**Chapter 155: The State of Selflessness, Yet Still Overwhelmed (2nd Update)**

"0-15!" 

The umpire's voice echoed across the court.

The previously silent crowd erupted in gasps and murmurs. 

"Chitose... he couldn't even react?" 

Marui and Jackal stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them. 

Who could have predicted that the match, which had been firmly in Kaidoh's control, would take such a sudden turn? 

Akutsu's return was lightning-fast. Even those standing outside the court found it hard to believe what they had just witnessed. 

"Yanagi." 

Suddenly, Sanada, seated in the coach's position, spoke up. "You knew about Akutsu's match against Ryoma Echizen, didn't you? Why didn't you inform Kaidoh?" 

Last week, Akutsu had faced Ryoma in the singles 3 match, defeating him with a decisive 6-3 score. Having recently battled Ryoma himself, Sanada was well aware of the young Seigaku freshman's formidable skills. For Akutsu to defeat Ryoma with such a score, it was clear that his abilities had reached a national level. 

Yanagi's failure to inform Kaidoh of this could be seen as a lapse in his duties. 

"Unnecessary," Yanagi replied calmly, shaking his head. "With Kaidoh's personality, knowing too much might do more harm than good. It's better for him to maintain a pure, focused mindset." 

In truth, Yanagi had done some digging before the match and discovered that Kaidoh had once infiltrated Seigaku and fought Ryoma to a standstill. This suggested that Kaidoh's abilities were on par with Ryoma's. 

If Yanagi had revealed Akutsu's score against Ryoma, it might have planted seeds of doubt in Kaidoh's mind. Instead, keeping him in the dark allowed Kaidoh to approach the match with a clear, undistracted focus. 

"This guy's got some tricks up his sleeve, huh?" 

After the initial shock, Kaidoh quickly regained his composure. He shot a determined glance at Akutsu and muttered, "If that's how it's gonna be, I'll just have to get serious." 

Earlier, Marui and Jackal had been forced to remove their weights during their doubles match against Shishido and Ootori from Hyotei. Aware of their opponents' strength, Sanada had instructed the Rikkai team to shed their weights early. Kaidoh was no exception, and now, he was ready to unleash his full power. 

"Here I come!" 

*Thwack!* 

Kaidoh served the ball with precision. 

He quickly moved to the center of the court, positioning himself near the service line and bouncing lightly on his feet. 

*Tap!* 

The moment Akutsu returned the ball, Kaidoh darted to the left, his movements swift and fluid as he chased down the ball. In an instant, he was upon it. 

"Incredible reflexes!" someone exclaimed. 

Another spectator recognized Kaidoh's technique and explained, "That's the one-legged split step. This Rikkai sophomore is no joke!" 

"One-legged split step?" 

On the other side of the net, Akutsu's eyes flickered with surprise. He hadn't expected this Rikkai second-year to possess a technique similar to Seigaku's freshman. 

"Heh." 

A smirk tugged at Akutsu's lips. As he reached the ball, he swiftly adjusted his grip and executed a sharp return. 

*Tap!* 

Kaidoh, anticipating the move, shifted to the right, his instincts guiding him. 

*Whoosh!* 

But Akutsu suddenly twisted his body, redirecting the ball to the opposite side of the court. 

*Thwack!* 

The ball landed far from Kaidoh's reach. 

"Uh..." 

Kaidoh, mid-step, froze like a statue. 

"0-30!" 

"What kind of reaction is that?!" Jackal exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. "He completely changed his stance and adjusted his shot in an instant!" 

Such reflexes were nothing short of extraordinary. 

"Akutsu Jin possesses top-tier athletic talent," Yanagi explained. "He was once a member of Yamabuki and was hailed by Coach Banda as a once-in-a-decade prodigy. After losing to Ishikawa from Hyotei in the prefectural tournament, he transferred to Hyotei." 

"Wait, what?" 

Jackal blinked in confusion. "So... this Akutsu transferred from Yamabuki to Hyotei? How?!" 

It was hard to believe. Akutsu's arrogant demeanor seemed completely at odds with Hyotei's strict, aristocratic environment. 

"My guess is it's because of Ishikawa," Yanagi said, his gaze shifting to the Hyotei player. "Rumor has it that during the singles 2 match between Yamabuki and Hyotei, the two made a bet. Akutsu lost and likely joined Hyotei to honor that bet." 

Yanagi's eyes lingered on Ishikawa. His presence had not only significantly boosted Hyotei's singles strength but had also indirectly brought a prodigious talent like Akutsu into their ranks. 

Without Ishikawa, Yanagi was certain that Hyotei would have crumbled against Rikkai this year. 

"This match is also a test for Kaidoh," Yanagi added, turning his attention back to the court. 

Along with Yukimura and Sanada, Yanagi held high hopes for Kaidoh's potential. With the summer season nearing its end and the national championships just two months away, Rikkai was aiming for more than just a third consecutive title. 

Preparing Kaidoh to lead Rikkai after their third-year players graduated was a top priority. In Yanagi's plan, as long as Kaidoh didn't face Ishikawa, matches against players like Atobe or Akutsu would serve as valuable opportunities to push his limits. 

In fact, Yanagi believed that if Kaidoh could tap into his "Demon Mode," defeating Akutsu wasn't out of the question. 

*Thwack! Thwack!* 

On the court, Kaidoh launched another attack. This time, he seemed more cautious, avoiding reckless use of his one-legged split step. 

"How boring." 

Seeing Kaidoh play it safe, Akutsu sneered and returned the ball with a powerful shot that landed deep in Kaidoh's court. 

"This shot..." 

Kaidoh's expression tightened. He sprinted to return the ball, but Akutsu immediately countered with another shot to the opposite corner. 

"Damn it!" 

Kaidoh cursed under his breath but didn't hesitate to chase after the ball. 

*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!* 

The match quickly turned into a one-sided affair, with Akutsu dominating and Kaidoh scrambling to keep up. 

"Kaidoh... he's being overwhelmed!" 

Marui, Jackal, and even the other Rikkai regulars wore grim expressions. 

Kaidoh was strong—his talent, understanding of the game, and on-court performance were all exceptional. Now, with his weights removed, he should have been able to secure this service game with ease. 

Yet, he was struggling just to avoid losing points. 

*Thwack!* 

Another powerful shot landed in Kaidoh's backhand corner. 

"Ugh." 

The Rikkai team's faces fell. Akutsu was simply too strong. In their eyes, the only way Kaidoh could stand a chance was by entering his "Red Eye" or "Demon Mode." 

However, as his seniors, they couldn't help but feel conflicted. They didn't want their future leader to rely on such extreme techniques to win. 

*Whoosh!* 

But just as the Rikkai players were growing uneasy, Kaidoh suddenly increased the speed of his swing. 

*Swish!* 

His racket became a blur, disappearing from most spectators' sight. 

"Incredible swing speed!!!" 

Players from St. Rudolph, Rokkaku, and Yamabuki gasped in astonishment. 

"Is this it?" 

Inui and Fuji from Seigaku narrowed their eyes. 

"This is..." 

The Rikkai team's reaction was equally intense. "Sanada's *Speed of Wind*?!" 

*Thwack!* 

The ball shot across the court like a gust of wind, kicking up dust as it went. 

"Oh?" 

Akutsu's eyes gleamed with interest. "Not bad. Finally, something worth watching." 

*Thwack!* 

He effortlessly returned the ball. 

"Even *Speed of Wind*..." 

Jackal and the others were stunned. While they didn't know when Kaidoh had learned Sanada's technique, they knew how fast it was. Yet, Akutsu had countered it as easily as if it were a casual rally shot. 

"Kaidoh's condition..." 

Marui, Yanagi, and the others focused on Kaidoh. 

*Hum!* 

A faint, milky-white aura began to swirl around Kaidoh's body, resembling ribbons of energy. It exuded an otherworldly presence. 

"What's this?" 

Yanagi's eyes widened in surprise. 

"The State of Selflessness?" 

Sanada raised an eyebrow, equally taken aback. 

"No," he quickly corrected himself. "This isn't something he just awakened. He must have unlocked it during his trip to Kanto... I see!" 

Sanada's gaze shifted to Seigaku's bench, landing on the boy with the white cap. "So, he learned *Speed of Wind* and *Aggression of Fire* from Kaidoh. That kid never went to Hyotei—he went to Seigaku!" 

*Thwack!* 

Kaidoh swung his racket with fiery intensity, unleashing a powerful shot that seemed to scorch the air. 

*Whoosh!* 

The ball surged forward like a wave of heat, causing the spectators to instinctively flinch. 

"This state again?" 

Akutsu's interest waned as he observed Kaidoh. 

*Thwack!* 

He casually returned the shot. 

"Even *Aggression of Fire*... so easily?" 

The Rikkai team was stunned. Even players like Niou and Yagyuu, who were among the team's strongest, couldn't have countered that shot so effortlessly. 

At this moment, every Rikkai player had the same thought: *national level*. 

To so easily dismantle both *Wind* and *Fire*, even if they weren't the original techniques, was a feat that would crush most opponents. 

"Hmph!" 

In his State of Selflessness, Kaidoh let out a cold snort. 

Chasing down the ball, he raised his racket and unleashed a shot so fast it seemed to vanish. 

"Yagyuu's *Laser Beam*?!" 

The crowd gasped in unison. 

"Enough of these boring tricks." 

Akutsu shook his head. 

In a display of sheer speed, he intercepted the ball and smashed it back with a resounding *thwack!* 

*Thwack!* 

The ball shot between Kaidoh's legs. 

"What?!" 

The spectators were speechless. 

The shot, which had been as fast as a laser, had been effortlessly countered by Akutsu's sheer speed. 

"This Akutsu..." 

Inui from Seigaku adjusted his glasses, his eyes narrowing behind the lenses. "Compared to last time, his strength has improved dramatically." 

(End of Chapter) 

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**pat-reon: belamy20** 

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