The Struggling Tezuka

Horio knew that talking to Tezuka, who was caught in his own inner struggle, would be useless.

Even if you explain things very clearly, people who don't understand will still not understand.

Horio then began to provoke Tezuka with actions that put him under immense pressure, almost to the point of despair.

The incredible shot left Tezuka speechless for a long time. Just as Horio said, the complete version of the Limitless Scattered Flowers is theoretically unsolvable.

In tennis, you must wait for the ball to bounce before you can return it. In a normal rally, you can return the ball before it bounces, but with a serve, you can only watch helplessly.

Moreover, even if a way is found to hit the ball back while it's sliding on the ground, the Limitless Scattered Flowers will still create illusions after it lands and slides.

It can be said that Horio's Limitless Scattered Flowers allows him to hold his serve even when he is at a disadvantage, making him invincible.

Bang...

Bang...

Bang...

Under Horio's Limitless Scattered Flowers attacks, Tezuka had absolutely no chance to retaliate, Horio effortlessly won the second game.

When it was Tezuka's turn to serve again, he failed to score a single point in the second consecutive game, and his Tezuka furrowed.

He then tossed the tennis ball he was holding into the air and hit another close-angle shot.

Horio took a step to the right, and the ball, which would be incredibly tricky for most people, was returned.

Just like in the first game, Horio used the same tactics.

But this time Tezuka didn't move to receive the ball, letting it fly past him.

Just as the tennis ball bounced off the court, a cyclone stopped its flight, and then the ball was pulled back to Tezuka's side by the airflow.

"Let me see just how much power you can unleash in the Tezuka Zone right now."

As the tennis ball was pulled back by the cyclone, Horio's lips curled into a smile.

The tennis ball was pulled back, Tezuka hit a straight shot with his left hand towards Horio's left frontcourt.

Horio moved Inch Step to the ball's landing point, swung his backhand racket, and the tennis ball was once again hit towards the corner of the Tezuka court.

Unsurprisingly, tennis was once again brought back to Tezuka Zone 'Tezuka side.

"To be able to achieve this level using such a slight rotation is truly genius. No wonder Atobe, Sanada, and the others have always considered you their rival."

After carefully feeling the slightly different spin on the tennis ball compared to usual, Horio once again acknowledged Tezuka's ability.

"Let me see just how much power the spin Tezuka Zone gives to the tennis ball can withstand in a return."

On the field, Tezuka, who was opposite Horio, returned the ball to Horio, who then increased his power to 60%.

After a dull thud, the power of the return shot increased once again.

Horio deliberately hit the tennis ball towards the sideline, and then a vortex was generated again in the Tezuka Zone.

The tennis ball struggled against the cyclone, but was eventually pulled back to Tezuka's side by the cyclone.

After pulling the tennis ball back, Tezuka increased the power of his shot in response to Horio's return.

When he swung his racket at the tennis ball again, the sound was noticeably louder than before.

"It seems like 60% is close to your limit. Try 70% instead."

With his arm muscles tensed, Horio unleashed a strike with 70% of his power.

This time, Tezuka Zone was struggling. A vortex appeared in the air after the tennis ball bounced, constantly diminishing its power.

After a few seconds of struggle, the tennis ball finally broke free of the cyclone.

Thump...

The tennis ball traveled about ten centimeters in the area where the vortex was generated before falling straight to the ground.

The moment the tennis ball broke through the Tezuka Zone's restrictions, Tezuka, as the initiator of the Tezuka Zone, immediately sensed it.

However, the Tezuka Zone was breached, leaving him no time to react, and the tennis ball landed directly, scoring a point.

Surprised, Tezuka turned to look at the tennis ball lying on the ground, his furrowed brows relaxing in astonishment.

"Looks like Tezuka Zone can't pull the more powerful ball back to its side. Captain, it seems I've cracked your Tezuka Zone."

With just one point, Tezuka Zone failed to score a single point before being overwhelmed by Horio's powerful offensive.

Horio's words also drew Tezuka's attention away from the tennis ball, and the fighting spirit in his eyes intensified.

"Let's keep going, the competition isn't over yet."

Regaining his usual tone, Tezuka finally focused his attention.

After saying that, Tezuka turned and returned to the baseline, then unleashed another powerful shot into the near corner.

Horio used 70% of his power this time, but Tezuka Zone did not appear.

Faced with Horio breaking through 70 Tezuka Zone's strength, Tezuka moved quickly.

Upon reaching the point where the tennis ball landed, Tezuka's left hand suddenly shone brightly.

Tezuka unexpectedly activated his Hundred Refinements Self-Acquired, returning the ball with double the power.

Horio was somewhat suspicious when he saw that Tezuka had actually given up on the Tezuka Zone.

However, Horio remained vigilant even when Tezuka returned the ball twice.

After taking a few steps, Horio used his sweet spot to retaliate.

It's still 70% of the effort, just with the addition of sweet spot techniques.

Horio's final return shot didn't carry any more power; instead, it flew towards Tezuka's half of the Tezuka with equal force.

Then a familiar scene unfolded: Tezuka, standing motionless once again in the center of the court.

He reopened the Tezuka Zone, creating an even stronger vortex.

Without much scrambling, the ball was easily pulled back by Tezuka Zone.

"By utilizing the Hundred Refinements Self-Acquired to return the ball with double the power, and also to give the tennis ball stronger spin, thus enhancing the power of the Tezuka Zone, I knew you wouldn't give up on the Tezuka Zone so easily."

Upon seeing the Tezuka Zone reappear and become even more powerful, Horio instantly understood Tezuka's purpose.

Moreover, the situation goes far beyond that; the radiance of Tezuka's left arm, located in the center of the Tezuka Zone, has not yet faded.

At this moment, he not only used the Tezuka Zone, but also maintained his state of Hundred Refinements Self-Acquired.

Faced with Horio's overwhelming pressure, Tezuka surprisingly revealed his most powerful trump card.

The tennis ball was pulled back to Tezuka's side, Hundred Refinements Self-Acquired of the sport once again gave it double the power.

Tezuka's return of that ball was at about 80% of Horio's power, but it was also Tezuka's limit for returning balls.

"To be able to achieve this level, compared to Sanada and Atobe, you've already taken a step ahead of them."

However, against stronger opponents, these are simply not enough.

Horio already had a detailed understanding of Tezuka's strength.

Bang!

After Horio used Hundred Refinements Self-Acquired % of his strength and his sweet spot technique, Tezuka, relying on his well-trained Tezuka Zone, failed to hold on and was scored on the same day.

"Do you remember what that old jerk said, Captain? Even though that old jerk always acts all high and mighty, his judgment is never wrong."

Regarding your confusion and situation, I think when he said that to you, he was also reminding you to truly follow your heart.