Haikyuu!!: The Disaster of Gamers

24:23.

Match point.

Under the dome of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, it was as if all the air had been sucked out. The noise receded like a tide, leaving only the heavy breathing echoing within the stadium.

The service area. Lu Ren held the volleyball and took a deep breath.

The soreness in my thighs traveled straight to my brain, my muscles were protesting, and the red alert in my stamina bar was flashing wildly at the edge of my retina, completely depleted.

A forced jump send is impractical; attempting one will only result in a direct disconnection from the network.

Throw the ball. Take a running start.

Take off.

Swing your arm.

The moment his palm touched the sphere, Lu Ren's heart sank.

It's off-center.

When I exerted force with my wrist, due to extreme fatigue, the muscles twitched uncontrollably. The feeling of powerlessness caused the hitting point to deviate from the originally intended perfect trajectory.

The volleyball traced a weak arc in the air, without the usual whistling sound that tore through the air, and instead slammed straight into the white net.

"Clean the net—!!"

Wu Yangxixin suddenly stood up on the sidelines and shouted in a hoarse voice.

The volleyball struck the net with a short, sharp screech. Time seemed to slow down at that moment, and all eyes in the stadium were fixed on the ball.

Instead of bouncing back to Karasuno's half of the field, it rolled half a circle along the net, like a drunken ghost, and fell straight down towards Ogudai's front field.

At the net, Hirugami Yukiro and Hakuba Mei were already prepared to retreat and deliver a powerful spike, with all their weight on their heels.

This unexpected net ball completely disrupted all defensive logic.

luck.

The most illogical variable in competitive sports.

In the most focused and intense competition, such unexpected mistakes often turn into the most fatal points.

But Outai's journey to the national top eight was never based on luck. Strength is the foundation upon which they survive.

"Save the ball! Don't let it hit the ground!"

Aaron Murphy kicked over a water bottle on the sidelines and yelled.

Shang Lin sprinted out from the back row, pushing himself to the limit. He didn't even consider whether he would crash into the hard goalposts, and flew out horizontally, skimming the wooden floor.

Fish leap!

His arm stretched forward with all his might, and the bones even made a faint cracking sound.

At the very edge of the volleyball, less than two centimeters from the floor, Shang Lin's back of his finger slammed into the ball.

The ball was forcibly lifted up and flew crookedly into the air.

"It's saved!"

Suwa scrambled to his side to cover the ball, stumbling as he crossed his arms and pushed the irregularly spinning ball high to the left wing.

In a hurry.

Outai's once-proud and tightly-knit formation had completely collapsed at this moment.

But the light of the stars and the sea remains.

The short, dominant attacker ignored the formation and how poorly or wildly the pass was delivered. His eyes were only on the ball.

approach.

Without a perfect takeoff distance, he used his terrifying core strength to lift himself into the air, as if he had grown white wings.

In Karasuno's half, Hotaru Tsukishima and Ryunosuke Tanaka quickly closed in, their double block leaping high and pressing down like a wall.

Xinghai gritted his teeth in mid-air, swinging his arm in a wide arc, but a sly glint flashed in his eyes.

It wasn't a smash.

It's a light suspension!

The ball floated lightly over Tsukishima's fingertips and landed in the vacuum of Karasuno's defense.

Nishitani Yu is at the bottom line.

He watched the ball's trajectory; his brain didn't need to give any instructions. The muscle memory formed through thousands of training sessions had already reacted in advance.

Slide forward and lunge.

The volleyball slammed heavily onto Nishiya's forearm and bounced back up steadily.

"The pass is perfect—!!"

Xigu rolled on the ground, then suddenly stood up and roared loudly to the sky.

The ball flew high towards the front of the net.

Kageyama Tobio stood at the landing point.

He wasn't looking at the ball, nor at the opposing team's block. He kept his head slightly lowered.

The spotlights in the stadium shone on him, casting short, sharp shadows on the wooden floor.

Everyone around was running frantically. Hinata was running, Tanaka was running, and Riku was running. The sharp sound of shoes scraping against the floor echoed all around.

But Kageyama stood firm.

His breathing was steady. Sweat dripped from his chin and splattered on the floor.

An indescribable sense of control surged from my feet straight to my brain.

At this moment, the true "King" was born.

He's not the dictatorial tyrant from junior high who forced others to cooperate with him. Instead, he's an absolute ruler who truly understands every attacker on the court and can make passing the ball as effortless as breathing.

The volleyball is falling.

Kageyama raised his head.

Raise both hands. Touch the ball.

There are no unnecessary movements, no fancy feints. It's just the most basic and unpretentious ball control.

But the instant his fingertips touched the ball, Kageyama's mind flashed through Lu Ren's current state:

Leg muscle strain reduces take-off height, and the tendency to exert force on the right side requires a fraction of a second more for hang time.

All the data was processed within 0.1 seconds.

With both hands, give a gentle push.

Lu Ren jumped from the right wing.

I'm so tired. My vision is blurry, and the roaring sound almost drowns out the whistle.

But he still jumped.

Because the ball is coming.

The trajectory of this ball is so unpredictable, so gentle.

It wasn't that fast, nor that high. It landed smoothly and steadily, like a feather, at Lu Ren's most comfortable hitting point.

Stagnant.

It was as if the ball had a life of its own, and deliberately stopped in mid-air to wait for him.

Time difference. Altitude. Rotation.

Everything was just perfect.

Lu Ren's eyes widened in mid-air. This pass was more perfect than any before. Kageyama had taken another giant leap forward in that monstrous passing technique.

The barrier net for Outai has arrived.

Hakuba Mei and Hirugami Yukirou. Two insurmountable mountains, blocking all view.

But Lu Ren did not dodge.

With this perfect pass, he poured the last bit of strength, all his unwillingness and ambition into his right arm.

Swing your arm.

The palm slammed hard into the center of the volleyball.

boom--! ! !

A deafening roar.

The volleyball transformed into a blur too fast for the naked eye to follow, carrying a violent kinetic energy as it forcefully pierced through the gap between the arms of the Sun God and the White Horse.

The force was too great. The Day God's arm was actually jolted backward, and his finger bones went numb.

The volleyball slammed into the three-meter line of Oudai's half of the court.

A blind spot. An undeniable blind spot.

The referee's whistle blew sharply.

The referee stretched out his arm and pointed firmly to Karasuno's half.

Score.

25:23.

The score is 2-1.

The match is over.

Lu Ren landed.

His legs could no longer support his heavy body, and he knelt on one knee on the floor.

Sweat splattered on the ground, shattering into pieces. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving, and looked up at the player on the other side of the net.

Hoshino stood there blankly, staring at the volleyball on the ground that was still rolling slightly.

Hirugami Yukirou closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

Aaron Murphy stood on the sidelines, silently putting down his tactical board.

Won.

Lu Ren stood up, supporting himself on his knees.

Karasuno's half of the court had completely erupted into chaos. Ryunosuke Tanaka lay sprawled on the ground, tears mixed with sweat streaming down his face.

Hinata Shoyo rested his hands on his knees, tilted his head back, and burst into laughter, looking like a fool.

Nishitani Yu rushed over like a small cannonball, grabbing Lu Ren's neck tightly and almost knocking him to the ground again.

Sawamura Daichi stepped forward, his eyes slightly red, and patted Kageyama heavily on the shoulder.

Kageyama didn't speak, but simply stared at his hands. The exquisite feel of that pass still lingered in his fingertips.

On the stands, Lu Jianguo took off his coat and pounded the huge drum.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The drumbeats shook the heavens, expressing wild joy.

Wu Yangxi exhaled a long breath of stale air, and slumped into the coach's chair as if he had collapsed, but the corners of his mouth turned up in a crazy smile.

The final whistle blew again.

The players from both sides lined up.

In front of the net.

Hoshino Kōrai stared intently at Hyuga Shōyō, his eyes still as sharp as an eagle's: "Next time, I will win. Absolutely."

Hinata stared directly at him, unyielding: "I'm waiting for you!"

Lu Ren and Houjin Yukirou shook hands.

"You're a very annoying guy, in every sense of the word," the God of Day said with a wry smile.

"Thanks for the compliment, but you're a tough nut to crack." Lu Ren grinned.

Karasuno High School's volleyball team advanced to the national semifinals.

Step by step, they arrived here, stepping over the corpses of powerful enemies and enduring the doubts of countless people.

In the stands, Qingze Yazhi stood up, waved vigorously to the crowd below, and smiled brightly.

Lu Ren looked up and gave her a "V" sign.

The game continues. The next opponent is already waiting before the throne.

Let's replay that winning moment.

Lu Ren's net shot was a major blunder. In competitive sports, such mistakes often destroy a server's mentality and can even lead to a collapse.

But Lu Ren did not.

He watched the ball roll over the net, watched Outai frantically try to save it, but his mind was racing.

Everything was within his calculations.

The moment Nishitani Yu received the ball, Riku Ren began his run. He bypassed the obstacles in front of the net and cut in from the right wing. His steps were heavy, as if filled with lead, but he ran with unwavering determination.

Because he knew that Kageyama would definitely pass the ball to him.

That pass was the pinnacle of Kageyama's volleyball career. It was not only precise but also compassionate. It took care of Lu Ren's tired legs and gave him ample time to adjust in the air. It was like a perfect work of art presented to Lu Ren.

The moment Lu Ren smashed the ball, he felt an unprecedented connection. Physical fatigue was left behind, leaving only the power to be unleashed.

The sound of a volleyball hitting the floor is the most beautiful music in the world.

The locker room after the game.

The atmosphere was so lively it felt like the roof was about to be blown off.

Tanaka and Nishitani took off their shirts and danced an unknown victory dance on the bench.

Hinata clung to Kageyama like a leech, reviewing the game: "Kageyama! How did you do that last pass? It was so cool! Teach me, teach me!"

"Shut up, you idiot. That's intuition, you can't learn it." Kageyama pushed Hinata's face away with a look of disgust.

Sawamura Daichi and Sugawara Koji were chatting while leaning against the cabinet.

"I can't believe it, we've actually made it to the semifinals. It feels like a dream," Sugawara exclaimed, touching the corner of his eye.

"It's not a dream. Everyone has grown so much." Sawamura looked at the boisterous team members with gentle eyes.

Lu Ren sat in the corner.

He untied his shoelaces, freeing his feet from the stuffy sneakers. Two huge blisters had formed on the soles of his feet, and the surrounding skin was red and swollen.

With a blank expression, he took out a needle, heated it over a lighter, and then precisely punctured the blister, squeezing out the tissue fluid inside. His movements were so practiced it was heartbreaking.

"Will your foot still be able to run tomorrow?" Hotaru Tsukishima walked over, handed him a bottle of ice water, and frowned slightly.

"I have to run, even if I can't." Lu Ren took the water, unscrewed it, and took a big gulp. The icy liquid flowed down his throat. "At this point, even if I have to crawl, I have to get on the court. I haven't had enough of the semi-final floor yet."

Tsukishima pushed up his glasses and snorted coldly, "Don't push yourself. If you collapse on the field, the coach will have to pay for an ambulance, and we don't have the money to cover that."

"Don't worry. I'm tough as nails, even the King of Hell won't take me." Lu Ren smiled.

The streets near the hotel at night.

Lu Jianguo made a grand gesture and booked an authentic Japanese barbecue restaurant.

The entire Karasuno team feasted inside. The aroma of meat filled the air, and the charcoal crackled and popped as it burned.

"Hey! That piece of beef tongue is mine! Nishiya, put it down!" Tanaka yelled, holding up the clips.

"First come, first served! Tanaka-senpai is too slow!" Nishiya swallowed the meat in one gulp.

Lu Ren sat in a slightly quieter spot, picked up a piece of sizzling, top-grade Wagyu beef, and popped it into his mouth. The juices burst in his mouth, bringing a surge of satisfaction.

Qingze Yazhi sat next to him, holding tongs, and focused on grilling the meat for him.

"Eat more. You've used up too much energy today; your face is all pale." Yazhi placed a perfectly grilled pork tenderloin into his bowl.

"You eat too. Don't just keep grilling for me." Lu Ren picked up a piece of meat for her.

Ya Zhi rested her chin on her hand, her big eyes blinking as she looked at him. Suddenly, she leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Lu Ren, on the court today, that last mistake you made on the net... was it intentional?"

Lu Ren put down his chopsticks, turned to look at her, and said with a sincere and innocent expression, "How could that be? I really didn't have the strength, it just slipped. It was pure luck."

"Really? Luck is also part of ability." Ya-zhi smiled, but her eyes revealed a sly look that said, "I don't believe it."

Lu Ren lowered his head and shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth, but a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his lips.

luck?

With their own meticulous calculations and the absolute cooperation of Kageyama, it's a strategy that takes advantage of the situation.

However, it's better to keep such boastful thoughts to yourself.

After finishing my meal, I returned to my room.

Lu Ren lay on the tatami mat. The wood grain on the ceiling swayed slightly in front of him.

He closed his eyes. His mind was filled with images of today's match.

Oudai's breathtaking block, Xinghai's spike that seemed to hang in the air for a century, and Kageyama's divine pass at the end.

All of this was deeply etched in his mind, becoming nourishment for him to continue growing stronger.

He turned over and listened to the sounds of Hinata and Kageyama still arguing in the next room.

Tomorrow, there will be an even tougher battle to fight.

The semi-finals. He doesn't know who his opponent will be yet.

But he knew that as long as they were on the field, no one could easily defeat them.

Karasuno, a once-powerful but now defunct clan known as "the crow that can't fly," has now fully awakened.

With their unpredictable chimera tactics and indomitable will, they launched their final assault on the national championship throne.

The game has entered its final chapter.

Lu Ren clenched his fist in the darkness.

He is ready.

Come on, let's face the final challenge.