**Chapter 202: Fix ch 197-198

The Powerful Yukimura, the Disappearing Five Senses! (Part 1)**

Within just two balls, the four ultimate techniques—Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain—were all broken! Even though they knew Yukimura was strong before the match, the members of Rikkai Dai still didn't expect him to suppress Sanada to such an extent.

This made everyone think of Ishikawa.

That terrifying first-year from Hyotei had also managed to break all of Sanada's techniques.

"As expected," muttered Kirihara, watching Yukimura, who still had his jacket neatly draped over his shoulders, smiling calmly. "Only our captain can defeat that Ishikawa from Hyotei!"

Though both had broken the four ultimate techniques, Yukimura's speed was noticeably faster.

*Buzz…*

At that moment, a dark aura began to emanate from Sanada.

"*Nanji no In* (Hard to Know Like Shadow)?" Yanagi glanced over in surprise. "That's right, Sanada's *In* is a technique that can counter players with strong insight. If it can affect Yukimura's insight, it might change the course of the match."

*Thud!*

Under the influence of *Nanji no In*, Sanada swiftly returned the ball.

*Whoosh!*

The ball, like a gust of green wind, flew past. But in an instant, as Yukimura made his move, a faint yellow light erupted at Sanada's feet.

"0-40!"

After a moment of silence, Yanagi announced the score.

"Even *Nanji no In* was broken?!" Kirihara and the others were stunned.

They had thought that Sanada's *Nanji no In* might not completely shut down Yukimura's insight, but at least it would create a stalemate. Yet, it was broken in an instant?

Before this, they only knew Yukimura was Rikkai Dai's strongest player and the top middle schooler. But now, through this match, they truly understood just how terrifying their captain's strength was.

"*Nanji no In*… is indeed a good technique," Yukimura said, putting away his racket with a smile. "But unfortunately, what's truly strong is the person, not the technique."

*What's strong is the person, not the technique?*

Yukimura's words sent a shiver through everyone. Yanagi's eyes flickered with surprise, as Ishikawa from Hyotei had once said something similar.

"So, is this the shared belief of the two strongest middle schoolers?" Yanagi wondered silently.

If Ishikawa and Yukimura shared the same view, then this statement was worth pondering.

"But," Yanagi thought, glancing at Yukimura, "after returning from Tokyo, Yukimura must have watched the final match of the Kanto tournament in the video room, right?"

He was curious. Did Yukimura break *Nanji no In* through his own ability, or did he learn from Ishikawa's performance in the match? Because this match and that one… were eerily similar.

The crowd buzzed, marveling at Yukimura's overwhelming strength. Only Sanada remained silent, his head lowered, the brim of his cap casting a shadow over his face, hiding his expression.

*Thud!*

Sanada served again, his shot as fast as a gust of wind. Yukimura confidently returned it, exploiting Sanada's weaknesses with surgical precision.

*Whoosh!*

The ball landed perfectly on the baseline, showcasing Yukimura's impeccable control.

*Crack!*

Just as everyone thought Sanada would lose another point, he moved like lightning, reaching the ball's landing spot in an instant.

"Is it coming?" Yukimura's eyes gleamed as he saw Sanada raise his racket. "That sealed ultimate technique!"

*Boom!*

Sanada swung his racket with both hands, delivering a fierce, thunderous strike.

*Zap!*

Electricity crackled, and the entire court seemed to be engulfed in a sea of lightning. The ball, fast as a bolt of lightning, flew in an unpredictable trajectory. Yanagi's pupils contracted sharply.

"*Dōji no Raikō* (Movement Like Thunder)!!!"

Though not the first time he'd seen it, Yanagi still felt a suffocating pressure. This move was overwhelmingly powerful, combining the speed of *Wind* and the force of *Fire*. If it were Yanagi facing it, he wasn't sure he could even see the ball, let alone return it.

*Tap! Tap!*

But Yukimura appeared near the landing spot in an instant.

"He caught up?!" Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.

Yukimura, his jacket fluttering in the wind, looked as composed as ever. Kirihara and the others were stunned.

*Swish!*

Yukimura swung his racket, meeting Sanada's thunderous strike head-on.

*Boom!*

A loud crash echoed. For the first time, Yukimura's racket visibly trembled.

Sanada's eyes lit up. *Dōji no Raikō* was undoubtedly his strongest technique. After having his other moves broken one after another, he couldn't help but feel shaken. But now, his thunder had finally caused a crack in Yukimura's defenses—or so he thought.

*Crack…*

Electricity crackled. To everyone's amazement, Yukimura's racket didn't break or fly out of his hand. Instead, with a visible effort, he pushed the ball back over the net.

*Whoosh!*

Sanada's thunderous shot was sent flying back.

*Thud!*

A faint yellow light erupted at Sanada's feet once more.

"Game! Yukimura leads 1-0. Change sides!"

Yanagi, suppressing his shock, announced the score.

"So, it was the edge of the racket," Yanagi muttered, watching Yukimura adjust his grip. "It seems he did learn how to counter *Raikō* from the match footage."

Otherwise, Yanagi was certain that Yukimura's racket would have been sent flying on his first encounter with *Raikō*.

"Is he using Sanada to gauge his own strength against Ishikawa? Or is he studying Ishikawa's playing style?" Yanagi wondered.

Regardless, Yukimura's overwhelming strength had lifted Rikkai Dai's spirits. At least now, they felt they had someone who could stand against Ishikawa.

However, Sanada, now relegated to the background, grew increasingly somber.

*Thud! Boom! Thud! Boom!*

The match intensified. Sanada launched a counterattack, but Yukimura blocked every move. Despite his powerful offense, Sanada couldn't gain any ground.

But he didn't give up. It was as if he had resolved himself, no longer caring about his "Emperor" image. He charged forward relentlessly, trying to break through Yukimura's flawless play.

Unfortunately, the gap in their abilities was too vast.

Sanada continued to lose points, and doubt began to creep into his mind.

"No, I can win!" Driven by a fierce desire to win, Sanada's spirit surged, and his momentum grew stronger.

*Zap!*

Suddenly, Sanada unleashed *Dōji no Raikō* again. This time, his movements were even faster.

The bitter taste of defeat fueled him, and the humiliation he felt activated his latent potential, deepening his understanding of *Raikō*.

"Yukimura!" Sanada roared, raising his racket high. "This is my answer!!!"

*Crackle!!!*

In an instant, lightning surged, and the court was filled with a storm of electricity. The thunderous strike was even more powerful than before.

"The speed of *Raikō* has increased?" Yanagi noted with surprise.

Had Sanada, after losing so many points, finally broken through his limits?

"This ball…"

Outside the court, Kirihara and the others clenched their fists. Feeling the terrifying power of this enhanced *Raikō*, they wondered if even Yukimura could keep up.

If he could, their captain would truly be beyond comprehension.

*Whoosh!*

The lightning-fast ball flew past. Yukimura's body didn't move.

"Did he succeed?" Kirihara and the others felt a sense of unreality.

Was Yukimura, who had seemed invincible, finally going to lose a point?

*Boom!*

The thunderous strike landed.

Sanada's cold eyes regained a glimmer of hope.

He had done it! He had finally broken through the mountain that had always stood in his way.

"Out!" Yanagi's voice rang out. "0-15!"

"Out… out of bounds?" The Rikkai Dai members turned to look at the spot where the ball had landed.

Sure enough, there was a clear mark just outside the baseline.

"Gulp." They swallowed hard, looking at Yukimura with awe.

"Did… did the captain predict that the ball would go out?"

"Too strong!"

"With this level of skill… does Sanada even have a chance?"

The crowd buzzed with excitement, while Sanada's expression darkened further.

It was all an illusion! The thought of winning, of turning the tide, was nothing but a foolish dream.

The reversal of the situation pushed Sanada's already strained emotions to the brink. If not for the last shred of rationality holding him back, he might have lost control.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Sanada's expression changed as he tried to grip his racket. "This feeling… could it be?!"

He looked up sharply, his gaze locking onto Yukimura. "No, that's impossible!"

Sanada's face shifted through a range of emotions. Then, as if to prove his fears wrong, he served again with *Fū* (Wind).

*Thud!*

The moment the ball left his racket, Sanada's face twisted in dismay.

"My sense of touch… it's gone?!"

Touch—one of the most crucial senses for a player. A good sense of touch allows a player to judge the ball's spin and power accurately, enabling precise returns.

But now, Sanada felt as if his arm had gone numb. He couldn't feel the racket in his hand!

Was this a coincidence? Or was it caused by Yukimura?

Countless thoughts raced through Sanada's mind, but he didn't let up. He chased the ball, relying on muscle memory to return it.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Gradually, he seemed to adapt to this strange state.

Just as Sanada began to feel relieved that the loss of touch hadn't affected him, the light in his vision began to dim.

"What… what's happening?!"

Sanada froze, standing still as the world around him grew darker.

*Thud!*

The ball landed.

"0-30!" Yanagi announced the score, then glanced at Sanada in confusion. "Sanada's behavior is strange. What did he see? Wait… his eyes have no focus?!"

Yanagi's pupils contracted sharply, as if he had seen something terrifying.

**(End of Chapter)**