Prince of Tennis: The Emperor's Eye

Chapter 281: Chapter 91: First Experience with Synchronization—Fuji

Tanegashima’s innate ability was actually only one—Nothingness, the power to nullify all techniques. But on top of that, he had developed five more powerful moves: Halt Destruction Nothingness, Void Before Birth, Unknowable Nothingness, Reciprocal Void, and Ultimate Void. Halt Destruction Nothingness made the ball disappear after nullifying the opponent’s shot, leaving them unable to even see the return.

Right now, Tanegashima used Halt Destruction Nothingness to catch Fuji and Niō off guard. Don’t be fooled by his lazy attitude—he was actually flawless and never careless.

While Fuji and Niō were still stunned, Tanegashima had already grabbed another ball and launched an ultra-fast serve. Fuji quickly suppressed his shock, sprinted to the right baseline corner, and flicked the bouncing ball upward.

In an instant, Fuji added intense spin, sending the ball soaring high across the sky until it vanished from sight. Then, dazzling fireworks seemed to burst above.

”Hoshi Hanabi!”

Amid the radiant fireworks, a ball dropped straight toward the baseline. But Tanegashima’s insight was extraordinary. He had already read Fuji’s path and was waiting at the baseline.

Before the ball even landed, Tanegashima swung. Just like before, the moment the ball hit his racket, all spin and power vanished—along with the ball itself.

”Halt Destruction Nothingness!”

But at that instant, Fuji pushed all his senses to the limit. Time itself seemed to slow, then stop. The court looked like a frozen painting.

”Attack of the Wind—Light Wind!”

Within the frozen time, Fuji judged the trajectory from Tanegashima’s swing and dashed onto the path of the ball. When time returned to normal, Fuji intercepted the vanished shot and, using both sides of his racket, forced tremendous spin before firing it across the court.

”Hecatoncheires no Monban!”

Omagari reacted at once, crossing both rackets and returning the ball. But it struck the net and rolled down slowly. Omagari froze for a moment, unable to react.

”15-15!”

”Ara~ I forgot to say, your ball won’t cross the net anymore,” Fuji said with a smile, clearly answering Tanegashima’s earlier words.

Tanegashima raised his brow, gave Fuji an interested look, then strode to the baseline, tossing another ball for an ultra-fast serve.

’Tezuka’ slid to the landing spot, rainbow-colored light rising from his body, condensing into his left hand. With a fierce swing, he sent the ball back with crushing force and spin toward Tanegashima and Omagari’s side.

Omagari intercepted at the net and struck sharply at Tezuka’s right-foot corner. But a massive white vortex swirled around Tezuka, pulling the ball in. The power of Muga no Kyōchi burst from his left hand, doubling the spin and impact before returning it.

”Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami doesn’t work on me.”

Tanegashima had already stepped forward. Stretching his racket out, he intercepted. All spin, impact, even Muga’s power vanished.

”As long as I destroy the spin, your domain collapses on its own, right?” Tanegashima laughed as he hit back, the ball vanishing once more.

But the next moment, time froze again. Fuji flashed to the left sideline. As he swung, time resumed, and the ball shot back across the net.

It dropped sharply, skimming along the ground before sliding forward and out of the court, right under Tanegashima and Omagari’s eyes.

”15-30!”

”Even if you destroyed the domain’s spin, as long as the ball still carries rotation, you can’t let your guard down!” Fuji said with a smile.

”Light Wind, huh? Truly a troublesome ability. Ultra-fast dimension isn’t simple,” for the first time, Tanegashima’s expression grew serious.

”Give me a break~ What a pain. Looks like I can’t slack anymore,” Omagari muttered, rolling his neck before giving Tanegashima a look.

Tanegashima nodded. He stepped back to the baseline and served. Tezuka flashed to the landing point and returned. But just as the ball crossed the net, a figure suddenly loomed over it.

Omagari leapt into the air, crossing both hands, two rackets stretched back. Just as the ball was about to hit, a blur flashed and the ball was instantly struck back. Neither Fuji nor ’Tezuka’ could see how Omagari swung, not even which hand had moved.

”Double Dragon Slash!”

”30-30!”

’This... even Yanagi Renji hasn’t collected this data! As expected, none of the First Unit members are simple!’ Niō’s heart jolted in shock. Omagari’s play didn’t match the data at all.

Fuji stared at Omagari, who spun two rackets effortlessly around his arms, a sense of caution rising. His dual-wielding technique far surpassed Ryōma’s.

Omagari Ryuji spinning his rackets.

”This match won’t be easy for you to win! Sorry~ but this road’s blocked!” After finishing his spin, Omagari reversed the left-hand grip, stretched the right hand back, his expression dead serious as he spoke to Fuji and Niō.

Omagari Ryuji striking a pose.

”Is that so? I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Then let’s play a real doubles match, Fuji-kun!” Niō suddenly dropped his disguise and spoke to Fuji beside him.

”Then let’s begin, Niō-kun!” Fuji nodded with a smile.

As Tanegashima readied his serve at the baseline, Niō’s figure began shifting again. Soon two Fuji Shūsuke stood side by side, both wrapped in milky-white streams of air that connected together.

”Phantom Synchronization!”

”Playing against you is always such a hassle~” Tanegashima shook his head at the sight of Niō transforming into Fuji, his tone helpless, then tossed up the ball for an ultra-fast serve.

This was Fuji’s first time experiencing synchronization. The feeling of perfectly sharing intent with a partner was completely new. Just a single thought, and the other knew what to do.

Fuji dashed to the landing spot and blocked with a backhand, sending the ball high. Omagari jumped and smashed it hard.

At the same time, the other ’Fuji’ leapt at the net, body tilting forward, striking down with full force. The instant the ball was returned, a flurry of snowflakes filled the opposite court.

”Attack of the Wind—Aoi Fubuki!”

When Omagari smashed, Tanegashima had anticipated Fuji’s Kirin Otoshi, so he was already waiting at the baseline. But he hadn’t expected Niō’s phantom Fuji to unleash Aoi Fubuki. At that moment, it was too late to intercept.

”30-40!”

”Niō’s phantoms are getting stronger~” Jackal muttered in the stands.

”That Aoi Fubuki was less than 5% weaker than Fuji’s,” Yanagi Renji added.

”Let me see the results of your Cliff of the Heart training, Niō!” Yukimura whispered to himself, watching Niō transformed into Fuji.

Tanegashima served again at ultra-high speed, but Fuji returned easily, posing no threat. Then, with seamless coordination, the two Fuji moved into position.

Omagari swung both rackets, making it impossible to predict the shot. But with two Fuji each tracking one racket, the exact path was revealed the instant he struck.

Fuji stepped to the net, gripping his racket with both hands, intercepting Omagari’s shot. As the ball struck, Fuji’s wrists twisted gently, shaving away every bit of energy and spin.

”Void Tranquility!”

When the ball’s momentum vanished, Fuji nudged it forward lightly. The ball cleared the net, rolled down along it, and dropped dead on the ground.

Omagari froze, his first thought being Tanegashima’s Nothingness. In that brief daze, the ball was already still on the court.

”GAME! Second String Selection! 2-0!”