The moment Akashi Seijuro's golden-red eyes gleamed with intensity, the atmosphere of the game shifted.
Souta felt it immediately—the weight of something absolute pressing down on the court.
It wasn't just Akashi's skill that had changed. It was his presence.
Rakuzan, once struggling to keep up with Teikou's fast-paced offense, suddenly moved like a machine, responding to Akashi's every command with precision.
Souta clenched his fists.
This is… the Emperor's Eye.
Akashi had activated his signature ability, allowing him to see ahead of every movement his opponent would make.
And he wasted no time proving it.
The game resumed with Teikou's possession.
Akashi faced off against Aomine, who dribbled with his usual unpredictable rhythm.
"Tch, don't think you can read my moves," Aomine muttered, shifting into a deadly crossover.
He feinted left, then exploded to the right.
But before he could move forward—
Akashi stepped exactly where Aomine was heading.
"!!"
Aomine's eyes widened.
His path was completely blocked, as if Akashi had known in advance where he would go.
He tried to adjust, pulling back for a jumper—
But Akashi swiped the ball cleanly.
It was the first time anyone had stolen from Aomine so effortlessly.
Rakuzan wasted no time capitalizing on the turnover.
Akashi launched a full-court pass toward Yukimura, who caught it mid-stride and finished with a swift layup.
58-58. The game was tied.
The crowd roared as the tension reached its peak.
Souta took a deep breath.
This was the true Akashi.
The one who ruled over the Generation of Miracles with absolute dominance.
If they wanted to win, they had to break through his control.
Akashi returned to his position, meeting Souta's gaze.
"You understand now, don't you?" Akashi's voice was calm, yet carried an air of superiority. "You may have been able to match us before, but this is the difference between a king and his subjects."
Souta smirked. "Guess we'll see about that."
Teikou inbounded the ball, and Souta took control at the top of the key.
Akashi's eyes locked onto him.
If I move normally, he'll predict my every step.
Souta activated Phantom Step, vanishing for a moment as he tried to cut through the defense.
But—
Akashi read his movement perfectly.
The second Souta reappeared, Akashi was already in front of him.
Souta gritted his teeth. Damn it!
Before he could adjust, Akashi swiped at the ball, forcing a turnover.
Rakuzan launched another fast break, finishing with a thunderous dunk from their center, Hoshigaki.
58-60.
For the first time in the match, Teikou was losing.
Coach Shirogane quickly called a timeout.
Teikou's players gathered around, sweat dripping from their faces.
"We can't keep playing like this," Kise panted. "Akashi's predicting everything!"
Aomine scowled. "Tch. He's reading us like a book."
Akashi's Emperor's Eye was shutting down their movements before they could even begin.
No openings. No space to operate.
Souta clenched his fists.
There has to be a way to break through.
Then—
He had an idea.
"…We need to break his rhythm."
The others turned to him.
"How?" Kuroko asked.
Souta took a deep breath. "Akashi is controlling the game because he sees our movements before we make them. But what if we move in a way that can't be predicted?"
Aomine's eyes widened slightly. "You mean… playing purely on instinct?"
Souta nodded. "If we act without thinking—even for a moment—it might throw him off."
A grin spread across Aomine's face. "Heh. Now that sounds like fun."
Akashi's greatest strength was also his biggest weakness.
If they could create true unpredictability—
They could fight back.
The timeout ended.
Teikou inbounded the ball, and this time, Aomine led the attack.
Akashi stepped up to meet him, eyes locked in.
But instead of using calculated dribbles—
Aomine moved purely on instinct.
His body twisted in impossible angles, his dribble erratic and wild.
Akashi narrowed his eyes.
For the first time—
He hesitated.
And in that moment of hesitation—
Aomine slipped past him.
With a smooth, effortless movement, Aomine soared toward the hoop, finishing with a reverse layup.
60-60.
Teikou had struck back.
The battle escalated.
Akashi continued to dominate, but Teikou's unpredictability started cracking his control.
Kise used randomized Perfect Copy moves, preventing Akashi from predicting which technique he'd use.
Murasakibara switched up his defensive stance, making it harder for Rakuzan's offense to adjust.
Souta pushed Phantom Step to its limits, moving in ways that defied logic.
The game had turned into a war of instinct versus calculation.
And as the final minutes ticked down—
The score stood at 74-74.
A tie.
One final possession remained.
Rakuzan had the ball.
Akashi held it at the top of the key, his eyes scanning the court.
Everyone tensed.
They knew.
This would decide the game.
Souta focused, his body poised to react.
Then—
Akashi moved.
A blur of red and gold, slicing through the court with elegance.
He was unstoppable.
Souta lunged forward, trying to intercept—
But Akashi's Emperor's Eye predicted it.
With a single crossover, he left Souta behind.
One step into the paint.
Then another.
He leaped.
The ball left his fingers—
But at the last second—
A shadow appeared.
Kuroko.
His presence had been so faint—so invisible—that even Akashi hadn't seen him coming.
With a perfect defensive read, Kuroko deflected the ball mid-air.
The gym fell silent.
The ball bounced away.
And Souta, already sprinting—
Caught it.
One chance.
One final play.
He gripped the ball tightly, pushing off with everything he had.
Phantom Step activated—
And he vanished.
The next moment, he reappeared at the three-point line, defenders scrambling.
Without thinking—
Without hesitation—
He rose for the shot.
The ball left his fingertips.
Time seemed to slow.
The entire gym watched as it arced beautifully—
Then swished through the net.
77-74.
The buzzer rang.
Teikou had won.
And for the first time—
Akashi Seijuro had been defeated.