*[The player has fused ancient martial arts with tennis, creating a special ability: Martial Arts Aura.]*
*[Martial Arts Aura Lv1: Extreme Burst, Body Like a Wandering Dragon. Awakens the ability known as "Aura," enhancing one's explosive power, speed, and strength.]*
This was the special ability Ishikawa had just unlocked by merging ancient martial arts with tennis.
"Four Gods Martial Arts: Black Tortoise."
Outside the court, when Hiyoshi heard the name of this technique, his eyes lit up. Vaguely, he felt as if he had found the direction for his own martial arts-style tennis. A door that had yet to be opened now stood before him, not too far away.
"Is this his true talent?" Atobe looked at Ishikawa with a complicated expression.
Although he knew Ishikawa was exceptionally gifted—even comparable to Akutsu—he never expected Ishikawa to master martial arts-style tennis to such an extent. Just this one move alone was enough to defeat Seigaku's Sanada in the Kanto finals!
The others also looked on with awe. The more they learned about Ishikawa, the more they felt a sense of disbelief. Of course, most of them felt fortunate.
A genius like this had appeared at their school, Hyotei. If Ishikawa had been at Rikkai or Seigaku, it would have been a nightmare for them!
Soon, the two players switched sides.
After changing the serve, Ishikawa bent down, lightly tapped the tennis ball a few times, and then grabbed it. With a smile, he said, "Senior, if you rely solely on brute force, you're still far from matching me."
"Tch." Akutsu frowned. Ishikawa's words were sharp, but he couldn't argue back.
It was a matter of sheer skill.
However, this only fueled Akutsu's anger and determination. No matter what, he had to score against Ishikawa.
*Thud!*
Ishikawa served the ball.
*Whoosh!*
The high-speed spinning ball landed on Akutsu's side of the court, suddenly dropping in height and accelerating toward the service line.
"So fast!" Everyone's expressions changed.
Hiyoshi's eyes sparkled. "Is this a serve using martial arts-style techniques?"
*Tap tap!*
At that moment, a tall figure flashed past. Akutsu swung his racket, aiming at the bouncing ball, and smashed it back.
*Bang!*
A loud explosion echoed as a gray-white streak of light reappeared on the court.
"Akutsu's angry," Oshitari said with a serious expression, sensing the increased destructive power in the shot. "This guy's talent... is truly remarkable."
Akutsu Jin, a once-in-a-decade tennis prodigy. With his talent and growth rate, it was fortunate that Hyotei had Ishikawa. Otherwise, even if they had recruited Akutsu, it would have been difficult to control someone as wild as him.
Oshitari glanced at Atobe. Even someone like Atobe would probably struggle to suppress a beast like Akutsu.
*Swish!*
At that moment, Ishikawa swung his racket in a circular motion. He spun around himself like a whirlwind, then sent the ball back with immense destructive power.
"Tch." Akutsu's expression darkened.
Ishikawa's so-called "Four Gods Martial Arts: Black Tortoise" was proving to be a real headache. The defensive power of this move was overwhelming, and the stronger Akutsu's attacks, the faster and more powerful the return. In a way, Akutsu was fighting against himself.
*Tap!*
Reluctantly, Akutsu reduced the power of his swing to avoid triggering an even stronger counterattack.
"This..." The others were stunned.
Especially players like Shishido and Akutagawa, who had struggled against Akutsu before. They felt a sense of disbelief. Could Akutsu really be suppressed so easily?
"What's wrong?" Seeing Akutsu change his approach, Ishikawa chuckled. "Senior, your fighting spirit is waning. If this continues, you'll never beat me."
*Thud!*
As he spoke, Ishikawa shifted his stance and sent the ball back using a standard martial arts-style technique.
"Tch." Akutsu clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Stop lecturing me."
Being suppressed by Ishikawa was frustrating, but there was nothing he could do. Aggressive attacks only led to stronger counters, so even someone as proud as Akutsu had no choice but to temporarily retreat.
"Alright," Ishikawa said with a light laugh as Akutsu's return weakened. "If you're not going to attack, then I will!"
*Step!*
With that, Ishikawa took a step forward, his martial arts-style footwork propelling him into a series of afterimages as he chased the ball.
*Hum!*
Catching up to the ball, Ishikawa's gaze sharpened. He raised his racket, and his aura erupted like a blazing fire.
"This is..." Atobe and Oshitari's eyes widened as they felt the intense pressure radiating from Ishikawa.
*Whoosh!*
The fiery aura surged, spreading an invisible pressure that made the weaker players feel as if they were suffocating.
"Is this... the Martial Arts Aura?!" Hiyoshi's pupils contracted as he recalled something his father had once mentioned.
The Martial Arts Aura—a concept only top martial arts masters could comprehend. Hiyoshi had thought it was just a story, but now he was witnessing it firsthand. Not in a dojo or a martial arts duel, but on a tennis court, in the heat of a fierce match!
"Has Ishikawa truly fused martial arts with tennis?" In that instant, countless thoughts raced through Hiyoshi's mind. Watching Ishikawa swing his racket, he felt a surge of excitement rising within him.
*Bang!*
With the Martial Arts Aura, Ishikawa drew back like a bow and unleashed a devastating shot.
*Swoosh!*
A red streak flashed across the court. The speed was so fast that even players like Shishido and Mukahi, who were at the Kanto level, couldn't follow it. Only Atobe and Oshitari caught a glimpse.
*Tap tap!*
On the baseline, Akutsu sprinted forward. His gray-white aura reappeared, and his sharp eyes gleamed like a hawk's as it locked onto its prey.
"I see it!" Relying on his wild instincts, Akutsu accelerated, catching up to the ball.
*Swish!*
He raised his racket, carefully controlling his power to avoid triggering Ishikawa's "Black Tortoise" counter.
*Boom!*
However, when Akutsu's racket made contact with the ball, his expression froze in shock.
*Thud!*
The sheer force of the impact sent Akutsu flying, racket and all, onto the ground.
"15-0!"
"Four Gods Martial Arts: White Tiger!"
As Ishikawa spoke, the fiery red aura around him dissipated, and the suffocating pressure lifted.
"Phew." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Four Gods Martial Arts: White Tiger?" Oshitari's eyes widened. "Does that mean his martial arts-style tennis has four ultimate techniques?"
The others were stunned.
Akutsu, who had just gotten back up, looked even more frustrated.
Four Gods Martial Arts... Besides the impenetrable defense of "Black Tortoise" and the overwhelming power of "White Tiger," Ishikawa still had two more techniques up his sleeve?
At that moment, Akutsu forgot all about his earlier frustration over Ishikawa only using martial arts-style tennis. Instead, he began to worry about what the remaining two techniques were and whether they would be as troublesome as the first two.
*Tap tap tap!*
At the baseline, Ishikawa lightly bounced the ball.
On the other side, Akutsu's eyebrow twitched with every bounce.
"This guy is too strong." Akutsu, who had initially thought his improved skills would allow him to compete with Ishikawa, now felt his confidence slipping.
Instead, he began analyzing, trying to figure out how to score against Ishikawa.
*Thud!*
Ishikawa served again.
With the Martial Arts Aura enhancing his shot, the power of the serve had increased significantly.
However, Akutsu was no ordinary player. With his incredible reflexes, he caught up to the ball. Then, to everyone's surprise, he used a slicing motion to return it.
"A slice shot?" Shishido and Akutagawa were shocked.
It was hard to believe that Akutsu, who had always relied on raw talent, was now using actual tennis techniques!
"Though rough, he's definitely changed his approach," Atobe and Oshitari thought, deeply impressed.
This showed just how much pressure Ishikawa was putting on Akutsu, forcing him to adapt.
But the results were immediate. By playing more strategically, Akutsu reduced his power while improving his shot placement and speed. This made it harder for Ishikawa to use "Black Tortoise" or unleash "White Tiger."
"That's it," Akutsu thought, relieved.
Though this style of play was uncomfortable for him, it was effective.
Soon, he began moving closer to the net, trying to gain an advantage and score.
"Not bad, senior," Ishikawa said with a smile, seeing through Akutsu's strategy.
In truth, Ishikawa had been deliberately pressuring Akutsu. He knew Akutsu was prideful, and by bringing this match into the spotlight, Ishikawa ensured Akutsu wouldn't want to lose—at least not without scoring a single point.
Like a beast adapting to its environment, Akutsu had no choice but to evolve under Ishikawa's pressure.
"Good thinking, but your flaws are too obvious!"
As Akutsu approached the net, Ishikawa's aura erupted once more.
*Whoosh!*
The fiery red energy surged.
*Thud!*
Ishikawa swung, sending the ball high into the air.
"A lob?!" Everyone was shocked.
"Was I seen through?" Akutsu's expression changed, and he immediately turned to sprint back.
*Swoosh!*
At that moment, the ball reached its peak and burst into a red flame. Like a meteor, it spun rapidly before plummeting down.
"Don't underestimate me!!!" Akutsu's eyes widened as he pushed his speed to the limit, racing toward the baseline.
"Does this guy have no limits?" The spectators were in disbelief as they watched Akutsu's speed visibly increase.
"He caught up!"
Akutsu, now matching the ball's descent, smirked. "Ishikawa, you won't score that easily!"
*Step!*
He leaped forward, raising his racket to hit the ball from between his legs.
*Sizzle...*
But to everyone's surprise, the ball, which had been falling like a meteor, began spinning rapidly along the ground, refusing to bounce.
"What?!" Akutsu, who had just leaped over the ball, was stunned.
He hadn't expected Ishikawa to play such a trick, creating a timing mismatch.
"You sneaky bastard!!!" Akutsu roared, stomping the ground and using his incredible balance to forcefully reverse his momentum.
Then, he turned and swung at the ball a second time.
"Wait, what?!" Shishido and Akutagawa were dumbfounded.
Could tennis even be played like this? Akutsu's talent was truly outrageous!
*Sizzle...*
But once again, even as Akutsu's racket passed over the ball, it refused to bounce. Instead, it slowed its spin and came to a stop, leaving a charred mark on the ground.
"Four Gods Martial Arts: Vermilion Bird."
Ishikawa's voice echoed from across the court.
The entire stadium fell into silence.
**(End of Chapter)**
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