"I'm different from that guy! One day, I will surpass all of you!" Ryōma said with a tone of slight anger.
After speaking, Ryōma didn't wait for Tezuka's reaction. He simply adjusted his cap and walked past Tezuka to the court.
The fourth game was Tezuka's serve. To be honest, Ryōma had no idea how to break Tezuka's Zero Serve, but he still wanted to give it a try, activating the "Muga" state once again.
When Tezuka hit his Zero Serve again, Ryōma waited for the right moment. As soon as the ball touched the ground, he swung his racket forward, attempting to scoop it up, but unfortunately, the ball bounced off his racket and hit the net.
"ACE! 15-0!"
Ryōma didn't lose heart, though. He kept trying, but every time, either he made a service fault, or the ball bounced back in the opposite direction.
"GAME! Fudomine! 4-0!"
Tezuka easily took the fourth game with four Zero Serves, leaving Ryōma without any chance to respond. Tezuka's expression remained unchanged.
When the fifth game started, Ryōma still maintained his "Muga" state. He tossed a ball in the air, raised his right hand, and spun the ball clockwise before releasing it. The ball spun as it slowly descended.
Ryōma's left hand, holding his racket, swung from below to strike the falling ball with an underhand serve. The ball zipped across the net, moving rapidly in the air, then disappeared from Tezuka's sight after bouncing and landing.
"Disappearing Serve!"
Tezuka calmly took a step back, then swung his racket. Suddenly, a ball appeared on his racket, which he then returned toward Ryōma's side.
Ryōma quickly sprinted to the frontcourt. After reaching it, he crouched and slid across the ground, using his momentum to launch himself into the air and strike the ball with a sharp flick. The ball shot upwards, descending rapidly near the center line.
"Drive B!"
After the ball bounced, it rose high once again, but was soon drawn toward Tezuka at the baseline. Tezuka, already adjusted, swung his racket to intercept the ball.
Ryōma had just landed when the ball zipped past him, flying out of bounds. At that moment, Ryōma's feet flickered with a slight electrical glow, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared at the baseline, raising his racket to strike the approaching ball with great force.
"Thunderstrike!"
The ball, charged with electricity, flew straight toward Tezuka's side, but once again, it was pulled into Tezuka's field. As Tezuka prepared to strike, a seven-colored light enveloped his left hand, and the ball returned faster than before.
Before Ryōma could react, the ball had already landed, then shot up, leaving a strange, lightning-fast trail in the air, and flying out of bounds.
"0-15!"
Despite still being in the "Muga" state, Ryōma's face showed astonishment. The technique Tezuka had used was none other than the "Thunderstrike" technique he had tried to imitate using the "Muga" power!
"Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami! Tezuka, you really don't hold back, do you~" Inui, who had gradually recovered, sighed as he commented from the sidelines.
Ryōma's incomplete Thunderstrike was no match for Tezuka's perfected "Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami". After all, Sanada had fused his kendo training with his tennis, and without his solid kendo foundation, it was impossible to fully unleash the power of Thunderstrike.
But Ryōma still wasn't ready to give up. He continued to use the "Muga" state to attempt various techniques, but against Tezuka, who had already activated "Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami", all Ryōma's shots were returned at an even faster speed using the same techniques.
"0-30!"
"0-40!"
Ryōma's forehead began to bead with sweat. The side effects of "Muga" were no joke, but after months of training, Ryōma no longer exhausted himself due to the side effects, unless the match dragged on too long.
One must note that in the original story, during the National Tournament, Ryōma was able to maintain the "Muga" state and battle Atobe in a tiebreaker for over 200 points, eventually exhausting Atobe. His stamina probably exceeded even Kintarō's at that point.
Standing at the baseline, Ryōma was filled with determination. He tossed the ball into the air and, with a downward slash, gave it intense spin. The ball flew across the net and fell toward the frontcourt.
"Tannhauser Serve!"
Tezuka had already moved to the landing point. Upon seeing the familiar spin on the ball, he immediately adjusted his position and swung his racket downward. Before the ball could roll, Tezuka intercepted and returned it with ease.
Ryōma immediately chased after the ball, swung his racket, and added complex spin to it. The ball sailed over the net, bounced once, then traced a winding, unpredictable path through the air.
"Habu!"
Tezuka saw through the ball's trajectory, intercepted it, and returned a lob with additional rotation from his field, sending the ball with an upward curve toward Ryōma's half.
Ryōma looked at the ball coming back at him. He knew that Tezuka had activated his field. Despite mimicking many techniques using his "Muga" power, he couldn't break through it. His frustration grew as images of past failures flashed in his mind.
In the next moment, Ryōma sprinted to the frontcourt and leaped high into the air. Spinning 360 degrees, his "Muga" power transformed into golden light, and he slammed the ball down with immense force.
"Cyclone Smash!"
The tennis ball instantly turned into a tornado, charging straight towards the opposite half of the court. The power of the smash actually broke through the field's pull, and it didn't head toward Tezuka.
"Cyclone Smash!"
Tezuka was slightly stunned, but immediately responded. The glow of his "Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami" transferred from his hand to his feet. He then swiftly moved in front of the tornado, transferring the glow back to his left hand and executing a backhand strike. The ball was sent back with twice the force.
In Ryōma's somewhat desperate gaze, the ball transformed into an even larger tornado as it passed by him, then slammed into the ground, leaving a scorched mark before flying out of the court.
"GAME! Fudomine! 5-0!"
On the sidelines, Akashi's lips twitched slightly, but no one noticed. This move, in the original story, was considered the strongest smash before the National Tournament.
It's known that Ryōma used the Cyclone Smash to knock Sanada's racket out of his hand in the original story. Though it's unclear how much strength Sanada used in that match, it still shouldn't be underestimated.
Now, Ryōma used it against Tezuka, which was truly surprising. But even if he had used it against Sanada, the current Sanada would likely have easily received it.
The match moved to the sixth game, and once again it was Tezuka's serve. After Tezuka's power break, Akashi no longer restricted his Zero Serve usage. Moreover, Tezuka had now entered his third year, and his physical development could easily handle the burden of the Zero Serve.
Tezuka wouldn't hold back against Ryōma. Ryōma was no longer his successor, so Tezuka fired off four more Zero Serves. Although Ryōma hadn't given up and continued to make his last-ditch efforts, it was all in vain.
"GAME! 6-0! Match Over! Winner, Fudomine Middle School!"
With Ryōma's loss, Fudomine's and Seigaku's Kanto Tournament semifinal came to an end. Fudomine won with a total score of 3-1, advancing to tomorrow's final.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the venue, the match between Hyōtei and Rikkai Dai had already ended. The doubles matches were tied 1-1. The score of the second doubles match was 7-6, with Hyōtei winning.
The first doubles match ended with a score of 6-2, with Rikkai Dai winning. This outcome surprised some of Rikkai's supporters, but the Rikkai team members seemed calm, showing no signs of being affected.
In the second doubles match, Hyōtei fielded Shishido Ryō and Akutagawa Jirō, while Rikkai fielded Yagyū Hiroshi and Yanagi Renji. Both teams were unconventional pairings.
The match was intense, reaching a tiebreaker. In the end, Shishido and Akutagawa fought hard to win the match. This caused second-year student Kaidō Kaoru to clench his teeth in frustration, glaring at the two from the player bench.
In the first doubles match, Hyōtei sent out Hiyoshi Wakashi and Oshitari Yūshi, while Rikkai fielded Marui Bunta and Kuwahara Jackal. Facing this perfectly synchronized national-level doubles team, Hiyoshi and Oshitari had no resistance and were swiftly defeated.
If Akashi had been present, his Emperor Eye would have immediately noticed that Yanagi Renji's right hand movements were unnatural, clearly showing he was injured. No wonder he didn't play in doubles, but the reason for Mukahi Gakuto's absence remained unknown.
The third singles match featured Sanada Genichirō against Atobe Keigo. This wasn't the first time they'd faced off, and Sanada still vividly remembered losing to Atobe in his first year. He was determined to completely defeat Atobe in this match.
"Next, the third singles match will begin, with Rikkai Dai's Sanada Genichirō facing Hyōtei's Atobe Keigo. Please welcome both players!"
Atobe was in a good mood, as the situation in the match was exactly as he had discussed with Sakaki Tarō. They had secured a doubles win, which was important for Hyōtei.
Amidst a flurry of rose petals, Atobe made his grand entrance, while Sanada frowned, clearly disapproving of Atobe's narcissistic behavior. It was just too relaxed!
When the two reached the net to greet each other, Sanada looked seriously at Atobe and firmly said, "In this match, I will completely defeat you. What happened in first year won't happen again, Atobe!"
"Ha? Don't get it wrong, Sanada! My evolution is progressing at an incredibly fast rate. You're still going to lose again this time!" Atobe responded without retreat.
"Hmph! Anyone can talk big. Let's see who proves themselves in the match!" Sanada said coldly.
Atobe simply smiled in disdain, not saying anything more. The two began the coin toss, with Sanada winning the serve, though Atobe wasn't particularly concerned.
Sanada stood at the baseline, took a deep breath, and his aura steadily grew. When he felt it was time, he tossed the ball high and said, "Atobe Keigo! Let me send you into the abyss of defeat! Swift as the wind!"
Sanada barely moved his arm, and the ball instantly shot toward Atobe's side at an incredible speed. While others might be confused by Sanada's seemingly invisible follow-through, Atobe saw it clearly.
Atobe swiftly sidestepped and reached the landing point, returning Sanada's "Swift as the Wind". At the same time, a cold glint flashed in his eyes as he began to analyze Sanada's blind spots.
As the ball flew over the net, a huge illusory mountain wall appeared behind Sanada, intercepting the ball. Sanada spun twice before slamming the ball down.
"Unmovable as a mountain! Invading like fire!"
Without even trying to probe, Sanada immediately launched a full-scale attack against Atobe from the start of the match. The tennis ball turned into a blazing pillar of fire, charging towards Atobe, but Atobe showed no hesitation. He raised both hands, then executed a backhand Jack Knife.
To Sanada's surprise, his "Invading Like Fire" was easily countered by Atobe's Jack Knife. Even Sanada was momentarily stunned, but his anger flared up immediately, and he chased after the ball, launching another "Invading Like Fire."
The tennis ball transformed into a larger fire pillar, charging toward Atobe again, but Atobe's eyes shot out several ice spikes, which pierced the air around Sanada. With his racket in hand, he met the incoming fiery ball head-on.
"Ice World!"
With Atobe's full-power swing, the ball was sent back and flew towards one of the ice spikes. In the next moment, the ice shattered, and Sanada was frozen in place. The ball bounced out of the court.
"0-15!"
"Sanada! Surrender to my magnificent technique!" Atobe arrogantly looked at Sanada after scoring.
At this moment, Sanada had already reached the baseline. His expression remained serious as he furrowed his brow and responded, "Your Ice World won't work anymore, Atobe! 'Invisibility as the Shadow!'"
As Sanada spoke, a dark aura enveloped him. The ice spikes in the dead zones around him, which Atobe had seen earlier, shattered, causing Atobe to frown slightly. However, he quickly regained his confident smile.
Ignoring Atobe's reaction, Sanada once again launched his invisible follow-through combined with "Swift as the Wind," but unfortunately, this move had no effect on Atobe, who had overwhelming perceptive abilities.
Atobe effortlessly reached the landing point and returned the ball, then immediately began running towards the net, seemingly ready for a direct counterattack against Sanada.
Sanada didn't hesitate and used "Invading Like Fire" again. Due to the "Invisibility as the Shadow," Atobe couldn't see Sanada's dead zones, but Sanada's "Fūrin Kazan" technique was no longer enough to deal with Atobe's speed in a short amount of time.
Thus, the two began a furious back-and-forth, and the game became so intense that the audience erupted in applause. The members of Hyōtei also began cheering Atobe on.
On the court, Atobe launched a fast cross-court shot, but Sanada intercepted it with his "Riding the Wind" and eliminated most of its power and spin. He then swung his racket, sending the ball back to Atobe's side.
Atobe, already at the net, jumped and hammered the ball down with a strong smash. The ball, vibrating with special force, flew toward Sanada. The moment Sanada's racket made contact, the vibration sent his racket flying, and the ball bounced high.
Atobe then leaped again and smashed the ball down, sending it flying past Sanada and out of the court.
"Rondo Towards Destruction!"
"0-30!"
Sanada picked up his racket without saying anything more, merely giving Atobe a deep look before once again executing "Swift as the Wind." Atobe returned it and moved forward.
However, this time Sanada suddenly flickered with lightning, and in an instant, he appeared on the path of the flying ball. With his racket raised, he slammed it, sending the ball flying like a bolt of lightning toward Atobe.
"Moving Like Thunder!"
Atobe, relying on his exceptional perception, immediately saw through the ball's trajectory. He sidestepped and swung his racket. The next second, Atobe's racket soared high as the ball's momentum continued, flying out of the court.
"15-30!"
The next point saw Sanada start with "Swift as the Wind" again. After Atobe returned it, Sanada immediately unleashed "Moving Like Thunder," but this time, Atobe didn't lose his racket. He gripped it firmly, returning the move with all his might.
Atobe didn't rush to the net like before. Sanada didn't expect Atobe to return his "Moving Like Thunder" so quickly, but he didn't back down and followed up with another "Invading Like Fire."
The massive pillar of fire flew over the net, heading toward the front court. This time, however, Atobe didn't move forward to return it. Instead, he took a few steps back. After the ball bounced and rose, Atobe jumped up and hammered it down with a strong smash.
The ball, spinning intensely, flew toward Sanada's side, skimming the ground after landing. Sanada attempted to follow up with "Moving Like Thunder," but the ball had already slid out of the court.
"Rondo Towards Destruction!"
"15-40!"
When Sanada hit "Swift as the Wind" for the fifth time, Atobe's eyes glittered with sharp focus. His gaze never left Sanada as he returned the "Swift as the Wind" and continued watching intently.
Sanada didn't hesitate and unleashed "Moving Like Thunder" again. With his leg strength from recent training, he was now able to handle the lightning-fast speed of the move.
However, Atobe immediately saw through the ball's trajectory. He pushed his perceptive abilities to the limit and, with a sharp swing, intercepted the ball, his gaze never leaving Sanada.
In the next moment, Sanada's body appeared to Atobe like an X-ray, leaving only his skeletal frame visible. Atobe focused on the absolute dead zone between Sanada's joints and bones, and with a calculated strike, he sent the ball flying.
As Sanada was about to swing his racket to return the ball, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his shoulder joint, causing his movement to freeze. The ball flew out of the court.
"GAME! Hyōtei Academy! 1-0!"
"Sanada! Welcome to my Atobe Kingdom!" Atobe said with a smug smile, looking down at Sanada.