Physics Engine Bug and Lucky Critical Hit

The whistle cut through the air of the gymnasium.

Even though that prediction block had earned him a lot of hate, the game had to continue. The score was now 13-10, and we were temporarily ahead.

It was Tsukishima Kei's turn to serve.

He walked slowly to the baseline, spinning the volleyball in his hands, his expression like a corporate drone forced to work overtime, screaming "I want to go home" all over his body. He didn't do any killer serves like Kageyama; he just casually tossed the ball up and swung his arm.

A perfectly ordinary topspin serve.

Moderate power, mediocre angle, safe landing spot. In a game, this would be a "white quality" basic skill, with no added attributes, its only advantage probably being that it didn't consume mana.

"I got it!"

Hinata Shoyo shouted and rushed to where the ball was landing. The kid's receiving posture was still wild, completely using his body to crash into it. The volleyball hit his arms with a crisp sound, then flew crookedly into the air.

The first pass was off.

"Sorry! Kageyama!"

Kageyama Tobio didn't even turn his head, just quickly adjusted his footwork and rushed to the three-meter line to reach the ball.

Now.

Lu Ren's brain instantly switched into "bullet time."

After Lu Ren blocked that last shot, Kageyama's mental state must have changed. He was the type of elite monster with extreme pride; being blocked by a newbie once, he definitely wouldn't make the same mistake again. Plus, Hinata's first pass was only half-decent, limiting the conditions for the quick attack.

Eliminating the most dangerous Monster Quick Attack.

Only two options remained: either set up an adjustment attack for Tanaka, or go for a second attack.

Lu Ren glanced at Kageyama's movement. His wrist was stiff, lacking the looseness that would indicate a tip.

It was Tanaka.

"Left!" Lu Ren yelled, his body activating before his mind.

As expected, Kageyama, with his back to the net, flicked the ball directly to the left wing. Tanaka Ryūnosuke had already completed his run-up, his delinquent-like face filled with the fervor of "Give me the ball."

"Eat this! You bunch of first-year brats!"

Tanaka jumped, his body arching in mid-air, full of power.

Tsukishima, though looking annoyed, reacted quickly, taking two steps sideways to block the straight line. Despite his sharp tongue, this glasses-wearing kid had solid fundamentals as a middle blocker; his long arms standing there truly resembled a roadblock.

Tanaka clearly paused in mid-air.

He dodged Tsukishima's fingers and forcefully spiked inward with his wrist.

A cross-court shot!

"I've been waiting for you."

Lu Ren was already in position. Based on Tanaka's previous spiking habits, when his straight line was blocked, there was an 80% chance he'd forcibly twist his waist to hit a sharp cross-court.

Prediction successful.

Lu Ren lowered his center of gravity, clasped his hands together, and assumed a textbook bump posture. Watching the ball whistle towards him, he was already calculating the counter-attack route after receiving it.

As long as the angle was right, this receive would be smooth.

"Bang!"

The volleyball slammed heavily onto Lu Ren's forearm.

However, the smooth bounce he expected didn't happen.

The moment he made contact, Lu Ren felt a strange lateral force. The ball wasn't coming straight; it had a strong sidespin!

Lu Ren's brain calculated speed, landing spot, and impact force, but completely missed "coefficient of friction" and "angular momentum."

"What the hell..."

The volleyball, as if hitting a spring, flew directly to the right along Lu Ren's arm and smashed onto the floor out of bounds.

"Nice shot--!!"

Tanaka shouted wildly after landing, swinging his fist, "How was that! This is the dignity of a senior! Don't think you can receive my ball just by using your brain!"

Lu Ren looked at his reddened arm and twitched the corner of his mouth.

He had been careless.

Lu Ren had memorized the theory perfectly, and the strategy guides also explained how to receive spikes. But the books didn't tell Lu Ren that the physics engine of the balls these guys hit had special effects.

The brain said: I know this question, choose C.

The hands said: No, this question is beyond the scope, my pen is broken.

This was the so-called "operation couldn't keep up with consciousness." Lu Ren's proficiency was too low; for balls with such strong spin, he had no muscle memory to make micro-adjustments.

The score became 13-11.

"Don't worry about it," Tsukishima Kei said nonchalantly as he passed by Lu Ren, "We weren't expecting you to receive it anyway."

"Shut up, I'm collecting data," Lu Ren replied irritably, rubbing his wrist, "That was a system judgment bug just now."

The game continued.

It was Hinata Shoyo's turn to serve.

The kid took a deep breath, so nervous he could barely hold onto the ball. The last point had given him a little confidence back, but serving was clearly not his strong suit.

"Good serve!" Sawamura Daichi yelled from the sidelines.

Hinata tossed the ball and swung his arm.

The ball went over the net, but it was soft and posed no threat.

Yamaguchi Tadashi stepped forward and set the ball steadily. Although this kid's presence was faint, his fundamentals were much more solid than Lu Ren's, and the quality of his set was high.

The ball flew toward the net.

Lu Ren was currently in the setter position.

There was no other way; since it was a makeshift team, everyone had to take turns playing different roles. I watched the ball fly toward me, considering several tactical options in my mind.