Chapter 177: Absolute Domination

"Eiji, now is not the time to be marveling at the speed gun."

"Was the speed of Fuji's Vanishing Serve 200km/h? How can Captain Takahashi return the serve and still add such high speed to the tennis ball?"

Oishi quickly grasped the point of the matter.

Kikumaru was stunned upon hearing this.

A ball speed of 240km/h? This speed is too terrifying!

The most terrifying part isn't even the 240km/h, but returning Fuji's Vanishing Serve at a speed of 240km/h.

You have to realize, serve speed and return speed are completely different things.

A serve relies on one's own power and speed applied to the tennis ball, testing the player's own fundamental strength.

But returning a serve is different; one must account for the ball speed hit by the opponent and the trajectory of the tennis ball.

The key to the Vanishing Serve lies in the spin; speed is not the focus.

Therefore, for Takahashi to hit a spinning tennis ball at such a high speed is even more difficult than him hitting a 240km/h serve.

Takahashi's strength seems to have advanced even further since the last National Tournament!

……

"Bang!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of the tennis ball being struck, the Vanishing Serve reappeared.

Simultaneously reappearing were Takahashi's movements, as well as the tennis ball landing heavily at the midpoint of the baseline.

"0-30!"

……

"Bang!"

"0-40!"

……

"Bang!"

"0-1!"

"Takahashi and Oomagari pair scores!"

……

"To actually, actually take a game directly from Fuji just by returning the serve!"

Kikumaru was dumbfounded.

"Senior Fuji is actually being beaten without any power to fight back!"

Momoshiro was also dumbfounded.

Kirihara was very confused and asked: "What is strange about this?"

"Master has always had this level of strength!"

Inui Sadaharu pushed up his glasses and said: "So in the match against Tezuka at the National Tournament, Takahashi really didn't display his full strength!"

Yanagi Renji said: "You're only realizing this now?"

Inui swallowed hard and said: "No, Tezuka mentioned it before, but I didn't dare to believe it."

"Only now do I fully believe it!"

……

Takahashi tossed the ball, leaped, and swung his racket; the movements were done in one go, as perfect as a textbook!

"Bang!"

"Thud!"

The sound of the ball being struck and the sound of the tennis ball hitting the ground rang out almost simultaneously.

Fuji and Kintaro both stood where they were, not moving, letting the tennis ball land and bounce.

"15-0!"

"Takahashi and Oomagari pair scores!"

……

"Such fast speed!"

"It's not much different from the speed of the Mach Serve from Ochi Tsukimitsu just now, is it!"

Atobe exclaimed.

"Such a perfect serving posture, without any unnecessary small movements."

"The movements are fluid and concise!"

Shiraishi couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"Hey, hey, hey! If this continues, won't it just replicate the match between Sanada and Niou from earlier!"

"Kintaro and Fuji don't have that kind of special move that can guarantee they'll hold their own service game!"

Oshitari was somewhat worried.

Although Takahashi is a middle schooler, he is currently representing the 1st String, which consists of high schoolers.

Is it really okay to praise the opponent like this?

If this continues, Fuji and Kintaro are going to be shut out!

If this match is won solely by Takahashi's serving and returning, then the reputation of them, the middle schoolers, will be completely lost.

The other high schooler, Oomagari Ryuji, hasn't even made a move yet!

……

"Bang!"

"30-0!"

"Bang!"

"40-0!"

"Bang!"

"Game score 2-0!"

"Point to the Takahashi and Oomagari pair!"

Just as Oshitari worried, relying solely on Takahashi's Serve was enough to successfully take the points for this game.

Fuji and Kintaro seemed to be nailed to the spot, without any time or space to react.

Yanagi Renji looked at the watch on his wrist; in less than 2 minutes, they had taken this game.

It looks like this match will be over very soon.

The third game is Kintaro's service game.

"Takahashi, you really are an amazing person!"

"Try my special move!"

A smile appeared on Toyama Kintaro's face.

Yukimura exclaimed: "Kintaro has a great mindset; to be able to maintain confidence and a smile even after not scoring a single point in the first two games."

Hearing this, Oishi looked at Kintaro, then looked at Fuji.

He was surprised to find that Fuji's expression was very grim, not at all like Kintaro's bright smile.

Shiraishi replied: "Ever since Kintaro lost to Oni Jujiro on the first day, he has gone to challenge Oni to a match every few days."

"Although the result is always a loss, Kintaro has never given up; he seems to have found joy in tennis and in failure."

Sanada said: "Constantly playing against that NO. 5 Oni? Kintaro's perseverance is truly worthy of admiration."

Shiraishi said: "The Kintaro of now is completely different from the Kintaro who first entered the Training Camp; whether in terms of strength or his mindset toward failure, he has made great progress!"

"No, I should put it this way: during this period, Kintaro has been the one who has improved the fastest among us at Shitenhoji."

On the court.

As Kintaro tossed the tennis ball upward, he leaped with force, performed a backflip in the air, and then swung his racket fiercely at the ball.

"Super Million-Ton Fantasy Deluxe Volcanic Eruption Serve!"

A powerful voice rang out from Kintaro's mouth.

Takahashi stood in place, raised his arm, and waited quietly for the ball to arrive.

With such a long name for a special move, when Kintaro looks back on this move in a few years, especially having shouted the name out loud, won't he die of embarrassment?

Takahashi even took a moment to space out while waiting for the right timing.

Hm?

When the tennis ball made contact with the racket, a powerful force traveled through the racket to Takahashi's wrist.

Not bad power!

Takahashi slightly adjusted the angle of the racket, causing the ball to spin violently on the strings, dissipating the force of the ball.

Then he twisted his wrist and swung the racket.

"Bang!"

"Thud!"

"Crack!"

Three sounds came in succession.

Fuji discerned that the last sound must have come from the wire fence behind them.

He turned his body stiffly and was shocked to find the tennis ball stuck in the wire fence behind them.

Is the power of this shot really that great?

If not for the sound of the ball hitting the ground, he wouldn't have even dared to confirm if the ball had landed.

Not only Fuji, but even Kintaro had no reaction to this shot at all.

"The ball Takahashi hit is really fast!"

"There was no time to react at all!"

"This is really interesting!"

Kintaro said with a smile.

"Bang!"

"0-30!"

"Point to the Takahashi and Oomagari pair!"

"Bang!"

"0-40!"

"Bang!"

"3-0!"

"Point to the Takahashi and Oomagari pair!"

"Kintaro's Super Million-Ton Fantasy Deluxe Volcanic Eruption Serve was actually broken so easily."

Chitose Senri was extremely shocked.

"Not only did he receive the ball with ease, Takahashi even added speed to the original Power Ball, causing Kintaro to lose the point directly."

"This Takahashi's strength is just too terrifying!"

Oshitari Kenya also exclaimed, and he noticed that Takahashi only used one hand, returning the ball with just the most basic hitting motion.

"If this continues, it will be a repeat of the final three games between Takahashi and Echizen at the Kanto Tournament!"

Oishi said with deep concern.

"What? Was the situation the same when Takahashi played against Echizen?"

Chitose felt very surprised; that was Echizen Ryoma who had opened the Ten-i Muhou no Kiwami!