"You've got to be kidding… this is the first time I've seen captain's jacket fall off during a match!" Fuji Yūta said in shock from the stands.
"Greece's Zeus isn't even on the same level as any opponent we've faced before!" Ibu Shinji responded, his disbelief plain but his voice steady.
"Even though they were just trading basic tennis just now, the intensity felt no less than that match between Akashi and Byoudouin-senpai!" Marui said, still shaken.
"So this is what a clash between world-class captains looks like?" Yagyū adjusted his glasses, his expression grim.
On court, Akashi calmly picked up his jacket and tossed it toward the bench. Strangely, it drifted slowly and landed neatly on a chair.
"You still don't plan to use your full strength? In this state, you can't possibly win," Akashi said coldly, eyes fixed on Zeus.
"You've got a point~" Zeus was momentarily surprised, then smiled as he replied.
A warm amber glow spread across his body, fusing with the silver light until dazzling golden brilliance burst out.
"Then let's start our second game!" Zeus, glittering in gold, spoke with a smile.
'Not like Hermes and Vulcan's half-and-half states… this is a perfect fusion of two Holy Lights? And this feeling… it's familiar. Could it be…' Akashi thought, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Zeus.
While pondering, Akashi moved to the baseline. His vast mental force surged around him, and behind him a golden ripple slowly appeared, filled with countless circular waves.
When he tossed the ball, all the waves merged together, as if something massive was about to emerge. With the crack of his racket, a giant radiant vessel shot from the ripple and streaked past Zeus's half.
"Gate of Babylon—Vimana!"
"Ace! 15-0!"
Zeus's eyes widened. A bead of sweat slid down his temple. He hadn't even reacted—only felt a huge shadow fly overhead before the ball was already out.
Akashi tossed the ball again. This time a crimson spear burst from the ripple. As the ball struck Zeus's half, the spear pierced through him as if nailing him in place.
"Gate of Babylon—Gáe Bolg!"
"Ace! 30-0!"
But just as Akashi was about to serve a third time, Zeus's body flared with overwhelming force. The golden brilliance expanded, blazing like a sun and flooding the court with light.
Akashi's eyes sharpened. His earlier suspicion was right—Zeus's special ability was tied to this aura. Which meant Zeus had no chance of winning this match.
Still, Akashi didn't dwell on it. He tossed the ball high again, and from the golden ripple emerged a massive double-edged broadsword. As he struck, the blade swung across, slashing at Zeus's half.
"Gate of Babylon—Ig-Alima!"
From Zeus's view, the entire court split in two, as if heaven and earth were cleaved apart. But the golden brilliance covering him steadied his mind, and he instantly discerned the ball's path.
Lightning sparked in his eyes. He appeared near the landing spot, swinging at the bouncing ball. At the same time, a blazing sun rose overhead, scorching rays searing the entire court until even the air warped.
Akashi slid sideways, sharp senses noting that Zeus's return seemed to affect not just the mental plane—real-world temperature was actually climbing. It was bizarre.
Akashi's racket intercepted the ball, and it faded away. From the ripple behind him emerged a gigantic sword shaped like demonic wings. Its presence made the already sweltering mental world feel like it was being consumed by fire.
When Akashi returned the ball, the massive sword slashed forward as well. The scorching wave that erupted seemed ready to melt the entire court.
"Gate of Babylon—Shur Shagana!"
In the mental world, Zeus was reduced to ashes in the molten tide, even the blazing sun above him swallowed by the inferno. But then endless thunder tore across the sky, and in the real world, a ball suddenly appeared in Akashi's backcourt, bouncing before rolling out.
"30-15!"
Zeus shone with dazzling radiance, standing like the true King of Gods descended. Except for Akashi, no one had seen what had just happened with his return.
"This match has already gone beyond our imagination. I couldn't even see Zeus's return just now!" Krauser said from the bench, his voice trembling.
"Zeus's mental waves are too unusual. An ordinary person would be crushed by that pressure, unable to breathe! This is the first time I've faced such a dangerous guy!" Niō could no longer keep up his usual playful mask, his tone now heavy.
"So you're saying right now Akashi-kun is bearing unimaginable pressure?" Fuji said, his face equally serious.
"No! Maybe it's Zeus who's under pressure right now. Let's just keep watching!" Saitō suddenly spoke from the bench.
Akashi ignored the lost point. He was testing his theory, and if it was true, then Zeus would be the most unique player in this entire World Cup.
With Akashi's next serve, the battle grew fiercer. In the mental world, his treasures rained endlessly on Zeus. Yet Zeus seemed immortal—destroyed completely, only to reappear intact the next second.
But whether at courtside or in the Japan team's viewing hall, everyone could see Akashi still held the advantage. Zeus was only barely holding on.
"Game! Greece! 1-1!"
When the umpire's call rang out, everyone was stunned. Somehow Zeus had taken the second game. Except for Byoudouin and Oni, the rest stared in disbelief.
"What?! Akashi clearly had the upper hand—how did Zeus win that game? I didn't even notice it happen!" Sanada said, eyes wide at the screen.
"Akashi-kun already used Gate of Babylon, yet Zeus still stole the point without us realizing. Just how strong is he? And Greece, with such a captain, is only ranked tenth in the world?" Yukimura said, unable to accept it.
"Tezuka, your Ultimate Zone lets you freely control the ball's spin, right?" Oni suddenly asked.
"That's right. As long as no external force interferes, I can," Tezuka admitted without hesitation.
"Exactly. If Tezuka controls spin, then Zeus is controlling the entire rhythm of the match! On the surface it looks like he's being pushed back, but he's quietly taking the points!" Oni explained gravely.
"Zeus is strong, no doubt. But I think Akashi let him take that game on purpose. You all know those eyes of his. No matter how Zeus manipulates the rhythm, it can't escape him!" Byoudouin said, voicing a different perspective. After facing Akashi himself, his confidence in him was unshakable.
On court, just as Byoudouin said, Akashi had intentionally allowed Zeus to take the second game. Now he was certain of Zeus's special ability, though even he found it astonishing.
After winning the game, Zeus pushed forward. His golden light surged violently, and waves of multicolored aura shimmered around him. His brilliance shifted from gold to near-transparent white, faintly refracting rainbow hues.
"Olympus Rainbow Light!"