Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

Ryunosuke Tanaka stood behind the service line, twirling a volleyball in his hand. The expression on his face was less one of focus and more of the excitement of preparing to play a prank.

"Take this—!"

With a powerful roar, Tanaka swung his arm and hit the ball. The ball didn't have any tricky spin; it was purely aimed at him. It was fast and carried a "don't underestimate a bald guy" kind of energy.

Kadokawa's libero, Furumaki, took a step to the side. His movement was still not standard, even a bit awkward, but he still managed to baffle the ball with his forearm.

The ball flew very high, with a somewhat unpredictable arc.

"Baize!"

Kadokawa's setter didn't even look at the others. On their tactical board, there was only one instruction: pass the ball to that two-meter-tall guy.

The volleyball flew through the air above the stadium and fell toward that huge figure.

Bai Zexiong tilted his head back. The ceiling light was a bit dazzling, and sweat streamed down his brow bone into his eyes, causing a stinging pain. His lungs felt like they were on fire, and every breath tasted metallic.

He knows who he is.

A complete novice who had only been playing volleyball for a few months, a beginner with nothing to offer except his height. Compared to these agile and technically skilled opponents, he was like a slow-moving puppet. The way that number 13 (Lu Ren) looked at him was like looking at a monster that was tough but had stupid mechanics.

That look in his eyes really annoyed him.

—I know I don't understand anything.

Bai Ze took a clumsy run-up, his steps heavy as if he were dragging lead weights.

—I know everyone is desperately trying to save the ball, just so I can spike it.

He jumped. Although his movements were still stiff, and he lacked that light, airy feeling, he still managed to send his massive body into the air.

On the other side of the net, Karasuno's blocking net was already in place.

Kageyama Tobio, Tsukishima Hotaru, and Tanaka who came to reinforce them. The three of them, with six arms, formed an impenetrable wall, blocking all his attack routes.

"Too high..."

Some of the spectators on the sidelines gasped in surprise.

Even when facing a three-man block, Baize's hitting point was still frighteningly high. Looking at the outstretched arms in front of him, he had no complicated tactical plans in his mind, only a most primal thought.

—I want to score.

I want to win. I want my teammates, who have entrusted the ball to me, to stay on this field a little longer.

"Drink it all!!"

Bai Ze let out a roar like a wild beast, swung his arm in a wide arc, and slammed it down without any regard for reason.

They did not dodge the net, nor did they look for an opening.

The volleyball slammed into Tsukishima Hotaru's fingertips, the immense force dislodging her blocking hand. The ball bounced off course and landed heavily within the three-meter line of the Karasuno court with a dull thud.

The whistle blew.

Kadokawa 11:16 Karasuno.

Upon landing, Bai Ze staggered before regaining his balance. He clenched his fists, tilted his head back, and let out a long howl. The sound lacked any technical beauty; it was purely a cathartic release.

"Well done, Hyakutsawa!!" The Kadokawa team members rushed over and patted him on the back.

Lu Ren stood in the back row, tilting his head to watch this scene.

"Tsk." He clicked his tongue lightly, his eyes showing little emotion but rather a hint of amusement. "Although it's a monster that only knows basic attacks, if you max out its attack power, its basic attacks can kill people."

That obsession with winning can sometimes help to slightly improve a poor shooting percentage.

The game continues.

Kadokawa's morale soared, and their middle blocker served the ball. The serve was standard, heading straight for Karasuno's back row.

"I'll do it!"

Nishitani Yuu's figure flashed by. This guardian of Karasuno didn't even need to make a big movement; he simply bent his knees slightly, nudged the ball with both hands, and it obediently flew towards the net.

Kageyama Tokio arrived.

"Asahi-senpai!"

Kageyama made a back pass, sending the ball to the right wing.

Dong Fengxu took a running start and jumped. This ace, with his beard and rugged appearance but delicate heart, had only his eyes on the opponent's court at this moment.

However, Kadokawa's net arrived.

Although the two-meter giant was slow, his mere presence at the net was a tremendous deterrent. Higashimine Asahi's spike struck Hyakusawa's arm and bounced back onto Karasuno's court.

"Make amends!" Daichi Sawamura shouted.

The ball landed in an awkward spot, about to hit the ground.

Just then, a figure slid across the floor.

It was Tanaka. He braced himself with one hand on the ground and used the other to scoop the ball up.

"Nice Tanaka!"

The ball flew very high, but its position wasn't good; it was a bit far from the net.

These kinds of chaotic plays are the ultimate test of a setter's skills.

Tobio Kageyama rushed to the bottom of the ball. He didn't look at the attacker, maintaining amazing balance as he moved.

In situations like this, the setter will usually set up an attack for the ace. Kadokawa's blocker made the same judgment, shifting their focus towards Higashimine Asahi.

But Kageyama is no ordinary setter.

In the corner of his eye, an orange lightning bolt had already cut in.

"Hinata!"

At the moment of contact with the ball, Kageyama subtly flicked his wrist. Instead of soaring into the sky, the ball transformed into a straight beam of light, piercing the very center of the net.

There, Hinata Shoyo had just jumped.

fast.

It's ridiculously fast.

Just as Bai Zexiong landed and turned around, before he could even raise his arm, the ball had already slammed onto the floor at his feet.

Boom!

The sound was so crisp it was startling.

Kadokawa 11:17 Karasuno.

"Good shot—!!" Hinata excitedly waved his fist after landing and high-fived Kageyama.

This "speed," which completely transcends the concept of "height," instantly extinguished half of the momentum that Kadokawa had just begun to build.

"Is this what they call the 'version answer'?" Lu Ren muttered to himself in the back row. "Although physical cheats are very strong, high-agility assassins are specifically designed to counter heavily armored warriors. That's common knowledge in the game."

The cycle repeats.

Hotaru Tsukishima stepped up to serve.

This bespectacled man, who usually lacked motivation, pushed up his glasses and looked as calm as if he were dissecting a frog.

Serve.

The ball travels a very flat path and drops rapidly after crossing the net.

Kadokawa's first pass was a bit clumsy, and the ball flew directly towards the net.

"Baize!"

The setter had no choice but to raise the ball high again.

As long as the ball is high, Hyakusawa has an advantage. This is Kadokawa's only creed.

Bai Zexiong jumped again.

Sweat poured down his body like rain. He gritted his teeth, his arm muscles tense.

But on Karasuno's side, Nishitani Yu was already on high alert.

"Bang!"

Hyakuzawa's spike was easily caught by Nishitani Yu. This time, Nishitani didn't even take a step back, sending the ball directly to Kageyama's head.

An opportunity to retaliate.

At that very moment, Karasuno's sophisticated machine roared to life once more.

Hinata in the front row started running laterally, Tanaka on the left wing roared and sprinted, and Higashimine Asahi in the back row also started his run-up.

Even Daichi Sawamura, who wasn't in an offensive position, made a screening move.

Four people, four points of attack.

Start simultaneously.

This is what we call "all-out attack".

Kadokawa's blocking fell apart instantly. The three ordinary players had no idea who to mark, while Yudai Hyakusawa looked like a bewildered giant, turning his neck in confusion.

Kageyama Tokio jumped.

His gaze fell on Tanaka on the left flank, and his body turned in that direction as well. Kadokawa's net instinctively moved accordingly.

They succeeded in fooling him.

Kageyama's posture in the air was relaxed, but his fingers pushed in the opposite direction.

Pass it on from behind!

The volleyball flew towards the back row on the right wing.

There, Dong Fengxu had already drawn his bowstring taut, like an unstoppable chariot.

Ahead lay a smooth road. There were no barriers, no interference.

"boom!"

Higashi Mineaki's powerful spike slammed into Kadokawa's baseline like a cannonball, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Kadokawa 11:18 Karasuno.

The dazzling tactical coordination and the precise, clockwork-like execution left Kadokawa's players feeling utterly powerless. This wasn't just a difference in points; it was a complete annihilation.

The whistle blows, time to change players.

After west Gu Xi left the stage, Lu Ren, holding his number plate, slowly walked onto the stage.

As he passed by Nishiya, the two bumped fists in unison.

"It's up to you now, Riku." Nishitani grinned.

"Don't worry, the BOSS's low-health phase is perfect for farming some stats." Lu Ren shrugged and moved to the back row.

Hotaru Tsukishima continues serving.

This time, Kadokawa's first pass was a little more stable.

The ball flew towards Baize again.

How many times has this happened already? All eyes were on the giant.

Bai Zexiong took a deep breath, his thigh muscles trembling violently. The exhaustion came not only from his body, but also from the immense mental pressure. Each jump felt like a struggle against gravity.

He jumped up.

But anyone who knows even a little about volleyball can see that the height has dropped.

Previously, he could spike the ball over his hand after jumping. But now, his hitting point has dropped by at least ten centimeters.

For a style of play that relies on height, those ten centimeters can be fatal.

Lu Ren stood in the back row defensive position, his eyes slightly narrowed.

In his view, Bai Ze's movements were broken down into individual frames. A lower jump height meant a flatter spiking angle; a slower arm swing meant a slower ball speed; and that eagerness to score...

"Too easy to guess."

Lu Ren moved his feet slightly, arriving at that position half a second ahead of schedule.

Bai Ze spiked the ball.

His all-out attack.

However, there was no loud thud as expected.

Lu Ren didn't even leap; he simply lowered his center of gravity, bringing his arms together as if he were catching a regular practice ball.

"Smack."

The volleyball hit his forearm, but most of the force was absorbed, and it bounced up lightly.

"This BOSS is out of mana." Lu Ren muttered to himself, but his feet didn't stop. He quickly made way for the attack.

"Nice catch!"

Kageyama Tokio arrived.

This time, he didn't use any fancy feints.

Because it is not needed.

Higashimine Asahi had already rushed to the net. Facing the Kadokawa defense, which was exhausted and slow to block, this ace player showed absolute dominance.

Jump up and swing your arms.

Violent aesthetics.

The volleyball slipped through the gap in Bai Ze's sluggish arm and slammed heavily onto the floor.

Kadokawa 11:19 Karasuno.

After landing heavily, Bai Zexiong braced himself on his knees, panting heavily. Sweat dripped onto the floor, spreading out in dark circles. Looking at the relaxed No. 13 on the other side of the net, an indescribable sense of powerlessness welled up inside him.

That feeling was like the despair of struggling but being unable to touch the other person's clothes.

Lu Ren clapped his hands, looked at the scoreboard, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Alright, health bar almost empty, time to go into kill range."