Shock rippled through everyone on the Seirin team as they flusteredly abandoned their markings, rushing to intercept Tsuna and halt his advance.
Tsuna noticed his teammates immediately adjusting their positions for a potential pass, and a light smile of satisfaction played on his lips.
Their unwavering focus pleased him.
"Still, going this far against them. It's only right for me to crush them personally, right?"
He muttered, accelerating his dribble as the entire Seirin team closed in.
However, their defense proved futile against Tsuna's overpowering movement. He effortlessly sliced through their defenses like a hot knife through butter, leaping gracefully and slamming the ball into the basket.
The crowd erupted in loud cheers, witnessing Tsuna dismantle the entire Seirin team with a dominating play.
The excitement filled up the entire court.
Seirin found themselves in dire straits.
While the team had faced challenges from the start, the current situation had elevated their peril to a whole new level.
With Tsuna now playing seriously, Seirin's offense and defense became utterly ineffective. Even Kuroko, utilizing his ability to predict teammates' movements and alter the flow, couldn't counter Tsuna's dominance.
Adding to their frustration, Kagami appeared to be running out of energy.
"...Damn it!" Kagami muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Clouded eyes betrayed his struggle as he found it increasingly difficult to maintain the state of the zone.
"They're done for..." Akashi's cold voice resonated through the air as he rose from his seat.
Shaking his head with a sense of certainty, he began walking toward the exit.
"Let's go, there's no point in watching their meaningless struggle anymore. Our opponent for the final has already been decided...."
A silent exchange of glances circulated among everyone in Rakuzan High. With unanimous nods, they followed after Akashi, making their way out of the crowd of spectators.
Tsuna didn't let Kagami's state slide; he swiftly swiped the ball out of his hand and deftly weaved through the court, scoring another point for Fukuda Sogo.
As Kagami panted heavily, his gaze fixated on Tsuna's retreating figure. His thoughts lingered at the door beyond the zone, and he took a deep breath.
"Kagami, are you alright? Should we take you out?"
Kiyoshi's concerned voice resonated as everyone from Seirin gathered to check on Kagami. Feeling their genuine concern warmed Kagami's heart despite the challenging situation.
His eyes refocused, and he opened his mouth, saying, "Everyone, I have a plan..."
"Hmm?"
Tsuna suddenly felt a jolt of alarm, akin to the sensation he experienced during the last timeout in the previous quarter, but this time, it intensified.
He cast a wary glance at Seirin, who inbounded the ball, muttering, "...Will they be able to pull it off?"
Nijimura sensed something amiss in Tsuna's expression, prompting him to turn and observe the unfolding events.
As Seirin advanced forward, an unusual pressure filled the air.
Fukuda Sogo's players sensed a strange harmony and synchronization among Seirin, who moved with perfect coordination. Being players with almost flawless instinct utilization, they couldn't help but feel pressured by the sheer synchronization displayed.
"What is going on?"
Nijimura couldn't contain his disbelief as everyone in Seirin suddenly adopted an aggressive stance, exchanging meaningful glances.
"This is?" Kise's eyes widened in shock.
"He opened that zone beyond the zone! Direct Drive Zone!"
Aomine stood up in disbelief, sensing that the door had been opened as well.
In the heart of the court, Kagami drew a deep breath, his eyes igniting with subtle orangish sparks streaming across his pupils.
The pressure emanating from these determined players bore down on Tsuna, who braced himself for the impending onslaught.
In a synchronized exchange of glances with Kuroko and Izuki, Kagami executed a sharp swing of his arm, propelling the ball toward Kuroko.
Tsuna's eyes tracked the ball's trajectory before widening in surprise as Kagami swiftly bypassed him, soaring towards the basket.
Kuroko seamlessly unleashed the ball, sending it hurtling through the court to Izuki.
With a deft move, Izuki lofted the ball into the air for a perfect alley-oop setup.
In a thunderous display of swiftness, Kagami slammed it down sending shockwaves reverberating through the gymnasium.
The crowd was momentarily silenced before erupting into a frenzy of cheers, their excitement palpable.
"...What?" Haizaki's exclamation echoed loudly.
He struggled to comprehend the rapid sequence of events that unfolded in the blink of an eye, leaving even the spectators from Fukuda Sogo stunned and unable to react in time.
"Is that why Tsuna's demeanor shifted a moment ago?"
Nijimura involuntarily fell into a shock. He turned towards Tsuna with curiosity etched on his face as he probed, "...Do you have an idea they were about to do this?"
"I sensed it..." Tsuna shook his head, his expression turning indifferent.
He had mentally braced himself for this revelation since the events in the third quarter. Tsuna just hadn't anticipated that Seirin would successfully execute it, especially given Kagami's current stamina.
"Retrieve the ball, Shuzo..." Tsuna uttered softly, sending a shiver down Nijimura's spine.
He nodded and briskly moved to the baseline, swiftly picking up the ball and delivering it to Tsuna.
Nijimura observed Tsuna in silence, his throat tight as he swallowed hard.
"...This has only happened a handful of times," he muttered, his mind retracing to the last occasion Tsuna sent shivers down his spine—
—the moment he managed to defeat Sebas in a one-on-one martial arts duel, a seemingly impossible feat given Tsuna's age.
Tsuna dribbled the ball deliberately, eyes scanning everyone in Fukuda Sogo. His voice sliced through the air, "Stay back, focus on defense..."
"What?"
Confusion rippled through the team, but Tsuna's determined advance without a second explanation left them frozen in place, obediently following his command.
Seirin exchanged puzzled glances as they watched Tsuna move forward on his own.
"And he's already out of the zone?" Kagami muttered, perplexed.
He couldn't fathom how Tsuna calmly advanced without even tapping into the zone.
"Wha!"
Nevertheless, an immense pressure radiated from Tsuna's form, leaving their eyes wide in disbelief.
Tsuna chuckled, "Absolutely ridiculous..."
"To think I have to resort to this in such a small place. Seems like I need to push myself even harder."
His words sliced through the air with an icy edge.
With that proclamation, Tsuna nonchalantly shut his eyes.
In the recesses of his mind, Tsuna slowly made his way towards the solitary throne before claiming it as his own with a casual grace before settling into its embrace.
When he revealed his eyes again, the mundane darkness that usually filled his pupils had been replaced.
A vivid crimson tint had taken place, transforming his gaze into something eerily captivating.
The oppressive sight weighed on everyone in Seirin as they found themselves locked in a gaze with those unsettling crimson pupils.
Kagami's body trembled involuntarily as he stared into the depths of those red eyes, muttering in disbelief, "...What was that?"
"I commend you, Seirin. I take back what I said about you being the second team to make me break a sweat."
His words hung in the air, an immense pressure engulfing the entire gymnasium as he proclaimed, "You're actually the first team to make me break a real sweat!"
With these declarations, an unspoken realization spread through everyone in Seirin—they were now undeniably, irrevocably...
...doomed!