch the ball, he made a move that left everyone in the gym slack-jawed.

In midair, he actually pulled back the basketball he was about to release, then twisted his body in the air until his back faced the hoop!

Then, he casually tossed the ball behind him, toward the basket!

Here it came again!

[Formless Shot]!

And it was an ultra-difficult version with his back to the basket!

"Th-this can go in too?!"

Still in the air, Kaede Rukawa watched helplessly as the basketball flew beneath his armpit toward the hoop behind him.

There was nothing he could do.

"Swish!"

The basketball dropped through the net, producing the sweetest and most nerve-racking sound heard in the gym that day.

1:1!

Shirakawa landed easily, not even turning around to look at the result.

He turned to look at Kaede Rukawa, who had also landed with shock written across his face, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Well? You can't defend my shot, can you?"

Kaede Rukawa said nothing.

He merely stared fixedly at Shirakawa. Beyond the shock in those icy eyes was an unprecedented fighting spirit, one that had been ignited!

He had lost that possession.

But he had not lost his momentum!

"Again!"

Kaede Rukawa picked up the ball from the floor, his gaze becoming incomparably sharp.

He attacked once more.

This time, his movements were simpler and deadlier!

A crossover step, followed by a behind-the-back dribble, then a Buddha Fake!

A string of dazzling yet practical moves left everyone's eyes spinning!

The pressure on Shirakawa's defense surged!

He could feel it—Kaede Rukawa before him seemed to have grown stronger again!

This guy's learning ability and competitive drive were simply monstrous!

"But it's useless!"

A glint flashed through Shirakawa's eyes.

At the instant Kaede Rukawa made his final driving move and believed he had shaken Shirakawa off, Shirakawa's hand shot out like lightning!

"Slap!"

A crisp sound rang out!

The basketball was cleanly stolen!

"Th-that steal again!" Ryota Miyagi's heart trembled as he watched from the sidelines. This scene was far too similar to when his own ball had been stolen earlier!

Shirakawa stole the ball and immediately launched a fast break!

Kaede Rukawa reacted swiftly and instantly turned to chase him down!

The two figures became afterimages on the court, one ahead and one behind, putting on the ultimate display of speed and intensity!

"Fast! Too fast!"

"My eyes can barely keep up!"

Shirakawa's speed ultimately proved superior!

He once again left Kaede Rukawa behind, charged beneath the basket, and this time he did not use any fancy moves—just a simple, efficient one-handed tomahawk dunk!

"Boom!"

The rim let out another mournful cry!

2:1!

Shirakawa had reached match point!

No one in the entire gym could remain seated anymore.

Everyone stood up, watching the godlike battle on the court with excitement.

Takenori Akagi's fists clenched until they cracked, his heart roaring, Strong! Too strong! Our Shohoku actually has two such powerful geniuses at once!

Behind Coach Anzai's lenses, a sharp gleam flickered. It was as if he could already see Shohoku ruling the nation!

On the court, Kaede Rukawa panted heavily, sweat already soaking through his jersey.

He raised his head and looked at Shirakawa, who seemed to possess endless stamina. For the first time, a trace of confusion appeared in his eyes.

Speed, skill, shooting, defense...

Everything he took pride in seemed so insignificant before his opponent.

Could it be that I really... am not as good as him?

That thought grew wildly in his heart like poisonous weeds.

Looking at Kaede Rukawa's state, Shirakawa knew the timing was about right.

He slowly dribbled the ball as he walked toward Kaede Rukawa, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Hey, superstar rookie."

"Is this all your basketball amounts to?"

"If this is all there is..."

A cruel curve formed at the corner of Shirakawa's mouth.

"Then this game should end now."

Before his words had even faded, the basketball in his hand suddenly... disappeared!