Kuroko's Basketball template: the king of slacking off, Shohoku's strongest sixth man.

The entire Shohoku team collapsed to the ground.

Sakuragi Hanamichi didn't even have the strength to take off his jersey, so he lay sprawled on the floor pretending to be dead.

"This genius... his CPU is about to burn out, and I'm so hungry I could eat a whole cow," he groaned weakly.

Lin Bei leaned against the door frame and casually threw out a black gold card, which landed precisely on Sakuragi's bald head.

"Stop pretending to be dead, get up and eat Wagyu beef, all you can eat." Lin Bei raised an eyebrow.

The most expensive teppanyaki restaurant in downtown Hiroshima.

The top-grade Wagyu beef was piled up like a small mountain.

The boys, who had just played so hard on the court that they were dehydrated, transformed into hungry wolves.

Sakuragi and Rukawa almost got into a real-life fight over a piece of meat, grabbing forks at each other.

Even if they beat Sannoh.

Even in this game, the two went from not looking at each other to passing the ball to each other.

These two are still incompatible by birth charts.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone returned to the hotel with bulging bellies.

Lin Bei snapped his fingers.

More than a dozen top sports rehabilitation therapists filed in.

"One for each of you, and go to sleep right after you're done." Lin Bei yawned.

"I'll take care of all the logistics. If anyone's legs go weak during tomorrow's match, I'll shove them into the ground."

Everyone let out a scream, but their tense muscles were completely relaxed.

Nobody knows how much money was spent on this top-of-the-line service.

For Lin Bei, it was just a piece of cake.

……

The wind was a bit chilly in Hiroshima at night.

On the hotel's open-air balcony, after his massage, Takenori Akagi leaned against the railing, enjoying the breeze.

A huge, dark figure walked over and handed over two cans of iced soda.

"Well done, gorilla." Jun Uozumi tossed the soda over.

Akagi caught it steadily, looked at his former nemesis, and burst out laughing.

"Thanks, Uozumi."

"I didn't expect you guys to come too." Akagi pulled the tab and tilted his head back to chug the drink.

The bubbles burst in my throat, leaving a refreshing coolness.

"How did it feel to beat Sannoh?"

Uozumi leaned against the side, looking at the neon lights in the distance.

Akagi remained silent for two seconds, then gripped the can tightly.

"It's like a dream."

"But when I woke up, I realized I wanted more."

Uozumi smiled, a smile that seemed somewhat relieved.

"You're still so greedy." He patted Akagi's broad shoulder.

Without further ado, he downed his beer in one gulp.

Dominating the entire country is now a reality within reach.

"Don't stop, Akagi."

"Keep getting stronger."

Uozumi turned and left.

Akagi nodded emphatically, his eyes feeling slightly hot.

……

The outdoor sports field behind the hotel.

The monotonous sound of dribbling echoed continuously.

Rukawa Kaede was shirtless, sweat dripping down his muscular physique.

He practiced his pull-up jump shot over and over again, even when his thighs were sore and cramping.

Sakuragi's meteor dunk during the day was so exciting!

That idiot red-haired monkey actually walked ahead of him!

This suffocating feeling of being left behind made it impossible for Rukawa to sleep.

"Your shoulders are too stiff; you're bound to miss when you throw like that."

A lazy voice came from behind.

Rukawa Kaede suddenly stopped and turned around.

Akira Sendoh, dressed casually, walked over with a smile, twirling a basketball in his hand.

"It's you." Rukawa Kaede coldly uttered three words.

Sendoh scratched his head and sighed.

"I came all this way to watch you guys play against Sannoh, can't you be a little nicer?"

"There's really no need to be so cold."

Rukawa Kaede ignored him, staring intently at the ball in his hand.

"Play with me." The tone left no room for refusal.

Sendoh tossed the ball over, his smile fading.

"You're too impatient, Rukawa."

What are you anxious about?

"Because Sakuragi pushed open the Zone's door?"

Rukawa gritted his teeth and made a powerful crossover step forward.

Sendoh easily blocked it with a gliding step.

"Actually, our Zones are essentially the same thing," Sendoh said softly.

Rukawa Kaede frowned and paused.

The immortal explained patiently.

"To put it bluntly, it's about using eye contact to deceive people."

Sendoh suddenly activated, extending his long arm to intercept the ball, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake.

Rukawa Kaede instinctively stepped back, only to find that Sendoh had merely twitched his wrist.

Did you understand?

Sendoh bounced the ball, his rhythm sometimes fast and sometimes slow.

"The extreme switching between fast and slow speeds creates an illusion."

"Using blind spots to create the illusion of time travel."

"This requires abnormal brainpower and skills." Sendoh tossed the ball up and caught it.

"Don't be envious of that kind of savage talent."

"If you hone your skills to the extreme, you can also tear through that field."

"Even dust can hold sparks, and the ordinary can give rise to legends."

Sendoh beckoned with his finger, his fighting spirit ignited.

"Come, let me see if your 'Zone' is sharp enough after being baptized by the Mountain King."

Rukawa's eyes changed, and a chilling killing intent erupted from them.

He lowered his center of gravity and pounced again like a black panther.

He thought to himself: "You nagging broom-headed idiot, I'm going to beat you to a pulp today."

……

On the basement level, there was a large, steaming hot bath.

Ryota Miyagi and Hisashi Mitsui were soaking in boiling water, with white towels on their heads.

The only sound in the bathroom was the hum of the exhaust fan.

The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

"Xiao Liang."

Mitsui suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Um."

Gongcheng responded with his eyes closed.

"Don't you feel... like we're superfluous?"

Mitsui wiped the water from his face, his eyes filled with resentment.

Gongcheng opened his eyes and gave a bitter smile.

"There are too many monsters, senior."

He took a deep breath.

"The leader is going head-to-head with Kawata in the paint."

"Lin Bei, that freak, is practically inhuman."

"Even that beginner in flower arrangement has become an ace."

The palace maiden slammed her fist into the water, splashing water everywhere.

"My speed, which I'm so proud of, makes even passing the ball difficult against Fukatsu."

"This difference..."

Mitsui remained silent.

He looked at his hands, which were wrinkled from being soaked in water.

My mind was filled with images of being relentlessly pursued by Ichinokura Satoshi during the day.

If Lin Bei hadn't held off Sakuragi and grabbed the rebound, he wouldn't have even had a chance to shoot.

"I'm too weak."

"A two-year gap cannot be made up for by simply shouting slogans."

Mitsui gritted his teeth, his face full of regret.

Dead silence.

In a battle of gods, the powerlessness of mortals is too torturous.

After an unknown amount of time, Miyagi suddenly stood up.

Water droplets slid down his muscles, and his eyes were frighteningly sharp.

"I don't want to be a burden anymore, Mitsui-senpai."

"I need to become faster, so fast that no one can keep up with me!" Miyagi stared intently at the tiled wall.

Mitsui also stood up, ripped off the towel, and threw it onto the water.

"Stop being so cocky, you brat." Mitsui grinned, laughing wildly.

"who I am?"

"I am Mitsui Hisashi, the Man of Flame!"

"I will definitely be the strongest on the field."

Two figures made a vow in the mist.

……

Late at night, at the hotel entrance.

A pure black Rolls-Royce was parked under a streetlamp.

The carriage was as spacious as a living room.

Lin Bei nestled in the leather seat, fiddling with a pure gold lighter.

"Click, click."

Sitting opposite him was Mr. Lin, dressed in a suit and tie, exuding a powerful aura.

It was rare to see the father and son so calm and peaceful.

"I watched the game," Lin's father said in a low voice.

Lin Bei raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, so busy people have time to watch high schoolers play basketball?"

"The sun rose in the west."

Lin's father ignored his teasing and gave him a sharp look.

"Being able to defeat that Sannoh is truly beyond my expectations."