*Boom!*
"Game! Hyotei's Akutsu leads 1-2. Change sides!"
Outside the court, the Hyotei team erupted in excitement. "Akutsu has completely broken through Sanada's 'Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain' techniques!" exclaimed Shishido and Mukahi.
"Indeed," Atobe nodded slightly. "Given his talent, it's only natural he could achieve this."
Akutsu's talent was terrifying. The greater the pressure, the more his latent potential was unleashed. In the original storyline, during the U-17 World Cup group stage, Akutsu even awakened an otherworldly ability when facing Switzerland's leader, the professional player Amadeus. Of course, that overexertion left him severely injured, nearly costing him his life.
In comparison, facing Sanada was much easier for Akutsu. After all, he had been training with Atobe for a long time, and his skills were more refined than in the original story.
As the players switched sides, Akutsu, now with the serve, smirked arrogantly at Sanada. "Is this all the so-called 'Emperor of Tennis' has to offer?"
*Boom!*
He served the ball.
After Sanada returned it, Akutsu pressed forward, hitting a shot to Sanada's backhand. As Sanada turned to defend, Akutsu stepped in and delivered another powerful stroke. When Sanada was forced to lob, Akutsu leaped into the air and smashed a devastating overhead shot.
*Boom!*
The sound of the impact echoed through the court.
Sanada's "Mountain" defense was breached once again.
"15-0!"
"What a ferocious playstyle!" The Fudomine team watched in awe. Akutsu's relentless aggression was like a wild beast pouncing on its prey, using its strength and claws to overpower its victim before delivering the final, lethal blow.
"Indeed," Tachibana nodded. As an expert in aggressive tennis, he could see that Akutsu's natural physical gifts made him perfect for this style of play.
Akutsu's attacks were unpredictable, unorthodox, and unbound by conventional techniques. For anyone else, such a style would be riddled with flaws. But Akutsu's unparalleled physical abilities allowed him to execute it flawlessly.
*Boom!*
"30-0!"
*Boom!*
"40-0!"
In no time, Sanada had lost three points, seemingly backed into a corner.
*Boom!*
Akutsu served again.
*Hum...*
Suddenly, a thunderous aura erupted from Sanada's body.
*Crackle!*
In a flash of lightning, Sanada appeared in front of Akutsu's return, his racket raised high for a smash.
As the ball bounced up, Sanada swung down with full force: "Move like... **Thunder**!!!"
*Crackle!*
In an instant, a bolt of lightning streaked across the court, leaving a trail of electricity in its wake.
"It's Sanada's **Thunder**!!!" The Hyotei team's expressions changed.
The representatives from other schools were equally stunned. This single move solidified Sanada's status as the "Emperor of Tennis." Players like Shiraishi, Chitose, and Tachibana, all top-tier players themselves, knew they had no answer to this technique.
*Swish!*
But in the next moment, a tall figure intercepted the ball.
Akutsu's eyes gleamed with defiance as he swung his racket without hesitation.
*Boom!*
The impact caused Akutsu's racket to tremble slightly.
"Heh," the Rikkai Dai team sneered. This was "Thunder," not "Fire." If Akutsu underestimated this move, his racket would be sent flying.
*Hum...*
But then, a grayish-white aura enveloped Akutsu's body. Despite the overwhelming force, his racket slowly pushed forward.
*Whoosh!*
To everyone's astonishment, Akutsu single-handedly blasted Sanada's "Thunder" back.
*Thud!*
The ball landed, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Game! Hyotei's Akutsu leads 2-2!"
"Wow!!!"
"Great job, Akutsu!"
"Hyotei! Hyotei! Hyotei!"
The Hyotei supporters erupted in cheers.
"Even 'Thunder' has been broken through?" The Rikkai Dai team grew anxious.
"Vice-captain..." Chitose and the others clenched their fists. They couldn't believe that Sanada's ultimate technique had been so easily countered.
"That aura... it's terrifying," Yanagi muttered, his eyes narrowing. Even from a distance, Akutsu's ferocious presence felt like a predator ready to strike.
"Is this really 'Thunder'?" Some spectators shook their heads. "The legendary technique, said to be stronger than 'Fire' and 'Wind' combined, was countered so easily. It seems the rumors were exaggerated."
During the Kanto finals, Atobe had effortlessly countered Sanada's "Thunder." Now, Akutsu had done the same with one hand. The "Emperor of Tennis" was losing his crown, as if anyone could challenge him.
"Is that really the case?" Shiraishi, Chitose, and Tachibana disagreed. Casual observers didn't understand the intricacies. Sanada's "Thunder" was so fast that even they couldn't guarantee they could catch up to it. As for its power, even Tachibana, known for his strength, wasn't sure he could return it.
The problem wasn't that Sanada was weak—it was that Akutsu was too strong.
"By the way," Chitose suddenly said, "what exactly is the 'deeper level of power' that Atobe mentioned?"
"I'm not sure," Shiraishi shook his head. Atobe's explanation went beyond the fundamentals of tennis he had always followed. If there truly were different levels of power, did that mean all his previous efforts were in vain?
"Perhaps it's the further refinement of technique or strength," Tachibana speculated. "When you push something to its absolute limit, you might unlock a deeper level of power."
"So, quantity leads to quality?" Chitose mused. "Like Gin's 108-style Wave Strike. Beyond that, perhaps you can touch that realm."
"One hundred and eight styles?!" The Fudomine team stared in disbelief.
"That's right," Tetsu Ishida nodded. "The Wave Strike I've mastered is just the basics compared to my brother's."
"Wow..." The others were even more shocked.
Tetsu's Wave Strike was already formidable—during the regional preliminaries, it had broken Kaido's wrist. And yet, he claimed his skills were just the tip of the iceberg. How powerful was Gin Ishida, then?
Even more astonishing was that, in Chitose's eyes, Gin's 108-style Wave Strike still fell short of the "deeper level" of power Atobe had described.
This made everyone realize just how impressive Akutsu's breakthrough was.
*Boom!*
The fifth game began with Sanada serving.
Despite losing the lead, Sanada showed no signs of panic. However, his eyes were colder than before.
After serving, Sanada quickly moved to the center of the court, adjusting his strategy to keep Akutsu pinned at the baseline.
"Is the 'Emperor of Tennis' really this passive?" Mizuki from St. Rudolph observed. "Switching from offense to defense means he's at a disadvantage. It's like the roles of Rikkai Dai and Hyotei have reversed."
"True," Akazawa, the St. Rudolph captain, nodded. In high-level matches, every point mattered, but the player's state of mind was even more crucial. A player in top form could perform at 120% of their usual ability, potentially defeating even stronger opponents.
But now, Sanada, constantly pushed into a corner, was clearly not in his best form. His defensive play lacked any offensive initiative, relying solely on waiting for Akutsu to tire. However, Akutsu's stamina was exceptional, and it was unlikely Sanada could outlast him.
Moreover, even if Sanada won this way, it would tarnish his image as the "Emperor of Tennis." It was an ugly way to win.
*Boom!*
*Crack!*
*Boom!*
*Crack!*
The two continued their intense rally.
Akutsu seemed in no hurry to finish Sanada off, instead engaging in long rallies. It was as if a predator was toying with its prey, waiting for it to exhaust itself before delivering the final blow.
At the same time, Akutsu used this opportunity to refine his newly discovered "deeper level" of power. He knew his current level was still far below Atobe's. If he became complacent with this breakthrough, he would never catch up.
Still, with his aggressive playstyle, Akutsu clearly had the upper hand.
*Boom!*
"0-15!"
*Boom!*
"0-30!"
*Boom!*
"0-40!"
*Boom!*
"Game! Hyotei's Akutsu leads 3-2!"
The score had flipped, and the court was once again filled with Hyotei's cheers.
Sanada lowered his head, his expression unreadable.
The sixth game began with Akutsu serving.
Having familiarized himself with the "deeper level" of power, Akutsu accelerated his attacks, aiming to end the match quickly.
*Boom!*
"Game! Hyotei's Akutsu leads 4-2!"
Three minutes later, Akutsu secured the sixth game, extending his lead.
Sanada, having lost consecutive points, kept his head down, his expression hidden.
"Sanada (Vice-captain)..." Jackal and Chitose fell silent. In their minds, Sanada was second only to Atobe and Yukimura. Yet, he was being pushed to the brink by Akutsu.
The "Emperor" was being dragged off his throne by a wild beast.
Realizing that the singles match might be lost, the Rikkai Dai team felt a heavy weight in their hearts.
*Boom!*
*Crack!*
*Boom!*
*Crack!*
The match continued.
Akutsu remained dominant, completely overwhelming Sanada. His ferocity made the other teams' representatives nervous.
With the score at 40-0, Akutsu was one point away from winning the eighth game. Finally, Sanada could no longer hold back.
*Crackle!*
In a flash of lightning, Sanada appeared in front of the ball's landing spot.
Then, surrounded by a dark aura, he swung his racket with full force.
*Whoosh!*
A surge of black energy erupted.
The ball shot toward Akutsu's backhand corner at an incredible speed.
*Tap! Tap!*
But even this speed was no match for Akutsu in "Beast Mode." He quickly intercepted the ball and prepared to strike.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, the ball, which had been heading to the right, abruptly changed direction, shooting upward at a right angle.
"What?!" Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
Even Akutsu was caught off guard, watching helplessly as the ball flew past him.
*Boom!*
"40-15!"
"Is... is this for real?" Shishido and Mukahi stared in disbelief.
Oshitari was equally stunned. "The ball... changed direction so abruptly?"
This wasn't a simple curveball. It was as if an invisible force within the ball had altered its trajectory.
"Could it be..." Atobe's eyes narrowed. "Has Sanada also unlocked the 'deeper level' of power?"
(End of Chapter)