"All right, the game is underway! Let's witness what promises to be an incredible match!"
As the referee tossed the basketball into the air, the male announcer launched into his enthusiastic commentary.
On the court, Jason Silver sprang upward and tipped the ball toward the backcourt, outjumping Kenichi Okamura by nearly the length of an entire forearm.
Kenichi Okamura's expression changed instantly.
'He jumped that high?!'
After securing the ball, Nash Gold calmly made his way toward the frontcourt without the slightest hint of urgency on his face.
He strolled up to Yukio Kasamatsu and casually flung the ball to the side.
Kiyoshi Miyaji was momentarily confused. The pass was so poor that there was no way it could reach Allen, whom he was guarding.
Kiyoshi Miyaji quickly reached out and knocked the pass away before taking possession and launching a fast break.
Nash Gold and the others slowly turned around, deliberately matching Kiyoshi Miyaji's pace as they followed behind him.
Kiyoshi Miyaji drove straight to the basket and finished with a layup.
Even after scoring, however, he showed no trace of excitement. Instead, his expression grew serious.
'What's going on? A team that has dominated opponents around the world can't possibly be this weak!'
Kiyoshi Miyaji was puzzled. The Black Dragon Team's current performance looked nothing like that of a team capable of defeating streetball teams from around the world.
He was not the only one who noticed.
As the game continued, every member of the Black Dragon Team made mistakes that normally only beginners would make.
Team Strky scored eight unanswered points, bringing the score to 0-8.
The spectators cheered loudly from the stands, thrilled by Team Strky's early lead.
The crowd was delighted, but the members of Team Strky could not bring themselves to celebrate.
Yukio Kasamatsu stared at the calm expressions of the Black Dragon Team and muttered.
"Something feels wrong. The level they're showing right now couldn't possibly be enough to defeat streetball players from around the world."
Shoichi Imayoshi narrowed his eyes and agreed.
"Exactly. They also look completely relaxed. From a psychological standpoint, that's the expression of people who know they're in control. There's only one explanation for this."
"They're doing it on purpose."
The other members' expressions turned serious as well. None of them had any idea what the Black Dragon Team was truly capable of.
However, judging by how casually they had given away eight points, the Black Dragon Team was undoubtedly stronger than them.
On the other side, Zack scratched his head and spoke irritably.
"Tch. We've watched them for several possessions, and this is all they've got? They're nowhere near as strong as Haizaki and the others."
"The fact that people like these took Haizaki and the others' spots really pisses me off."
Nick lightly tapped the floor with the toe of his shoe, his head lowered.
"Yeah. It doesn't sit right with me either."
Allen turned toward Nash Gold.
"Nash, what do we do now?"
Nash Gold placed a hand against his neck and rolled his head slightly. Then a sinister smile spread across his face.
"Now... let's make the score 88-8."
Jason Silver immediately lit up.
"We're controlling the score? Now I'm excited!"
The Black Dragon Team had deliberately controlled the final score twice before, once during a game in India and once in South Korea.
Their experiences in those two countries had left them thoroughly irritated, although even Jason Silver admitted that the women in South Korea were attractive.
The men, however, had left a far worse impression.
In both India and South Korea, the Black Dragon Team had deliberately kept the final score at 88-8. As for the meaning behind that number, those who understood it needed no explanation.
Only two countries had been subjected to that treatment before.
Now, it seemed a third was about to join them.
On the court, Nash Gold received a pass from Jason Silver and slowly dribbled into the frontcourt.
Yukio Kasamatsu spread his arms and guarded him with a stern expression.
Nash Gold gave him a contemptuous smile.
Thud... thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
The basketball moved so rapidly beneath Nash Gold's hands that it seemed to leave afterimages behind.
The sheer speed left everyone stunned.
Yukio Kasamatsu's pupils contracted sharply.
'He's so fast!'
Shoichi Imayoshi narrowed his already thin eyes even further.
'Are they finally getting serious?'
Nash Gold continued dribbling at incredible speed, a sinister grin on his face. Then, in the next instant, he suddenly spread both hands apart.
The basketball had vanished.
Yukio Kasamatsu stared in shock.
'Where did the ball go?!'
Seeing his stunned expression, Nash Gold's grin widened.
In the next instant, Nash Gold thrust his right elbow backward, knocking the basketball behind him and straight into Allen's hands.
Allen joined in on the fun as soon as he caught it. He used a series of streetball moves to toy with Kiyoshi Miyaji before sinking the shot.
From that point onward, Team Strky was completely overwhelmed by the Black Dragon Team.
The paint became forbidden territory. Anyone who entered was immediately met with a block from Jason Silver.
Team Strky could not score on offense, and they could not stop any member of the Black Dragon Team on defense.
Every member of the Black Dragon Team began playing around with them.
Allen repeatedly used streetball moves to toy with Kiyoshi Miyaji. Even Nick, who rarely handled the ball, began using streetball techniques to embarrass Shoichi Imayoshi.
Zack did the same, constantly taunting and toying with Chihiro Mayuzumi.
Jason Silver was even more brutal. He simply took the ball and repeatedly bulldozed through Kenichi Okamura.
The relentless impacts nearly made Kenichi Okamura throw up.
Jason Silver looked at the comparatively weak Kenichi Okamura with contempt.
'Tch. He doesn't even have half of that brat Murasakibara's strength. How could he possibly think he deserved Murasakibara's spot?'
Chihiro Mayuzumi did manage to surprise Zack during the game.
Zack lost track of him several times and had no idea where Chihiro Mayuzumi had gone.
That gave Team Strky several scoring opportunities, but Jason Silver shut down every one of them.
After blocking another shot from Kiyoshi Miyaji, Jason Silver snapped irritably.
"Zack, what the hell are you doing? You can't even guard one guy?!"
Zack answered angrily.
"Shit, that guy's too strange! The second I stop paying attention, he disappears!"
Nash Gold glanced at Chihiro Mayuzumi with interest, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile.
"Now this is interesting..."
...
...
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