In the almost frozen space, Fuji easily reached the landing point. As he swung his racket, the effect of Light Wind vanished, and the ball was immediately returned by Fuji, flying past Akashi and out of bounds.
"40-15!"
"Hyper-speed dimension? I didn't expect you to comprehend Light Wind under the pressure of my Mach Serve!" Akashi muttered softly to himself.
"From here on, Akashi-kun, your hyper-speed serves won't work on me anymore~" Fuji finally smiled.
The people watching from the sidelines had no idea what had just happened. They only saw Fuji suddenly return Akashi's serve immediately after Akashi hit it, which felt strangely abrupt.
"What did the captain just do? Why did he suddenly return Akashi-senpai's serve?" Ryōma was starting to get extremely curious.
"I'm not sure about the specifics, but from what I saw, Fuji's time flow seemed to accelerate!" Inui Sadaharu said, sharing his observation.
Ryōma was completely confused. What did it mean for time to accelerate? This wasn't a movie, was it? Was the tennis ball some sort of illusion?
"Could this be the so-called alternate dimension?" Inui murmured softly, the lenses of his glasses glinting.
Akashi looked at Fuji across the court. Even he had to admit Fuji's talent. Though Fuji didn't have the same physical gifts as Akutsu or Kintarō, his ability to develop and understand tennis techniques was top-tier.
Just as Fuji regained his confidence, ready to return Akashi's Mach Serve again, suddenly a pair of eyes filled with overwhelming pressure appeared in Fuji's mind. It even caused his brain to momentarily blank out.
"Mental Pressure!"
Akashi finally used the technique he had gained after the first-year national tournament, where he used his immense mental power to enhance the oppressive force of his Emperor Eye, suppressing his opponent's mind.
This technique could be considered a combination of Ochi's mental assassination pressure and the corrosion ability of Ten'i Muhou, forcing the opponent to unconsciously reduce their attributes under extreme pressure.
Luckily, Akashi didn't activate the divine enhancement of the alternate dimension; otherwise, with Fuji's current mental power, he might have immediately lost the ability to continue the match.
After noticing Fuji's dazed expression, Akashi slightly nodded and then launched another Mach Serve. Because of the mental pressure, Fuji couldn't activate Light Wind, and the ball instantly flew out of bounds.
"GAME! Fudomine! 4-0!"
After taking the fourth game, Akashi withdrew his mental pressure. He had just wanted to test how the technique would affect Fuji, not intending to win the match outright with it. He still wanted to experience Fuji's Light Wind.
Gradually, Fuji's mind began to return to normal, sweat beading on his forehead. His mind had been filled with those terrifying eyes, making it impossible to think clearly.
Fuji gave a wry smile and glanced at Akashi, who was calm as ever. He had originally thought that with Light Wind, he could finally face Akashi's attacks head-on, but now he realized the gap between them was still impossible to bridge.
The fifth game was Fuji's serve. Even though he knew he was likely no match for Akashi, he couldn't just give up. After delivering a tricky serve, Fuji focused all his energy once again.
Akashi effortlessly reached the landing point and performed a forehand drive. The ball sped past the net and flew toward Fuji's baseline, but as it neared Fuji, everything around him froze.
Or rather, in Fuji's view, the ball stopped. Fuji activated Light Wind again, entering a hyper-speed dimension. Everything around him seemed to be at a standstill, and only he could move normally.
Fuji quickly reached the stationary ball and swung his racket to return it. The next moment, time around him resumed, and if it were any other player, Fuji's return would have already scored. For everyone except Fuji, they couldn't even see him swing his racket.
However, Akashi, who had already activated his ultra-wide defense, reacted far faster in his half of the court. With the enhanced speed from Emperor Eye, he immediately intercepted the ball and sent it back with a forehand.
Thanks to Fuji's use of Light Wind, the match had turned into a back-and-forth battle against Akashi, but the audience and those watching from the sidelines were feeling discomfort. Fuji's actions and the scenes they saw were completely out of sync.
Soon enough, Fuji started to lose points. The mental strain from using Light Wind was too much for him, and after just recently mastering it, he was already overexerting himself. His body couldn't handle the intense use of it.
"0-15!"
"0-30!"
"0-40!"
"GAME! Fudomine! 5-0!"
After Fuji could no longer sustain Light Wind, he lost his ability to keep up with Akashi. Akashi had only used his Emperor Eye and ultra-wide defense during the match to experience Fuji's Light Wind's power, without utilizing his other abilities.
"So that's how it is? I wasn't wrong!" Inui murmured as he watched Fuji panting and exhausted on the court.
"Ano, Inui, do you know what Fuji's move was just now?" Kikumaru asked quickly, after hearing Inui's remark.
"Well! You've all heard of relativity, right? It's the equation t = ct0/√(c²-v²), limt = 0, v → ∞!" Inui said, his voice trailing off as he recited an incredibly confusing formula.
"In simpler terms, t expands as the speed v increases. When v approaches the speed of light, t approaches infinity, meaning time essentially stops. So in an ideal state, if an object moves at a speed near the speed of light, the surrounding space-time relative to that object is at a standstill." Inui began his usual scientific explanation.
"This technique of Fuji's uses the same principle. By focusing his mind, combining his own understanding and judgment, and sharpening his sensory perception to the extreme, Fuji can greatly enhance his reaction speed, surpassing even the speed of hyper-speed balls, creating an effect similar to time acceleration!" Inui Sadaharu finally explained his understanding of Light Wind.
"Senpai, what you're saying sounds simple, but it's not quite the same as what we understand!" Ryōma, after hearing Inui's explanation, couldn't help but respond with a bit of sarcasm.
At that moment, Kikumaru's brain was nearly frying. He understood each word Inui said, but when it all came together, it made no sense to him at all.
"So, Fuji's technique is specifically designed to counter hyper-speed tennis, right?" Oishi Shūichirō was the first to come to a conclusion that everyone could understand.
"Yes! But it looks like this technique really takes a toll on Fuji!" Inui nodded, speaking slowly.
By this time, the sixth game had already begun. Akashi once again served with his Mach Serve, while Fuji activated Light Wind to return it, then immediately deactivated it to reduce the energy drain. But even with the return, Fuji couldn't fully cope with Akashi's attacks.
No matter which technique Fuji used, it had no effect on Akashi. Only Light Wind could barely hold its ground against Akashi, but unfortunately, Fuji's mental power was no longer enough to sustain the use of Light Wind for much longer.
Although Fuji used Light Wind to enter the hyper-speed dimension, his own speed had not reached the world-class level. So, this technique put a huge strain on his body. In the end, Fuji had no choice but to reluctantly lose the singles match.
"GAME! 6-0! Match over! Winner, Fudomine Junior High!"
Fuji's vision was blurry, but he still forced himself to walk up to Akashi, saying, "Looks like… the gap between Akashi-kun and me… is still very big."
"Fuji, keep pushing forward! With your current strength, it'll be hard for you to make an impact in the World Tournament!" Akashi said calmly, looking at Fuji.
"The World Tournament? That's quite an incredible goal~" Fuji murmured, then thanked Akashi again before dragging his exhausted body toward the Seigaku player bench.
Akashi turned and returned to Fudomine's coach bench, but he suddenly noticed that Yūta, Ibu, Kamio Akira, and Ishida Tetsu were all watching him with intense gazes.
As second-string members of Fudomine, they had always known how powerful the first-string players were, especially their captain, who was the strongest in the entire junior high school tennis world. However, before today, they had never fully understood just how strong Akashi really was.
That match against Seigaku's captain had finally shown them a glimpse of their captain's power. Even though Akashi hadn't used his full strength, it had already surpassed what Yūta and the others had imagined.
"Work hard and train well, and one day, you'll reach this level!" Akashi smiled at the four of them, though he also felt a bit regretful. With their talent, they might reach the national peak, but breaking into the world-class level would be incredibly difficult.
The second singles match was about to begin. As Akashi and Fuji finished their sixth game, Tezuka Kunimitsu and Echizen Ryōma had already left to warm up.
When they returned, the referee officially announced the start of the second singles match. Now, Seigaku was standing on the edge of a cliff—if Ryōma lost this match, Seigaku would be out of the Kanto Tournament finals. However, both Fuji and Inui had already mentally prepared themselves for this possibility.
"Now, let's begin the second singles match, with Fudomine's Tezuka Kunimitsu facing Seigaku's Echizen Ryōma! Please welcome both players to the court!"
The two walked onto the court at the same time and approached the net to bow. Ryōma looked at Tezuka with some curiosity and said, "Tezuka-senpai, your strength should be incredible, right?"
"Echizen Ryōma, what are you trying to say~?" Tezuka calmly responded.
"I just want to say, I'll definitely defeat you head-on in this match!" Ryōma said with fierce determination, looking at Tezuka.
"Then give it your all, Echizen!" Tezuka didn't get angry at Ryōma's arrogance. Instead, he thought it was a good thing for Ryōma to have such resolve.
The coin toss was soon held, and as expected, Ryōma won the right to serve. This time, Ryōma held the racket with his left hand from the start, no longer making tentative moves with his right hand. This also had to do with Tezuka being a lefty.
Ryōma stepped to the baseline, tested the ball's bounce with his right hand, and then tossed the ball high into the air. When it fell into the right position, he bent his back and jumped, swinging his left-handed racket upward, applying strong spin as he hit the ball.
"Topspin serve!"
The ball flew over the net and headed straight for Tezuka's left side. But Tezuka had already anticipated this and reached the landing point in time. As the ball bounced up toward his face, Tezuka simply leaned back slightly and calmly returned the ball.
Ryōma wasn't surprised. He had known his topspin serve wouldn't be effective. Ever since coming to Japan, it seemed like everyone could easily break his serve.
Using small, rapid steps, Ryōma quickly reached the landing point, swinging his racket to hit the ball to Tezuka's right-side baseline.
But just after crossing the net, the ball was pulled by an air current toward Tezuka's central baseline. At that moment, a white vortex appeared around Tezuka.
"Tezuka's Zone!"
The ball traced an arc through the air, heading straight toward Tezuka. Standing still, Tezuka only adjusted his posture slightly before sending the ball back with a precise shot.
"That's my dad's special move!" Ryōma said, slightly surprised. But he quickly recovered, running toward the baseline corner. Still, a bad feeling was rising in his chest.
After running to the landing point, Ryōma just barely intercepted the ball and hit it back with all his strength. However, after crossing the net, the ball was still drawn toward Tezuka by the field.
This time, Tezuka hit a forehand drive, and before Ryōma could react, the ball landed and passed right by him, flying out of bounds.
"0-15!"
Ryōma took a deep breath and served again with his topspin serve. However, it had no effect on Tezuka, who easily returned it while adding the rotation of his field to the ball.
Then, Ryōma kept running back and forth, while Tezuka remained at the center of the baseline, using his control over the field to easily pull every ball toward him.
Tezuka seemed to want to test Ryōma's strength, not hitting the ball with more force than Ryōma could handle. This reminded Ryōma of playing against his father Nanjiro, who used to toy with him in this way, with that carefree expression and constant taunting, which always frustrated Ryōma, but he could never find a way to break through.
However, this situation didn't last long. Soon, Tezuka increased the power of his returns, forcing Ryōma to make mistakes and losing points rapidly.
"0-30!"
"0-40!"
"GAME! Fudomine! 1-0!"
"So, this is what you meant by defeating me head-on, Echizen Ryōma?" Tezuka looked at Ryōma calmly and said.
"Hmph! I'll crack your technique soon!" Ryōma replied stubbornly.
Tezuka gave him a calm glance, said nothing more, and turned to the baseline to prepare for his serve. After the last game, he had a rough idea of Ryōma's current level—peak Kanto level, and when he enters the "Muga" state, he could reach half-step national level.
Looking at his rate of improvement, Ryōma was progressing quite well. It was clear from this that his talent was impressive, as he had started catching up in just a few months.
Tezuka stood at the baseline, glanced at Ryōma once more, and tossed the ball into the air with his right hand, directly swinging his racket to serve. The ball wasn't fast but flew over the net toward Ryōma's forecourt.
Ryōma hurried forward, reaching the frontcourt just before the ball landed. He waited to return the ball, but instead of bouncing, the ball rotated briefly on the spot and slowly rolled backward, hitting the net.
"Zero Serve!"
"ACE! 15-0!"
Ryōma stood still, still in the motion of preparing to hit the ball, staring blankly at the ball below the net. He couldn't comprehend such a serve.
It was no wonder Ryōma was reacting this way. During training camp, he had originally planned to challenge Tezuka, but after being thoroughly beaten by Sanada, he had focused on his training and forgotten about facing Tezuka.
"This kind of serve, under the game rules, who can return it?" Ryōma thought to himself, frustrated.
On the sidelines, Akashi suddenly felt a slight itch in his nose, but his attention was on the match between Tezuka and Ryōma. He didn't pay much attention, a slight smirk appearing on his face as he watched the two on the court.
"ACE! 30-0!"
"ACE! 40-0!"
"GAME! Fudomine! 2-0!"
Tezuka calmly executed three more Zero Serves, cleanly winning the second game, and Ryōma could only sigh helplessly.
The third game was Ryōma's serve. As he reached the baseline, a milky white aura began to rise from him, signaling that he had entered the "Muga" state.
Ryōma tossed the ball into the air, then swung his racket. As he hit it, the ball was given intense spin, flying straight toward Tezuka's side.
Tezuka saw Ryōma enter the "Muga" state and slightly furrowed his brows. Then, he quickly moved to the landing point, preparing to return the ball. However, the ball suddenly vanished from his sight.
"Kamikakushi!"
Tezuka didn't hesitate. After hearing the ball land, he stepped aside and swung his racket at the air. The next moment, the ball reappeared on his racket, and he returned it with a swift swing.
Ryōma immediately ran to the frontcourt, jumping on one foot and using the frame of his racket to smash the ball with all his might. The ball instantly split into ten shadowy images, flying toward Tezuka's half of the court.
"Abare Dama!"
However, the next moment, nine of the ball images slowly disappeared, and the remaining ball was pulled toward Tezuka. If Kikumaru had used Abare Dama himself, it might have been enough to break the field's rotation. But Ryōma's version was still too immature.
Tezuka increased the force of his return, and the ball instantly turned into a beam of light, landing at Ryōma's feet before flying out of bounds.
"0-15!"
On the next point, Ryōma unleashed a powerful serve, but it was once again easily returned by Tezuka. No matter what Ryōma tried, he couldn't break free from Tezuka's field.
"0-30!"
"0-40!"
"GAME! Fudomine! 3-0! Court Change!"
The match entered a break, and Tezuka walked off the court with his usual calm expression. Akashi, completely confident in Tezuka, didn't say anything, simply waiting for the match to continue.
On the other side, Inui was explaining to Ryōma how to break the field's control, while also advising him not to overuse the "Muga" state due to the immense physical toll it took.
When the break ended and Ryōma and Tezuka switched sides, Tezuka rare smiled at Ryōma and spoke.
"Your understanding of the "Muga" power is still too shallow. Compared to Echizen Nanjiro, you're far behind, Echizen Ryōma!"