Dribbling, launching.

Eiji Sawakita's speed instantly reached its absolute limit, executing three consecutive between-the-legs crossovers with an unpredictable rhythm.

Then, with a sudden behind-the-back dribble, he spun his body along the momentum, brushing past Zijing Cheng's side.

A spin move to get past him.

The movement was as fluid as flowing water, without a shred of stutter.

Zijing Cheng shifted laterally to keep up, his footwork remaining steady.

But the instant he rushed to the basket, Eiji Sawakita didn't go straight for a layup.

He leaped into the air, his body first moving forward in mid-air before violently folding backward like a fully drawn bow.

His entire body flew out almost horizontally, dodging Zijing Cheng's first wave of blocking.

Mid-air folding.

It's not over yet.

Just at the split second when Zijing Cheng's palm was about to come down, his wrist flipped again, and his body twisted another half-circle to the side, bypassing the front of the rim to the side, gently sending the ball in with a reverse hand.

Two mid-air changes of direction.

Folded body-adjustment reverse layup.

This was no longer ordinary basketball skill; it was simply art.

The entire audience stood up, mouths wide open, even forgetting to breathe.

This... this can actually be done?

Is this even a move a normal person can pull off?!

Zijing Cheng's pupils constricted slightly, his expression changing abruptly.

He hadn't expected that this person could pull off so many moves in mid-air.

His right hand had already blocked out, but the opponent changed direction again.

No, it's too late.

The basketball brushed past the side of his palm.

The next moment.

Swish...

Grazing the backboard, the basketball gently dropped into the net.

Basket good.

Tomakomai Junior High 0 to 2 Cangye Junior High.

The whole venue fell dead silent for two seconds, then erupted into cheers that could lift the roof off.

"It's in... Sawakita scored..."

"Oh my god... What kind of divine shot is this."

"Finally... finally breached Tomakomai Junior High's defense."

...

Cheers, applause, and shouts converged into a massive wave of sound that made the floor tremble slightly.

Click... click... click... click... click...

Reporters pressed their shutters like crazy, the flashes lighting up the place like daylight.

After landing, Eiji Sawakita panted slightly, turning back to look at Zijing Cheng under the basket, a sharp smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He had done it.

He had torn open this legendary defensive line with his own hands.

Zijing Cheng stood in place, watching the basketball falling from the net, not moving for a long time.

In his purple eyes, laziness and casualness faded bit by bit, replaced by solemnity and a trace of imperceptible surprise.

It went in.

It really went in.

This was his first time being solidly breached in a one-on-one frontal offense and defense.

Some fragmented memories flashed through his mind.

He knew Eiji Sawakita was strong, a top-tier player in this World, but he had thought that with Atsushi Murasakibara's talent, even with just a junior high first-year body, it would be enough to suppress everything.

But he was wrong.

Indeed, none of the people standing at the ceiling level were simple.

The current Eiji Sawakita probably already had the level of the Uncrowned Generals during junior high in kurokos basketball; even as a not-fully-grown genius, he could wrist-wrestle with someone like him who possessed Atsushi Murasakibara's talent.

And as for himself, he was still just a first-year's body after all, and many abilities had not fully developed yet.

"...A bit interesting."

Zijing Cheng muttered in a low voice, his cheeks bulging slightly as if he were a little angry, or perhaps having his competitive spirit stirred up.

But before he could think more, the game continued.

Tomakomai Junior High inbounded the ball for the offense, but was intercepted by Aoba right at half-court.

Eiji Sawakita advanced with the ball at full speed, charging to the front court in just three seconds.

Another fast break one-on-one.

Zijing Cheng had already retreated to the basket, standing firmly.

Everyone thought Eiji Sawakita would slow down and wait for his teammates to get into position.

But he didn't.

Rushing to the three-point line, he abruptly pulled up, then stepped back a large step, his whole body leaning backward in mid-air, almost parallel to the ground.

Ultra-long step-back long two-pointer.

With his toes stepping on the three-point line, it was an ultra-high-difficulty Fadeaway Jumper.

The movement was expansive yet domineering, carrying a do-or-die sharpness.

Zijing Cheng strode forward, leaping into the air to block.

But this time, the release point was too far, and the backward lean was too large.

His fingertips brushed past the edge of the basketball, missing by a hair.

Carrying an extremely high arc, the basketball plummeted straight toward the rim.

Swish...

Nothing but net.

Tomakomai Junior High 0 to 4 Cangye Junior High.

Almost simultaneously, the whistle ending the first half blew lengthily.

Beep...

As the whistle fell, the entire audience boiled over once again.

Two shots, scoring 4 points in a row.

Eiji Sawakita, by his own strength, forcefully chiseled open Zijing Cheng's no-fly zone.

The entire arena was vibrating.

"Four... Sawakita scored four points all by himself in the first half."

"Too fierce... really too fierce..."

"Is this the number one player in junior high?!"

"Indeed very strong! He single-handedly breached that monster's defense."

...

The players stopped their movements one after another, walking towards their respective benches.

Eiji Sawakita walked to the basket, stopped, and looked up at Zijing Cheng in front of him.

Sweat beads were on the teenager's temples, his breathing slightly hurried, but his eyes were startlingly bright, and his mouth carried a teenager's characteristic, triumphant, smug smile.

"Your defense is indeed very strong."

His voice was clear and melodious, carrying undisguised appreciation while also hiding a sharp edge, "You're the trickiest opponent I've ever encountered."

Zijing Cheng lowered his eyes, his expression heavy, the low pressure around his body almost condensing into substance.

He stared at Eiji Sawakita. In his purple eyes, the usual sleepiness was gone, leaving only puffed-up seriousness and a bit of annoyance at being offended.

Usually he was the one blocking others, but today he actually got scored on two consecutive baskets by the same person.

"You guy..."

His voice was muffled, carrying a hint of gnashing teeth; then he raised his hand, his large palm facing Eiji Sawakita's direction, his fingers slowly tightening.

"I'm going to squash you."

His tone was extremely serious, as if announcing some important decision.

Eiji Sawakita was stunned for a moment, then chuckled out loud.

Squash?

He really is a strange person.

"Is that so?"

He raised an eyebrow, his smile growing thicker, "Then I'll wait. Let's see if you can still guard it in the second half."

Zijing Cheng didn't speak again, just snorted heavily, abruptly turned around, and strode towards the player tunnel.

The purple back was tightly tensed, and even his footsteps were a few fractions heavier than usual; at a glance, it was obvious he was pissed off.

Eiji Sawakita stood in place, watching his back, the smile on the corner of his mouth not dissipating for a long time.

Interesting.

Getting more and more interesting.

The second half.

He was looking forward to it.

The murmurs inside the arena did not subside for a long time; everyone was discussing those two divine goals in the first half and discussing this pair of tit-for-tat geniuses.

Everyone knew.

The four points in the first half were just appetizers.

The real showdown was in the second half.