"Tezuka Zone?!"
On the Ice Emperor's side, Shishido, Mukahi, and the others wore expressions of disbelief. No one could have imagined that Tezuka's ultimate technique, which he had previously demonstrated, had been learned by Ishikawa.
"Wait a minute," Oishi's face darkened as he seemed to realize something. "Could it be... that he also possesses something similar to the Selfless State?"
Earlier, Echizen had used the Selfless State to replicate various players' techniques. Now, Ishikawa appeared to have a similar ability, effortlessly mimicking Tezuka's moves.
"Not necessarily," Inui shook his head. "The Tezuka Zone is essentially a technique that applies intense spin to the ball, causing it to return to a specific position after being hit by the opponent. Any player with top-tier slicing skills, as long as they understand the principle, can execute it."
Inui had always held a deep sense of respect for Ishikawa. Despite accumulating more and more data on him, Inui still found the Ice Emperor's rookie to be an enigma.
Moreover, Inui had another theory about Ishikawa's ability to use the Tezuka Zone. He believed that Ishikawa had observed Tezuka's spinning technique and, within just a few minutes, deciphered its mechanics and replicated it using his own exceptional slicing skills.
However, this possibility was too astonishing—even more so than the idea that Ishikawa had already mastered the Tezuka Zone. Inui himself preferred to accept the first explanation.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
On the court, Tezuka remained calm amidst the tension. His composure seemed ingrained, as if nothing could shake him. Even when faced with an opponent who also wielded the Zone, he remained unfazed.
*Whoosh!*
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Tezuka tossed the ball into the air and swiftly delivered a high-speed serve.
*Boom!*
The ball landed precisely on the service line once again.
"Hmm... as expected of Tezuka," Oshitari from Ice Emperor remarked with a nod. "Even under pressure, he maintains such precise control. His mental fortitude is incredible!"
Oshitari knew he couldn't have done the same. When Ishikawa had executed the Giant Bear Counter, he had been so stunned that it took him a long time to recover. But Tezuka? It was as if that miraculous shot had never happened.
"This might be why he's favored by professional players," Coach Sakaki agreed, nodding. But then, his gaze shifted to Ishikawa on the court, and a rare smile appeared on his usually stern face. "But unfortunately, he's up against Ice Emperor's super rookie."
Coach Sakaki had immense trust in Ishikawa. Over time, that trust had even surpassed his confidence in the team's captain, Atobe. However, to maintain Atobe's authority among the players, he had never voiced these thoughts aloud.
What pleased Coach Sakaki even more was that despite possessing the strength to challenge for the captain's position, Ishikawa remained as humble and hardworking as the day he first picked up a racket. In Coach Sakaki's eyes, as long as Ishikawa maintained this mindset, he would never fail.
*Boom!*
On the court, Ishikawa seized the opportunity to deliver a sharply angled diagonal shot with intense spin.
"Danger!" Horio and the others tensed up. The shot was too fast and too sudden.
*Whoosh!*
Just as they thought Ishikawa had scored, the ball curved back toward Tezuka's side.
"Tezuka Zone!" they exclaimed, their tension easing.
*Boom!*
Tezuka's return was equally fierce, aimed at Ishikawa's backhand with incredible speed and precision.
*Whoosh!*
But as soon as the ball bounced, it was drawn back to Ishikawa's side by an invisible force.
"Ishikawa Zone!" the Seigaku members blurted out, quickly correcting themselves.
"This isn't good," Oishi said gravely. "It looks like he's mastered the Zone technique. If this continues, it'll be very disadvantageous for Tezuka."
"Disadvantageous?" Momoshiro and the others looked puzzled. "Oishi-senpai, why do you say that?"
"Yeah," Kikumaru added. "Tezuka has been practicing the Zone for years. His experience and skill should be far superior, right?"
The others nodded in agreement. After all, Ishikawa was just a rookie. Even if he had started playing tennis at the same age as Tezuka, Tezuka's experience would still outweigh his.
Moreover, Tezuka's dedication was unmatched. Aside from managing the team, he spent every moment honing his skills, regardless of the season or weather. They couldn't believe their captain would lose in his own domain.
"Well..." Oishi's heart sank. He wanted to explain that Tezuka's issue wasn't about experience or skill but his physical condition. The incident two years ago had left a lasting impact, not only stunting his growth but also leaving lingering aftereffects.
If the match turned into a prolonged battle, it would only worsen Tezuka's condition. And knowing Tezuka's personality, if he pushed himself too hard, it could endanger his arm and jeopardize his tennis career.
The thought weighed heavily on Oishi's heart.
*Boom!*
At that moment, Ishikawa struck again. This shot was even more ferocious, its speed increasing by at least 40%.
However, the Seigaku members weren't worried. They were confident the ball would be drawn back by the Tezuka Zone.
"Huh?"
But then, Tezuka's expression changed slightly, as if he had realized something. To everyone's surprise, he began running toward the ball's landing spot.
*Boom!*
Unfortunately, he was a step too late. The ball bounced and shot past him.
"0-30!"
"How... how is this possible?" Momoshiro exclaimed in disbelief. "Tezuka's Zone... failed?"
"Hmm," Inui and Oishi's expressions grew serious.
"Tezuka realized his Zone had been countered and tried to react, but... he was just a step too late," Inui said with a sigh.
"But how did he counter Tezuka's Zone?" Horio and the others asked, confused.
"Spin," Inui replied without hesitation. "Since he's already mastered the Tezuka Zone's spin, all he had to do was apply the opposite spin to counter it."
"So that's how it is..." The Seigaku members looked at Ishikawa with newfound awe.
Not only had he mastered the Zone and countered the Zero-Shiki Drop Shot in just a few minutes, but he had also used reverse spin to break Tezuka's Zone.
Kikumaru and Momoshiro stared in shock. "This guy... he's way too strong!"
It was hard to believe that the boy dominating Tezuka on the court was just a first-year at Ice Emperor. In comparison, Seigaku's so-called super rookie, Echizen, paled in comparison.
"This isn't good," Coach Ryuzaki muttered, her arms crossed and her expression grim.
She had thought Tezuka could hold his own against Ice Emperor's first-year, giving Fuji a fighting chance against Atobe. But now, she realized Ishikawa was simply too strong. His abilities far exceeded what Tezuka could handle.
One misstep had led to another. Seigaku's initial strategy had been flawed from the start. They should have followed Fudomine's approach against Ice Emperor, focusing on the first three matches to secure a quick victory.
But now, it was too late.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
On the court, the two engaged in a fierce exchange. However, as everyone could see, Tezuka was at a disadvantage after losing his Zone.
But Tezuka wasn't one to give up. Just as Ishikawa had used reverse spin to counter the Zone, Tezuka did the same.
Thus, the match returned to its previous rhythm, with both players targeting each other's baseline and corners. Every shot seemed like a deadly strike to the onlookers.
As the match progressed, their speed increased, leaving the audience struggling to keep up.
*Tap! Tap! Tap!*
Ishikawa, having tested Tezuka enough, decided to take the initiative and break the monotonous rally.
*Whoosh!*
With a swift motion, Ishikawa's racket sliced upward, so fast that only a blur could be seen.
*Boom!*
The ball shot forward at an astonishing speed, twice as fast as before.
**Draw Slash: Mind Shift!**
*Boom!*
The ball was too fast. Tezuka couldn't keep up and had to concede the point.
"0-40!"
Hearing the score, the Seigaku members fell silent. They knew Ishikawa had taken control, and Tezuka had no more cards to play. Their captain was now at a disadvantage.
*Boom!*
Ishikawa struck again, sending a spinning shot skimming along the baseline.
"Game! Ice Emperor Ishikawa, 1-0! Change sides!"
Finally, Tezuka's serve was broken. Seven minutes had passed since the match began.
The Seigaku members were deeply wary of Ishikawa's strength, while the Ice Emperor players admired Tezuka's resilience and skill.
After all, they had never seen anyone last more than seven minutes against Ishikawa on their own serve.
"It's over," Oshitari shook his head, sighing. Even Seigaku's Tezuka was no match for Ishikawa.
*Boom!*
"15-0!"
*Boom!*
"30-0!"
*Boom!*
"40-0!"
*Boom!*
"Game! Ice Emperor Ishikawa, 2-0!"
The game ended, and Tezuka still hadn't scored a single point.
"He's too strong!" Observers like Mizuki and Sengoku were equally stunned.
Tezuka, a national-level player, hadn't even scored a point against Ishikawa.
During the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament quarterfinals, Tachibana, another national-level player, had at least managed to score against Ishikawa. But now, Ishikawa's strength had reached an entirely new level.
"Tezuka... what a shame," Sengoku sighed, his expression complex.
He respected Tezuka deeply. If Tezuka hadn't given him the opportunity to compete in the selection tournament, Sengoku might never have reached his current level.
But against Ishikawa, even Tezuka was powerless.
*Tap! Tap! Tap!*
Surprisingly, despite being at a disadvantage, Tezuka remained calm. He gently bounced the ball, his rhythm steady and unshaken.
"It's no use," Mukahi from Ice Emperor shook his head. "A gap in skill can't be bridged by composure alone."
It was the truth. Even Seigaku's Inui and Oishi had to admit it.
"Senpai," Ishikawa, preparing to receive the serve, suddenly spoke to Tezuka. "Your strength isn't just this, is it? You know as well as I do that if you don't give it your all, Seigaku's journey ends here."
*Whoosh!*
Everyone's eyes turned to Tezuka.
The Ice Emperor members and spectators were shocked, while the Seigaku players looked hopeful. Their captain still had a hidden card to play.
"Tezuka..." Oishi's expression was complicated, but he knew Ishikawa was right. Without going all out, Tezuka had no chance of winning.
*Hum!*
At that moment, a milky-white aura began to emanate from Tezuka.
"Is that... the Selfless State?!" the crowd exclaimed in disbelief.
"Tezuka... also knows the Selfless State?" Momoshiro and Kaidoh were stunned but quickly clenched their fists in excitement.
With this technique, no matter how many moves Ishikawa had, they would be useless.
"Wait, it's not that simple," Inui said, his voice tinged with excitement as he observed the changes in Tezuka's aura. "Tezuka's Selfless aura is much stronger than Echizen's... Wait, what's that?"
*Hum!*
The intense Selfless aura around Tezuka began to converge toward his left wrist. As it condensed, the milky-white energy transformed into a radiant, molten glow.
"What... what is that?" the Seigaku members exclaimed, both shocked and thrilled. They could feel Tezuka's presence growing stronger, his aura more overwhelming.
"This... is Tezuka's sealed technique," Oishi explained. "An ultimate move developed from the Selfless State... the Pinnacle of Perfection!"
**(End of Chapter)**
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