"Oh? Are they planning to give up on the block?"
As the score reached 16:7, and Akashi's team once again gained the right to attack, Iwaizumi Hajime and Yahaba Shigeru on the opposite side both retreated to the backcourt, allowing Akashi to spike against an open net.
This was indeed a clever choice.
Defense is not solely about blocking. When facing an opponent whose spike cannot be stopped by a block, concentrating all effort on receiving the ball is also a defensive option.
However...
"Is that really wise? Can the two of you truly defend the entire court?"
BAM!
The volleyball descended at an almost vertical angle, smashing down within the 3-meter line before Iwaizumi Hajime and Yahaba Shigeru could fully react.
17:7.
Iwaizumi Hajime and Yahaba Shigeru's expressions froze.
Around them, the watching Seijoh players also held their breath, feeling a massive pressure surge toward them.
"So strong!"
"That's incredible. Does this guy's offense have no weakness left?"
"Iwaizumi and Yahaba are completely outmatched!"
...
At this point in the match, even someone who didn't understand volleyball could see that Iwaizumi Hajime and Yahaba Shigeru were being utterly dominated by Akashi alone.
In fact, the points Iwaizumi Hajime and Yahaba Shigeru did score were achieved on the premise that Akashi had yet to participate in defense.
The disparity between the two sides was too great.
Purely in terms of attacking technique, Iwaizumi Hajime, as a primary spiker, could still somewhat contend with Akashi, but the difference in their physical attributes was simply too pronounced.
However, the main factor that truly widened the score gap was the serve.
And coincidentally, after Akashi scored this point, the serving right once again rotated to him.
As Akashi walked to the position one baseline with the volleyball, not only Iwaizumi Hajime and Yahaba Shigeru but even the surrounding spectators subconsciously held their breath.
The next moment,
CRACK!
Accompanied by an explosive sound echoing through the gym, the volleyball fiercely shot out from Akashi's hand, slamming directly toward Yahaba Shigeru opposite him.
SLAP!
The volleyball bounced off Yahaba Shigeru's forearms, flying far out of bounds.
18:7.
Even though they had witnessed this scene multiple times, when it reappeared, everyone still felt suffocated.
Such brute and unreasonable power was like using the two simple words "innate talent" to trample Iwaizumi Hajime's three years of effort into the ground.
CRACK!
Without much pause, Akashi's next serve immediately followed.
The landing spot of this ball was better than the last one, flying right to the intermediate position between Iwaizumi Hajime and Yahaba Shigeru. This location caused a momentary hesitation in both players' reception attempt.
And in that split second, the volleyball had already smashed onto the floor.
19:7.
The serve is the only offense in volleyball that is not interfered with by external factors, and thus the serve is also known as the "Ultimate Offense."
Clearly, today Akashi had demonstrated this "Ultimate Offense" to its fullest extent.
Iwaizumi Hajime stood on the court, heavily panting, a cloud of gloom gradually rising on his face...
He could finally somewhat understand how Oikawa Tōru had felt before.
That helplessness and despair when facing a "genius," and the sense of urgency from a figure rapidly catching up behind him, giving him no chance to even breathe.
However, Iwaizumi Hajime felt he might be slightly luckier than Oikawa Tōru.
Because Oikawa Tōru's junior had chased him step by step, an approaching shadow that lasted for several years without fully disappearing.
But Iwaizumi Hajime was different. Only a little over a month had passed since Akashi joined Seijoh.
And in that time, just as Iwaizumi Hajime began to feel a little urgency, he watched helplessly as this junior sped past him in a Ferrari.
"Maybe the team will be better off with him in charge!"
"But... before that, even a senior needs to save face! If the score can't even reach double digits, that's just too humiliating."
CRACK!
SLAP!
As Akashi's third serve flew toward Iwaizumi's court, Iwaizumi Hajime suddenly plunged forward, managing to receive the powerful serve back into the air.
"Yahaba, set me the ball!"
"I understand, Iwaizumi-senpai."
The volleyball was set by Yahaba Shigeru, and the two executed a perfectly synchronized "Parallel Quick Attack." The speed was so fast that Mishita Ryuhei, defending in the front court, didn't even have time to jump before the ball slammed onto the floor.
19:8.
Iwaizumi's team successfully clawed back a point.
In the final moments, Iwaizumi Hajime successfully displayed the fighting spirit of a third-year senior, but fighting spirit alone could not change the match result.
25:12.
This was the final score.
The 2\text{v}2 match between Iwaizumi Hajime and Akashi only required this one set, and this single set was more than enough.
The Passing of the Banner
After the match ended, Irihata Nobuteru gathered all the main players, paused briefly, and then announced: "Well, that's that. Starting today, Akashi will become the team's new 'Ace.'"
"Oikawa, Akashi is in your hands now."
"Yes!"
Oikawa Tōru responded resolutely.
Although Oikawa Tōru is often playful, when it comes to official matches, his seriousness is among the best on the team.
Even though Oikawa Tōru was emotionally inclined to prefer his 'childhood friend' Iwaizumi Hajime to be the "Ace," the result of the match just played made that an impossibility.
This is also why Akashi insisted on utterly crushing Iwaizumi Hajime.
People are, after all, emotional creatures.
Compared to Akashi the newcomer, most of Seijoh's core players obviously had better chemistry and coordination with Iwaizumi Hajime.
If Akashi had merely beaten Iwaizumi Hajime, these players might still feel resistance due to factors like existing chemistry and coordination, even after he became the "Ace."
Should this occur, even one dissenting person could be a destabilizing factor for the team.
Therefore, to seamlessly take Iwaizumi Hajime's place, Akashi had to use absolute power to command the respect of everyone, which is also an essential quality of an "Ace."
After confirming the team's new "Ace," Irihata Nobuteru announced the team's dismissal.
Today was the last day of the Golden Week training camp, so after Irihata Nobuteru announced the dismissal, everyone quickly dispersed, heading back to the dorms to pack their belongings.
Even Akashi was no exception.
However, just as everyone was preparing to pack and leave, two figures quietly disappeared from the crowd...