Chapter 213: The Power of the King of Deception, Atobe's Most Feared Illusion (Part 1)
"Shin... Shinjiro?!"
Everyone's expression changed as they saw the figure suddenly appear on the court.
Whoosh!
In the next moment, everyone instinctively turned their heads toward the Rikkai Dai team. There, Shinjiro stood emotionlessly behind Yukimura.
"Two Shinjiros?"
Mukahi blurted out without thinking, but then quickly corrected himself, "Wait, no... The 'Shinjiro' on the court... is that Yanagi?"
"Is this his illusion technique?"
Oshitari said in amazement, "His demeanor, appearance, even that stern and imposing aura—it's exactly like Shinjiro!"
"Hmph!"
Someone sneered, "It's just a superficial imitation. This kind of bluff won't scare Atobe."
In the eyes of many, Shinjiro was respected not for his appearance or his cold gaze, but for his strength. The title "Emperor of Tennis" was earned through his sheer skill and relentless battles on the court. If Yanagi thought he could intimidate Atobe with such tricks, he was sorely mistaken.
However, those like Atobe and Oshitari, who were more meticulous, didn't jump to conclusions so quickly. They clearly remembered that this person had been referred to by Ishikawa as "the most dangerous presence in Rikkai Dai."
"Game start, one-set match!"
After a moment, the referee confirmed the players' readiness and turned to the silver-blue-haired boy. "Rikkai Dai's Yanagi serves, first game!"
Whoosh!
As soon as the words were spoken, Yanagi's figure seemed to ripple like water. The subtle waves shifted his aura, and his playful, carefree expression transformed into one of stern seriousness, his eyes sharp as blades.
It was unmistakably Shinjiro!
Whoosh!
Then, 'Shinjiro' tossed the ball into the air, leaned back, and swiftly swung his racket, striking the ball with precision.
Swish!
In an instant, the racket in 'Shinjiro's' hand accelerated to an incredible speed, disappearing from the sight of many spectators.
Bang!
With a resounding crack, a green whirlwind kicked up debris from the court as the ball shot toward the service line near Atobe.
"Fast as the Wind?!"
Someone exclaimed from the sidelines.
No one had expected that Yanagi, while mimicking Shinjiro, could actually execute his signature move.
"Interesting," Atobe murmured from the baseline.
After quickly sidestepping to intercept the ball, he glanced up at his opponent. "Go ahead, show me Shinjiro's other techniques."
Bang!
Without hesitation, Atobe returned the ball with a sharp shot to the left.
Swish!
The ball traced a perfect arc, landing precisely on the sideline.
Tap tap!
But then, 'Shinjiro' suddenly appeared at the ball's landing point. With a flick of his racket, he channeled a fiery force and slammed the ball back.
Boom!
A loud explosion echoed as the ball, blazing like fire, shot past Atobe.
The heat wave that followed made the closest members of both Hyotei and Rikkai Dai shudder.
"Invade like Fire?!"
Mukahi's face paled. "He can use both Wind and Fire?!"
At this point, they still believed this was Yanagi's illusion, marveling at how he had mastered two of Shinjiro's signature moves.
Tap!
When Atobe returned the ball again, 'Shinjiro' shifted his stance, gently slicing the racket to send the ball floating like an autumn leaf.
"This... this is Forest?!"
Hiyoshi was stunned.
Yanagi's execution of Forest was just as masterful as Shinjiro's. Combined with his perfect mimicry of Shinjiro's appearance, it was hard to believe this wasn't Shinjiro himself on the court.
Tap tap!
Despite the precision of the shot, Atobe reacted quickly. He dashed forward, catching the ball before its second bounce and lobbing it high into the air.
Swish!
But then, a figure leaped into the air.
'Shinjiro' raised his racket, intercepting the ball mid-flight. With a cold glint in his eyes, he swung down with full force.
Boom!
A crimson streak shot past Atobe and slammed into the ground.
"15-0!"
'Shinjiro' landed steadily, giving Atobe a brief, emotionless glance before turning away.
"Wind, Forest, Fire!!!"
From the sidelines, Inoue exclaimed, "Yanagi has mastered three of Shinjiro's techniques?!"
"That's amazing," Shiba said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Yanagi Yaharu... he's so cool!"
Swish!
Returning to the baseline, Yanagi shifted back into Shinjiro's form.
Bang!
Another Fast as the Wind serve flew across the court.
As the match progressed, the audience gradually grew accustomed to 'Shinjiro's' presence, even starting to believe it was Shinjiro himself.
Bang!
"30-0!"
Bang!
"40-0!"
Bang!
"Game! Rikkai Dai's Shin... Yanagi, 1-0. Change sides!"
When Yanagi won the game, even the referee nearly made a mistake.
Tap.
Returning to his original form, Yanagi calmly faced his opponent.
"Atobe," Yanagi said with a smile, "If I recall correctly, Shinjiro has always been the mountain you couldn't climb, right?"
"He's doing this on purpose," Mukahi and Hiyoshi muttered, their expressions darkening.
About a year ago, during the National Junior Selection Tournament, Atobe had faced Shinjiro. Back then, Atobe, full of confidence, had clashed with the equally self-assured Shinjiro. However, Atobe had been outmatched. While the match had showcased Atobe's strength, his inability to defeat Shinjiro had left a mark on his record.
In the eyes of Hyotei's team, this was a stain on Atobe's reputation. Therefore, they believed Yanagi had chosen to mimic Shinjiro to exploit this weakness.
"Is that so?"
Surprisingly, Atobe remained calm in the face of Yanagi's provocation. He glanced at his opponent and said with a faint smile, "Besides Wind, Forest, and Fire, you must have mastered other techniques, right?"
"This guy's really stubborn," Rikkai Dai's Kirihara sneered. "He's clearly at a disadvantage, yet he acts like he's in control."
Yukimura, Shinjiro, and Yanagi, however, remained composed. Their gazes were fixed on Atobe as he retreated to the baseline. Yanagi spoke up, "The strength of Hyotei's captain is definitely not limited to this level."
Bang!
Atobe served the ball.
Yanagi, still in Shinjiro's form, swiftly returned it with Fast as the Wind, but Atobe easily countered.
Boom!
Next, Yanagi used Invade like Fire, and Atobe returned it again.
Tap!
Then, a gentle Forest drop shot floated over the net, but Atobe still managed to reach it and send it back.
"Useless," 'Shinjiro' said in a deep, commanding voice as he leaped into the air, preparing a powerful Fire smash.
Boom!
However, Atobe, standing below, swiftly swung his racket, perfectly countering the smash.
Bang!
The ball landed, and 'Shinjiro,' who had just landed from the smash, froze.
"15-0!"
"The Fire smash... was countered?"
Kirihara and the others were stunned.
The rest of Rikkai Dai's team exchanged confused glances.
What was going on?
Ishikawa, Yukimura, Akutsu... and now even Atobe could easily counter Shinjiro's techniques?
Before the Kanto Tournament finals, Shinjiro had been the undisputed Emperor of Tennis, a benchmark for all middle school players, standing above the rest.
But now, it seemed like anyone could break through his moves?
"Yanagi," Atobe said from the baseline, noticing his opponent's change in expression. "Since you've chosen to mimic Shinjiro, why not use all of his techniques?"
This time, no one underestimated Atobe. Even the rebellious Kirihara showed a hint of seriousness in his eyes.
On the tennis court, strength was everything.
Compared to Atobe, who had just countered Wind, Forest, and Fire, any taunts now seemed hollow.
Bang!
Atobe served again.
He quickly moved forward, and as 'Shinjiro' returned the ball, Atobe accelerated his swing, suddenly speeding up the pace of the match.
In contrast, 'Shinjiro' was thrown off by Atobe's rapid tempo. Despite using various techniques, he couldn't keep up with Atobe's relentless attacks.
Swish!
Seizing the opportunity, Atobe leaped into the air, raising his racket for a smash.
Tap!
Below, 'Shinjiro' planted his feet firmly, lowering his center of gravity, clearly preparing to defend.
"This is... Immovable as the Mountain?!"
Someone whispered, recognizing the move. "It's said that Atobe was completely shut down by Shinjiro's Mountain defense. He couldn't break through that wall-like defense at all."
The others' expressions shifted.
If that was the case, Atobe was likely in a very unfavorable position.
Boom!
The smash came down.
But contrary to expectations, the ball shot past 'Shinjiro,' who couldn't react in time.
Thud!
The ball landed, and the Rikkai Dai team's hearts sank.
"30-0!"
"Immovable as the Mountain... was broken through?"
Jackal said in shock.
Next to him, Marui frowned, "Could it be that Yanagi's Mountain isn't as strong as Shinjiro's original?"
"No," Yanagi shook his head. "It's not that Yanagi's imitation is weak. It's that Atobe has already seen through his blind spot!"
The World of Ice!
During the Kanto finals, Yanagi had suffered a crushing defeat against this move. Once Atobe activated it, Yanagi had no chance of countering.
After all, no one could react to their own blind spot!
Bang!
Boom!
Bang!
Boom!
The match continued, and under Atobe's relentless assault, Yanagi quickly lost another point. On the final serve, the 'Shinjiro' he had mimicked suddenly unleashed a powerful move.
Crack!
A flash of lightning.
'Shinjiro' appeared in an instant, raising his racket and slashing down at the incoming ball.
Crackle!
Electricity surged, and a lightning-fast trajectory shot across the court.
"Swift as Thunder?!"
Everyone was shocked.
"He can even mimic Shinjiro's Thunder?!"
Even Rikkai Dai's members, including the Big Three—Yanagi and Shinjiro—were visibly shaken.
Tap tap!
But in the next moment, a figure appeared at the baseline. It was Atobe. His clear eyes locked onto the ball as he swung his racket with full force.
Boom!
The racket in Atobe's hand shuddered but didn't slip. Instead, with a steady push, he sent the ball flying toward 'Shinjiro's' blind spot.
Swish!
The ball shot past, shattering an ice pillar on the opposite side.
Thud!
In reality, 'Shinjiro's' blind spot had been pierced, leaving him unable to react.
"Game! Hyotei's Atobe, 1-1!"
"That Thunder shot was powerful, but unfortunately... you're just a fake. You can't replicate its true destructive force," Atobe said with a faint smile.
"Atobe!"
"Atobe!"
"Atobe!"
The Hyotei supporters chanted his name enthusiastically.
"Is that so?"
'Shinjiro's' figure flickered, and to everyone's astonishment, he transformed into a handsome boy with ash-gray hair and a teardrop-shaped mole under his eye.
"Wait... what?"
Mukahi, Hiyoshi, and the others stared in disbelief. "There are two Atobes now?!"
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, 'Atobe' casually bounced the ball a few times before tossing it into the air. He leaned back, his racket perpendicular to the ground.
Swish!
Then, like a spring, he twisted his body and swung the racket, sending the ball flying.
Bang!
The ball landed and barely bounced, skimming low across the court.
"The Tannhäuser Serve?!"
Everyone was shocked.
No one had expected that, in addition to Shinjiro's Wind, Forest, Fire, and Thunder, Yanagi could also mimic Atobe's techniques.
Bang!
But in the next moment, a pale yellow light flashed beside the serving 'Atobe.'
"0-15!"
"H-how is this possible?"
Kirihara said in disbelief. "That serve... was countered instantly?!"
"Uh..."
Jackal was equally stunned. "Isn't it said that your greatest enemy is yourself? This Atobe is just too strong."
"Not working, huh?"
'Atobe' frowned slightly.
Then, he served again.
This time, he didn't use the Tannhäuser Serve for show, opting instead for a simple high-speed serve.
As Atobe returned the ball, 'Atobe' narrowed his eyes, pushing his vision to its limit.
Swish swish swish!
Countless ice pillars descended around Atobe—the World of Ice!
Boom!
But in the next moment, to 'Atobe's' astonishment, the ice pillars surrounding his opponent shattered instantly.
Bang!
A pale yellow light flashed beside 'Atobe.'
"0-40!"
"Sorry," Atobe said calmly. "For you, I have no blind spots."
"Hmm."
'Atobe's' expression shifted.
Swish!
But then, his figure changed again, this time into a boy with ash-white hair, pale skin, and a wild, rebellious demeanor.
"Now it's Akutsu?!"
The Hyotei team gasped.
At Hyotei, Ishikawa was undoubtedly the strongest, and Atobe was the clear second singles player. However, with Akutsu's rise, many believed that position might no longer be secure.
Though the two had never faced off in the internal selection matches, Yanagi's mimicry of Akutsu now created an alternate battle for Hyotei's second singles spot!
Bang!
But after just a few seconds, Atobe sent a shot straight into 'Akutsu's' blind spot, breaking through his defense.
"Game! Hyotei's Atobe, 2-1!"
"So... so strong..."
The spectators watched in awe as Atobe, unfazed by his opponent's changing styles, continued to dominate.
"Is this all your illusions can do?"
Atobe looked disappointedly at Yanagi, who had returned to his original form.
Indeed, Yanagi's skills were impressive.
Whether mimicking Shinjiro, Akutsu, or even Atobe himself, he could capture the essence of each player and execute their techniques flawlessly.
But to Atobe, an illusion was just an illusion. No matter how brilliant, it could never surpass the original.
"Yanagi," Atobe said, holding the ball as they switched sides. "If this is all you've got, then this match is as good as over."
"Atobe, I have to admit, you're really strong," Yanagi said, stroking his chin with a smile. "I guess I have no choice but to use that person's ability."
That person?
Everyone's eyebrows raised.
As Atobe had thought, no matter how impressive the illusion, it was still limited by the original's capabilities.
Mukahi frowned, "Is this guy still trying to bluff?"
Hum!
In the next moment, Yanagi's figure began to shift once more.
"Another illusion?"
Hiyoshi narrowed his eyes. "He still hasn't given up on this. So... who is he mimicking now?"
As he spoke, Yanagi's form rippled like water. His Rikkai Dai black-and-yellow uniform faded into Hyotei's gray-white, and his fox-like grin softened into a calm, composed expression. His silver-blue hair darkened to black.
Finally, he transformed into a serene, black-haired boy.
Swish!
At the sight of this figure, the Hyotei team, including Atobe on the court, couldn't help but tremble.
(End of Chapter)