Chapter 215: Zero-Style High Lob

On the court.

"The second set begins, starting with the Germany Team's Tezuka Kunimitsu's service game."

Tezuka tosses the tennis ball upward, raises his arm, and swings his racket.

"Bang!"

Niou's gaze narrows, and he says, "Is this... a Zero-Style Serve?"

Takahashi nods and says, "Indeed, the racket head dipped by less than 3 centimeters."

Mouri asks curiously, "Then Sanada, can you return a Zero-Style Serve?"

Takahashi shrugs and says, "Can't return it!"

As soon as the words fall, the referee's voice rings out.

"15-0!"

"Germany Team scores!"

Irie says, "Sanada can't return it?"

"Then in this game, won't Tezuka just score directly with his serve!"

Yanagi Renji says, "Takahashi, I remember you are able to counter the Zero-Style Serve."

Takahashi says, "Yes. But that is based on the fact that I can perform the Zero-Style myself, so I am very familiar with the spin contained within the Zero-Style. I can change the spin on the tennis ball through the airflow generated by my swing, causing it to bounce after landing."

"But Sanada cannot do that; he does not have such a profound understanding of the Zero-Style spin."

Niou asks, "Isn't that Black Dragon Double Slash also about changing the airflow by swinging the racket?"

"Can't it be countered?"

Oni says, "But this is a serve; Sanada's racket didn't touch the tennis ball. He had absolutely no chance to let the black aura envelop the ball, which means there was no way to attach the Asura Divine Path aura to the tennis ball."

Takahashi says, "Oni is correct."

Yanagi Renji says, "So, relying on the Zero-Style, Tezuka can hold his service game."

Takahashi says, "As it stands, that is the case."

Kurobe says, "I have to say, Germany's eye for talent is truly good. Even with Tezuka's techniques being countered by us like this, he still has a way to hold his service game."

Mifune also says in a deep voice, "Tezuka's strength is indeed one of the best among this group of middle schoolers."

"Bang!"

"30-0!"

"Bang!"

"1-0!"

"Germany Team scores!"

"Change ends!"

"Bang!"

Tezuka spots an opportunity and hits a Short Ball.

"Move Like Thunder!"

Sanada shouts, and the moment his voice rings out, his figure also arrives at the net.

"Bang!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of the ball being struck, the tennis ball turns into a streak of light and heads toward Tezuka.

"Why did Sanada have to run to the net to return this ball?"

"Takahashi, didn't you just say that using Move Like Thunder too much would put a burden on his legs?"

Shiraishi is somewhat puzzled.

"Because that is a Zero-Shiki Drop Shot; the tennis ball does not bounce after landing, so it must be returned before the ball lands."

Takahashi explains.

"Sanada can see that too?"

Fuji asks.

That Takahashi can see it, Fuji is not surprised at all.

But if Sanada can also see it, then this technique of Tezuka's would completely lose its effectiveness.

"As long as it is a Zero-Style shot, regardless of what kind of shot the Zero-Style is combined with, there will be a slight dip of the racket head when swinging."

"This is an unavoidable posture when trying to hit a Zero-Style shot, and it is also the best way to identify a Zero-Style shot."

Takahashi replies.

Atobe catches onto Takahashi's words and asks, "The combination of Zero-Style and other shots?"

"Could it be that besides the serve and the Short Ball, the Zero-Style can also be combined with others?"

Yanagi Renji says, "I remember before, Takahashi combined the Zero-Style with a smash."

Takahashi says, "Yes, the Zero-Style more accurately refers to the state of not bouncing after landing and rolling backward."

"As long as you thoroughly study the spin required for the Zero-Style, you can combine any shot with the Zero-Style."

"For example..."

"Look!"

Following Takahashi's indication, everyone cast their gaze toward the court.

Tezuka returned a super high lob.

Yukimura said: "When he hit this ball, the racket head also pressed downward."

Takahashi said: "Yes, and unlike a standard topspin high lob, this is a backspin shot."

"Combined with his hitting posture, this is the combination of the Zero-Style and a high lob, the Zero-Style High Lob."

"A high lob that doesn't bounce after landing!"

Oishi said in disbelief: "What?"

On the opposite side of the court, Sanada used Move Like Thunder again to move to the baseline, returning the ball while it was descending.

"Aggression Like Fire!"

A straight Smash headed toward Tezuka's left side.

"15-0!"

"Japan Team scores!"

Fuji opened his eyes and said: "Sanada actually really saw through it!"

"He returned the ball without hesitation before it landed."

Tokugawa couldn't help but exclaim: "Sanada is truly amazing!"

Fuji looked at Takahashi, thinking that it wasn't how amazing Sanada was, but rather that Takahashi, who was coaching Sanada, was the amazing one!

Thinking of this, Fuji asked: "Takahashi, so you had also thought about combining the Zero-Style with a high lob before?"

Takahashi nodded and said: "Not just high lobs; I've also thought about combining the Zero-Style with other shots, but they didn't have much effect."

"As long as the opponent sees through your starting motion, most Zero-Style shots can be broken, just like Sanada on the court."

"And the only ones that are hard to break, besides the Zero-Style Serve, are Zero-Style Smashes."

"The Smash compensates for the lack of power in Zero-Style shots, making it so that even if the opponent sees through the Zero-Style spin, they cannot withstand that power."

Speaking of this, Takahashi looked at Duke and said: "Of course, if you encounter a player who specializes in power like Duke, they could probably return a Zero-Style Smash!"

"The power contained in a Zero-Style Smash still has a lot to do with the player's own base strength."

Irie said: "That means, apart from the Zero-Style Serve, Sanada can handle all of Tezuka's other Zero-Style shots."

Takahashi said: "Yes. The trouble lies in the Zero-Style Serve."

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Score 1-1!"

"Japan Team scores!"

"2-1!"

"Germany Team scores!"

"2-2!"

"Japan Team scores!"

"3-2!"

"3-3!"

"4-4!"

"Japan Team scores!"

Oni said with a somewhat serious expression: "Relying on the Zero-Style, Tezuka can hold his service games. Of course, Tezuka also cannot break Sanada's service games."

"If this continues, dragging it to a tie-break, the two of them won't be able to determine a winner."

Atobe said: "So now it has become a battle of stamina between the two?"

Takahashi looked at the time on his watch; 40 minutes had already passed.

The timing was indeed ripe.

Takahashi walked forward a few steps and made an OK gesture toward Sanada on the court.

It was Tezuka's service game again.

Tezuka tossed the tennis ball upward, and when the ball dropped to the appropriate position, he raised his arm, the moment before he was about to swing his racket.

He suddenly felt an aura that made his heart palpitate extremely.

At this moment, he did not see a dragon-shaped creature appear behind Sanada on the opposite side.

And the black aura enveloping him grew even denser.

"Bang!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of the ball being struck, the tennis ball turned into a streak of light and headed toward his opponent.

Tezuka's brows furrowed tightly; just now, influenced by that inexplicable and terrifying aura, his Serve had been slightly off.

"Thud!"

The tennis ball bounced slightly after landing.

"Bang!"

Sanada did not miss the opportunity and successfully returned the ball with a swing of his racket.