"You'd better not underestimate professional players!"
Schneider's arm muscles bulged as he swung his racket, whipping up a violent gust. His tremendous power made the tennis ball vanish the instant it met the strings.
"What a terrifying shot!"
The Japan Team players watching from the sidelines gasped. Many of them hadn't even seen the ball.
"Just as you'd expect from a pro. He's really something!"
Tanegashima focused completely in an instant. As he chased down the ball, he chuckled.
After seeing a shot like that, he knew that even on their team, only a handful of players—Duke, Oni, Muneyoshi, and Byōdōin—could hit one so effortlessly with sheer power.
What made Tanegashima most wary was how relaxed Schneider looked. He clearly hadn't used his full strength.
This opponent was obviously in a different league from the ones they'd faced before.
When he reached the ball's landing point, Tanegashima struck it with a backhand.
The ball that appeared on his racket strings tore at them relentlessly. His wrist trembled, but he followed through with a powerful swing, sending the ball back over the net.
At the same time, Bertie's figure was already leaping forward on Germany's side of the court.
Tanegashima's return had barely cleared the net when it landed precisely on Bertie's racket. His merciless smash slammed down right between Tanegashima and Ōmagari.
"Oni's Annihilation!"
Tanegashima Shūji moved again. He crossed his steps and raced to the ball's landing point.
His racket extended from behind his head. An invisible vortex surfaced across its strings, reducing the penetrating force of Bertie's shot to nothing.
Then, like a stone skipping across water, a streak of white light swept across the court. A small, mustard-yellow ball landed quietly in the corner beside Bertie.
That shot had landed in the corner, completely piercing their defensive