Chapter 113: The Curtain Falls

Boom!

The tennis ball crossed the net and plummeted rapidly, pulling a golden stream of light close to the ground.

"Game, Seigaku, Fuji Syusuke, 2-4."

The moment the tennis ball pierced the defense, the cheers from outside the court surged like a tide, filling the entire venue.

After all, the drama of the weak counterattacking and defeating the strong never goes out of style.

"You truly exceeded my expectations."

Looking at Fuji, who was radiating new vitality on the opposite side, Chitose couldn't help but sigh softly.

In such a short time, being able to evolve to this point, the potential hidden in this guy's body is truly terrifying.

However, despite saying this, there was not much fluctuation in Chitose's expression.

His head hung slightly, a clear breeze blew, and the milky-white 'No-Self' aura permeating his body was like a flickering candle flame, as if it would vanish at any moment.

"I didn't expect to have to do this..."

His footsteps dashed, and the racket in Fuji's hand drew a tortuous arc trajectory, sweeping through all the space in front of where the tennis ball had vanished.

Standing behind the baseline, Chitose's voice, though soft, clearly reached the ears of everyone in the player area.

Boom!

Chitose's body twisted into a terrifying angle in the air, his racket smashed down fiercely, colliding violently with the tennis ball that was still rising.

Boom!

"Five balls!"

With someone like this in Ice Emperor who also mastered the 'No-Self Realm' and stepped into the gates of 'Talented Radiance,' he would definitely be able to find a way to deal with Tezuka very soon.

With burning gazes, the Seigaku crowd clenched their fists, praying for Fuji in their hearts.

The hearts of the Seigaku crowd were already in their throats; just now, when the tennis ball flew over, Fuji's movements had stalled slightly, and they were so nervous that their palms were full of cold sweat, but fortunately, he succeeded in returning it in the end.

However, despite this, they still didn't let their guard down, silently counting the number of balls.

The next second, his expression suddenly changed.

Pat... Pat...

Chitose pressed the tennis ball lightly, the colorful milky-white radiance almost overflowing from his eyes, and the tennis ball was tossed cleanly into the sky.

"This angle..."

"... is a special move of 'Talented Radiance.' It looks like Chitose has been pushed into a corner by Fuji."

"First ball."

His gaze flickered slightly, and Atobe's mouth hooked into a cold smile involuntarily. Looking at Chitose's figure, his eyes held deep anticipation and hope.

During the training camp, Chitose had once displayed some characteristics of 'Talented Radiance,' but at that time, he seemed not to have fully opened the second gate of this 'No-Self Realm.'

Just in a casual standing posture, Chitose Senri seemed to control the entire court.

Boom!

His wrist moved lightly, the spin of 'Godly Concealment' vanished into thin air, and this tricky serve was returned by him with 'Mayfly Coverage,' a winding yellow curve instantly appearing on Chitose's half of the court.

"However, how could I give up the fight because of this!"

A low murmur rang out on the court, and Fuji on the opposite side raised his eyes upon hearing it.

Whoosh!

Like a blue-and-white breeze, Fuji slid toward the net, his eyes sharp, his brown hair fluttering in the strong wind, his racket stretching with his arm, scooping upward fiercely.

And according to the aura Chitose emitted, as well as the warning before the serve...

All signs proved that the opponent possessed special moves of 'Talented Radiance.'

Boom!

"Four balls!"

Beside Inui Sadaharu, Oishi's gaze was terrified; looking at Chitose's familiar posture, he stumbled back a few steps.

The gray-white collar stood up, the slightly raised corners of his mouth, the incomparably confident eyes, and the seven-colored radiance flickering in the milky-white aura.

And in the air in front of the net, besides that round tennis ball, there was also a figure stalled in the air.

On the court.

Swish!

The tennis ball was hit by Chitose, flying over the net and falling at a low altitude, just like a stone falling into a valley.

"7th ball."

And now...

"Tezuka, the day I defeat you is not far away..."

He swung fiercely at the empty air.

The situation he had worked so hard to recover might all disappear in an instant.

"Caught it!"

Boom!

The racket in his hand smashed down following the momentum of the pale yellow tennis ball.

"Could this be the same as Tezuka, is it..."

The tennis ball flew high into the air.

Crack!

The racket strings even dented, and a beam of light with astonishing momentum tore through the air, making a sharp whistling sound as it smashed down from mid-air!

There are still... until Chitose's prediction.

Six balls!

"No... no way..."

Fuji's eyes changed slightly, his heart growing heavier; the opponent had captured the gap in his breathing changes in an instant and hit the tennis ball to a position he really disliked.

The Ice Emperor regulars didn't speak, and Atobe murmured softly, looking at the court with great interest.

"It's coming, the seventh ball!"

Outside the court, the Seigaku crowd held their breath; the outcome of this match might be decided by this ball!

Tap, tap!

Fuji changed his position rapidly, waiting at the landing spot of the tennis ball.

His eyes swept over the rapidly falling tennis ball, holding the racket with both hands, rotating his body, and swinging the racket like a sword return.

Boom!

Kirin Landing!

"Great, Fuji caught it!"

Watching the pale yellow ball shadow flying toward the backcourt, Oishi shouted in surprise.

However.

In front of the net, Chitose stood calmly in place, a confident smile on his face, his right-hand fingers hooked toward his back.

"This ball... is out of bounds!"

Just as he said, soon, the line judge's verdict came from the backcourt.

"OUT!"

His voice was loud, loud enough for the entire venue to hear; Oishi's excited expression instantly stiffened, and the referee announced the score accordingly.

"15-0!"

Swish!

The tennis ball rose into the sky; Chitose had no intention of giving his opponent a breather, leaping into the air, his body bending like a bow, his gaze sweeping down over Fuji's position, his arm swinging round from behind.

"Let's end this match in one go."

"6th ball!"

Boom!

The tennis ball pulled a gorgeous stream of light in the air.

"This feeling again!"

The timing of Fuji's footsteps was sluggish for a split second again; Chitose had once again caught the gap in his breathing to launch an attack.

"Where should I hit it..."

His gaze swept across the opposite half of the court rapidly, but he couldn't find a single flaw.

Hum!

At this moment, the tennis ball that had bounced off the ground suddenly vanished; he couldn't care about thinking too much, pulling his racket diagonally upward.

Boom!

"Ice Emperor Academy leads, 30-0!"

Boom!

"Game, Ice Emperor Academy, Chitose Senri, 5-2!"

"Switch sides!"

Boom!

"0-15!"

"The outcome is decided."

Atobe delivered the verdict on this match with finality; he was very satisfied with this result, as Chitose was even more outstanding than he had imagined.

Boom!

Trying his best to return this tricky topspin ball with a large angle, fatigue had already spread to every part of Fuji's body, and his racket-holding wrist couldn't stop trembling.

Although there were not many rallies for each ball, the layout of 'Talented Radiance' was like a giant net spread out on the court.

And to deal with Chitose's offense, he had to keep struggling within the giant net, his stamina like sand in his palm, rapidly slipping away from between his fingers.

"Is it ending just like this..."

Fuji's heart sank, his eyes dimming.

Tap, tap, tap...

Crisp footsteps rang out on the opposite side; Chitose waited on the trajectory of the tennis ball as if he had known the path all along.

His eyes swept over Fuji slightly, and an inexplicable stream of light flashed in Chitose's right eye.

"No need to be discouraged...

It was in that pitch-black darkness that I found the second gate of the 'No-Self' mysteries and realized the special moves of 'Talented Radiance.'

You being able to persist until now is already worth being proud of!"

The yellow curve stretching in front of the net fell rapidly to the ground, then suddenly bounced diagonally forward.

Chitose's gaze pointed straight at Fuji's blind spot.

"However, I heard that Tezuka also mastered the same power, and even stepped into the 'Limit of Thousand Hammer Hundred Tempering' at the same time.

Truly amazing..."

This was his heartfelt praise.

After all, just to reach the 'Limit of Talented Radiance,' he had already spent immense effort.

He didn't expect that there would be someone like Tezuka who opened both gates at the same time.

However, the name he mentioned was like a stimulant, powerfully injected into Fuji's body.

"Tezuka..."

This name rang in his ears.

His nearly dissipated eyes quietly regained their luster, and his exhausted body, occupied by fatigue, squeezed out strength once again.

"The promise I made to Tezuka... I haven't fulfilled it yet..."

Boom!

"Last ball!"

The tennis ball was pulled diagonally by Chitose, hitting a sharp smash to end the match.

After hitting this ball, he lowered his arm confidently, waiting for the referee to announce the result.

Because in the prediction of 'Talented Radiance,' Fuji would be exhausted and would lose this match because he couldn't catch up to the tennis ball.

And at this moment!

A dashing figure appeared on the court; sweat mixed with dust was on Fuji's face, his hair was messy and scattered, but his eyes flashed with absolute conviction.

"I will... lead Seigaku

to the Nationals!!!"

Using all his strength, Fuji swung his racket and smashed it out.

Boom!

An incomparably crisp sound resonated across the court.

"How is this possible?!"

Chitose's body shook, his racket raised in a hurry, his footsteps stepped out hastily, his eyes full of disbelief.

This was not the same as his prediction...

Impossible!

"Fuji!"

The Seigaku crowd, who had already been in despair, all opened their mouths at this moment, looking forward with anticipation.

Chitose rushed to the net, wanting to save this ball.

Fuji also changed his position rapidly, preparing to seize this opportunity to launch a counterattack.

The next instant.

Pat!

A dull sound, the net in the middle swayed slightly, and in everyone's eyes, the tennis ball hit the net.

Swish, swish, swish...

The tennis ball rubbed against the net, and only after losing all its momentum did it roll down.

With the tennis ball landing, this heart-stirring match finally came to an end, with Ice Emperor Academy winning.

"Game, Ice Emperor Academy, Chitose Senri, 6-2!"

"The first round of the Kanto Tournament is over, Ice Emperor Academy wins, total score 3-0!"

The referee's whistle blew, and the Ice Emperor cheerleading squad in the audience erupted in cheers that shot straight into the sky.

Feeling the cheers from all directions, Chitose had no joy; he looked deeply at Fuji's figure, who was bending over, supporting his knees and panting.

Chitose's eyes were exceptionally solemn.

If he hadn't perceived it wrong just now, the opponent had used some means to exceed the calculation of 'Talented Radiance' in an instant.

"Truly a terrifying guy; if it were before, I might have really lost..."

Seigaku fell in the first round, missing this year's National Competition. ===== CHAPTER 114 =====