Only Programmers Understand the Running Logic

During the court switch, the air was still filled with a strange, joyful atmosphere.

It felt like that moment in a team Instance when the rookie who always messed up finally wiped the whole raid, and everyone actually felt relieved—the worst outcome was just repairing gear, and since they'd already wiped, they could focus on pushing the BOSS without distractions from now on.

Hinata Shoyo was still rubbing his palms, seemingly not over the sensation of that "Fatal Blow: Back of the Head Crusher" just now. Kageyama Tobio walked ahead of him, a red mark on the back of his head like a conspicuous weakness marker, but his aura had shifted from "I'm going to kill someone" to "I'm going to win," a change that slightly warmed the surrounding air.

Except for a few people on the other side of the net.

"Hey, shorty."

Hinata flinched, immediately snapping to attention: "Yes!"

"That move just now..." Kindaichi pointed to the back of his own head, his eyes actually holding a hint of Taunt, "How did you do that? Aiming for that spot requires incredibly precise ball control, right? Is that some kind of secret tactic of yours?"

Hinata's mouth hung open, his face turning bright red: "N-no, that..."

"I'd like to learn it too."

A lazy voice came from the side. Tsukishima Kei had appeared at some point, pushing up his glasses, a Taunt smile on his lips that made you want to punch him. "That kind of Serve, which can accurately strike the team's intelligence center, would be quite interesting for internal practice matches later on, wouldn't it? Please do teach me, 'Teacher' Hinata."

"Tsukishima, you jerk!" Hinata jumped up in anger, "That was an accident! It was an accident!"

"Alright, stop chatting, the match has started."

Sawamura Daichi, like a worried old father, herded the two Noobs who were about to fight back to their positions.

The second set began, and Karasuno had the serve.

Lu Ren walked to the baseline with the ball. He took a deep breath, feeling the rough texture of the volleyball on his palms.

Although the first set was a crushing defeat, as a player with extensive PVE experience, Lu Ren knew very well that the first set was just to figure out the BOSS's attack patterns and skill cooldowns. Now that the data was collected and the trial-and-error phase was over, it was time for the real strategy.

He glanced at the other side.

Aoba Johsai's formation was steady, with Iwaizumi Hajime standing in the back row, his eyes sharply focused on them. The libero named Watari Watari was also constantly adjusting his position.

"Since conventional methods will be defended," Lu Ren brought up his skill bar in his mind, "let's try something unconventional."

Instead of his usual Powerful jump serve, he took a step back with his right leg, bent his body slightly, and tossed the ball gently into the air with his left hand.

Not forward, but straight up.

Very high.

Lu Ren's body twisted sharply, and his right hand didn't Spike downwards, but instead, like playing golf, he fiercely cut the volleyball from underneath.

"Here goes!"

The volleyball, with intense topspin, shot like a launched Missile straight into the stadium's overhead lights.

The audience's gazes involuntarily followed the ball upwards.

The ball flew too high, disappearing directly into the glaring halo of the ceiling lights. For the receiver, it was simply a visual disaster. The white volleyball merged with the white lights, and by the time you saw it again, it was often already smashing into your face with the acceleration of gravity.

This was the move Lu Ren had used in the city stadium—the Ceiling serve.

"This move again."

Iwaizumi Hajime pursed his lips, not even looking up to track the ball that had disappeared into the halo.

A few days ago, in that informal match at the municipal stadium, that guy who called himself "Baki Hanma" had annoyed the adult team with this move. The serve had gone out of bounds then.

As Aoba Johsai's most reliable Shield, no move he'd seen was effective against him.

He calmly took two steps back, knees slightly bent, center of gravity lowered, his gaze fixed on the area where the ball was likely to land.

"Don't stare at the lights! Watch the landing spot!" Iwaizumi loudly reminded his teammates.

The ball descended from the halo, moving at extreme speed, accompanied by an unsettling whistling sound.

But just before it hit the ground, Iwaizumi's arms were already clamped together like iron pincers.

"Thump!"

A muffled sound.

The volleyball was steadily bumped up, its spin perfectly neutralized, and the ball floated gently towards the Setter's position.

"Tch, they saw through it?" Lu Ren clicked his tongue, immediately rushing into the court to prepare for defense, "As expected, Elite Monsters have the ability to learn."

Aoba Johsai's counterattack came swiftly.

Although the substitute Setter, Yahaba Shigeru, didn't have Oikawa Tōru's monstrous court control ability, his fundamentals were very solid. He quickly moved under the ball and pushed it with both hands.

"Kunimi!"

The ball flew to the right wing.

Kunimi Akira, the guy who always looked half-asleep, displayed astonishing running efficiency at this moment. He had no wasted movements, jumped, and swung his arm.

At the net, Sawamura Daichi and Hinata Shoyo simultaneously jumped to Block.

"Too naive," Kunimi Akira said expressionlessly, flicking his wrist.