Chapter 197 - 198: Ultra-Wide Defensive Coverage

Words : 1162 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

The break between quarters ended quickly. At the start of the second quarter, fans immediately noticed a surprising lineup change from Kirisaki Daiichi. "They subbed out their starting center Seto Kentaro... and brought in Furuhashi Kōjirō?" "What?" "They're not using a center anymore?" Everyone was stunned to realize that Kirisaki Daiichi had switched to a lineup without a center. In this era of basketball, such a move was nearly unthinkable. You could run a team without a true point guard. You might even survive without a natural shooting guard. But without a center? That was basically abandoning the paint. And in this era, the paint was everything! ... "Death Lineup!" Nakatani Masaaki immediately recognized what Kirisaki Daiichi was doing. The lineup looked unconventional—even reckless—but it held explosive potential. During their training camp, Kirisaki had already experimented with this small-ball setup. When they used it against Shūtoku, they dropped 34 points in a single quarter. With this formation, Kirisaki Daiichi's already blistering fast-break offense became even faster—faster than any run-and-gun team in the nation. It was clear: they were going to wrest control of the game's tempo from Yōsen. Yōsen played slow, methodical half-court basketball. Kirisaki Daiichi was about to bring chaos and speed. It was a clash of extremes—whoever dictated the tempo would control the game. But what about interior defense...? Right out the gate, Kirisaki Daiichi scored again thanks to a crisp assist from Tendou. "But removing Seto Kentaro may improve mobility and fast breaks... who's protecting the paint?" Riko Aida frowned, unable to reconcile it with traditional basketball logic. Kirisaki Daiichi quickly gave her an answer. As Fukui Kensuke crossed half-court, Kirisaki's defensive formation came into view. Furuhashi, Hanamiya, Yamazaki, and Hara—all pressed up to the three-point line. Hanamiya stuck close to Fukui, while Furuhashi and Yamazaki closed in on Himuro Tatsuya, forming a tight double team. If you thought Kirisaki lacked perimeter threats, Yōsen had the same issue. Only Himuro was a consistent scorer from outside. Fukui was questionable, and the rest had little shooting ability to speak of. "But if they push everyone up, the paint is wide open—Tendou is all alone back there!" Kasamatsu Yukio frowned as he scanned the formation. Sure enough, the paint was wide open. Only Tendou stood there. But then— He took one step forward to the top of the key... and something shifted. It was as if an invisible aura began spreading outward from his body, covering the entire area within the arc. The monstrous black shadow reappeared—like a demon standing tall in the center of the court, casting a chilling presence over everything. "Ultra-wide defensive coverage?!" "Tendou can do that too? I thought only Murasakibara had that kind of range!" Of course he could. Tendou possessed the most complete all-around ability in the Generation of Miracles. He could replicate any of their talents—speed, strength, instincts—in key moments. But more importantly... He could see the future of the entire court. Midorima watched from the stands, narrowing his eyes. He had already experienced Tendou's massive defensive range. "That freak!" Araki Masako cursed out loud, like any other exasperated coach. From his debut against Seirin, then his games against Tōō and Kaijō—he had been an endless source of headaches. At this point, no one knew what weapons this Generation of Miracles leader still had in reserve. Even Yōsen's players were caught off guard. Now, the inside of the arc felt like a forbidden zone—step inside, and you'd never come out. To spectators in the real world, it looked even more dramatic. With added special effects, the entire three-point area was shown engulfed in flames, with Tendou standing tall in the center, straight-backed and radiating dominance. The crowd held its breath—none had expected the game to develop like this. Even Murasakibara stood frozen, staring at Tendou blankly. Fukui Kensuke hesitated. He stepped toward the arc... and immediately, Tendou's gaze swept toward him. He froze—and quietly retreated back beyond the line. "Give it to me!" Himuro called, cutting to the top. Fukui passed the ball like it was a lifeline. Despite the double team, Himuro didn't back down. He unleashed his full arsenal of fake-outs—hesitations, feints, quick crossovers. Even facing two defenders, Furuhashi and Yamazaki couldn't force him to a stop. But— "We're not the good guys," Furuhashi said calmly—chillingly. With his usual dead-fish eyes, he shoulder-checked Himuro hard, knocking him off balance. Yamazaki took the opportunity to go for the steal. Himuro, gritting his teeth, managed to stabilize and push through the double team. He slipped through—a partial success. But also a failure. The moment he broke free, he heard a deafening yell: "Tatsuya!!" It was Okamura shouting from the baseline. Himuro looked down and realized— In the process of getting past the trap, he had inadvertently crossed into the paint. He was in Tendou's domain. A chill ran down his spine. With Murasakibara nearby, this wasn't just a mistake. It was a death sentence. "Damn it!" He quickly looked for a teammate and tried to pass the ball out. Too late. Whoosh! With the help of special effects, Tendou's entire body flashed white light, his outline glowing. Behind him loomed a massive black demon. He streaked across the court like a meteor, intercepting the pass with ease and surging forward. "Get back!!" Everything happened too fast. Yōsen couldn't even register how Tendou had gone from the paint to the perimeter in a split second. By the time they reacted, offense had already turned into defense. Tendou dribbled at full speed—like a whirlwind tearing through a narrow alley. No one on Yōsen could match his velocity. Except one. Murasakibara burst into a sprint, the only one capable of chasing Tendou. They crossed midcourt together. Then the three-point line. Then both came to a sudden stop. "Another Mirage Shot?" Himuro muttered, beginning to run back to help. He knew it wasn't invincible. The Mirage Shot's weakness was that it relied heavily on raw talent. Murasakibara had it. When he jumped with full force, stretched to his limit, he could block even the ball's initial ascent. But— Swish! The ball flew cleanly through his fingers and landed softly in the net. "What...?!" Himuro's eyes went wide. His Mirage Shot had never succeeded against Murasakibara. From the stands, Kagami turned to his coach. "Alex?" Alexandra Garcia sighed. "It's a difference in talent. He jumps higher than Tatsuya, hangs longer in the air, has better control, better timing..." She was the creator of the Mirage Shot. Himuro was its second-generation master. They had both practiced it far longer than Tendou ever had. But in Tendou's hands, the shot had already surpassed both of them. Why? Because Tendou's natural talent was simply... on another level. ... [Vote With Your Power Stones For Bonus Chapters] [Check My Patreon For Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!!] [patréon.com/RoseWhisky]

Chapter 197 - 198: Ultra-Wide Defensive Coverage

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