The Prince of Tennis, Talent Replication

"..."

So fast!

Kamio Akira stood there stunned, still reeling from the ball he had just hit. "Surprisingly fast" was the only word that came to mind.

"Tap tap tap!"

Natsume Tsukiya enjoys tennis, ball by ball, but that doesn't necessarily mean being weak and hiding your skills. When it's time to unleash your power, why conceal your edge?

"Smack!"

The short, sharp sound flashed by in an instant. Even if everyone kept their eyes glued to the screen, they could only see the powerful swing and the dashing figure. The trajectory of the ball was so fast that even someone like Keigo Atobe would have difficulty catching it.

It was even more difficult for Akira Kamio. He only felt a shadow flash before his eyes, and his nerves and consciousness had not yet caught up, so how could he move his feet? He couldn't even swing the racket in his hand.

The gloom and irritability in his heart suddenly vanished, leaving only a cool sensation rising from the soles of his feet to his heart. A blank look appeared in his pupils, and Kamio Akira murmured to himself:

"I can't see it!!"

"Thirty to zero!"

The referee didn't actually see how the ball was hit. He learned his lesson from the first ball and stopped looking at the ball and started looking at the hit points. Hyotei's Natsume Tsukiya's super-fast serve leaves irregular hit points on the court. There are two now, so there's no need to worry about it anymore. Point!

"What happened to Kamio?"

"Kamio didn't move at all."

"He's spacing out. How can he be spacing out at a time like this?"

"Kamio, cheer up."

.....

The people of Fudomine started shouting.

Kamio Akira swayed, turning his head to see the black-clad legion. Their eyes held pity, indignation, and heartache. In that instant, a surge of rage welled up within Kamio Akira:

"Damn it, how could I be so defeated? I thought I could regain the rhythm with three points and then break his serve with a supersonic smash. It's infuriating..."

Known as the second-year rhythm guy, he relies heavily on his speed. The supersonic bullet is his newly developed secret weapon, originally intended for Atobe Keigo.

Judging from the first goal, the opponent didn't seem as formidable as Xiaoxing had feared. However, without realizing it, his own rhythm had become chaotic. He wasn't some kind of genius player.

A genius player doesn't need the brain to issue explicit instructions to drive his limbs. If an athlete needs explicit instructions from the brain before he can start moving, then that player will never become a top player. There are always some situations that the brain cannot process and that require the subconscious to handle.

Akira Kamio is the kind of player who needs constant practice of commands to complete a match. Many players are his type, but Fudomine, a second-year player, is the most obvious example.

Before playing ball, he needs to listen to music to familiarize himself with the rhythm. His body needs to adapt to this rhythm, just like a child needs to hold onto a toy car to learn to walk. Once he has mastered the steps, he can then discard the toy car.

A person who follows a set routine rather than going with the flow is most averse to two or three things: having their rhythm disrupted, which leaves them feeling lost and disoriented, like a maze mouse with a nervous breakdown.

Outsiders may not know what he just did, but in reality, his subconscious had reached a point where he needed to adjust his pace immediately, and that's where his anger came from.

Furthermore, having the trump card of the [supersonic missile] further solidified their decision to give up the first round.

Misjudging the opponent's strength led to a failure to meet expectations. Coupled with the previous defeat against Yamabuki, which brought shame to Tachibana Kippei, he was even more determined to prove himself in this second match, to prove that his decision in the first match was correct, and to prove that he could repay Captain Tachibana's kindness.

Of course,

He couldn't even see the ball, let alone react to it. He was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions, and his inner turmoil was unimaginable.

Rather than attributing Kamio Akira's suffering to Natsume Tsukiya, it's more accurate to say that he was arrogant from the start and had never encountered a top-tier fighter. Fudomine's constant victories fueled his self-importance...

"Want to climb even higher?"

Ju Juping's words echoed in his mind. The illusory goal he had once longed for had now crashed down on him, leaving him breathless.

Natsume Tsuki knows Kamio Akira's situation all too well. Most characters in Prince of Tennis are the same; without experiencing utter failure, there is no possibility of innovation.

Perhaps the author based the creation of the Prince of Tennis world on this point.

From Yukimura Seiichi, Echizen Ryoma, Atobe Keigo, and many others, all 178 episodes are filled with the same message: even the strongest have their setbacks, including Tezuka Kunimitsu.

Then came the new Prince of Tennis, which completely exposed this concept. The first and second teams, the winners and the losers, gradually turned the defeat in the national tournament into a rule.

The defeat against Yamabuki fueled the Black Legion's long-held ambition, transforming their despair into a relentless pursuit of victory. It was this belief that led Akira Kamio to develop the so-called secret weapon, the "Supersonic Bullet."

However, this person's biggest weakness is that his mental state is extremely unstable. Measured by the five dimensions, Shitenhoji's Oshitari Kenya has a speed of 5, and Kamio Akira's speed is also 5. However, Kamio Akira's mental state is only a pitiful 2.

Over-reliance on one's own strengths will inevitably backfire if those strengths are lost.

Natsume Tsuki had no intention of holding back, nor was there any need for him to.

The tennis ball in my hand slowly rolled towards the deep blue sky, and a cool breeze, slightly warm, swept in from all directions.

His wrist snapped down suddenly.

*Smack!*

This shot was just as fast and astonishing, yet the mark it left on the ground was clearly visible to everyone.

It seemed to have reached its limit, causing the ball to be compressed by the ground. The action and reaction forces combined instantly, twisting and deforming the yellow tennis ball to an extreme degree. It flattened itself, scraping along the ground with a screeching sound, gliding away and leaving a long trail of dust before slamming against the wall and bouncing back...

"wa..."

The tennis ball, thrown with extreme violence, shot out before everyone's eyes, accompanied by suppressed gasps from throats. The stunned silence goes without saying; the unseen heart pounding erratically was enough to make one's breath catch in their throat.

"See that? That's impressive."

"The force was so great that it deformed the tennis ball."

"That Hyotei guy, his strength is too great, I think it's no smaller than Fudomine's Hadouko."

"What a joke! Fudomine's Wave Ball is just a destructive force. Look at how distorted that ball is. I think if it hit someone, their bones would definitely be broken."

......

Inoue Mamoru listened to the discussion and thought to himself:

"Fudomine's Wave Ball is completely different from Natsume Tsukiya's ball. Ishida Tetsuya's Wave Ball bounces off immediately after being hit, the force dispersing across the surface of the ball. But Natsume Tsukiya's ball, when it hits the ground, feels like a drill is drilling into it, as if a motor has been installed inside the tennis ball. The force is so great that the rebound force and impact force of the tennis ball interact with each other, causing the tennis ball to deform... It's terrifying. To have such powerful force at this speed is truly unexpected..."

Tachibana Hiramoto was already surprised by that speed, but seeing this shot made his heart sink. This shot, apart from the swing, had no visible trajectory. Only at the moment of landing did it appear as if light had passed through the air and landed, and the power was also displayed to its fullest extent at that moment.

The power and speed he can achieve are astounding; Natsume Tsukiya of Hyotei is truly extraordinary...

Kippei Tachibana still harbored a tiny hope that Akira Kamio could create a miracle, but after that goal, that hope became negligible.

"So strong!" Sengoku Kiyosumi's eyes cleared, and she exclaimed involuntarily.

Previously, he had never seen Natsume Tsuki use such a powerful technique.

"snort!"

Akutsu was only slightly surprised, then his eyes lit up with excitement. He only ever fought strong opponents...

"40 to 0!"

"How is that possible...."

A chill ran through Akira Kamio, overshadowing his anger and anxiety. The long scratches on the floor, the scraping sounds, and the tennis ball struggling against the pressure all indicated that the guy opposite him was far stronger than he had imagined—like a wall…?

"I'm sorry, Captain Tachibana, I can't possibly beat him."

Kamio Akira strained his eyelids to hold back the tears, not caring about anything else, only afraid of letting down Tachibana Kippei, and betraying his determination to lead Fudomine to the national championships...

"Damn it, is Fudomine's journey about to be ruined by my own hands? Damn it, damn it, damn it!!"

The emotions started from small things and seeped deeper and deeper until he was completely unaware of them. The emotions were like sentient hairs, seeping into his body from his skin, through his blood vessels and muscles!

"Bang!"

The light, as thick as a wrist, flashed clearly in his pupils this time, like a flashlight beam suddenly appearing in the dark. Kamio Akira saw the light first, moved subconsciously, and then heard the crisp sound of it hitting the ground.

"Game, Hyotei Natsume, score 2-0, leading!!"

"Oh~~"

The noise outside the venue and the previous doubts have now disappeared like the clamor of insects in the quiet night, burrowing into the ground and leaving only tranquility.

"So...so strong!!"

After a brief silence outside, the noise and commotion returned, and countless people remembered the name—Natsume Tsukiya.

Many people silently regard him as their number one idol. Those few shots truly displayed an indescribable style. It's hard to say what it is, but in short, it's the state they aspire to.

People who have been humiliated usually hate being humiliated. For many, Rikkai University is just like their name, with one word: "big." The size of Rikkai University is unimaginable.

Therefore, all schools aimed to defeat Rikkai University. When Seigaku was able to defeat Rikkai University, everyone, regardless of whether they were friend or foe, felt excited.

Even people like Akutsu have a long-standing dislike for Rikkai University.

Rikkai University is inherently arrogant. The story of Kirihara Akaya crippling someone so badly that he could no longer play tennis is known to most middle school tennis clubs from Kanagawa to Ginza. The seniors often warn these newcomers not to play tennis with Kirihara Akaya lightly, unless they want to play a little longer.

in front of you,

Natsume Tsuki also revealed a kind of power that they could sense but couldn't quite put into words. This power wasn't domineering; it was simply power that stripped away all the extraneous elements, as if only the original beauty of the sport remained.

People admire a particular person for a fleeting moment.

In that instant, they felt the same thrill they had when they first held the racket, a blissful feeling without any concept of victory...

Kamio was clearly unable to perceive anything; all he could think about was victory. Only victory could propel Fudomine forward, so he muttered to himself blankly.

"Kamio, pull yourself together!!"

Tachibana An suddenly called out to Kamio Akira, her lips pursed.

Natsume Tsuki also turned his head to look over, and Tachibana An's big eyes were blinking as she looked over. He made a V sign with his fingers, and Tachibana An's delicate eyebrows furrowed, and he smiled!

"Kamio, you have another trick up your sleeve!!"

"Sakurai Masaya shouted."

"A special move?"

"Have you heard? Akira Kamio of Fudomine actually has a hidden technique."

"A secret weapon, huh? These guys from Fudomine are really something else. No wonder they were so confident in giving up their serve; they had a secret weapon up their sleeve."

"It looks like the outcome is still uncertain."

"I don't think the ultimate move will work. I think the winner will definitely be Natsume Tsukiya."

"That's right, the winner is Natsume Tsukiya."

"However, it's strange, Natsume Tsukiya of Hyotei doesn't seem to have any competitive spirit at all..."

. . . . . .

"That's right, I also have supersonic missiles."

Akira Kamio's blank mind reconnected, and the hope that his trump card gave him still remained.

He held his breath, his body and mind surging, took a deep breath, and exhaled the stale air. The upcoming match and the serve made him temporarily put everything aside.

"Tap tap tap tap~"

The atmosphere remained heavy for him, and the tennis ball in his hand felt even heavier. *Thud*, he snatched the bouncing ball from my hand and silently encouraged himself:

"Serve, serve, that's right, he's just good at serving. When you serve while standing still, the speed and power are naturally different..."

It was to live up to his expectations and encourage him to cheer up.

"Bang!"

The ball was thrown, and Akira Kamio, no longer hunched over, began to move, his eyes fixed on the opposite side. "Which side?"

"Bang!"

Upon hearing the sound and seeing the ball already hit, Akira Kamio's spirits lifted. He held his breath, gathered his strength, and suddenly darted out, arriving behind the corner ball a step ahead of everyone else, with the sign already raised high.

"Kamio, did he use that move right from the start?" Tachibana Kippei secretly hoped for the effect of this move.

"Kamio, do your best!"

Tachibana An was torn between two conflicting thoughts, but Fudomine still had the upper hand. For now, all she could do was cheer for Kamio Akira and hope he could achieve good results.

"Wow, look! That guy from Fudomine really does have a hidden trick up his sleeve."

"Are they trying to win by speed?"

His speed was really fast.

Everyone was secretly amazed by his trump card.

Inoue Mamoru turned to look at Hyotei, frowning as he thought to himself:

"The members of Hyotei don't seem worried at all. They seem to know Natsume Tsukiya very well. Will this move really work?"

He kept his eyes glued to the field.

"Snapped!"

A surge of air rushed in from all directions, converging at Kamio Akira's feet. His racket had already touched the tennis ball. He silently recalled the past and said:

"I haven't repaid Captain Tachibana's kindness yet, you just wait and see!!"

Gritting his teeth, he swung the racket diagonally.

With a loud bang, a short, sharp sound, the ball flashed out a white mist and left an afterimage, showing how fast it was.