The Showdown Between Hundred Refinements and Radiant Talent

"Yes!"

Tezuka and Horio responded, then turned and went onto the field.

Even if you've already figured out that Tezuka will be playing as the Second Doubles, it won't affect the outcome of the match.

As one of Seigaku's top players, no... he should be considered one of the top players in the entire country, Tezuka's strength is not something that can be easily defeated.

Moreover, we also have a year in which the abilities of students far exceed those of junior high school students and are unfathomable.

Watching the two walk onto the field, Coach Ryuzaki turned to look at Watanabe Shu on the other side.

Although it was surprising that Watanabe Shu could guess that he would put Tezuka in Second Doubles, Coach Ryuzaki specially arranged for Horio to be included as well, just in case of any unexpected events.

As Coach Ryuzaki had predicted, Watanabe Shu had guessed that Tezuka would appear in Second Doubles, but he hadn't expected Horio to be there as well.

He originally thought Horio would be the First Singles player, so he specially arranged for Tooyama Kintaro, the strongest newcomer from Shitenhoji, to be the First Singles as well.

"Captain, you really want to have a one-on-one match with that Chitose, don't you?"

On the court, Horio fiddled with his racket, casually speaking to Tezuka.

"I reckon that the Chitose is the same; as someone who controls one of the three gates, he probably harbors a competitive spirit."

Tezuka did not respond to Horio's words.

"Zaizen, this match will become a singles duel between Chitose and Tezuka. Chitose's Radiant Talent Limit can only be fully unleashed in a singles match. You understand what I mean?"

"I understand. I'll ignore everything except serving and receiving."

As soon as Horio finished speaking, Shiraishi addressed Zaizen on the other side of the field.

Since his own Captain had said so, Zaizen had no choice but to agree.

"Tch, trying to take on two? Who do you think you are?"

Hearing the conversation between Shiraishi and Zaizen, Horio immediately understood.

"Captain, I won't interfere in your duel either. I don't care as long as you win the match."

After saying that, he turned and left the field, walked to the edge of the court, and sat down next to Coach Ryuzaki's chair.

"How are you feeling? Frustrated about not being able to play?"

Coach Ryuzaki smiled as he watched Horio sitting on the ground.

"I don't care. If these two insist on deciding who's better, then let them decide."

"So, who do you think has the advantage between them?"

Hearing Horio's nonchalant tone, Coach Ryuzaki became curious.

"Hundred Refinements Self-Acquired involves concentrating the power of selflessness in the arm to return the opponent's ball twice as effectively."

The Radiant Talent selfless energy into the brain activates the brain, instantly simulating which ball scores on which ball.

In a sense, the Radiant Talent has a greater advantage in these two ultimate truths of selflessness.

Coach Ryuzaki was taken aback by Horio's words, and then he heard Horio's voice again.

"But nobody knows what will happen during the match; there might be some surprises."

"The match begins, with Shitenhoji Chitose serving."

"Alright, let me give you a little something to start with."

The referee announced the start of the match. Chitose patted the ball and looked at Tezuka.

A light flashed in his eyes, and Tezuka's figure appeared within them.

"Seriously... forty-two balls."

After observing for a few seconds, Chitose surprisingly uttered a terrifying number.

Forty-two balls!? Do we really need that many balls!?

"Our opponent is Tezuka, after all; there's nothing we can do about it."

"No matter how many goals, the team that's meant to win will still win."

The Shitenhoji members, who were also teammates, were startled by Chitose's absolute prediction, but since Chitose had given an absolute prediction, they believed the outcome.

After Chitose finished speaking, he tossed the ball up and hit it.

"Don't be shy, Tezuka, please come on over."

The tennis ball flew over the net, bounced off the ground, and then Chitose spoke again.

Then the tennis ball suddenly disappeared; Chitose had Divine Concealment from the very beginning.

Tezuka remained calm even as the tennis ball disappeared right before his eyes.

After careful observation, he swung his racket.

The sound of the ball being hit was heard; the tennis ball had been struck.

Then the tennis ball that was hit back also disappeared after bouncing; Tezuka had somehow learned to Divine Concealment.

Chitose, with his own ball skills, naturally saw the ball's trajectory very easily.

The backhand shot landed in the open space to Tezuka's left, and Tezuka did not move his feet in the face of Chitose's return.

Just after the tennis ball bounced back, it had already passed Tezuka's position when it was suddenly pulled back by a vortex.

"It's here! It's the Tezuka Zone!"

Like Chitose, Tezuka also used his signature tennis skills at the beginning.

"It seems these two are taking this match very seriously; they've been so evenly matched right from the start."

The appearance of the Tezuka Zone made the Shitenhoji group nervous.

The two, having each revealed their trump cards, began a back-and-forth battle. Zaizen, watching the tennis ball fly back and forth on the sidelines, grew increasingly impatient.

"Chitose, forty-two balls Senpai still too time-consuming."

With his eyes fixed on the tennis ball, Zaizen moved just after Tezuka returned the ball, appearing in front of the net in a flash.

"Zaizen actually intercepted the video online!?"

That bastard broke his promise!

Seeing that Zaizen had entered the stadium on his own initiative, Momoshiro and Kaitou were furious.

"Let's end it with this seventeenth goal!"

Looking at the tennis ball flying towards him, Zaizen looked confident.

With that, Zaizen swung his racket.

However, the tennis ball was not returned; instead, it passed through the racket upon contact.

"How shameful! Do you think you're so great? Do you really think someone of your skill level can participate in this kind of competition?"

Zaizen was utterly incredulous, cold sweat pouring down his face, unable to even land a normal counterattack on Tezuka.

Seeing Zaizen kneeling before the net, Horio didn't hold back at all.

Bang...

"Shitenhoji Chitose scores, 15:0"

"It really is forty-two goals!"

"What's wrong with those guys... what do you think, Atobe?"

The 42nd ball was hit out of bounds by Tezuka's return shot.

The Hyotei fans who came to watch the match from the sidelines were all astonished, and even Oshitari Yushi genius of Hyotei, was somewhat confused.

"Aren't you familiar with Chitose's move? Horio and Kabaji probably used the same technique during their match."

Hearing Oshitari's question, Atobe frowned.

"You mean the move where Horio's pupils turn purple-gold? But the only similarity between them is that their pupils change color."

"That's true, but Horio's was definitely at the Radiant Talent Limit; I'm not so sure about the others."

Like Oshitari, Atobe wasn't entirely sure either.

"Is this the result you're seeing too, Horio?"

"That's correct. Your Chitose's research on the Radiant Talent is indeed commendable."

On the Seigaku Coach bench, Coach Ryuzaki spoke to Horio.