A Brief Glimpse of Understanding the Limits

"Does rotating really not work at all?"

Looking at the ball mark at the corner, Tezuka's resolve wavered once again.

However, Tanegashima Shūji on the other side raised an eyebrow, looking at Tezuka's face filled with self-doubt, and praised him:

"Was that a spin that was completely opposite to the previous one? That's quite an impressive spinning technique."

Although such a spin was useless against him, Tanegashima was very clear about the power of that spin when facing others, and Tezuka was already good enough for him to look at him with more respect.

Tezuka, caught in a period of self-doubt, frowned slightly upon hearing Tanegashima's praise, which sounded almost like a critique.

However, Tanegashima didn't give Tezuka time to think and continued serving.

Seeing this, Tezuka calmed down. Since spinning didn't work, he would try other methods.

Tezuka also launched a fierce offensive against Tanegashima.

He quickly caught up with the tennis ball, his entire body's selfless aura condensed to its extreme, and his power exploded.

The tennis ball had barely bounced when it was immediately slammed down in mid-air.

Bang!

The tennis ball swept across the court, landing at a sharp angle before rising into the air.

"Not bad, you've made a change so quickly? Then I'll play with you a little longer!"

Tanegashima Shūji wore a slight smile.

Tap tap tap!

Tanegashima lowered his center of gravity and quickly rushed towards the landing point of the tennis ball.

"Hey, get out of here!"

With a few long strides, Tanegashima arrived behind the tennis ball. He leaped with a light touch of his toes, his body becoming very graceful, and the white hair on his forehead fluttered in the air.

Bang!

"Game, Tanegashima Shūji, Score 1-0."

"Switch sides!"

As the two figures passed each other, a playful smile once again appeared on Tanegashima's dark face:

"It's your serve soon, cheer up Tezuka, that way you'll have more opportunities to keep trying..."

Tezuka did not respond, his eyes lowered, his face cold, and he said in a deep voice, "Tanegashima- senpai, please continue."

Tezuka took out a tennis ball and walked to the baseline service area.

Tap... tap tap... smack!

Tezuka gently pressed the tennis ball a few times, Tezuka a deep breath, and cleared his mind of distractions.

Ever since his match against Saeki Muneyoshi, he knew that when facing an opponent whose strength completely surpassed his own, he needed to remain calm.

He gripped the tennis ball tightly in his hand, then his Tezuka narrowed, and a resolute look appeared on his face.

He slowly tossed the ball up, flicked his wrist, and without jumping, Tezuka swung his silver-rimmed racket down at the still-rising tennis ball.

Bang!

The pale yellow ball had just flown over the net when it landed. Instead of bouncing, it lay flat on the court, spinning continuously. As its momentum dissipated, it rolled back towards the center of the net with a hissing sound.

"ACE, Tezuka Kunimitsu, 15-0."

"That kind of serve!!"

Tanegashima Shūji Taneshima, who was about to return the ball at its landing point, was startled and looked up at Tezuka on the other side.

This kid's mastery of spin is almost unparalleled; his serve, which doesn't bounce, is practically unstoppable on hard courts.

"Good job, little guy! Keep it up!"

Tanegashima genuinely praised Tezuka at that moment.

"Yes, Tanegashima!"

Bang!

"Game, Tezuka Kunimitsu, 1-1."

Inside the small, dark room of the monitoring room.

Kurobe smiled and said, "As expected of Tanegashima - Tezuka Kunimitsu Tezuka Zone and Tezuka Phantom, is too obvious."

Saito Itaru, who was leaning against the table in front of Kurobe and whose gaze was also fixed on the monitor screen, responded:

"Indeed, but this is Tanegashima, something others can only envy. Moreover, with his strength, he would be a pillar of support wherever he is."

"However, Tezuka truly lives up to his reputation as someone highly regarded by Germany; he does possess immense potential. Although he's still some distance from Tanegashima's level, his glimmer of brilliance cannot be concealed."

After praising Tanegashima, Saito Itaru turned his gaze to Tezuka, his words also filled with admiration.

After taking a sip of coffee, Kurobe smiled, his eyes narrowing.

"You're right. At his age, to have grown to this level, if it weren't for Muneyoshi being so amazing, these kids would be the most anticipated ones."

"I'm increasingly looking forward to seeing how those other kids, who've made similar progress, perform."

Let's wait and see!

On the field.

"Game, first round ended, Tanegashima Shūji wins, score 6-3."

Even with his Zero Style Serve, Tezuka couldn't possibly play a full match, especially since he needed to conserve his energy for the next game.

The continuous Zero Style Serve had already caused a stinging pain in his arm.

Adopting international competition rules presents the greatest challenge for junior high school students, which is actually the physical constraint.

After a short break, the game continued.

At the start of the second game, the score progressed even faster.

Bang!

"Game, Tanegashima Shūji, Score 5-0."

Reaching match point in the second game, Tanegashima Shūji remained remarkably calm. Looking at Tezuka, who was nearing his physical and mental limits, he smiled slightly:

"Tezuka, your technique is very comprehensive, and your serve is amazing, but your physique is too weak. Such a physique is not enough to support you to win the match. Have you thought about what to do?"

Tezuka struggled to pinch his left elbow with his right hand. The slightly swollen elbow and the soreness all over his body were constant reminders that he had truly reached his limit.

However, as he listened to Tanegashima's words, Tezuka made a silent decision, but his face remained expressionless.

Because of the change of possession, Tezuka served at the beginning of the second set, so Taneshima got Tanegashima in the final game.

"Kid, for the sake of the coach and Muneyoshi, I'll take this last game seriously!"

Seeing that Tezuka still maintained his fighting spirit even at the end of the match, Tanegashima Shūji began to acknowledge his abilities.

Bang!

A beam of golden light exploded right at Tezuka's feet.

"ACE, Tanegashima Shūji scores, 15-0."

"He can even go faster? Isn't this his full strength?"

Seeing that Tanegashima Shūji was getting stronger and stronger as the match approached its final moments, Tezuka's eyes suddenly narrowed.

Meanwhile, the expressions of the other junior high school students watching from the sidelines also changed.

Even they didn't see that ball clearly just now.

"Is this his true strength? Is this the kind of pressure that someone of Muneyoshi's caliber can exert...?"

Suddenly, a feeling of extreme loss enveloped Tezuka's heart.

Regardless of the previous junior high school competitions or the competitions they've come to now at the training camp, their winning streak was all fake.

He still faces a huge gap when facing opponents like Oni Jūjirō and Tanegashima Shūji, who are on the same level as Saeki Muneyoshi.

Bang!

Another ball flew out, and Tezuka's milky white aura rose, but even with his full strength, he could only barely get close to the tennis ball with his racket.

It's completely impossible to catch it.

"This feeling of oppression..."

Having sensed Tanegashima's immense power, the gap between them seemed insurmountable. Even someone as resilient as Tezuka couldn't help but question the meaning of his persistent, faint belief.

"Go for it, Tezuka!"

Muneyoshi's gaze was deep and unfathomable; for Tezuka, Tanegashima Shūji was undoubtedly an insurmountable challenge.

The coaches certainly didn't expect Tezuka to defeat Tanegashima, but as long as he overcomes the hurdle in his own mind, a new world will surely open up for him.

"It's the last ball, what a pity..."

Tanegashima Shūji held a tennis ball in one hand, glanced at the bewildered Tezuka, and said, "I originally thought you were a player like Muneyoshi, capable of doing even better, but unfortunately..."

When Muneyoshi first arrived at the training camp, he faced challenges all the way, and he could even take on ten demons head-on.

Such spirit and will left a deep impression on them.

However, Tanegashima also knew that Muneyoshi was an anomaly, and not everyone could possess such a will.

"Tezuka Kunimitsu, you'd better see how weak you really are!"

Tanegashima raised his hand and swung his arm, hitting the tennis ball as soon as it took flight.

Bang!

As the tennis ball flew out, a powerful spiritual will surged forth—the will of Tanegashima Shūji.

"Am I too weak? Is this the limit of selflessness...?"

Like self-doubt, or perhaps an internal interrogation, as Tezuka continued to ask questions, the radiant selflessness within him suddenly surged.

The aura of egolessness continued to expand and compress, and it seemed that strands of indigo light were overflowing from Tezuka's eyes.

However, before the brilliance of the new life could truly appear, Tezuka collapsed onto the court with a thud.

The indigo radiance vanished like water without duckweed or a tree without roots.

"Game, Tanegashima Shūji, 6-0!"

P. S.: "After training, I've almost reached this point. Please vote with your monthly tickets!"

The limit of Kaitianyi has been broken, but even if his stamina is not completely exhausted, he still cannot defeat Tanegashima.

That's all for today. I've been working on how to write the Four-Nation Exchange Tournament these past few days, and I'm also organizing the outline.

If there are two chapters today, then there will be three chapters tomorrow.

But the League of Legends World Championship is this afternoon, I'm really excited to watch the matches.