"Did he score?!"
Sanada, Yanagi, and the other regulars perked up, their spirits lifted.
Their eyes instinctively turned to Yukimura, who now seemed lost in darkness, his gaze vacant.
Yet.
The metallic sheen of black emanating from him sent a chilling sensation through everyone.
"Did he... strip away his own senses?"
On the Ice Emperor's side, everyone's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
"Yukimura Seiichi... what a ruthless guy!"
At the entrance of the pathway, a voice filled with awe echoed. It was Shishido and Otori, who had just finished treating their injuries and rushed over.
Now.
Seeing Yukimura radiating such a dangerous aura, everyone was utterly shocked.
They never imagined that such an ability to strip away one's senses existed in the world. What's more, someone would choose to strip away their own senses.
"Yukimura-senpai..."
Otori murmured softly.
But then.
When his eyes fell on the electronic scoreboard on the big screen, he couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
The gap was too wide! Even if Yukimura had awakened this special ability now, there was probably no chance of a comeback.
Swish! At that moment.
On the court.
Yukimura, holding the tennis ball, regained the spark in his eyes. With a smile, he said, "Ishikawa-kun, thank you for showing me a deeper world!"
"It's your own talent, senpai."
Ishikawa shook his head. "Even without me, you would have mastered this ability in the future."
"That's different."
Yukimura chuckled. "No one can predict the future. But now, I've seen that world, and that's a fact."
At this moment, Yukimura no longer carried the anxiety he had before.
After stripping away his own senses, not only had his strength improved, but his mentality had also undergone a transformation.
"I know you haven't shown your true strength yet."
Yukimura looked at Ishikawa, his eyes sharp. "But it's fine. I'll make you take me seriously in my own way."
Whoosh! As soon as he finished speaking.
He tossed the tennis ball into the air once more.
At the same time, Yukimura's eyes dimmed again. A dark, metallic glow enveloped him completely.
Thud! The tennis ball turned into a streak of black, darting across the court in an instant and landing precisely on the service line in front of Ishikawa.
"What?!"
Outside the court, Atobe's pupils contracted slightly.
Too fast! He hadn't even caught when Yukimura had served. The speed of this serve was almost on par with Ishikawa's [Stardust].
"No, that's not it!"
But soon, Atobe realized: "It's not that his serve is too fast, but his presence has completely vanished. That's why it's impossible to observe the serve."
This was different from the principle of [Speed of Wind].
Yukimura's serve was more like erasing the perception of the tennis ball itself.
A serve that lowered its presence, like an assassin's strike—unpredictable and untraceable! Swish!
But the next moment.
A silver arc flashed.
Ishikawa's racket met the ball as it bounced up.
"Was it seen through?"
Atobe's eyes flickered.
This highlighted the difference in their observational skills. To Ishikawa, it seemed like nothing could escape his keen eyes.
Whoosh! Immediately.
The ball was sent back.
"That was a good half-volley, but your intent was exposed the moment you returned it."
At this moment.
Yukimura chased after the ball.
Having stripped away his senses, his perspective was entirely different from others. What others saw was a scene constructed through visual and auditory information processed by the brain.
Yukimura, however, was different.
Without his senses, he perceived the surroundings in a unique state.
In his view.
The tennis ball was a red dot, while his opponent was reduced to a vague outline.
Everything outside the court was shrouded in darkness.
In this state.
Any change in the ball's trajectory was precisely transmitted to him. Moreover, with his senses diminished, Yukimura's other abilities were enhanced.
Such as speed and technique.
Thud! Yukimura returned the ball with a backhand.
As the ball met his racket, it trembled slightly, instantly gaining intense spin and kinetic energy.
Whoosh!
A sharply angled drive shot landed precisely on Ishikawa's backhand side.
"What an incredible return!"
Outside the court.
Shiraishi and Chitose from Rikkai, as well as Tachibana from Fudomine, couldn't help but shudder.
Just watching Yukimura's return from a distance, they felt an indescribable pressure.
They couldn't return it! The three national-level players all had the same thought.
Thud! At that moment.
Ishikawa blocked the ball again.
But no one was surprised. Throughout the match, Ishikawa had been dominating Yukimura, and now, the Rikkai captain had finally caught up.
Even though Yukimura was still at a significant disadvantage in terms of score.
To the Rikkai team, the situation had improved dramatically.
Especially for Sanada and Yanagi.
As national-level players themselves, they could see more clearly. Despite the stalemate, Yukimura, with his [Zero Senses] tennis, had gained the upper hand.
Not only could he predict Ishikawa's movements in advance, but his spin shots also countered the power of Ishikawa's [Deep Layer] tennis.
Thud! Another ball.
The ball landed on the sideline and instantly vanished from everyone's sight. Ishikawa stopped in his tracks, looking toward the far corner of the wall.
Tap tap tap... The vanished ball reappeared out of nowhere.
"30-30!"
"He scored again!"
The Rikkai team clenched their fists in excitement.
It's turning around!
The situation was improving, and the scales of victory were no longer tipping in Ice Emperor's favor.
"That was indeed a high-level shot."
Ishikawa nodded lightly.
Yukimura's return just now was on par with the shots Echizen had delivered during the Kantō Tournament.
In other words.
The Rikkai captain had also reached the level of an elite high school player!
On the global stage, he would easily rank among the top middle school players! "Ishikawa-kun."
On the other side, Yukimura, having scored, returned to his original state.
However.
There was no joy on his face after scoring. On the contrary, he frowned and said, "I don't want meaningless courtesy. Please take this match seriously!"
Courtesy?! Hearing this.
The Rikkai team, who had just gotten excited, was stunned.
"Yu-Yukimura, what is he saying..."
Jackal's mouth twitched.
Next to him, Marui's pupils contracted rapidly.
The others, like Niou and Yagyuu, were equally dumbfounded.
"Serious, huh?"
Ishikawa looked at the serious Yukimura and nodded. "Your tennis does require serious attention. And this match should be coming to an end soon."
"This guy..."
Chitose and the rest of the Rikkai team instinctively clenched their fists.
"He's too arrogant!"
"Yeah, even though Yukimura-senpai is pressuring him, he still dares to say that."
"He's going to regret saying that!"
They were indignant.
In their hearts, even if Ishikawa was strong, he couldn't easily defeat Yukimura in this state. In fact, they believed that Yukimura, with his [Zero Senses] tennis, was now on par with Ishikawa.
Opponents of the same level should be treated with respect and recognition. But this Ice Emperor guy had an arrogance that was downright infuriating.
"Good."
Hearing Ishikawa's words, Yukimura nodded in satisfaction.
Thud! Then.
He served again.
Whoosh! A black flash.
The ball appeared out of nowhere on Ishikawa's backhand service line.
Thud! But in an instant, Ishikawa returned it. The speed was so fast that the spectators couldn't even react.
"Did he... just return it?"
Chitose and the others were dumbfounded.
Thud! At that moment.
Yukimura attacked again.
There was no denying that with [Zero Senses] tennis, his strength had improved significantly. Fully immersed in the match, the power he unleashed far surpassed the national middle school level!
Swish!
But Ishikawa, at the baseline, swiftly slashed his racket.
"It's that iaido strike!!!"
Chitose's expression changed.
Tap tap!! But then.
Yukimura had already dashed to where the ball landed, catching up and returning it with a quick swing.
"He countered it?!"
Mukahi and the others were shocked.
Earlier, Yukimura couldn't even keep up with this move. Now, he had countered it so easily? Thud! But immediately.
Ishikawa swung his racket again.
The ball flew precisely toward the left baseline, but to everyone's astonishment, Yukimura sprinted toward the right.
"Yu-Yukimura-senpai..."
Chitose's eyes widened, almost shouting that Yukimura had gone the wrong way.
Thud! But the next moment.
When Yukimura swung his racket, he struck the ball from an empty space.
"It's that move again?"
Everyone finally realized.
"Not bad."
Ishikawa nodded to himself. "After stripping away your senses, you're no longer deceived by visual illusions. My [Mirage] has lost its effect."
In fact.
For Yukimura in this state, any trickery or feints were useless.
As Yukimura had said, only sheer power could defeat him now.
Buzz! Immediately.
A silver-white glow emanated from Ishikawa's body.
"Sword Intent!!!"
Sanada and Yanagi's expressions changed drastically.
Especially Sanada, who recalled the terrifying shot he had witnessed during the Kantō finals.
Bang! At that moment.
Ishikawa struck.
As his racket met the ball, thunderous sparks crackled, and arcs of electricity burst forth.
Boom!!! The spectators felt as if they were hallucinating, hearing the rumble of thunder in their ears.
Sizzle! In an instant.
A dazzling ball of lightning streaked across the court, heading straight for Yukimura.
"Finally, he's going all out?"
Sensing the red dot representing the ball in his [Zero] world suddenly enlarge, Yukimura smiled.
Tap! Immediately.
He took a step forward.
To everyone's shock, he closed in on the ball rapidly. Then, Yukimura held his racket horizontally, striking the lightning ball with the edge of his racket.
Boom! Yukimura's movement visibly stalled.
Buzz! But then.
A dark, metallic glow spread rapidly from him.
Sizzle... Electric sparks flickered.
But Ishikawa's shot was blocked by Yukimura.
"He did it?!"
The Rikkai team was ecstatic.
While the Ice Emperor team's expressions changed drastically.
Ishikawa's strongest move had been blocked?! Outside the court, representatives from various schools were equally shocked. "Is this the true strength of the Child of God?"
At this moment.
The entire court was in awe of the power Yukimura had displayed.
The fall of the king? The demise of the Child of God?! All such claims were shattered mercilessly.
Whoosh! Watching the black streak return, the Rikkai team jumped in excitement.
"There's a chance! There's really a chance!!!"
Sanada and Yanagi were equally thrilled.
Having countered Ishikawa's strongest move, Rikkai might just pull off a miraculous comeback!
"Blocked, huh?"
On the other side.
Having unleashed [Thunderclap] in his first-level Sword Intent state, Ishikawa nodded. "Indeed, against an opponent like you, holding back at 80% isn't enough."
Eighty... percent?! Hearing this, everyone was stunned.
However, Yukimura, having stripped away his senses, was unaware. But the next moment, as if he had sensed something, his expression turned serious.
Buzz! At that moment.
Ishikawa released his aura once more.
No longer holding back, he elevated his Sword Intent from the first level to the second.
In an instant.
The entire court was bathed in a blinding white light.
The hope that Sanada and the others had felt moments ago vanished, replaced by stunned expressions.
Swish! The next moment.
Ishikawa, holding his racket like a sword, slashed upward diagonally, striking the ball.
Crack!
In that instant.
Everyone felt their eardrums vibrate.
The arc of lightning exploded, engulfing everyone's vision.
On the other side.
In his [Zero Senses] world, Yukimura instinctively went on guard.
Because.
The red dot representing the ball had suddenly expanded several times over. An indescribable sense of danger surged within him.
Swish! But.
Yukimura didn't hesitate, aiming his racket at the incoming red dot.
Boom! A deafening crash.
To everyone's shock, as his racket met the ball, a powerful shockwave erupted from the point of impact, spreading outward.
Crack!
In an instant.
Yukimura's racket bent and twisted, flying out of his hand.
Thud! The ball, its force undiminished, slammed into the wall behind Yukimura. The energy within exploded, embedding itself like a wedge.
Boom!!!
Then.
With a deafening roar.
Under the horrified gazes of the spectators, the wall caved in like tofu, collapsing inward.
Countless fragments of stone rained down like a downpour.
Tap tap tap... Looking at the deflated ball that had fallen at the center of the court, the entire stadium fell silent.