Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

The scoreboard reads 19:23.

Just one point short.

If Karasuno can win just one more point, they will be able to snatch the match point from Aoba Johsai, a team where even the air seems to be frozen.

Matsukawa Kazushige stood behind the service line. The curly-haired man had little expression on his face; his calm, almost indifferent demeanor reminded one of elite monsters in certain high-difficulty dungeons who specialize in sneak attacks.

The whistle blew.

Matsukawa tosses the ball and jumps. It's not a powerful jump serve, but rather the kind of float serve that makes people extremely uncomfortable.

The volleyball wobbled in the air, like a drunken ghost, heading straight for Lu Ren in the back row.

"It's that soft, weak ball again." Lu Ren frowned, his feet quickening as he adjusted his position. He had developed a psychological aversion to this kind of ball; its unpredictable trajectory was like a bug in the physics engine.

But he still managed to push his arm out steadily.

"Bang!"

The pass was delivered perfectly.

"Good shot!" Kageyama Tobio's voice was filled with urgency. He hadn't even waited for the ball to fully descend before he darted to the net like a cheetah.

In the front row, Hinata Shoyo made a move.

The orange figure sprang into action instantly, even making a screeching sound as he kicked off the floor. He sprinted horizontally along the net opening, his unstoppable momentum as if he had put all his skill points into "speed".

Give me the ball!

Kageyama's fingers touched the ball. Without any hesitation, without even glancing at the opposing block.

Fast attack.

The pass was as fast as a laser, precisely finding Hyuga in the air.

However, as soon as Lu Ren straightened up in the back row, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Not right.

It's too quiet.

On the other side of the net, the front-row blockers from Aoba Castle West—Iwaizumi Ichi and Matsukawa Kazushige—didn't jump. They were like two stone statues, firmly nailed to the floor, not even extending their arms.

Does this mean they've given up resistance?

Impossible. How could a boss battle of this level have such low-level AI logic?

Hinata's momentum propelled him to swing his arm and smash the ball.

"Snapped!"

The volleyball whistled through the net and crashed into Aoba Josai's backcourt.

In that instant, Lu Ren saw the trap.

Behind that empty gap, a figure wearing a different colored jersey was lowering his center of gravity, his eyes fixed on Hyuga's palm.

A free man, a familial servant.

Without the obstruction of the front row's blocking, Hyuga's spike trajectory was as clear as a slow-motion replay in Watanabe Chikaharu's eyes.

"Bang!"

Watari didn't even need to move his feet; he simply adjusted the angle of his arm slightly and effortlessly received the powerful fast attack.

"Trap..." Lu Ren gritted his teeth and spat out the two words.

The deliberate decision not to block the net was to create more vision for the backline libero. These guys actually dared to use such a risky tactic in a match point set?

The ball was lifted high and flew towards the net.

Oikawa Toru has arrived.

This top setter from Aoba City West wore that signature frivolous smile that made you want to punch him. He raised his hands above his head, his posture textbook perfect.

Iwaizumi on the left wing has already started his run-up, while Kindaichi on the right wing is also calling for the ball.

Karasuno's blockers—Tsukishima and Hinata, who had just landed—were on edge. Their eyes darted frantically between the flanks, trying to anticipate Oikawa's intentions.

"Don't be fooled!" Daichi Sawamura shouted from the back row.

But Oikawa Tetsu had already jumped.

Just when everyone thought he was going to pass the ball, he suddenly exerted force with his left hand and gently flicked it with his right.

The volleyball, which was supposed to fly to the wings, suddenly changed its trajectory and fell straight down to the center of Karasuno Stadium.

Second attack.

And it happened at the moment when everyone's nerves were on edge and everyone was focused on the spiker.

The volleyball lands.

thump.

The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of everyone in Karasuno.

20: 23.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry." After landing, Oikawa Toru gave a V-sign to the bewildered Karasuno group, his tone light as if he were on a picnic, "Looks like you guys aren't on guard enough."

"That bastard..." Tanaka's forehead veins bulged.

Lu Ren took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to rush over and tear that smiling face to shreds.

"Calm down." He patted Kageyama on the shoulder, though he himself was quite angry. "This is what they call a 'mechanical kill.' That guy has maxed out his aggro."

The game continues.

Matsukawa Kazushige gets the ball again.

This time, the atmosphere in the arena became even more eerie. Although Karasuno was still leading by three points, a dark cloud called "pressure" had already hung over everyone's heads.

The whistle blows.

Matsukawa serves.

This serve was poorly executed; it was a clear mistake. The contact point was too low, and the ball's trajectory was shockingly flat.

"Out of bounds?" The thought flashed through Daichi Sawamura's mind.

But the volleyball didn't go out of bounds; instead—

"Smack."

The ball slammed hard against the white top band of the net.

In that instant, time seemed to stretch out.

The volleyball spun violently on the net, rubbing and struggling. It neither bounced back immediately to Aoba Castle West's court, nor flew directly towards them. It was as if it were dancing on that delicate balance point.

Everyone held their breath.

Then, gravity won.

The volleyball rolled limply along the net and fell into Karasuno's court.

Within the three-meter line, less than half a meter away from Daichi Sawamura's hand.

Daichi Sawamura lunged forward, but it was too late. The volleyball hit the ground, bounced twice, and rolled toward the sidelines.

21: 23.

"..."

The entire room fell silent.

Only Matsukawa Kazushige raised her hand and innocently said, "Sorry."

"Are you kidding me!" Lu Ren finally couldn't hold back anymore. He covered his head with his hands, rolled his eyes at the ceiling, and exclaimed, "This is definitely a system error! Was there something wrong with the judgment of that ball? How could such a lucky shot happen at this time?"

He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving. The feeling of being almost at the end of a level, only to have the boss suddenly lock in health and go berserk, made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Mysterious forces." He stared at the floor opposite the net and muttered to himself, "There's definitely some unseen mysterious force giving them a buff. The game balance is absolutely terrible."

"Lu Ren!"

Sawamura Daichi's voice interrupted his rambling.

The captain stood in the back row, his face grim, but his eyes remained resolute. He clapped his hands forcefully, his voice echoing throughout the stadium: "Don't overthink it! Luck is part of the game! Focus, cut them off on the next ball!"

"yes!"

The crowd responded, but their voices were somewhat hoarse from the shock of the lucky ball.

Matsukawa serves for the third time.

Perhaps the lucky shot earlier gave him confidence, and he put more power into this shot.

The volleyball, spinning intensely, hurtled towards Karasuno's back row.

That's between Sawamura Daichi and Higashimine Asahi.

"I'll do it!" Daichi Sawamura shouted.

As the defensive linchpin, his judgment was always accurate. But this ball had a strange sidespin, and at the moment it touched the ground, it slid outwards.

"Tsk."

The ball wasn't properly cushioned and flew off to the side, veering off course beyond the three-meter line.

"Sorry! Let's fix this!" the earth cried out.

The ball flew towards Kageyama's position. But at the same time, Higashimine Asahi, who was preparing to attack, instinctively rushed over to help pass the ball.

The two bumped into each other in that confined space.

"!"

Kageyama stopped abruptly, and Asahi also abruptly pulled his foot back.

That one second of hesitation was fatal.

"Asahi-senpai!" Kageyama called out, his body no longer in the optimal passing position. He could only crouch down and use both hands to pass the ball.

Although Xu reacted in time, his run-up path had been disrupted. He could only jump from the spot and, while losing his balance, barely managed to get the ball over the net.

Opportunity ball.

The ball flew softly over the net and landed in Aoba Josai's backcourt.

"Great opportunity!" Hanamaki Takahiro easily pushed the ball up.

"The pass is perfect!"

Oikawa Tetsu stood in front of the net, his eyes sharp as a knife.

Now is the perfect time to counterattack. Karasuno's formation is in disarray, and their blocking is not yet organized.

"Kunimi!"

The volleyball flew to the right wing.

Kunimi Hide, the guy who always looked like he hadn't slept enough, was now displaying astonishing explosive power. He took a running start, jumped, and even had the leisure to observe Karasuno's blocking in mid-air.

Although Hotaru Tsukishima arrived in time, her jump was rushed and her blocking hand position was not perfect.

Guo Jianying flicked his wrist and made an extremely tricky diagonal shot.

"Bang!"

The ball is moving very fast.

But just as the ball was about to hit the ground, a long arm came across.

After landing, Hotaru Tsukishima did not give up. Instead, she fell to the ground and scooped up the ball with one hand.

"Well done!"

The ball flew into the air, high and slightly floating.

That position... is the setter position.

But Kageyama was in the back row saving the ball and didn't have time to get there.

Who's there?

Lu Ren.

He stood in the spot that originally belonged to Kageyama, looking up at the falling volleyball.

All sounds around him seemed to disappear. He could hear his own heart pounding like thunder and feel the burning sensation in his lungs, like a bellows being pulled.

To whom should it be sent?

Daichi was defending in the back row. Tsukishima had just fallen to the ground when Hinata was completely marked.

Only... Kageyama.

The king who usually bossed him around and had a smug look on his face was now cutting in from the back, his eyes burning with a crazy flame that said "Give me the ball."

Lu Ren's lips suddenly curled into a somewhat neurotic smile.

Should we let the setter spike the ball?

This script is interesting.

He raised both hands, fingers spread. At the moment of contact with the ball, he didn't rush to push it away.

Inhale, release your energy, and pause.

The volleyball seemed to linger on his fingertips for a fraction of a second. It was like the loading screen before unleashing a powerful attack in a game, or like time being paused.

"Now."

Lu Ren gently pushed his wrist away.

The volleyball had no spin and hovered lightly above the net.

That's the highest hitting spot in Kageyama.

Kageyama Tokio soared into the air. His pupils dilated sharply as he gazed at the volleyball, which seemed to have been frozen in mid-air, waiting for him.

That pass... it was so comfortable it made me want to cry.

"Damn it, Lu Ren, isn't this a good thing to spread the word!"

He roared inwardly, swung his arm, and smashed the ball.

"boom!"

This ball, imbued with the setter's long-suppressed destructive urge, slammed fiercely into the Aoba Castle West court.

but.

"Snapped!"

The call was connected again?!

Lu Ren's eyes widened.

The free agent from the west of Aoba Castle, Watari Chikaharu, reappeared at the landing spot like an unkillable cockroach. Although his posture was awkward, with his whole body sliding on the floor, he did manage to cushion the powerful slam.

"Just how thick is this BOSS's health bar?!" Lu Ren couldn't help but curse out loud.

The ball is not dead.

Oikawa Tetsu organized another attack.

"Iwaizumi!"

This time, it's a showdown between the best.

Iwazumi burst out from the left wing, jumping with the momentum of smashing the volleyball.

Stop him!!!

On Karasuno's side, Tsukishima, Hinata, and Riku, who had just passed the ball, all jumped at the same time.

At this moment, there are no tactics, no schemes, only the most primal confrontation.

Iwaizumi's spike slammed heavily into the blocker's hand.

It wasn't a player going out of bounds, nor was it a net grab.

It's a real ban.

"Thump!"

The volleyball was forcefully pushed back by the wall of three people and slammed vertically into the three-meter line in the west of Qingye City.

The referee blew his whistle and gestured towards Karasuno.

21: 24.

Match point.

"Yay!!!!"

Hinata and Rikuren collided in mid-air, and after landing, they excitedly shoved each other.

"Finally! Finally, I've managed to get rid of this mouthful of blood!" Lu Ren wiped the sweat from his face, feeling his hands trembling.

Just one point short.

Just one more point and this long, grueling dungeon will be over.

Kageyama Tobio took the ball and walked towards the service line.

His back looked even more upright than usual, exuding a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay.

"Good serve, Kageyama!"

Kageyama took a deep breath and spun the ball around.

Throw the ball, take a running start, and jump.

His posture in the air was stretched to its limit, like a fully drawn bow.

"Bang!"

This ball, in terms of both speed and power, was the best of the day. The volleyball, like a cannonball, slammed straight into the corner of Aoba Castle's west side.

however.

Watanagi rule.

It's that damn free man again.

As if he had anticipated Kageyama's trajectory, he moved two steps ahead and turned sideways to receive the deadly serve.

"The pass is perfect!"

Although the ball went a little over the net, that was enough for Oikawa Tetsu.

"Kkindaichi!"

Fast attack.

Kindaichi Yutaro leaped high into the air.

Karasuno's block was able to keep up, but the ball was too fast, so it could only barely create interference.

"One touch!"

Lu Ren's finger brushed against the ball, changing its trajectory.

The ball flew towards the backcourt.

Kageyama Tobio did not receive the first pass. The moment he shouted "One touch," he had already rushed to the net.

He couldn't wait any longer.

At this point, waiting for the first pass to be in place before organizing an attack is too slow. He wants to catch the opponent off guard and end the game before Aoba Seishi can react.

The volleyball was still in mid-air when Kageyama jumped.

He twisted his body in mid-air, reaching with both hands for the ball that wasn't quite in place yet.

"Hinata!"

No words are needed, not even eye contact.

Hinata Shoyo has appeared at the net entrance.

This is the weirdo's fast attack.

Before anyone could process the information, the ball had vanished from Kageyama's hand and appeared in Hyuga's palm.

"Let's end this!!!" Hinata roared as he spiked the ball.

The ball was incredibly fast; Aoba Josai's blocker didn't even have time to jump.

It's a sure kill.

This is absolutely a guaranteed kill.

Lu Ren was even ready to raise his hands in celebration.

but.

In the blink of an eye, an arm suddenly appeared on the ball's trajectory.

Iwaizumi Ichi.

This ace from Aoba City West actually caught the close-range fast attack with one hand in an almost fish-like leap from the back row.

"What?!" Hinata landed, his face full of disbelief.

"It's not over yet!!" Iwazumi roared, veins bulging on his neck.

The ball flies towards the net.

Oikawa Tetsu gritted his teeth as he forcibly adjusted his posture in mid-air.

"Kunimi!"

It's the right wing again.

This time, Kunihiro didn't maintain his energy-efficient running pace. It was as if he had suddenly broken some kind of seal, and his speed was astonishing.

Karasuno's defenses were disrupted by the quick attack, leaving their right flank completely exposed.

As Lu Ren watched the volleyball fly towards him, alarm bells rang in his mind.

He was in that position.

He was the only one in that position.

He had to catch it.

Lu Ren forced his body to twist, trying to reach the ball. But his steps were already erratic, and he was as awkward as a broken puppet.

"Get up!"

The volleyball hit his forearm.

However, because of the awkward posture, the ball did not fly towards the setter's position, but instead flew directly out of bounds.

"Oh no." Lu Ren felt a chill in his heart.

The ball flew too far and went straight over the sideline.

"Don't give up!!"

A dark shadow swept past him.

Sawamura Daichi.

Karasuno's captain flew out like a torpedo, skimming the floor. His fingertips stretched out desperately, trying to reach the volleyball that was about to hit the ground.

One centimeter.

It was only one centimeter off.

"Smack."

The volleyball lands.

The earth's palm slammed heavily onto the floor, making a dull thud.

The referee blew his whistle and gestured towards the west of Aoba City.

22: 24.

"Huff... huff..."

Lu Ren braced himself on his knees, feeling as if the air in his lungs was on fire. Sweat dripped from his chin onto the floor, quickly forming a small puddle.

"They're still not dead..." He looked up at the Qingye Chengxi team members on the other side of the net, who were also panting heavily, but whose eyes were still fierce.

They're so resilient.

These guys are incredibly resilient, like monsters with the "unyielding" attribute. Even when their health bars are empty and they're just one hit away from falling, they manage to get back up again and again, saving the ball from certain death time and time again.

"Lu Ren, are you alright?" Sawamura Daichi got up from the ground and patted him on the back.

"It's nothing." Lu Ren straightened up and shook his head vigorously to shake off the dizziness.

He glanced at the scoreboard.

The gap remains at two points.

It's still match point.

But that thing called "momentum" seems to be quietly changing.

"Captain," Lu Ren suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse as if he had swallowed a handful of sand.

"Um?"

"For the next ball, as long as it hasn't hit the ground, I absolutely won't stop." Lu Ren's eyes revealed an unprecedented ruthlessness, the killing intent that players unleash after being repeatedly tormented by the BOSS. "Whether I catch it with my face or kick it with my foot, I'm going to take that damn point."

Even if it means running until my legs break.

He stared intently at Oikawa Tetsu, who was preparing to serve, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

"Come on, the second phase, is it? I'll play along to the end."