Realizing his misjudgment, Chitose adjusted his mindset, treating his opponent as someone on the same level as himself.
*Thud!*
In an instant, he served another high-speed ball.
The tennis ball hit the ground, bounced, and disappeared. But as Ishikawa swung his racket, *thud!*, the ball was struck back from what seemed like thin air.
"The 'Divine Hide' has been completely seen through."
Chitose's heart sank, but he quickly regained his composure. Using his refined skills, he began targeting Ishikawa's left and right sides.
At this point, he was playing as if it were an official match, launching a calculated offensive.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
However, Ishikawa's defense was impenetrable.
Unable to break through, Chitose could no longer hold back. He unleashed a more aggressive and fierce style of play, attacking relentlessly.
*Thud!*
A straight shot landed on Ishikawa's backhand side. As Ishikawa returned it, Chitose didn't even glance at the ball before launching another attack.
*Thud!*
This time, it was aimed at the right sideline.
After a series of aggressive shots, Chitose moved forward, his wooden clogs clacking against the court. His movements weren't particularly fast, but they were seamless, each shot meticulously calculated.
Moreover, the frequency and speed of his attacks increased, gradually creating a suffocating pressure even for the referee, Echizen.
"This style of play is similar to the captain of Fudomine, Tachibana!"
Chitose's offense was fierce. Despite being a technical player, he exuded a ferocious aura.
"Ah, right. Earlier, Ishikawa mentioned that this guy is the other half of the 'Kyushu Duo'—Chitose Senri!"
Without a doubt, this man was also a top-tier national-level player.
His exquisite skills and aggressive playstyle perfectly embodied the essence of Rikkaidai's approach: attack!
He never gave his opponent a chance to breathe, always maintaining control of the match.
*Thud!*
Chitose struck another shot to Ishikawa's backhand, forcing him to turn and return it. Seizing the opportunity, Chitose deftly sliced the ball with his racket.
*Tap!*
The ball bounced lightly, just over the net.
"A drop shot?"
Echizen raised an eyebrow.
There was no denying that the timing of this drop shot was impeccable. Given Ishikawa's current position, if he didn't want to lose the point, he'd have to rush to the net.
However, with his current speed, Ishikawa wouldn't be able to make a precise return, leaving him no choice but to lob the ball back.
This showcased Chitose's brilliance. He could switch seamlessly between aggressive play and delicate, precise shots.
Thinking this, Echizen muttered to himself, "This guy is a master at controlling the pace of the match."
*Tap!*
Sure enough, Ishikawa, chasing the ball, could only manage a short return. Chitose, already waiting at the net, leaped into the air and smashed the ball down with a powerful overhead shot.
*Bang!*
The ball shot down like a cannonball.
"As expected of Tachibana's partner."
Echizen narrowed his eyes.
He easily connected this moment to the first point Ishikawa had scored earlier.
Clearly, this guy had a vengeful streak.
This shot was clearly a payback for Ishikawa's earlier drop shot and smash.
From the looks of it, the vice-captain of Hyotei seemed to have no choice but to concede this point.
"Hmph."
But at that moment, a faint smile appeared on Ishikawa's face.
Then, to the shock of both Chitose and Echizen, he suddenly swung his racket, striking the rapidly descending ball.
*Bang!*
Chitose's smash was returned with incredible force.
The ball slammed into the ground near Chitose's feet, then ricocheted off, *clanging* against the wire fence and leaving a small dent!
"0-40!"
A moment later, Echizen, regaining his composure, announced the score.
"Hmph."
Chitose's expression darkened.
The match had been going almost exactly according to his carefully planned strategy. However, the final moment had thrown him a curveball.
"He actually managed to predict the trajectory of the smash and return it with such precision?"
Recalling the scene, Chitose's wariness of Ishikawa reached its peak.
He realized that even after treating Ishikawa as a national-level player, he had still underestimated him.
"Senpai."
At that moment, Ishikawa smiled and said, "I've heard that there are three players in the nation who have unlocked the 'Muga no Kyouchi' (State of Self-Actualization). They are Seigaku's Yukimura and Sanada, and the last one... is you."
"He even knows about that?"
Chitose's heart skipped a beat.
He was now certain that he had been outmaneuvered. While he was in the dark, Ishikawa seemed to know everything about him.
More importantly, the strength Ishikawa had displayed far exceeded Chitose's expectations. If he didn't bring out his true abilities, escaping this match unscathed would be difficult.
"You really do know everything."
Chitose looked at Ishikawa and nodded solemnly. "I thought you were just an ordinary player. I didn't expect you to push me to this extent. It seems I'll have to get serious!"
"He's also mastered Muga no Kyouchi?"
Echizen, sitting in the referee's chair, was stunned.
But then he quickly realized something.
Even excluding Kirihara, there were other players who had mastered Muga no Kyouchi, like their captain Tezuka... and himself.
Yet, Ishikawa had only mentioned Yukimura, Sanada, and Chitose.
Echizen wondered, "Did he make a mistake, or..."
*Bzzzt!*
At that moment, a radiant, colorful light erupted from Chitose's body, centered around him. White energy surged like a fountain, enveloping him.
"What is this?"
Echizen's eyes widened in shock.
This state was completely different from the Muga no Kyouchi he and Kirihara had experienced. It seemed closer to the "Hyakuren no Kiwami" (Pinnacle of Hardening) that Tezuka had developed from Muga no Kyouchi.
Could it be that this Chitose guy had also unlocked some profound secret of Muga no Kyouchi?
*Whoosh!*
Bathed in the radiant light, Chitose looked up at Ishikawa, his eyes shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors.
"Oh?"
He then said with surprise, "You're even stronger than I expected. It took me 78 shots to score a point off you."
After saying this, Chitose nodded with a smile.
At this point, he was completely convinced that this newcomer from Hyotei was indeed the super rookie from the Kanto region.
After all, even the super rookie from Kansai on his own team hadn't forced him to play over 40 shots.
"But since I've already made the prediction, let's... begin!"
*Thud!*
He served the ball.
Ishikawa, on the other side, smiled and moved to return it.
*Thud!*
Chitose struck the ball, this time aiming for Ishikawa's backhand again. It seemed he was revisiting his earlier strategy.
Ishikawa calmly reacted.
"78 shots?"
Echizen, sitting in the referee's chair, frowned.
He vaguely sensed something crucial in the number Chitose had mentioned.
On the court, the rally between the two continued, with the number of exchanges increasing.
"76 shots!"
*Thud!*
Chitose declared, hitting a shot to Ishikawa's far backhand side. As Ishikawa returned it, Chitose's eyes flashed, and he swung his racket: "This is the 78th shot!"
*Bang!*
A pale yellow light exploded near Ishikawa's far side. Ishikawa, seemingly unable to keep up, stood still, not moving.
"It really was the 78th shot?"
Echizen's heart raced. "Does that mean he had already predicted the outcome of this rally before it even began?"
The thought left even the usually calm Echizen in awe.
How could someone predict the exact shot that would end a rally before the match even started? This ability completely defied his understanding of tennis.
"Hah."
Taking a deep breath, Echizen was about to announce the score.
"Echizen-kun."
But just as he was about to speak, Ishikawa smiled and said, "I think you should take a closer look before calling the score."
"Huh?"
Echizen was momentarily stunned.
He then carefully examined the spot where the ball had landed. After a second look, his expression turned serious.
"Out!"
"Game!"
"Ishikawa, 1-0. Change sides!"
"What?"
Echizen's call left Chitose staring in shock. He scrutinized the spot where the ball had landed, his face darkening.
"It really... went out."
At that moment, a wave of disbelief washed over Chitose.
The ability he had developed through relentless study of Muga no Kyouchi, which he called "Saiki no Kyouchi" (Pinnacle of Brilliance), had failed?
"No, this can't be!"
Even after confirming the result, Chitose struggled to accept it.
Saiki no Kyouchi was his ability to activate his brain using Muga no Kyouchi, simulating every possible factor of the match in his mind to predict the fastest way to score. It was as if he could see the future and make an absolute prediction.
Until now, Chitose had used this ability to defeat countless opponents. Once he activated Saiki no Kyouchi, he had never made a mistake.
But now, for the first time, his absolute prediction had failed.
"Hah."
Taking a deep breath, Chitose moved to the other side of the court, his mind filled with questions.
*Bzzzt!*
The radiant light of Saiki no Kyouchi reappeared, activating his brain once more. In Chitose's eyes, countless possibilities of the match played out.
"1 shot, 2 shots, 3 shots..."
As he continued to analyze, the number of shots required to defeat Ishikawa kept increasing.
But gradually, as time passed, beads of sweat formed on Chitose's forehead.
His expression grew more strained, and the veins in his eyes became more pronounced.
*Drip.*
About 40 seconds later, a drop of cold sweat fell from Chitose's forehead to the ground.
*Bzzzt...*
The colorful reflections in his eyes flickered like a malfunctioning screen before turning to static.
"No, this can't be..."
Chitose looked up at Ishikawa in disbelief.
Just moments ago, he had simulated up to the 1,348th shot and still hadn't scored. Trying to push further, his mind simply couldn't handle it.
It was like an electronic component overheating and shutting down.
Now, Chitose's head felt heavy, and his bloodshot eyes resembled Kirihara's "Red Eye" state.
"Senpai."
Ishikawa, standing at the baseline, lightly tapped the ball before catching it. "It seems your absolute prediction has lost its effect."
"How about this? I'll make a prediction instead."
*Whoosh!*
As he spoke, Ishikawa tossed the ball into the air.
As he swung his racket to strike it, he calmly said, "1 shot."
*Bang!*
The ball shot forward, landing on Chitose's service line in an instant.
*Thud!*
The yellow light exploded, and Chitose's pupils contracted.
Too fast!
The speed of this serve far exceeded his wildest estimates. It was even faster than his thoughts, leaving him frozen in place, unable to move a muscle as the ball shot past him.
"Gulp."
Chitose's throat moved involuntarily.
He stared at the calm young man across the net, who had already put his racket away, and a thought instinctively crossed his mind: "Just who is this guy?!"
---
**pat-reon: belamy20**
(End of Chapter)