My Prince of Tennis has a high proficiency level

Chapter 122 Strength unknown, grows stronger when facing stronger opponents

boom!

A loud thud was heard as the ball was struck.

Everyone looked up, only to see Sengoku take half a step back, instantly creating space to return the serve. With a casual swing of his racket, he returned Echizen's serve.

"As expected of a thousand koku!"

The crowd on Yamabuki's side cheered in unison.

Sengoku hit the ball cleanly and decisively, without any hesitation in his movements. Moreover, the return was powerful and extremely fast, so Echizen dared not be careless and immediately stepped forward.

Bang!

He swung his racket forward, the powerful force emanating from the tennis ball causing the net to dent inwards. However, his expression remained calm throughout.

Echizen is experienced in matches and knows how to handle all kinds of balls. Moreover, compared to Akutsu's fast and explosive tennis, Sengoku's returns are child's play.

Whoosh!

Immediately, the tennis ball was shot back. Under Echizen's control, it fell straight towards Sengoku's backhand.

"good."

Sengoku nodded slightly.

He never expected that kind of shot would be enough to break through the opponent's defense. After all, the opponent was someone who could compete with Akutsu, and even a brief confrontation was enough to make him arrogant.

"But my attack has only just begun!"

A glint flashed in Sengoku's eyes, and he accelerated, visibly closing in on the landing tennis ball. Then, almost without thinking, he raised his hand and smacked the ball, which immediately ricocheted back with a loud thud.

"Half-volley?"

Momoshiro, Kaidou, and the others' expressions changed.

Sengoku's timing was incredibly precise. The entry point was perfect, and the explosive power he unleashed didn't reveal the full force of Echizen's tennis shot.

Therefore, the speed of this return shot was also astonishing.

tread!

but.

Echizen, on the other side, bounced up and down in place after returning the ball. Seeing Sengoku make his move, he decisively stepped outward with his right foot after jumping, seizing the initiative by half a beat.

"Small, quick steps?"

The members of Yamabuki's team also showed surprise.

"really."

Nan nodded and said, "Anyone who can break through so many selections in an environment like Seigaku and become a regular member is no ordinary person."

o

"cut."

Muromachi curled his lip in disdain upon hearing this: "It's just basic footwork. This kid may have some talent, but that's about it."

In Seigaku's eyes, Echizen's entrance onto the court was neither arrogant nor humble, displaying a superior demeanor that was admirable. However, in the eyes of Muromachi, who viewed things through a biased lens, Echizen, as a first-year student, showed no respect for his third-year senior, which was seen as excessive arrogance.

Therefore, Muromachi harbored deep resentment towards Echizen.

"It's not that simple."

In contrast, Yuta's attitude was much more objective. He looked at Echizen, who was frequently ahead and whose movements were not hindered at all by Sengoku's attacks, and shook his head, saying, "This is not a simple matter of taking small steps."

"That's right."

Before Muromachi could speak, Mizuki nodded and said, "If I'm not mistaken, this kid's footwork is [single-legged small steps]!"

"Taking small steps on one leg?"

Dongfang, Xindumi, and the others showed expressions of curiosity.

Guan Yue explained, "That's an advanced footwork technique using small, quick steps. It allows for faster reactions, and if used properly, it's quite normal to gain the upper hand."

"Getting there first?"

Upon hearing this, even Muromachi, who had a preconceived notion of having a problem with Echizen, couldn't help but change his expression.

The pace of play on the court is already incredibly fast. Being able to gain even a slight advantage is no exaggeration; it's like a fish in water.

To get ahead of the curve?

That was something they wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Yuta exclaimed in shock, "Is the footwork really that amazing?"

"Taking small, quick steps on one leg is indeed impressive, but it's not without its drawbacks."

Seeing the anticipation flickering in everyone's eyes, especially Yuta and Muromachi's, Mizuki shook her head and said, "The use of small steps requires diligent practice day after day. While small steps on one leg are fast, they are also a double-edged sword."

"While landing on one foot can increase starting speed compared to landing on both feet, it can backfire if you can't predict which direction your opponent will attack."

"But it's obvious..."

At this point, Mizuki paused, then looked up at Echizen with admiration in her eyes: "That kid has an incredible sense of smell in matches; he completely figured out Sengoku's attack direction!"

That strong?

Yuta, Muromachi, and the others' expressions changed slightly.

They knew Guan Yue's personality very well; she was the kind of person who smiled at others but was actually a wolf in sheep's clothing, extremely cunning. At the same time, she was also very arrogant.

Even outstanding second-year students like Muromachi and Yuta rarely receive his praise. Among the newcomers, only Tan, who trains diligently and puts in enough effort, earns his commendation.

"But even so, he can't possibly stay one step ahead, can he?"

Nan thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The explosive power of one leg is indeed stronger, but being half a step ahead and being a full step ahead are not the same thing."

A concept.

Just like in track and field competitions, when you break through the limits of human physical ability, every 0.1 or even 0.05 seconds is extremely amazing.

Upon hearing this, Shibukawa chuckled and said, "What if he made the judgment at the very moment of takeoff?"

"At the moment of takeoff?"

"How is that possible!?"

Everyone's expression changed again.

It was Shechuan who said this, and although everyone was shocked, no one questioned it.

"Taking tiny, quick steps on one leg!"

On the other side, Takiginosuke, a regular member of Hyotei and also an intelligence gatherer, who was hiding in the crowd, showed a hint of apprehension in his eyes.

If he remembered correctly, only one person in the Kanto region had previously possessed this ability, and Echizen was the second.

As for the other one, it was none other than Kirihara Akaya, the most promising second-year regular player at Rikkai University Affiliated High School!

"I didn't expect this newcomer from Seigaku to be so strong. As expected, both Seigaku and Yamabuki have become exceptionally strong this year."

Taki Oginosuke thought to himself with a sense of relief.

He was initially somewhat dissatisfied when he was assigned to collect team data, thinking that Atobe was making a mountain out of a molehill. But the more information he gathered, the more he admired Atobe's foresight.

If Hyotei doesn't plan ahead, they'll definitely suffer when they face Yamabuki or Seigaku in the finals.

"It looks like we'll most likely face Yamabuki in the finals!"

Taki thought to himself.

This year's Yamabuki is indeed terrifyingly strong. Even he felt a little shaken. But his professionalism allowed him to suppress his emotional fluctuations and refocus on watching the match.

Bang!

boom!

Bang!

砰1

on the field.

Echizen and Sengoku engaged in a fierce battle.

The latter's boxing tennis is inherently a fast-paced, quick-attack style, with fast moves and simple techniques. Even if Echizen could keep up with it using small, quick steps on one leg, the difference in strength between the two was undeniable.

After a dozen or so rounds, Echizen began to feel the strain.

boom!

However, Sengoku's performance remained consistent.

As the racket was swung, a pale yellow shimmer exploded on the right flank of Echizen.

"0-15!"

"Well done!"

Immediately, cheers erupted from the Yamabuki area.

"This person is indeed very strong."

Having been suppressed for almost the entire time, Echizen wiped the sweat from his forehead and his eyes became serious.

immediately.

Amidst the astonished gazes of those around him, he switched the racket from his right hand to his left.

"etc."

Upon seeing this, someone belatedly widened their eyes and exclaimed, "Could this kid be...left-handed?!"

"Echizen (Ryoma-kun) is serious!"

The Seigaku members were immediately invigorated.

really.

Echizen serves again.

Although this serve wasn't as powerful as his topspin serve, the power and skill of his dominant hand were unmatched by his right hand.

Sengoku launched another counterattack, but it was all neutralized by Echizen.

"Both my skills and strength have improved."

After several powerful strikes were neutralized by his opponent, Sengoku narrowed his eyes: "As expected, this guy's left hand is very strong, and he should not be underestimated."

Having witnessed the match between Akutsu and Echizen, Sengoku dared not underestimate his opponent. He immediately roused himself, employing boxing footwork and power generation techniques to deliver a series of heavy blows.

boom!

boom!

boom!

One fast break ball after another landed on the ground.

Sengoku, equally focused, hit the ball fast and powerfully, putting pressure on even the left-handed Echizen.

"National level...that's really strong!"

Echizen gritted his teeth and fought back, but Sengoku's boxing-style tennis was relentless and relentless. Each attack was stronger than the last, and under his direct assault, even Echizen found it difficult to withstand.

boom!

Another goal! Sengoku breaks through the opponent's defense head-on.

"0-30!"

"Cool!"

Sengoku shouted loudly after winning the game.

Compared to the aggressive style of Tachibana, Echizen's tennis is more defensive, more like a punching bag with high endurance and difficulty in counterattacking.

Sengoku had been hitting the punching bag at the boxing gym for more than half a year, so he was very familiar with it.

really.

Sengoku then pressed his advantage, completely forcing Echizen into a disadvantageous position, breaking his opponent's serve one minute later. Two minutes later, he won another game, taking a 2-0 lead in the overall score.

"How...how is this possible?"

The Seigaku trio were all dumbfounded.

Even Horio, who harbored a strong aversion to Echizen's strength, was taken aback by the fact that his opponent had been completely overwhelmed. This was Echizen, after all, who had maintained an undefeated record in the main tournament since joining the Seigaku tennis club!

But now, even passive defense is extremely difficult.

"Boxing-style tennis, it's really powerful."

Fuji opened his eyes and said in a serious tone, "This breakthrough style of fighting is very fast, especially the first few attacks which are very continuous and difficult to resist."

"But this is also an opportunity."

Tezuka, who had his arms crossed in front of him, spoke up unusually: "If we can get through the initial onslaught, Echizen will be able to catch his breath."

"That kid... should be fine, right?"

Ryuzaki also had some doubts.

She knew Echizen was exceptionally talented, but what she valued even more was his upbringing under that person's tutelage. Compared to that person, the pressure from Sengoku was nothing.

really.

Echizen was not overwhelmed by Sengoku's offensive.

In the third game, Echizen displayed remarkable resilience, countering every single one of Sengoku's attacks.

"This kid is really troublesome!"

Sengoku was also pushed to his limit, and Echizen's keen sense of the game immediately seized the opportunity. He quickly moved forward, and the moment Sengoku's return shot landed, he swung his racket and hit the tennis ball towards his opponent's backhand.

Bang!

The tennis ball lands on the ground.

Sengoku stood there, stunned.

The referee's voice rang out: "15-0!"

How could this be...?

'

Many people within the Yamabuki organization were also stunned.

No one expected that Echizen, who was being suppressed just a second ago, would launch such a fast and fierce counterattack!

"This kid... is indeed not simple."

A gleam appeared in Guanyue's eyes.

Talent was secondary; what truly astonished him was Echizen's adaptability in real combat.

Shibukawa, standing beside him, remained calm, his heart undisturbed. To others, Echizen's performance was indeed stunning, but he was the absolute main protagonist of the original work, with all his talents maxed out.

In other words, Echizen was cut off when he was young, otherwise even a monster like Akutsu would pale in comparison to him.

Echizen's extensive training under Echizen Nanjiro since childhood has resulted in a wealth of match experience that has become muscle memory. This has created the impression that he excels against strong opponents and that his true strength is often unknown.

Sengoku is indeed very strong, but the stronger the pressure he brings, the more powerful the counterattack will be.

really.

In the third game, Echizen capitalized on Sengoku's unstable mentality and impatience, scoring consecutive points and completely breaking Sengoku's composure.

The.

Bang!

"Game!"

"Aogakus Echizen, 1-2, switch places!"

"Damn it!"

Sengoku looked grim after losing the game.

He knew he had made a mistake, but after a careful review, he also acknowledged the strength of his opponent. So, to the astonishment of the Seigaku members, Sengoku removed the weights from his hands and ankles.

"Is this a lie? Is it a lie?"

Katsuro and Katsuo stared wide-eyed.

"Glug."

Horio swallowed hard, his face filled with shock. "This...this person is wearing weights?"

"Did you finally get rid of that thing?"

Echizen, however, remained calm.

He had long known that Sengoku hadn't used his full strength, and now that he had forced his opponent to remove his weights, he was one step closer to success.

However, after being unsealed, Sengoku improved in almost every aspect and immediately overwhelmed Echizen, winning the game in the blink of an eye and extending the score to 3-1.

However, just when everyone thought the match was over, Sengoku's attack was blocked again.

"How is that possible?"

Sengoku finished his most ferocious set of boxing-style tennis, but still couldn't break through Echizen's defense, and his face darkened.

immediately.

Sengoku accelerated again, raised his hand and swung his racket, delivering a nearly flawless half-hit with a bang.

"nice shot!"

"As expected of Sengoku-senpai!"

"That ball was too fast, Ryoma couldn't possibly stop it!!"

No one believed that Echizen could return Sengoku's shot; even within Seigaku, many had resigned themselves to their fate and closed their eyes.

Tap tap!

Unexpectedly, Yueqian not only did not waver, but instead charged forward instead of retreating.

"No! This distance is too dangerous!!"

Within Seigaku, Momoshiro, Kaidou, and others all changed their expressions.

*Sizzle*

No one expected that Echizen would suddenly lower his body. He used the momentum of running to slide forward in a half-crouch position.

Swish!

As he approached the tennis ball, Echizen suddenly jumped up and, facing the rapidly flying ball, forcefully smacked it with his racket.

Bang!

A crisp sound.

Under the astonished gazes of onlookers, the tennis ball bounced high into the air before landing quickly, but the force and spin it contained caused it to bounce high again before falling rapidly once more.

In just a moment, the tennis ball bounced twice in quick succession, and even Sengoku couldn't react in time.

The stadium fell silent after Echizen's sudden outburst and his dazzling skills.

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