Tsukishima Kei suddenly realized that even a short volleyball player could perform moves that made one break out in a cold sweat.
If a ball like that can be received, then I might start doubting whether my next spike could even score.
Senpai really taught me something, receiving isn't just defense; it's a powerful weapon.
Although his pride kept him from saying it aloud, the thought lingered in his mind.
It didn't really matter whether he voiced it or not.
Because the first-year attackers all wore serious expressions.
We can't take this lightly. Nishinoya-senpai's reception is truly terrifying.
Yudai Hyakuzawa also looked tense, peering through the veterans' front-row players at Nishinoya Yuu, who had returned to the back row and switched into full reception mode.
Karasuno's Guardian Deity, the nickname was earned for a reason. x6
Hoshino Katsuri, also a libero, let out a soft sigh.
Nishinoya-senpai is absurdly strong. To think I get to be a starter in practice matches against other teams before he graduates… I owe my chance to his tireless guidance and passionate insistence on teaching.
His weak self-mockery drew Ichinose Guren's gaze. Being watched by his former leader like that, Hoshino quickly inhaled sharply to recover composure, wearing a look of "We can totally win!" to meet Ichinose's scrutiny.
Once Ichinose's warning gaze shifted, Hoshino's expression shifted again, this time to one o
"Impressive, huh?"
Even though Nishinoya's reception had already impressed the first-year combined team, this point was still taken by Yudai Hyakuzawa's super spike.
The score became First-Year 1:0 Veteran Team.
The serve switched sides. The first-years' iron wall never even got a chance to assert itself, as Ichinose Guren was moved to the back row.
In his place stood the first-years' genius setter: Kageyama Tobio.
This was not good news for the veteran team.
Because Ichinose Guren was now standing in the serving zone.
Sawamura Daichi, Sugawara Koushi, and Tanaka Ryunosuke on the bench all tensed immediately.
Even the front-row teammates near the net instinctively covered the backs of their heads.
Yudai Hyakuzawa and Kageyama had personally witnessed Guren's powerful jump serves, so shielding their heads made perfect sense.
Tsukishima, on the other hand, was simply following his little volleyball habit, but it would soon pay off. Once he saw Guren's serve, he would be glad he had trained himself to do so.
Ichinose Guren, hair slicked back, stood in the serving zone, clapping his hands on the ball and loosening the muscles along his neck.
It was a signal to the opponents: I'm going all out.
No matter if the signal was genuine or not, the other side remained alert, better safe than sorry, especially against a serve.
"Nishinoya!"
Nishinoya Yuu looked at the focused Daichi, slightly taken aback.
"What is it?"
Daichi didn't turn his head. He stared straight ahead and said, "Guren's serve is strong. Very strong!"
"Got it!"
No extra words were needed. Their mutual understanding meant Nishinoya was already ready for this difficult reception.
Although he approached every ball seriously, being prepared or unprepared made a difference.
The badge of a long-lost heavy hitter flashed in Guren's mind, a reminder that he was leveling up.
But Guren ignored it entirely. He was completely immersed in the serve.
Good. Arms, shoulders, chest, core, back… all ready. Legs too. Can serve exactly what I want.
He had no desire to compete with Nishinoya; he just wanted a clean, decisive point. The target: veteran Shimada Makoto on the same side.
I want an unreturned point.
The volleyball in his left hand blocked the left side of his face. Even seeing only the right side, Shimada could clearly tell where the serve was going.
Alright, let's see what these freshmen can do.
Shimada didn't let the juniors' posture make him nervous. He kept his own rhythm.
Losing a point is inevitable. Over-tensing is worse, it ruins performance.
Exhaling, he started to slightly tense his body, eyes fixed on Guren's ball and movements.
With a light toss from the left hand, the volleyball detached, spinning toward a spot three steps ahead.
Guren didn't rush into his approach. He waited until the ball reached its peak, then started his run-up.
Now.
His first step reached a speed that many attackers could only dream of in a lifetime.
The nerves in his left foot pushed off the floor with more than triple his body weight.
Left, right, left.
Within three steps, his explosive acceleration reached nearly 20 km/h, converting entirely into vertical lift for his jump.
The jump's perfect form propelled him above every high school player's hitting point, producing terrifying force.
No forward momentum was needed, just a downward strike. Energy saved from forward motion amplified the impact.
His arms left faint afterimages in the air as they struck the center of the ball.
Feels… amazing!
Another jaw-dropping attack stunned the spectators. This serve exceeded the power of all the serves Oikawa had ever placed on Hyakuzawa in practice matches.
By the time Shimada realized the ball was incoming, it had already landed far behind, BOOM, slamming into the backcourt.
"What?!"
Humans take 0.1–0.4 seconds to react. Shimada, with good athletic experience, had a reaction time of roughly 0.23 seconds, slower than professional athletes, but faster than most.
This serve was already beyond his ability to react.
No way… I can't touch it even if I see it coming!
Without preempting, there's no way to receive this!
Shimada, like the stunned spectators, mentally shouted his disbelief.
Even the calm, adjust-your-glasses, "I've seen it all" type adult could no longer contain his shock. He yelled at Ukai:
"Keishin! What are the monsters in your team?!"
"Two-meter giants, a 190+ cm iron-wall block, a super-fast libero, and now a serve cannon like this!"
"What's next, an attacker smaller than a volleyball?"
"Huh?!"
The Karasuno neighborhood club members felt their minds might explode. This match had already delivered more volleyball spectacles than all their previous amateur league matches combined.
Kobu-sensei, meanwhile, gave a knowing smile: "This? My kids can do more. Haven't even unleashed their signature moves yet!"
Not faster than the ball, perhaps…
But his movements are faster than the ball itself.
Brace yourselves.
Hinata's spikes? The ball chases him, not the other way around.
Guren glanced at the adults, mentally praying for them:
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria