Chapter 152 - 153: Another Label for Himself

Words : 1075 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

"Wait—Kuroko, didn't you say only Aomine among the Generation of Miracles had the gift of Wild Instinct?" When the "monster" appeared, the members of Seirin all turned to Kuroko in shock. Could it be that during these past few months, Tendou had awakened it too? "That's not Wild Instinct," Kuroko said calmly. "Then what is it?" "A monster." Just one word—yet it silenced them. A monster? Wasn't that just a nickname people used for Tendou and the other Generation of Miracles? Sensing their confusion, Kuroko added, "Tendou himself said it. That thing in his mind... he calls it his monster." Everyone paused, still finding it hard to understand. "It might be a manifestation of his insanely high basketball IQ," Kiyoshi Teppei said thoughtfully. "I read about it in a magazine back in middle school—Tendou's game sense is off the charts." "Magazine?" the team turned at once to a particular member— That same first-year who had introduced Kise's debut with a magazine in hand. A diehard basketball fan, he'd never let go of any chance to dig up player info. Without hesitation, he pulled out a thick stack of magazines from his bag and began flipping through them. Soon, he found the one with Tendou on the cover. "Tendou Kageyoshi – The Demon Star of Teikō, and newly appointed Captain of the Basketball Club." "Before discovering basketball, Tendou Kageyoshi had dabbled in numerous sports. Like his teammate Kise Ryōta, he was a natural all-rounder." "But unlike Kise's prodigious ability to learn, what stood out most about Tendou was his innate athletic intelligence." "He once observed a sword master and created his own sword style from scratch. He's invented in-game techniques after facing opponents and drawing inspiration mid-match." "And even that is just the tip of the iceberg. His true strength lies in his ability to analyze and observe. Even without any prior scouting, he can pinpoint a team's tactical flaws in real-time and exploit them ruthlessly..." There was more, but that was the essence. Kuroko followed up, "Tendou said he's been like this since he was very young. Every time he steps on a court—whether it's basketball, soccer, or anything else—there's always a voice in his mind." "A voice that tells him exactly what to do." "Seriously...?" someone whispered. Everyone already knew Tendou was a genius on the court. But they didn't know his basketball IQ could become something tangible. "What happens when he enters that state?" "Maybe... he gets even smarter?" Kise scratched his head. "After his second year of middle school, he stopped showing the monster much. But every time it did appear, he would immediately find the opponent's weakness." "Whether it was a player's defensive flaw or a team's strategic hole—he'd spot it instantly." "And that was before he awakened the Six Eyes," Midorima added. "Who knows how powerful his basketball IQ's become now that he has them." The one thing they all knew was this: Right now, Tendou's control over the court was overwhelming. Under the Six Eyes, that monster in his head became a second mind, feeding him deeper insight. "It's not just about what he sees—it's about what his eyes can understand." BANG! The basketball slammed violently against the hardwood. Tendou's raw power had surpassed physical limits—Aomine had to release the ball, unable to contest it further. "Rebound!" Both teams shouted—but no one knew if it counted as a shot attempt. Didn't matter. Everyone lunged. Sakurai Ryō was closest. He snagged the loose ball on the bounce. But in an instant, Kirisaki Daiichi's defenders—including Yamazaki Hiroshi—swarmed him. The mushroom-headed Sakurai broke into a cold sweat. Kirisaki's reputation preceded them. No hesitation—he immediately passed the ball back to Imayoshi. Despite his panic, the pass was crisp and clean. Fast and accurate—just like his shooting. But the moment he let go of the ball, a towering shadow appeared in front of him. A creature made of black fire—and it smiled at him. "What the hell...?" His heart pounded wildly. SMACK! The creature vanished—replaced by Tendou's tall figure, cutting off the pass and sprinting down the court. "So fast—he was just under the rim!" Imayoshi was drenched in sweat. "He's reading everything—our tactics, our positioning, every move we make." It made the Tōō players feel... like there was no point in playing. When someone sees straight through your underwear—what's the point of fancy strategy? Aomine didn't wait. He took off running after Tendou, chasing him full throttle. His instincts had also read Sakurai's pass. Two streaks—one black, one white—shot across the court. One radiated raw animal power. The other moved with a monster at his side. One drew strength from instinct. The other, from intellect. Which was stronger? They were about to find out. Tendou's monster leaned in beside his ear and whispered something. "...That's all I need to do?" Tendou mumbled to himself. Then, after crossing the three-point line—he stopped abruptly. Having been burned once before, Aomine was ready. He slammed his foot down hard, stopping his full-speed momentum in an instant. He saw Tendou bring the ball to his chest—he jumped without thinking. But Tendou suddenly twisted his wrists mid-air and darted left past Aomine. "You're right about one thing." "Your light is far too dim." Zoom—! Tendou surged into the paint and slammed down another one-handed dunk. But that wasn't the end of it. The monster whispered again—"If you do it like this, it'll feel even better." So Tendou released the rim, turned, and raised one finger toward the sky. "Above the heavens and below the earth, I alone reign supreme!" 『Damn, that's so over-the-top—and I love it!』『So badass!』『B-King 666666!』『My god, he's so cool!』 The bullet comments exploded. After all, what kind of anime match is complete without some corny, overpowered declaration? Tendou's go-to line used to be "I'm the strongest." Aomine had his own: "The only one who can beat me—is me." These weren't just catchphrases. They were labels—identity tags. You couldn't just give yourself one out of nowhere. It had to fit your character. And today, Tendou's new line— "Above the heavens, below the earth, I alone reign supreme." —only deepened the viewers' understanding of him.

Chapter 152 - 153: Another Label for Himself

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