"Looks like Duke-senpai has already started adapting to Akutsu's moves!" Kite frowned from the stands, speaking bluntly.
"To see through Akutsu's Eighth Consciousness in such a short time, Duke-senpai's strength is definitely not ordinary!" Fuji immediately agreed.
"No need to worry too much. Akutsu hasn't gone all out yet!" Shiraishi spoke with calm optimism. He had no doubt about Akutsu's strength.
On court, as Akutsu stepped to the baseline, the glow of the Asura Path around him flared brighter. At the same time, a black-red aura burst from his body—he had entered Wild State.
He tossed the ball high. This time, seven phantom figures appeared. Seeing seven different stances of Akutsu before him, Duke let out a bitter smile. Six was already tough enough, and now there was one more.
Still, Duke didn't give up. The moment the sound of the strike rang out, he dashed toward the direction he thought most likely. Unfortunately, his guess was wrong again. The ball shot across the net, struck the right center line, and bounced out.
"Ace! 15-0!"
For someone of Duke's size, his speed was already very fast, but Akutsu's serve wasn't slow either. Without pre-reading the general direction, reaching the spot in time was nearly impossible—especially now that Akutsu was in Wild State.
"This is trouble~ If he really reaches Boss's level…" Duke muttered with a helpless tone, watching the ball outside the court.
At this point, Duke wasn't sure of Akutsu's limit. If he was like Byoudouin, nearly limitless, creating countless phantom figures at the instant of contact, then Duke was doomed to lose.
Of course, that state of Byoudouin's Duke had only seen once—back in the mysterious Eastern country, during a match against a local pro. That was Byoudouin's ultimate secret, achieved only by burning through his life, and even then he barely won.
That pro, moved by Byoudouin's desperate struggle, acknowledged him and passed on a powerful technique, said to be named after their nation's totem.
As Byoudouin traveled the world, he always challenged the strongest local pros, constantly reborn in battle. After the accident in the match with Amadeus, his strength had skyrocketed.
On court, Akutsu's Wild State power made Duke falter. Even when he guessed the serve right, the seven figures would still throw him off.
"Ace! 30-0!"
"40-0!"
"Game! Second String Selection! 3-1!"
"No choice… Let's just hope the kid across from me doesn't get hurt," Duke sighed softly. Then his aura began to surge upward, a destructive force spreading from his body.
His muscles swelled again. Tossing the ball high, he swung down hard with his racket. The ball flew forward carrying a unique shockwave.
"Destruction—Balance!"
Akutsu flashed to the landing spot, splitting once more into seven stances, each swinging at the incoming ball. But the instant his racket touched it, he felt his balance collapse, broken by the shockwave itself.
All the phantom images vanished. Akutsu himself was blasted backward by the serve, rolling across the court without even a real chance to resist. The middle schoolers watching were stunned at the sight.
"Ace! 15-0!"
"Heh~ Experience the true meaning of Destruction, brat!" Byoudouin sneered, watching Akutsu tumble across the court.
"Tch~ Looks like Duke's going all out," Toono muttered unhappily, as if recalling something unpleasant.
"Arara~ Even pulling out that move… doesn't feel like Duke's usual style," Omagari covered his face, unable to watch Akutsu's miserable state.
"Don't you think Akutsu's kinda like that guy Byoudouin? Maybe that's why Duke's acting out of character," Tanegashima said jokingly. Irie's expression turned subtle, as if something had clicked.
After rolling a few times, Akutsu finally steadied himself. With an annoyed look, he spat on the ground, cracked his neck a couple of times, and stood tall. He didn't seem injured at all.
"So that's your ability? Interesting! This match is getting more exciting!" Akutsu stepped back onto the court, a bloodthirsty grin spreading across his face as he stared at Duke.
"No injuries at all? Impressive physique! In that case, I won't hold back anymore!" Duke looked at Akutsu seriously, his voice carrying a note of admiration.
He tossed the ball again, unleashing another serve laced with destructive shockwaves. Akutsu charged forward without hesitation.
Seven phantom stances of Akutsu appeared, but the moment his racket touched the ball, they all vanished. Only the real Akutsu remained, gripping his racket tight as his balance was broken once again.
Just as he was about to be blasted away, Akutsu forcefully yanked his balance back. His body twisted into an almost impossible angle—anyone else's spine would've snapped.
In that contorted stance, Akutsu somehow returned the serve. Duke's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered and rushed forward.
The muscles in Duke's right arm bulged as he pulled his racket back—signaling a Duke Homerun. Akutsu's eyes sharpened, his arms tensing, ready to meet it Boss-on.
But the very next moment, the ball zipped past his ear at incredible speed and struck the baseline, bouncing out of court without any of the expected explosive force.
"30-0!"
It had been a feint. Conditioned by Duke's repeated Homeruns, Akutsu had instinctively misread the shot. Duke's style was far more flexible and unpredictable than most power players.
With his Balance technique disrupting Akutsu's footing, Duke temporarily sealed Eighth Consciousness and created chances for his Homerun. But Akutsu's Wild State instincts helped him avoid having his racket broken.
"Game! Japan Team! 3-2!"
Although Duke held his serve, he still hadn't fully unraveled Akutsu's Eighth Consciousness. When the sixth game began, Akutsu once again used seven phantom stances to mislead Duke, forcing errors in judgment.
Fortunately, with time, Duke's adaptation grew. His ability to see through the illusions increased steadily. He wasn't as fast at deciphering them as Amadeus in the original, but he wasn't being completely suppressed either.
"Ace! 15-0!"
"15-15!"
"Ace! 30-15!"
"30-30!"
Their scores climbed back and forth. Duke still had far more dangerous destructive techniques, but with his personality, he would never use them in an internal match.
After Duke won another point, Akutsu drew a deep breath. His Wild aura flared wildly. Without hesitation, he tossed the ball high. This time, eight phantom stances appeared.
Akutsu had pushed Eighth Consciousness further, raising the difficulty of prediction yet again. Duke had expected it, but when it truly happened, he couldn't help sighing inwardly. The ball streaked like a beam of light across the court, striking the baseline and bouncing out.
"Ace! 40-30!"
"Game! Second String Selection! 4-2!"
Akutsu had unleashed another burst of power, multiplying into eight stances and catching Duke off guard. He managed to hold serve, but Eighth Consciousness was nearing its limit.
Veins bulged across his body, his face twisted with strain. Pain crept into his ankles—clear signs of the toll the technique was taking.
Akutsu's limit was nine phantom stances, but Akashi had strictly forbidden it. That level demanded burning his own life force, a load that could cripple his body and cut his career short.
Even with his freakish physique, he was still just a third-year middle schooler. His bones and muscles weren't fully developed. He could never achieve Byoudouin's countless stances.
Gradually, the bulging veins faded. Akutsu had decided not to rely on Eighth Consciousness against Duke anymore. But as Duke stepped to the baseline, a strange sense of danger prickled his nerves.
Instinctively, Duke looked up. Akutsu's body exuded a red mist, and the surroundings warped into a barren wasteland littered with broken bones. Behind him, a pair of scarlet, beast-like eyes slowly appeared.
"Alternate Dimension—Fenrir the Demon Wolf!"