Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

The oxygen in the gymnasium was rapidly depleted by the high-intensity back-and-forth running.

The numbers on the scoreboard flipped through the pages with a monotonous "click." 19:19.

Sweat dripped from Lu Ren's chin, splashing onto the floor. He raised his hand to wipe his forehead; his lungs felt like they were being pumped by a broken bellows, each breath hot and scorching.

The length of this protracted battle exceeded everyone's pre-match calculations. Karasuno and Aoba Johsai had exhausted their substitutions, and both tactical timeouts had been used. Without coaching intervention or any breathing room, all that remained was pure physical combat and a battle of nerves.

The referee's whistle pierced through the noise of the stadium.

The serve returned to the west side of Aoba Castle. Oikawa Tetsu, holding the volleyball, slowly walked to the baseline.

Lu Ren bent down, placing his hands on his knees, his gaze passing through the net. And just at this crucial moment, it was his turn to serve.

Oikawa Tetsu spun the ball twice in his hand, then glanced up at Karasuno's half of the field. His expression was blank, devoid of his usual frivolity. He took a few steps back, extending his running start.

Throwing the ball. The height is astonishing.

Oikawa Toru accelerated with his running start, his final step landing heavily on the floor, propelling him into the air. His body arched like a recurve bow in mid-air, the trajectory of his arm swings creating a sharp whistling sound.

The palm strikes the volleyball.

"Bang!"

The sound was muffled and explosive. The volleyball became a white blur, flying past the white edge of the net and hitting the inside of Karasuno's backcourt sideline.

Within the boundaries. Score.

Lu Ren didn't even have time to move his feet. He glanced at the ball mark on the floor, his brows furrowing.

20:19. Aoba Josai takes the lead.

Lu Ren stood there, his mind rapidly recalling Oikawa Tetsu's previous data panel. Something was wrong. The initial velocity and the kinetic energy of the ball's downward trajectory were at least fifteen percent greater than in their previous encounter.

Is this guy's body still developing? Or did the high-pressure environment remove his muscle limiters?

"Sorry." Daichi Sawamura clapped his hands, drawing the team's attention back. "Get back to the next ball."

Oikawa Tetsu stepped up to serve again.

In the back row of Karasuno, Sawamura Daichi, Riku Jin, and Nishitani Yu stood in a row. This was the highest defensive configuration Karasuno could currently offer.

The whistle blew. Oikawa Toru jumped again.

The same powerful jump serve, the same oppressive force. The volleyball, with intense spin, hurtles towards the gap in the center of the court.

"I'll go!" Nishitani Yu shouted, his feet clasped together, and he glided out at an extremely low angle. His arms were tightly clasped together, forcefully cutting into the trajectory of the volleyball as it fell.

The ball struck Nishiya's wrist with a dull thud that made your teeth ache. The force propelled Nishiya's body backward by half a meter, but the volleyball bounced high and flew steadily toward the net.

"Well done!" Kageyama Tobio was already in position, quickly adjusting his footing and raising his hands above his head.

Aoba Castle's western defenses were instantly activated. Iwaizumi Ichiro tightly blocked Hyuga Shoyo's running route, while Matsukawa Ichishige and Kindaichi Yutaro formed a double high wall, covering Tsukishima Hotaru's attack angle.

The front row's attacking routes were completely blocked. Oikawa Tetsu's tactical intention was clear: to disrupt the first pass with his serve, force Karasuno to launch an adjustment attack, and then finish the attack at the net.

Kageyama Tobio's fingers touched the volleyball. His peripheral vision swept over the impenetrable defense in the front row. Instead of pressing down with his wrist, he flipped his hand and flicked his fingers backward.

The ball flew over Kageyama's head, tracing a gentle arc, and flew behind the three-meter line.

Lu Ren had already started his run-up. The moment west Gu received the ball, he had already retreated to the optimal running-up position.

Take off. Take off.

Lu Ren's gaze swept over the net, revealing a clear view of Aoba Johsai's backcourt. Instead of unleashing a powerful spike, he tucked his wrist inward, striking the volleyball at its highest point below and to the side.

The volleyball, with a strong topspin, flew past Matsukawa Kazushige's fingertips, plummeted, and landed in the open space of the west half of Aoba Castle's court.

20:20. Draw.

"Well done!" Daichi Sawamura ran over and patted Riku Ren hard on the back.

Lu Ren shook his numb hands and let out a long breath. This kind of high-risk, high-reward coordination had an absurdly low margin for error, but fortunately, Kageyama's passing accuracy remained top-notch.

Karasuno's turn. Nishitani Yuu's turn.

On the sidelines, Koji Sugawara, holding his number, quickly ran onto the field.

The Karasuno Sanji two-pass formation has been implemented.

Lu Ren and Sugawara Koji gave each other a high five as they passed each other. Sugawara didn't say anything, but just made a "go for it" gesture.

Lu Ren walked to the service area and took the volleyball from the ball boy.

He stood outside the baseline, his fingers lightly tracing the texture of the volleyball. Looking at Oikawa Tetsu, who was poised and ready at the net, Lu Ren silently whistled.

The wheel of fortune turns, it's my turn to deal.

Lu Ren's gaze swept over the formation in the west of Aoba City. Watari Chikaji lowered his center of gravity, Iwaizumi Ichika guarded the sideline, and Kunimi Hideki stood in the sixth position, slightly behind.

Very good. You're the one I choose, energy-saving enthusiast.

The referee blows the whistle.

Lu Ren tossed the ball high into the air, took a running start, and jumped. His posture in the air was no different from his usual powerful jump serve, but at the moment of impact, his palm did not strike the center of the ball, but instead sliced ​​it down sharply from the right edge of the volleyball.

The power of the arm swing, combined with extreme friction, gives the volleyball an extremely abnormal side spin.

After the volleyball crossed the net, it was heading straight for the baseline. Guo Jianying judged the landing point, moved her feet in advance, and clasped her hands together to prepare to receive the ball.

However, less than a meter from Kunimi Hide, the volleyball's trajectory took a bizarre turn due to aerodynamics. It drew a banana-shaped arc in mid-air, abruptly veering to Kunimi Hide's right.

Kunimi Hide's pupils contracted slightly, and a crack appeared in his previously languid expression.

That insidious bastard is deliberately targeting me and trying to mess with my mentality.

Guo Jianying gritted his teeth, abandoned the standard catching posture, and forcibly stretched his right arm outward, attempting to scoop up the ball with one hand.

The ball slammed into his forearm. A powerful lateral spin exploded instantly, and instead of bouncing upwards, the volleyball flew diagonally along his arm, directly hitting the GG sign on the sidelines.

Out of bounds. Karasuno scores.

21: 20.

"Good shot!" Tanaka Ryunosuke roared at the net, swinging his fist forcefully.

Kunimi Hide rubbed his reddened arm, his face grim. Oikawa Tetsu walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't worry about it, that guy's shots are always dirty. Just defend the next one."

Lu Ren stood outside the service line and received the second ball.

He could clearly see the subtle adjustments made to Aoba Castle's western defensive line. Watari Chikaharu took two steps closer to Kunimi Hideki, and Iwaizumi Ichiya also expanded their defensive coverage. The entire back line of Aoba Castle was on guard against those unpredictable curved balls.

People are easily anchored in their perception by what has just happened.

Lu Ren bounced the ball twice in his hand.

The whistle blows. The ball is tossed.

The run-up, the jump. The movements were exactly the same, even the amplitude of the arm swing was identical.

The three people in the back row of Qingcheng simultaneously lowered their center of gravity, preparing to deal with the change of direction caused by the side spin.

Hit the ball.

Lu Ren's palm slapped the volleyball flat on the back without applying any spin.

Jump float ball.

The volleyball flew straight across the net without any rotation in the air, and then began to vibrate up and down erratically due to the disturbance of the airflow.

"Float ball!" Oikawa Tetsu shouted.

Just as Guo Jianying was about to move, the ball suddenly plummeted in mid-air.

"I'll go!" Watari Chikaharu displayed the top-notch qualities of a libero. He made a diving save, his body almost touching the wooden floor, his arms firmly planted under the volleyball.

The ball was caught, but it wasn't high enough, and it landed off the outside of the three-meter line.

One and a half passes were made.

This is a difficult ball to handle for an average setter. But Oikawa Tetsu is no ordinary setter.

Oikawa Tetsu had already started his run the instant Watari Chikaharu touched the ball. He sprinted towards the landing point and jumped while running.

Without any unnecessary adjustments, Oikawa Tetsu twisted his waist in mid-air and precisely caught the falling volleyball with both hands.

No need to look at anyone, no need for eye contact. With a flick of his wrist, Oikawa Tetsu sent the volleyball flying like a streak of light towards the top of the left-hand marker.

Iwaizumi was already waiting there.

Qingcheng's ace took a stance in the air, his arm muscles bulging.

Karasuno's block was a beat too slow. Just as Tsukishima Hotaru and Tanaka Ryunosuke jumped, Iwaizumi Hajime's spike had already penetrated the defense.

The volleyball slammed heavily onto Karasuno's court.

21: 21.

The scoreboard bounced again.

As soon as Iwaizumi landed, he and Oikawa Toru gave each other a heavy high-five. Without any further celebration, the two quickly turned around and went back to defense.

Lu Ren stood in the backstage area, looking at the pair of partners opposite him whose tacit understanding was outrageous, and let out a long sigh.

This game is getting more and more interesting.

"Stop spacing out, it's our turn to attack," Daichi Sawamura's voice came from the side.

Lu Ren gathered his scattered thoughts and lowered his center of gravity again.

The gears of the race continued to mesh, emitting a screeching sound. No one knew who would make the next mistake, nor where this war of attrition would end.

The volleyball was tossed into the air again.

Lu Ren's gaze was fixed on the spinning sphere, and the data panel in his brain was refreshing wildly.

Physical stamina is depleted, and the tactical repertoire is empty. All that's left is to see who has the tougher backbone.

"Come on," Lu Ren said in a low voice, and rushed towards the flying volleyball.

The stadium lights cast long shadows on the floor. Every jump, every fall, pushed these young people to their limits.

Sugawara Koji moved around the net, his presence making Karasuno's attack routes more complex. Oikawa Toru's eyes darted back and forth between Sugawara and Kageyama, trying to find an opening.

The two teams were like two precision instruments operating at high speed, constantly losing parts in the collisions, yet they remained firmly locked in a stalemate, neither willing to give way first.

This is not just a contest of scores, but a battle of wills. On this 18-meter-long and 9-meter-wide field, all logic and calculation begin to give way to the most primal instinct to win.

Lu Ren felt his heart pounding in his chest and his blood surging through his veins. This exhilarating feeling of teetering on the brink of collapse revitalized his previously exhausted body.

Only high-difficulty dungeons deserve high-intensity gameplay.

He stared at Oikawa Tetsu across from him, adjusting his position with light steps.

The round continues.