Chapter 254: The Essence of Acting—Turning Fiction into Reality 

"Black Hole!!!" 

In the coaching staff's room, upon seeing the distinct black mark in front of Inoue, Saito instinctively exclaimed. 

"Is that the ultimate move taught by the head coach?" Kurobe squinted his eyes. "By using a special angle and force, combined with a rapid swing, it creates a spatial reduction effect." 

"Exactly," Takuzo nodded. "Theoretically, once the 'Black Hole' touches the ball, the tennis ball enters a state of absolute stillness." 

Of course, this was just a theoretical outcome. Moreover, based on the information the three of them had, this move placed an enormous strain on the body. Given Inoue's physical condition, it was impossible for him to use it too many times. 

Thud! 

On the court, Inoue counterattacked. The tennis ball pierced through Ishikawa's defense as easily as a bullet. 

"He scored!!!" 

Many of the high school students clenched their fists in excitement. Naturally, they had placed themselves in Inoue's shoes during the match. So, when Inoue scored, they were thrilled. After all, if this newcomer actually defeated Ishikawa, wouldn't that mean they were even more inferior? 

Whoosh! 

But at that moment, the tennis ball curved around, making a sharp turn from the baseline. To everyone's astonishment, it appeared on Ishikawa's right side. 

"The... the ball got pulled in?!" 

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. 

Ishikawa Zone! 

The special spin applied to the ball allowed it to return to the player's side after being hit. This move was astonishing even in the professional realm. 

"Hmm!" 

On the opposite side of the court, Inoue looked over with a hint of surprise. "Did he predict I would use this move the moment he returned the ball?" 

Swish! 

But then, Inoue dismissed the thought. If that were the case, wouldn't it mean Ishikawa's insight was almost prophetic? 

Thud! 

Sure enough, when Inoue returned the next ball, he felt no special spin on it. And he didn't use the Black Hole again, as the move took a significant toll on the player. 

"Just a fleeting move, huh?" 

Mori squinted. The dark mark had indeed left him in awe, but if it could only be used a limited number of times, its effectiveness was clearly limited. 

"So..." Furuya muttered softly, "This Inoue guy isn't all that strong after all?" 

Swish! 

But the next moment, as Inoue swung his racket, the ball transformed into a fierce whirlwind, darting across the court in an instant. 

Thud! 

The ball landed precisely on the line, scoring a point amidst the stunned gazes of the spectators. 

"0-15!" 

After the referee's call, Furuya looked over in disbelief. "Was that Ishikawa's move just now?" 

"Yep," Mori nodded solemnly. The move Inoue had executed was identical to Ishikawa's whirlwind-like technique. 

Gale Force? 

On the court, Ishikawa was equally surprised as he looked at his opponent. He had seen it clearly—Inoue's move was strikingly similar to his own Gale Force! 

There were only two possibilities for this. 

First, it could be the Zone of Absolute Perfection. But clearly, Inoue hadn't shown any signs of entering that state before returning the ball. 

Second, Inoue had already mastered this move. But that was impossible—there was no record of Inoue using this move in the original story. This was a technique Ishikawa had developed himself, inspired by his swordsmanship. 

"If both possibilities are ruled out, then it must be something else." 

With that thought, Ishikawa's gaze toward Inoue grew more curious and expectant. 

In the original story, Inoue's true abilities were never fully explained. But from his various performances, it was clear that this highly theatrical player's real strength was far beyond what he showed. 

"Good, very calm reaction." 

Meanwhile, in the coaching staff's room, Kurobe and the others nodded in approval at Ishikawa's composure. 

Normally, when an opponent uses your own move against you in a match, most people would react with shock and panic. But Ishikawa remained calm and composed, which was rare. 

Thud! 

Ishikawa served again, and Inoue countered with a powerful return. 

Swish! 

After a series of exchanges, Inoue suddenly lowered his racket to the right. As the ball flew past, he executed a swordsman-like slash with his racket. 

Thud! 

The ball exploded like a cannonball, landing precisely on Ishikawa's backhand side. 

"0-30!" 

Inoue scored again. 

By now, even the slowest of the high school students had caught on. 

"Inoue can actually use that guy's moves?" 

"It's exactly the same!" 

"How did he do it? Or... did he already know these moves beforehand?" 

Everyone was puzzled, but their excitement grew. Regardless of how it happened, it seemed the match was about to take a dramatic turn! 

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

On the court, the two engaged in a fierce battle. Inoue's playing style became increasingly similar to Ishikawa's. 

Buzz! 

Suddenly, as Inoue swung his racket again, a silver-white aura emanated from his body. 

Swordsmanship Essence?! 

In the coaching staff's room, Kurobe and the others' pupils contracted uncontrollably. This was a move Ishikawa had developed himself. Could Inoue really replicate it too? If this was some kind of mimicry talent, it was beyond extraordinary! 

"Interesting." 

Seeing Inoue even replicate his state-based ability, a glint of intrigue flashed in Ishikawa's eyes. 

At the same time, another player with a similar ability came to mind—Yagyu Hiroshi! 

"Is it like Yagyu's Phantom ability?" Ishikawa analyzed silently. "But no, Yagyu's illusions are based on data collection. Inoue's move... it's clearly different!" 

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

The two continued their intense duel. Inoue's returns grew faster, and with the Swordsmanship Essence enhancing his shots, the destructive power of his strikes increased significantly. 

Thud! 

The ball landed, once again precisely on the baseline. 

"0-40!" 

With three consecutive points, Inoue's image in the eyes of the high school students grew even more impressive. They couldn't help but applaud. 

"So, how was that?" Inoue smiled at Ishikawa. "My imitation wasn't bad, was it?" 

Imitation? 

Everyone was stunned, unsure of what to make of it. Inoue's performance had been so convincing, it felt like he truly possessed those abilities. But it was just imitation? 

"So it really was imitation." 

Mori and Furuya breathed a sigh of relief. If Inoue had already mastered those moves, it would have been too bizarre and terrifying. 

However, after the brief relief, a new question arose in their minds: How exactly did he do it? 

"If we don't understand the principle behind his imitation, it'll be hard to counter him," Furuya said. 

"True," Mori agreed. "If the imitation has no limits, and Ishikawa can't finish him off quickly, this match could turn into a drawn-out battle." 

And in such a battle, the advantage would naturally tilt toward Inoue. After all, he had a deep understanding of Ishikawa's playing style and techniques, while Ishikawa had yet to fully grasp Inoue's true capabilities. 

In the end, Inoue might just pull off a comeback. 

"Senior," Ishikawa said, holding the ball and preparing to serve. "I assume you can only imitate my moves, right?" 

"Oh?" Inoue smiled. "Are you asking me to defeat you using someone else's moves?" 

"Sure," Inoue nodded. "I've pretty much figured out your tennis style. Let's switch things up now." 

Swish! 

With that, he assumed his receiving stance again. 

Thud! 

Ishikawa served once more, this time with even greater speed. 

Tap tap! 

But Inoue's reflexes were just as sharp. The moment the ball landed, he was already on the move. As the ball bounced, he raised his racket and prepared to strike. 

Thud! 

With a crisp sound, Ishikawa's faster serve was instantly returned. 

"Getting serious now?" 

Outside the court, Oni watched with mild surprise. He hadn't expected Inoue to start showing his true skills in what was supposed to be a practice match. 

Thud! 

But what surprised Oni even more was that Ishikawa was still able to handle Inoue's increased speed with ease. The ball landed precisely on the baseline again. 

"Not bad, not bad." 

Inoue nodded in approval, then smiled. "Since you can still keep up, I'll pick up the pace a bit more." 

Thud! 

With that, he increased the speed of his shots again. 

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

Ishikawa responded in kind, matching Inoue's pace with even fiercer returns. 

As the two continued to ramp up their speed, the match grew more intense. Dust began to rise from the court, gradually obscuring their figures. 

"This match..." 

One of the senior players seemed to realize something, his expression turning to one of shock. 

"Could it be...?" 

In the coaching staff's room, Takuzo looked equally surprised, as if he had just remembered something. 

"Remember now?" Kurobe, sitting in front of the screen, crossed his arms and said meaningfully, "This match is very similar to the one two years ago." 

"Right," Saito nodded, but what surprised Takuzo was that he added, "I didn't expect Inoue's strength to have reached this level without us noticing!" 

Inoue? 

Not Ishikawa?! 

Takuzo thought he had misheard. 

"Clearly," Kurobe continued, "Inoue held back during the tests. His five-dimensional abilities weren't fully displayed." 

However, Kurobe knew that Inoue's situation was different from Ishikawa's. The latter's abilities were inaccurately measured due to special circumstances, while Inoue had deliberately held back—it was part of his tennis style. 

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

On the court, the decisive point of the game remained elusive. 

"This guy is really strong!" 

Tokugawa looked at Ishikawa in surprise. He had full confidence in Inoue's abilities, but he hadn't expected this newcomer, Ishikawa, to have such a high ceiling. 

"He's hiding his true strength too," Oni said solemnly. "Right now, he's still playing with ease. This clearly isn't his full power." 

"Hmm." 

Tokugawa narrowed his eyes. While he had faith in Inoue, the latter didn't seem to have any standout offensive moves. Ishikawa's Swordsmanship Essence was powerful, but after all this time, Inoue still hadn't scored, which spoke volumes. 

The move had lost its effectiveness against Ishikawa. 

But without a strong offensive, Inoue might indeed be dragged into a prolonged battle. And given his relatively weaker stamina, he might end up losing. 

"Senior," Ishikawa suddenly spoke up. "You must have more tricks up your sleeve, right?" 

"Trying to provoke me?" Inoue chuckled. 

He knew Ishikawa was deliberately challenging him. And he also knew that Ishikawa knew he knew. But since it was out in the open, Inoue decided to respond. 

"Alright," he said, raising his racket. "Since you asked, I'll get serious!" 

Swish! 

As he spoke, his right hand suddenly clenched tightly. 

Zzzz... 

A golden light began to emanate from his grip. 

"What?!" 

The high school students, who had thought Inoue was just bluffing, were now wide-eyed in shock. 

Lightning Strike?! 

Even Ishikawa's expression changed. This move was legendary in the original story. More importantly, there was no record of Inoue ever using it. 

Had he been hiding it all along? 

"No!" 

But soon, Ishikawa noticed a subtle change in Inoue's aura. At that moment, Inoue exuded an overwhelming, domineering presence. 

In an instant, Ishikawa realized the source of this aura. 

Unlike Yagyu's illusions, Inoue's transformation was only a faint change in aura. His appearance and demeanor remained the same. 

"So... this isn't just imitation!" 

At that moment, recalling Inoue's unique traits, Ishikawa had a bold hypothesis. 

"His ability must be related to his acting." 

"As for the method..." 

"Through masterful acting, he deceives his own brain into believing he can achieve a certain state, allowing him to execute corresponding moves!" 

In other words, if Ishikawa's guess was correct, Inoue's ultimate skill was the pinnacle of his acting—turning fiction into reality!