After realizing that his trash talk wasn't doing much, Makoto Hanamiya started to ease up on the barrage.
Of course, he didn't stop completely.
As Hanamiya kept talking, a spiderweb began to spread beneath his feet.
It continued to expand across the court.
Nash Gold's eyelid twitched.
"A spiderweb? What does it do?"
He lifted his foot from the web and felt no drag or heaviness.
Clearly, it wasn't slowing him down.
Then what exactly was it for?
While Nash Gold was still trying to figure it out, the spiderweb quickly spread across the entire half-court.
Shogo Haizaki gave Makoto Hanamiya a nod, as if he understood something.
Cold sweat formed on Hanamiya's forehead, and his breathing grew slightly heavy.
It took a lot out of him, but at least he had completed it.
The next second, Shogo Haizaki ran in front of Shuzo Nijimura and set a screen.
Shuzo Nijimura immediately understood and used the screen to break free.
At that moment, Makoto Hanamiya passed the ball.
Nash Gold made no move.
He wanted to see what Hanamiya was planning.
After receiving the ball, Shuzo Nijimura faced Nick, who had switched onto him.
To be honest, Nijimura was wary of Nick's defense.
Nick's serious nature made him the second-best defender on the Black Dragon Team, just behind Jason Silver.
(Nash Gold's defense isn't particularly strong when he's not using his Eye. Only when it's activated does his defense reach a top level.)
Shuzo Nijimura took a deep breath and began his attack.
He kept shaking his shoulders, trying to shift Nick's center of gravity.
But Nick was like a hunter, patiently waiting for his prey to slip before delivering the final blow.
Suddenly, Nijimura's eyes sharpened, as if he had realized something, and he exploded to the right.
Nick stayed glued to him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Nijimura caught a figure moving, confirming his suspicion.
He immediately stopped, gathered the ball, spun, stepped back, and jumped.
Nick halted just as quickly and followed.
At that moment, Nijimura suddenly smiled and flung the ball away.
Nick glanced over in confusion.
Dicky Anthony caught the pass, ignored Zack's defense, and jumped straight up.
He released the shot.
Swish!
Three points.
Nick looked at Zack, still confused about what had just happened.
Zack spread his hands helplessly.
"That gray-haired guy screened Allen off me. I couldn't do anything against that tall guy's shot."
"The switch happened too suddenly. Even trying to steal it was difficult."
Nick nodded.
"It's fine. Our offense."
Possession changed.
Black Dragon Team ball.
Nash Gold slowly brought the ball up, still thinking about Hanamiya's spiderweb.
'Could it just be a detection ability?'
No. The more he thought about it, the more it felt off.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
'This is getting interesting.'
As usual, Nash Gold passed the ball to Zack, letting him face Shuzo Nijimura.
Zack squeezed the ball and grinned.
Back when Miyamoto Tokima and Nijimura were still in the United States, Zack's daily routine was simple.
Eat, sleep, train, and play against Nijimura.
It could be said that Zack and Shuzo Nijimura had the most one-on-one matchups on the Black Dragon Team.
And most of the time, Zack won.
This time was no different.
Zack slammed the ball down and used two quick rhythm changes to shake Nijimura instantly, then drove straight to the rim.
Facing the fierce Murasakibara, Zack had no intention of clashing head-on with such a giant.
He used a series of shoulder feints, then a spin move to slip past him.
Zack thought he was clear and was about to go for a hook shot when Murasakibara suddenly caught up and leaped, cutting off his shooting angle.
Zack was stunned.
'What kind of athleticism is that? It's comparable to Jason!'
With no other choice, Zack forced a pass.
Allen caught it and, without hesitation, sent it to the baseline.
To Nick.
Nick remained expressionless as he bent his knees into a shooting stance.
Then his center of gravity suddenly rose.
Seeing this, Shogo Haizaki immediately jumped.
"No way!"
The next second, he froze.
Nick hadn't jumped at all.
He had only lifted his center of gravity.
With a calm expression, Nick lightly tapped the ball, slid sideways, and released the shot.
Haizaki had just landed and had no time to jump again.
Damn it.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps rang out.
Murasakibara appeared.
He stomped hard with his right foot and soared into the air.
With a fierce swing of his right hand, he sent Nick's shot flying.
Bang!
The ball was swatted far across the court.
Nick's pupils trembled slightly, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
Zack swallowed.
"Fuck, what kind of athleticism is that?"
Jason Silver's expression turned serious.
The athleticism and reaction speed Murasakibara just showed were on par with his own.
Murasakibara lowered his head, took two deep breaths, then slowly raised it.
His fierce eyes locked onto Nick.
"I'll crush you."
Nick frowned. He sensed something different.
Zack, on the other hand, felt something familiar.
...
The game continued with the Black Dragon Team in possession.
Once again, Zack attacked.
This time, his offense was more restricted.
Shuzo Nijimura had increased the intensity, even activating Animal Instinct.
Even so, Zack still managed to hit a fadeaway jumper from the baseline.
Murasakibara didn't contest.
There was no point. Nijimura already had position there.
As they ran back on defense, Nash Gold said to Zack,
"That's enough. Time for the others."
Zack nodded.
"Got it."
...
Possession changed.
Kirisaki Daiichi ball.
Makoto Hanamiya stepped to the three-point line, and the spiderweb spread out instantly.
Shogo Haizaki seemed to receive a signal and started moving.
Shuzo Nijimura carefully observed everyone's movements and acted as well.
Nash Gold frowned. He still didn't understand the purpose of the spiderweb.
Haizaki quickly cut into the paint, then slipped past Murasakibara.
Using the two big men as cover, he quickly got open.
Hanamiya immediately passed him the ball.
Nick rushed to close out, but he was too late.
Shogo Haizaki had already released the ball...
...using [Formless Shot]...
...sending it flying...