Atobe's Evolution

With Oshitari's low shout, he tilted the racket in his hand to an angle of seventy degrees, as if it were a Mandala, completely enveloping the powerful tennis ball.

He stretched his arm back to its limit, and the tennis ball circled back and forth on the racket. The force of the tennis ball was greatly diminished.

"Returning it..."

BANG...

Oshitari swung his racket fiercely, and the tennis ball exploded at Atobe's feet like a streak of light.

POW...

The tennis ball landed.

This shot was incredibly fast, flying past Atobe. Atobe didn't have time to react at all.

"40:15, Oshitari scores."

Akutagawa Jirou looked at the shot and excitedly announced the score, then sat on the umpire's chair and shouted happily, "Amazing, both of you are amazing..."

The spectators off the court were also in an uproar, and the regulars were discussing.

"Atobe's powerful shot was so easily returned by Oshitari..."

"Oshitari's return shot was so fast, I could barely see it..."

"This shot was not only extremely fast, but also full of power." Kannagi Shinichi looked at Oshitari, who had scored, and a slight smile appeared on his face. "Oshitari used spin to neutralize most of the tennis ball's power, and by stretching his arm to the limit, he used a slice technique to transfer the remaining force of the ball to his arm, and then used this force to return the shot. This move is exactly borrowing strength to strike.

Oshitari is indeed a genius no less than Fuji. As long as he finds his path, he can create his own tennis.

"Hahaha..., Yuushi, you did well. I haven't been this excited in a long time..."

Atobe showed no disappointment at losing the point on his serve. Instead, he became more agitated, even his body began to tremble slightly.

This was not fear, but as Atobe said, he was excited.

It was Atobe's turn to serve again, and this shot was even faster than the last.

BANG...

In the blink of an eye, the tennis ball reached Oshitari's half of the court. Oshitari managed to return the ball this time as well, and then Atobe let out a low shout:

"Jack knife..."

The power of this shot was clearly greater than the previous few.

But Oshitari had already prepared his stance. When the tennis ball bounced, he used his new special move again.

"Atobe, this shot of yours is useless against me now."

BANG...

The tennis ball touched the racket, and Oshitari once again let out a low shout:

"Special move, Fleeting Mandala..."

POW...

"40:30, Oshitari scores..."

In the next few shots, Oshitari repeated his tactic, and Atobe stubbornly continued to return with Jack knife, as if he was determined to match Oshitari.

Facing his tennis balls being constantly returned, Atobe did not change his technique, only increasing the force of his shots.

POW...

"Special move, Fleeting Mandala..."

"Score 1:1, the match is tied..."

Relying on Fleeting Mandala, Oshitari also broke serve, turning the tables and winning Atobe's service game.

A gentle breeze blew across the court, causing their clothes to flutter. The auras of the two men had reached their peak. No one would easily back down in this match.

It was Oshitari's turn to serve. He tossed the ball high and said coldly to Atobe, "Atobe, you are strong, but I will defeat you today."

BANG...

As Oshitari finished speaking, he sent the ball flying with a muffled sound. A beautiful curved serve flew towards Atobe's half of the court.

Thump... thump...

The tennis ball landed, and Atobe followed closely. When the tennis ball bounced, Atobe swung his racket with both hands.

"Stop bragging, Yuushi. The person who can defeat me hasn't..."

Atobe originally intended to say that the person who could defeat him hadn't appeared yet, but as his gaze swept over Kannagi Shinichi by the sidelines, he changed his words mid-sentence: "...hasn't been you yet..."

Atobe's counterattack was like a cannonball, whistling towards Oshitari's side of the court.

This shot was not only full of power but also reached the extreme of speed. Oshitari didn't even have time to get into position and use the Fleeting Mandala. He only managed to flick his racket up, thereby weakening the force of the shot.

Because of this, the ball became a lob.

Atobe ran forward from the back of the court, leaping upwards with the momentum of his charge. Then, a smash turned into a blur of light, descending from the air.

Watching this smash, Oshitari showed no panic.

He first executed a rapid turn, moving to where the tennis ball was about to land. Using the centrifugal force of his body, he bent into a half-squat. His right hand gripped the racket, which transformed into a blur of light in front of him. The racket angled upwards at an extremely precise angle.

Bang...

A loud crack echoed from the racket. The tennis ball was still spinning on the strings, but after a significant portion of the force was dissipated by the spin, Oshitari swung his racket back.

Swish...

The tennis ball rapidly leaped over Atobe, who had just landed, and landed precisely on the edge of the baseline, just a hair's breadth away from going out of bounds.

"Brown Bear Drop Shot."

Oshitari softly called out on the court. With his incredibly skillful tennis technique, he had easily neutralized Atobe's fierce smash.

Although the Hyotei regulars had seen both Oshitari and Fuji use this move before, they were still shocked to see it again.

As the ball landed, Kannagi Shinichi, standing by the sidelines, looked at Atobe and murmured, "Oshitari's use of technique has become more mature. Facing an Oshitari like this, Atobe, how will you respond?"

"15:0, Oshitari scores."

Akutagawa Jirou, sitting on the umpire's chair, was not sleepy at all. Watching the fierce battle between the two, his body trembled with excitement.

On the court, Oshitari was beginning to gain the upper hand against Atobe by alternating between the Brown Bear Drop Shot and the Fleeting Mandala.

"30:0, Oshitari scores."

"40:0, Oshitari scores..."

"Game, 2:1, Oshitari leads."

Oshitari successfully held his serve, and the situation on the court was extremely disadvantageous for Atobe.

Even with the situation so dire, Atobe remained calm, showing no outward signs of distress.

He placed his racket horizontally behind him with his right hand, using his slender left-hand fingers to cover half of his handsome face. His deep eyes, next to the tear mole, gazed at Oshitari on the other side, a dangerous glint flashing within them.

After a moment, Atobe's aura shifted. Compared to before, he seemed to have undergone a sublimation.

He looked at Oshitari's still cold face on the other side and revealed a meaningful smile. "Yuushi, you are truly a formidable opponent. However, my evolution is progressing at lightning speed. I can now see your weaknesses with perfect clarity."

Hearing Atobe's words, not only did Oshitari on the court inwardly startle, but even the Hyotei regulars off the court, looking at the confident Atobe, their eyes shone brightly, anticipating what Atobe would do next.

"Seeing through Oshitari's weakness?" Kannagi Shinichi also looked at Atobe and murmured, "Atobe, has your eyesight evolved again?"