Light Rain

"However, adding more spin to the ball also puts a considerable burden on it, so you can't win this match anyway."

Like the Zero-style Serve, the activation of Tezuka Phantom requires too much arm strength, or rather, too much physical fitness from the user.

Unlike the Tezuka Zone, the Tezuka Zone is a skill without any side effects.

Therefore, Horio concluded that whether Tezuka wanted to rely on the Zero-style Serve or the Tezuka Phantom, his arm problem would always be an obstacle.

"Let's continue, the game isn't over yet."

Tezuka seemed completely unconcerned by Horio's incisive words.

Horio also acted decisively, returning to the baseline to serve.

Also wanting to test the limits of Tezuka Phantom, Horio increased the power of his serve.

In order to draw a true conclusion, the spin of the ball was also enhanced.

In this way, Tezuka would have to increase the power output of his arm in order to activate Tezuka Phantom.

As expected, after barely managing to see Horio's powerful serve, Tezuka's expression became somewhat unnatural when he returned the Tezuka.

With a slight frown, he struggled to return Horio's serve.

"If we're just comparing you to other junior high students, you'd be the best of the bunch."

Bang!

No sooner had he finished speaking than Horio returned the ball, adjusting the angle of his Horio shot.

Compared to the previous ball, this one is closer to the center.

Even so, the radiant vortex that appeared beneath Tezuka's feet still pushed the tennis ball out of bounds.

"Even though I adjusted the ball's trajectory further inside compared to the previous goal, the point where the ball went out of bounds was exactly the same."

Seeing that the ball landed in the same spot as the previous one, Horio somewhat puzzled.

"Could it be that Tezuka Phantom has practiced the Tezuka to this extent? No... the Tezuka Phantom is for dealing with balls that can't be returned."

In other words, after I broke through Tezuka Zone with my power, Tezuka's goal was to force all the powerful shots I hit out of bounds that he couldn't return.

Thinking about this, Horio gradually noticed something strange.

"In other words, the more powerful the opponent's return shot, the farther Tezuka Phantom will be forced out of bounds."

Having guessed what was going on, Horio immediately returned to the baseline and served again with full power. Tezuka hit the ball back, and then Horio started to move.

He moved a few steps to his right front and swung Horio racket.

This time, Horio moved the ball's landing point inward again, placing it directly on the center line.

Bang!

Two centimeters from the singles sideline, a mark appeared indicating where a tennis ball had landed.

The tennis ball was ultimately controlled by Tezuka Phantom, but it was already very close to being in bounds.

"We still need to control our strength. If this move doesn't have side effects, it'll be a real headache."

He had already suppressed his strength to 40% in his counterattack, but in the end, he was still two centimeters short.

This was Horio's fourth point in his service game. If Tezuka won another point, Horio's Tezuka would be broken.

On the fourth opportunity, Horio increased his power again, taking the initiative and putting pressure on Tezuka.

After Tezuka received the ball, his expression completely changed.

The shockwave from the tennis ball not only created a gust of wind on the court, but also enveloped Tezuka, who was receiving the ball.

With the accumulated burden on his left hand, coupled with Horio's increased strength, Tezuka began to use his right hand as well.

With a simultaneous effort from both hands, the ball was finally returned.

Horio, seeing this, smiled and then unleashed a seemingly soft swing.

A fiercely attacking tennis ball, encountering a seemingly powerless swing, is actually engaged in a struggle.

The shockwave was even stronger than when Tezuka countered, and Horio's hair and clothes were blown wildly.

After a few seconds of back-and-forth play, Horio completed a full swing, and the tennis ball flew back weakly.

Tezuka saw Horio choose not to confront him head-on, and surprisingly responded in this way to the powerful ball he had just hit back.

In a split second, Tezuka knew that Horio had found a way to deal with Tezuka Phantom.

So Tezuka stopped standing still and immediately started moving.

The ball, with its soft force, was simply not strong enough to be pushed around by Tezuka Phantom.

After the ball deviated slightly from its original trajectory, Tezuka found the landing point and hit Zero-style Drop Shot.

Horio wasn't about to let Tezuka have his way, so he moved swiftly to the net.

Before the tennis ball even hit the ground, a flash of purple light appeared on Horio's racket, its speed too fast for the naked eye to perceive.

The ball, once struck, transformed into a streak of light and soared into the sky until it disappeared from Tezuka's sight.

"Ah... the ball has disappeared."

Just as Tezuka uttered his question, a flash of light suddenly appeared in the sky.

Like a miniature purple sun, it radiates many beams of purple light towards the ground from this point.

Bang!

After numerous rays of light fell upon the court and then disappeared, a tennis ball lay quietly on the center line not far from Tezuka.

"Since you've shown me the Zero-style Serve and Tezuka Phantom, then I'll show you my Light Rain."

Horio's words brought Tezuka back to his Tezuka, but he was clearly not fully recovered from that last shot.

"Thanks to Senpai Oishi's Moon Climbing Intercept, I got the inspiration. So, Captain, how's my high-ball return technique?"

Horio used the Moon Climbing Intercept several times during the match, and a sudden inspiration led to the appearance of Light Rain.

By hitting the ball into the sky and using sunlight to distract the opponent's vision, the illusion is created as if many beams of light are falling, with the tennis ball hidden within one of them.

Bang!

"It's already 5-1, Captain. It seems your last match in the country is going to end in defeat."

After Horio scored the fifth goal, Tezuka's hard-earned three points were all for naught.

"Horio, I think every tennis player would be happy to play against a player as skilled as you."

Whether it's Sanada, Atobe, or Fuji, they must have felt the same way I did when they competed against you. You really are someone who inspires others to improve.

From the first time I heard you say, "What do you take tennis for?", I had a feeling you would be a very great player.

And just as I expected, from the moment you joined the club, you displayed an unpredictable strength, not only helping the rest of the team improve and find their own style of tennis, but also making an undeniable contribution to Seigaku's journey to where it is today.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

While recalling Horio's help to the team and even the entire tennis club, Tezuka scored with his Zero-style Serve.

After the fourth ball landed and scored, Tezuka looked directly at Horio.