While Ryōma was freely showing off the tennis skills he had learned in Japan, the Singles Two match between the Germany Team and the Japan Team was also about to begin. After thirty minutes of rest, both sides were fully prepared.
"Next up is the Singles Two match! Germany—Jürgen Borisovich Volk (third-year high school)! Japan—Akashi Seijurō (third-year middle school)! Both players, please enter the court!"
"I expected it, but I didn't think the Germany Team would really put Volk in Singles Two! Looks like they want to finish us off in one push," Mifune said from the coach's bench, his expression complicated after hearing the umpire's announcement.
"Isn't that only natural? As the world's number one powerhouse, crushing us dark horses in a decisive way would only further cement their authority," Byōdōin Houou sneered in response, though there was a trace of frustration in his tone, likely annoyed that he hadn't gotten to face Volk himself.
"Well~ well~ at least we sent Akashi-chan out too~ Relax a bit~" Tanegashima Shūji said lazily.
The spectator stands were just as lively. Players from every country sat up straight, clearly very interested in the upcoming match. In their eyes, this would be a true peak-level showdown.
"To think that against a Germany Team with nine consecutive World Cup wins, the Japan Team could still come out with one win and one loss… hmph, they're pretty capable~" Prince said with a tsundere tone, making Camus glance at him with a faint smile.
"It's finally the most interesting moment! Let me see your limits properly, Akashi Seijurō!" Zeus rarely showed such excitement, which made Hermes feel a bit uneasy.
"I never thought the Japan Team could make it this far. In that case, even if my brother lost to them before, it's no big deal," Noah said with a gentle smile to Gorgias, his gaze unfocused.
"You didn't get to face Volk. That must feel pretty bad right now, huh, Byōdōin?" Amadeus said casually, leaning against a wall and looking toward Byōdōin in the player seats.
No matter how lively the Japan Team bench or the stands were, Akashi and Volk had already met at the net. Volk noticed that Akashi was still wearing his jacket, but he didn't comment. With a calm expression, he completed the handshake with Akashi and moved on to the coin toss.
Neither side had any intention of chatting, yet the atmosphere on court felt strangely oppressive, making even the umpire on the high chair uncomfortable. He quickly announced the result of the toss.
"Best of three sets! Germany to serve first!"
"Even you can't stop the advance of our Deutschland," Volk finally spoke his first words after reaching the baseline.
"Deutschland? Do you even know who is standing in front of you right now, leading the Japan Team forward? Jürgen Borisovich Volk," Akashi replied coldly, his expression utterly indifferent.
"Then words are pointless. Let's prove everything with strength," Volk said, immediately tossing the ball.
A dull impact echoed as the ball shot forward with vicious spin, tearing through the air toward the Japan court. Akashi flashed to the landing point, but the instant the ball struck his racket, a massive twisting force surged through his entire right arm.
"Wirbel Taufe!"
Dust exploded upward, forming a huge cloud. In the next moment, a racket spun out of the smoke and clattered down nearby. When the dust cleared, Akashi was standing there calmly.
"ACE! 15-0!"
'The rotational force is more than double what it was in the exhibition match. Looks like Volk intends to get serious from the very start,' Akashi thought silently as he walked over to pick up his racket.
"Akashi, who could casually return Wirbel Taufe, actually had his racket blown away so easily! Just how strong is Volk?" Krauser exclaimed in shock from the sidelines.
"I suggest you don't underestimate the title of world number one. Even though Akashi-kun's strength is unfathomable, Volk is on a completely different level from every opponent we've faced before," Irie Kanata said with an extremely serious expression.
After Akashi picked up his racket, Volk waited briefly, then tossed the ball again. Another heavy impact rang out as the ball, once more carrying space-twisting spin, flew toward the Japan court.
This time, Akashi was prepared. As he swung, his wrist twisted rapidly, and the Emperor Eye fully read the direction of the ball's rotation. His racket wasn't blown away again.
The airflow created by the collision between ball and racket whipped Akashi's jacket violently. With power surging through his right arm, he finally managed to send the ball back.
However, Volk didn't move at all, simply standing there. In the next instant, the soft rasp of the ball hitting the net was heard—Akashi's return hadn't cleared it.
"ACE! 30-0!"
"Tsk~ tsk~ tsk~ He actually withstood Volk's Wirbel Taufe? That Japan middle school captain really isn't simple," Michael Bismarck said from the Germany Team bench, raising an eyebrow.
"Even though I really don't want to admit it, according to the latest intel, Akashi Seijurō seems to have beaten Byōdōin Houou in their team's internal matches. That alone shows his strength," Bertie said slowly.
"Akashi Seijurō! The current absolute No.1 player of the Japan Team! In their internal reshuffle matches, he completely defeated Byōdōin 2–0 overall. He is fully qualified to be Volk's opponent," Q.P. added in a flat tone.
"By the way, where exactly did you get all this intel from, Q.P.?" Bertie asked curiously, looking at him.
"Sorry, that's confidential~" Q.P. replied lightly.
The moment Q.P.'s words fell, two pale red bolts of lightning suddenly shot out from Akashi's eyes. His aura surged wildly, and an overwhelming pressure began to faintly envelop the entire stadium.
"ZONE!"
Volk's expression didn't change at all. He calmly tossed the ball and struck again with a powerful Wirbel Taufe. This time, however, its impact on Akashi was minimal. Akashi only paused slightly before cleanly returning the ball to the Germany court.
In the next second, Volk smashed it back with brute force. The massive rotational power of the ball dragged surrounding dust into the air, forming a white spiral trail.
Akashi didn't care about any of that. He stepped forward, gripped the racket with one hand, and met it head-on. Golden light flooded the entire court as a huge, plasma-crackling sphere of light blasted straight toward Volk.
"Glowing Shot—Mana Cannon!"
For the first time, Volk gripped the racket with both hands and blocked with full force. The instant the light sphere struck the racket, an overwhelming shock burst through it and slammed straight into the wall behind him, sending broken stones flying everywhere and forcing the spectators to hurriedly dodge.
Even so, Volk still returned the ball successfully, as if that explosive power meant nothing to him. Akashi wasn't surprised. If Volk couldn't even handle a Glowing Shot, then the world's number one active pro would be a joke.
Without hesitation, a massive golden ripple appeared behind Akashi. Immediately after, a crimson spear shot out at high speed straight toward Volk—Akashi's most commonly used Noble Phantasm, Gate of Babylon—Gae Bolg!
Volk's gaze sharpened. A ferocious aura exploded from his body, instantly shattering the phantom of Gae Bolg. At the same time, the muscles in his right arm tensed completely, and he unleashed a ruthless power drive.
But Akashi was already at the net. The power carried by the ball vanished without a ripple the moment it hit his racket, like a stone sinking into the sea. Akashi smoothly followed up with a drop shot.
Volk sprinted forward in a flash and scooped the ball up just before it hit the ground, but what he didn't notice was the faint golden glow slowly radiating from Akashi's heterochromatic eyes.
Just as Volk tried to twist his body and send the ball back, a sudden sensation of weightlessness struck his feet. His body involuntarily tilted backward. At this critical moment, Volk relied on his monstrous core strength to forcibly stabilize himself, but he no longer had the ability to precisely control the shot.
"FAULT! 30-15!"
As the umpire announced the call, the ball slowly rolled down from the net cord. Volk gave Akashi a deep look, then silently walked back to the baseline. Akashi also turned and headed to the backcourt, the long sleeves of his jacket drifting gently in the air behind him.
Volk quickly fired off another powerful serve. This time, he didn't use Wirbel Taufe, because he knew very clearly that it no longer worked on Akashi.
Amid thick clouds of dust, Akashi sent the serve straight back. The two immediately entered a rapid rally, trading shots back and forth. The court was soon completely shrouded in smoke, and the spectators lost all visibility.
"30-30!"
Thankfully, it didn't last long. With the umpire's call, everyone learned the result of the point. Clearly, Akashi had come out on top again. When it came to pure baseline exchanges, even Echizen Nanjirō might not necessarily be Akashi's match.
"So you quietly guided me toward the wrong direction without me realizing it?" Volk said calmly, despite losing the point, as he looked at Akashi.
"Guided you? I only gave you two choices, and you made the wrong decision. That's all~ Don't overestimate yourself, Volk," Akashi replied. Both of his eyes were now pale red, with a golden halo circling the outer edge of his pupils, dazzling to behold.