Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

The scoreboard flips through the pages, displaying "12" in white on a red background and "10" in yellow on a black background side by side.

The lights from the stadium's dome shone on the wooden floor, reflecting dazzling bright spots.

Mo Ran stood at the net, his chest heaving two beats faster than usual. Sweat dripped down his dark blonde hair, staining the edge of his sneakers. He didn't look up at Lu Ren; his gaze was fixed on his outstretched palm.

"We were outmaneuvered," Moyan said in a flat tone.

Kuroo Tetsurou stepped forward, covered the grinding head with a towel, and gave it a couple of haphazard rubs: "Don't make that face, Brain. That Number 13 on the other side is just an unreasonable hacker. It's normal to get hacked into the system by him once in a while. Our Sound Horse's firewall isn't that easy to disable."

Grin pulled off the towel and looked up at Karasuno's half of the court, which was across the net.

Lu Renzheng and Sugawara high-fived. This multi-core driven style of play transformed volleyball, a turn-based game, into a chaotic free-for-all.

The whistle blows, and Soundhorse serves.

Yamamoto Takeo stood outside the baseline, dribbled the ball twice, tossed it up, and took a running start. He didn't shout or yell; he maximized his jump height and arm swing speed.

The volleyball, spinning intensely, hurtled towards Karasuno's backcourt.

"Nishiya!" Daichi Sawamura shouted.

Nishitani Yu stepped forward, arms together. The volleyball struck her forearm with a dull thud. The ball went half a meter off course.

"Sorry, it's too short!"

Kageyama Tobio was already in position. Without pausing for a moment, he passed the ball behind his back to the right wing.

Dong Fengxu jumped from the three-meter line, facing the double block of Hisense and Fuyong Zhaoping, and swung his arm to spike the ball.

The volleyball pierced through the gap in the blocker's net and headed straight for the corner of the backcourt.

Yoruichiro was already waiting there. He lowered his center of gravity, his body pressed against the floor, his arms firmly supporting him.

The ball bounced high, its trajectory perfect.

"Good catch!" Kuroo shouted, stepping back from the net to prepare for a fast attack.

Lu Ren narrowed his eyes. This was the most disgusting thing about the Yinju team. No matter how flashy your combo was to break through their defense, as long as the ball didn't hit the ground, they could always rely on that sticky resilience to bring their health back up.

Grin ran to the ball, glancing at Karasuno's blocking formation out of the corner of his eye. Tsukishima Hotaru stared at Kuroo, while Rikujin stared at Fukunaga.

The grinding fingers touch the ball.

It wasn't passed on to Kuroo, nor to Fukunaga.

The ball was easily pushed to the left wing.

Liev Gray Feather had already finished his run-up sometime during the night. This first-year student of Russian descent had long arms and legs, and while his jumping posture was crude and lacked any grace, his height was astonishing.

"Lev! Take him off!" Yoru shouted from the back row.

Lev faced Sugawara Koji's solo block, not even seeing the exact location of the ball, relying entirely on his beast-like instincts, and swung his long arm.

Snapped.

The volleyball hit Karasuno's three-meter line at an extremely bizarre angle and bounced out of bounds.

12: 11.

Lev landed, staggering a couple of steps before regaining his balance. He excitedly raised his hands and shouted at Yoru, "Yoru-senpai! Did you see that?! My spike was super cool, wasn't it!"

Ye Jiu kicked Lev in the shin without any mercy: "Cool my ass! Were you blind just now?! If you miss that spike, you're going to run fifty laps around the gym!"

Lev hopped around on one leg, clutching his leg, muttering, "But we scored..."

Lu Ren watched this scene from the other side of the net and rubbed his temples.

This game is getting harder and harder. Grinding is a computationally skilled AI, Soundhorse's defense is a server with a very high fault tolerance, and now there's another piece of gibberish that doesn't follow the code at all—Gray Feather Lev.

Hyuga Shoyo stood on the sidelines, gripping the railing with both hands, his eyes fixed on Lev. The height of Lev's jump had completely ignited the fighting spirit within him.

"Coach!" Hinata turned to Ukai Koshin, "Let me play!"

Ukai Keishin watched the situation on the court. Nekoma stabilized his position through Lev's powerful attacks. Sugawara's height disadvantage at the net was magnified.

"Change players." Wu Yang held up the sign.

Hyuga replaced Sugawara and returned to the field. Karasuno's "Chimera System" was put away, and the game returned to the sharpest battle of spear and shield.

Lev's green eyes lit up when he saw Hinata come to the court. He walked to the net, looking down at Hinata: "Little guy, that ball you just hit really high. But the airspace in front of the net is mine."

Hinata raised her head defiantly: "Volleyball isn't just about height! I'll fly over your head!"

"Then let's give it a try!" Lev grinned.

Lu Ren walked over to Hinata and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't let him lead you astray. This guy is a stat monster; his agility and strength are maxed out, but his intelligence is practically zero. You'll need to use your brain to fight him."

Lev, on the other side of the net, heard it all clearly: "Hey! Number 13! Who are you calling to have zero intelligence?!"

Black Tail stifled a laugh and patted Lev on the back: "Ignore him, Lev, use your instincts to crush them."

Karasuno serves.

Tadashi Yamaguchi stands outside the baseline. This is his serve.

Whistle blows, ball is tossed, run-up begins, ball is struck.

Jump float ball.

The volleyball wobbled strangely in mid-air, flew over the net, and headed straight for Lev's face.

Lev frantically tried to catch the ball. His catching skills had always been disastrous.

"Step back!" Yoru darted out from the side, forcefully pushing aside Lev, and with a flick of his arms, steadily sent the ball to the setter position.

"Well done, Yoru!" Hisense shouted.

Grind the ball to receive it. Hyuga and Kageyama start simultaneously, preparing to block.

With a quick glance, he passed the ball to Lev.

Lev took long strides and jumped.

Hinata followed suit and jumped at the net. The two clashed head-on in mid-air.

Lev's arm lashed out like a whip. Hyuga's hands stretched upwards desperately.

The ball struck Hyuga's fingertips, changed direction, and flew towards Karasuno's backcourt.

Yuu Nishitani dives to save the ball and props it up.

"Kageyama!"

Kageyama was in position, and Hinata landed without pausing, turned around, and cut diagonally into the center of the court.

As soon as Lev landed, he saw Hyuga's movement and instinctively followed.

"Too slow!" Hinata shouted.

Kageyama's pass stopped precisely in the trajectory of Hyuga's swinging arm.

boom!

The volleyball hit the court of Otoko.

13: 11.

Hyuga landed and waved his fist at Lev: "See! I'm faster than you!"

Lev gritted his teeth, flames blazing in his green eyes: "Next time, I'll definitely stop you!"

In the stands.

Qingze Yazhi clapped her hands repeatedly as she watched: "That blondie and that tall guy are at odds! Why isn't Lu Ren joining in the fun?"

Lu Jianguo, holding a video camera, focused the lens on Lu Ren: "My son's up to no good. Didn't you see him constantly observing that tall guy's position?"

on the field.

Lu Ren was indeed observing.

Lev's physical abilities are terrifying; his jumping, arm swing, and reaction speed all surpass common sense. Hyuga's high ball score just now acted as a key, unlocking some kind of switch within Lev.

The sleeping lion was thoroughly enraged by the crow's provocation.

Soundhorse's attack round.

The ball was tossed high into the air. Lev started from three meters out, took a three-step run-up, and soared into the air.

Hotaru Tsukishima and Daichi Sawamura form a double net.

Lev twisted his waist forcefully in mid-air, avoiding Tsukishima's blocker, and delivered a super long spike straight to the corner.

The ball slammed heavily inside the line.

13: 12.

Lev looked up at the sky and roared.

"Well done, Lev!" Yamamoto Takashi rushed over and bumped chests with him.

Nekoma's momentum surged. The oppressive feeling brought about by this pure physical talent caused Karasuno's defenses to hesitate briefly.

Lu Ren walked to Ying Shan's side and whispered a few words. Ying Shan nodded.

Next round.

Karasuno's pass was halfway through. Kageyama then made a back pass.

Hinata jumped on the right wing, drawing a double block from Lev and Hisense.

But the ball wasn't passed to Hinata.

Lu Ren jumped from the back row, stepping on the three-meter line.

Mo Dan stared intently at Lu Ren at the net. Lu Ren's smashes had many different routes, making them very difficult to predict.

Lu Ren glanced at Lev's position from the air. To defend against Hyuga, Lev had shifted his weight completely to the right, leaving a huge gap on his left.

Lu Ren flicked his wrist, not putting in a powerful smash, but instead hitting a very light drop shot.

The ball cleared the block and floated lightly into the open space behind Lev.

Yoruichiro desperately chased back, but the distance was too far, and he could only watch helplessly as the ball landed.

14: 12.

Lu Ren landed and shrugged at Lev: "The gap is too big, big guy."

Lev stamped his foot in anger: "Yaku-senpai! That number 13 is too cunning!"

Ye Jiu glared at him, annoyed. "It's all because you're running around randomly! When you're on defense, pay attention to the ball's trajectory!"

The match entered a heated and stalemate.

With Lev's powerful firepower and Yoru's incredible defense, Otoko managed to keep the score close.

Karasuno maintained a slight lead thanks to Hyuga's speed, Rikuin's calculations, and Kageyama's precise control.

15: 14.

16: 15.

18: 17.

The numbers on the scoreboard rose alternately. Each point scored was accompanied by a tremendous physical exertion.

Oikawa Toru stood in the stands with his arms crossed, watching the situation on the field.

"Otokoma's ability to maintain control is truly terrifying," Oikawa Tetsu commented. "Karasano's multi-core style of play was originally intended to disrupt the opponent's defensive rhythm. But Otokoma has managed to slow down the pace with his ground defense. Now it's turned into a war of attrition, a close-quarters battle."

Iwaizumi nodded in agreement: "That first-year student named Lev is growing at an astonishing rate. He's constantly absorbing Karasuno's style of play in matches. Hyuga's high shots have triggered his instincts, and now his dominance at the net is getting stronger and stronger."

On the field.

Hinata was panting heavily. He had jumped more than ten times in a row, each time giving it his all.

Lev's jersey was soaked with sweat, but his eyes remained fervent.

"Again!" Lev shouted at the grinder.

Moyan glanced at Lev, then at Lu Ren across from him.

The rubbing fingers gently flicked the volleyball.

The ball was passed to Kuroo.

Kuroo used a timing trick at the net to deceive Tsukishima's block and scored with a spike.

18: 18.

draw.

The stadium erupted in deafening cheers at the halfway point.

Karasuno was forced to request a suspension.

The players returned to the rest area. Everyone was drinking water and wiping away sweat.

Wu Yangxi held the tactical board, his brows furrowed in worry.

"Nonekoma's resilience is stronger than expected. Lev has now become their weapon to break the deadlock. Hinata, you must be under a lot of pressure at the net, right?"

Hinata gulped down a mouthful of water and shook his head vigorously: "No! I can still jump! I have to stop him!"

Lu Ren leaned back in his chair, covered his face with a towel, leaving only his eyes visible.

"Coach, Lev is indeed a stat monster, but he has a fatal weakness." Lu Ren's voice came from under the towel, revealing a lazy, playful air.

Everyone looked at him.

"He relies too much on instinct." Lu Ren pulled off the towel and sat up straight. "Instinct is useful, but it's easy to be fooled. Right now, all he can think about is how to suppress Hinata at the net. As soon as Hinata jumps, he jumps after her."

Kageyama Tobio understood Riku Ren's meaning: "Bait."

"That's right." Lu Ren snapped his fingers. "Max out Hyuga's decoy ability. As long as Lev is tricked into jumping, there will be a gap in Otoko's defense. No matter how well Yoruichiro can catch the traps, he can't possibly cover every blind spot."

Ukai Shishin nodded in agreement: "Okay, the next tactic will revolve around Hyuga's movement. Increase cross screens and move Lev away from the net."

The whistle blows, the timeout ends.

Both sides returned to the field.

The air was filled with the burnt smell of sweat and the friction of the floor.

Lu Ren stood in the back row, looking at Mo Yan and Lev across from him.

This game has entered the most hardcore tower defense dismantling phase.

Otoko serves.

Fukunaga Shohei's jump float serve went towards the right rear corner.

The land of Sawamura was steadily taken up.

"An opportunity ball!"

Shadow Mountain is in place.

Hyuga cut in at high speed from the left, striding straight towards the net.

Lev's gaze was completely drawn to Hinata, and he followed Hinata's steps, then jumped.

The two faced off again in the air.

Lev raised his arm high, ready to block Hyuga's spike route.

Just then, Kageyama's wrist twitched.

The ball was not passed to Hyuga.

The volleyball transformed into an orange shooting star, flying towards the right wing.

Ryunosuke Tanaka had been waiting there for a long time. He stepped on the three-meter line and leaped high into the air.

Lev realized he had been tricked in mid-air and tried to turn around, but it was too late.

Due to Lev's absence, a huge gap appeared in the defense of the sound horse.

Tanaka faced the empty net, swung his arm in a wide arc, and unleashed a powerful shot.

boom!

The volleyball hit the floor with a deafening thud.

19: 18.

Karasuno took the lead again.

After landing, Tanaka roared at the top of his lungs and pounded his chest.

Lev bit his lip and punched his thigh in frustration.

Ye Jiu walked over and patted Lev on the back: "Don't worry about it. If you get tricked, just defend back next time. The setter on the other side is a monster. You need to learn to play with your brain."

Lev took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.

Moyan looked at Lu Ren with a more scrutinizing gaze.

Lu Ren returned a defiant look.

The rhythm of the game was fragmented. Every point required extremely complex tactical maneuvering.

Otoko managed to keep the health bar up thanks to his defense and Lev's strong attacks.

Karasuno applied constant pressure by launching attacks from multiple points and using Rikuren's tactics to dismantle the enemy's defenses.

20: 19.

21: 20.

22: 21.

The score was neck and neck.

The air inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium was scorching hot. The spectators in the stands even held their breath.

It was another long and drawn-out tug-of-war.

The ball flew back and forth between the two sides of the net seven times.

Dongfeng Xu's powerful spike was caught by Ye Jiu.

Lev's powerful attack was blocked by Tsukishima.

Kuroo's dangling ball was rescued by Nishinoya.

Everyone's physical strength is nearing its limit.

Lu Ren was panting heavily in the back row. His brain was working frantically, calculating the physical exertion and positioning habits of each player on the Sound Horse team.

"Grinding has covered more distance than in the last set," Lu Ren thought to himself. "Lev's jump height has dropped by five centimeters. Yoru's defensive focus is shifting to the left."

The data coalesced into a clear network in Lu Ren's mind.

"Kageyama!" Lu Ren shouted.

Kageyama passed the ball to the back row.

Lu Ren jumped from the back row.

Yinkoma's three-man block quickly took shape. The three players were Kuroo, Lev, and Hisense.

Three mountains blocked Lu Ren's way.

Lu Ren exerted force from his waist in mid-air, causing his body to freeze in mid-air for a fraction of a second.

It's just a difference of a fraction of a second.

Lev and Hisense's bodies began to fall, creating a gap between the blocking hands.

Lu Ren's arm lashed out like a whip.

The volleyball pierced the gap precisely and struck Nekoma's backcourt.

Yoruichiro dove to make a save, his fingertips touching the volleyball, but the ball's momentum was too great, and it bounced out of bounds.

23: 21.

Karasuno took a crucial two-point lead.

Lu Ren landed, his legs buckled, and he knelt on one knee. He reached out to support himself on the floor, panting heavily.

This kind of high-intensity micro-management is too energy-consuming.

Moyan stood on the other side of the net, his hands supporting his knees, sweat dripping down his face.

"Troublesome guy," Grinding said in a low voice.

Lu Ren looked up and grinned, "Likewise."

There are still two points left to go before the end of the second game.

Neither the cat of Otoko nor the crow of Karasuno were willing to back down an inch.

The whistle blew again.

The meat grinder of the final battle continues to operate.