Prince of Tennis: The Emperor's Eye

Chapter 452: Chapter 131: The Calm Return of Akutsu

”Game! Greece! 6–5!”

When Zeus unleashed his full-power Thunder Serve, Ryōma couldn’t even touch the ball, let alone return it. Although Zeus had intentionally aimed away from him, countless lightning bolts still crashed down from the sky, completely trapping Ryōma in place.

Inside his spiritual world, the samurai spirit behind him was struck to the ground by the thunder, both of his dual katanas covered in cracks as if they might shatter at any moment.

The situation worsened quickly. Within just four serves, the bright blue aura surrounding Ryōma began to fade. As Zeus claimed his service game, the dual lights that had once glowed around Ryōma vanished into the air.

However, a golden light—recently awakened and guided by Zeus—now wrapped around Ryōma’s body. It was a variation of the Legendary Radiance. Back when Ryōma was still very young, Nanjirō had devised a special foundation for him based on that very principle, using his own unique training methods.

The reason Nanjirō had done so was simple—he couldn’t be sure whether Ryōma would ever master all three radiances. This served as a hidden trump card. After all, in some ways, the power of the Legendary Radiance was no weaker than Ten’i Muhō no Kiwami itself.

With Zeus taking the eleventh game, Ryōma once again stood at the edge of defeat. If he could win the next game, there would still be a chance for a tiebreaker. But if he lost... the Singles Three match would end right there.

”It’s rare to see Zeus-sama push the Olympus Rainbow Radiance to this extent!” Hermes said in awe from the Greek bench.

”Brother... maybe we should increase the power of our Execution Law again!” Orion spoke nervously, his voice trembling slightly under the thrill of Zeus’s Thunder Serve.

”I... don’t think that’s necessary,” Apollo said, swallowing hard as he instantly rejected the idea.

”Zeus-sama’s control over the weather seems to have grown stronger again,” Hercules muttered quietly.

Although Ryōma’s expression showed a trace of shock, his composure remained intact. Standing calmly at the baseline, he took a deep breath, picked up a tennis ball, tested its bounce, then tossed it up and swung sharply.

The ball shot toward the Greek side with fierce spin. Yet before Ryōma had even finished his swing, Zeus had already sprinted left—clearly releasing the restraint he’d put on his sixth sense.

As expected, when the ball landed, it bounced up and curved sharply in midair toward the left sideline. But Zeus was already waiting at the perfect position. The instant the sound of impact rang out, a blinding yellow flash cut across the court toward the Japan team’s half.

Right after serving, Ryōma had charged forward to the net. The moment he saw Zeus’s return, he dropped his weight, sliding forward as sparks scattered from the friction between his shoes and the court.

Just as the ball cleared the net, Ryōma leapt up, swinging his left hand in a sharp topspin flick. The next instant, the ball rocketed high into the sky above the Greek court.

”Drive B!”

Before Ryōma even landed, a blinding bolt of lightning streaked past his eyes. A moment later, the sound of the ball hitting the ground came from behind him—his face stiffened instantly.

When he turned to look, Zeus was already airborne. Before Ryōma’s Drive B had even started to descend, Zeus had struck it back using another Thunder Serve.

”0–15!”

”You seem to have misunderstood something, Echizen Ryōma,” Zeus said evenly as he landed on the court. ”The so-called Thunder Serve isn’t a technique or a move.”

Ryōma’s pupils narrowed sharply. He suddenly remembered Zeus’s match with Akashi during the group stage. Though he’d only watched the broadcast and couldn’t see the Alternate Dimension, based on what he had witnessed during training at Japan’s U-17 camp, he could already guess what was happening.

Still, Ryōma quickly regained his composure. Walking silently back to the baseline, he switched his racket to his right hand, tossed up another ball, and twisted his wrist slightly as he swung.

The ball glowed faintly orange-red and spun violently across the court toward the Greek side. Zeus initially stepped back, then suddenly stopped mid-motion, frowning slightly with confusion.

When the ball hit the ground, it didn’t bounce immediately—it spun rapidly along the surface, circling half around Zeus before springing upward straight toward his face.

”Storm Outer Spin Serve!”

Zeus tilted his head aside just in time to dodge it. Yet the puzzled look on his face didn’t fade—in fact, it deepened. His sixth sense hadn’t detected that serve’s trajectory at all.

”Ace! 15–15!”

”Hey~ how’s that serve compared to your Thunder Serve?” Ryōma asked with a light grin after scoring the point.

Hearing his voice, Zeus turned his head toward him—and froze for a moment. A faint purple aura now wrapped around Ryōma’s entire body, clearly not the Light of Pride.

Even the samurai spirit behind him had changed—its robe had turned deep violet, radiating a sinister and unsettling energy that carried an aura of evil.

”Alternate Dimension—Asura Path!”

”This really is beyond my expectations. But take my advice, Echizen Ryōma—your tennis path has become far too complicated,” Zeus said seriously after realizing what state Ryōma had entered.

Ryōma didn’t seem to care. He tossed up another ball and struck another Storm Outer Spin Serve. As the ball shot toward the Greek court, Zeus’s body erupted with a golden radiance.

It was a holy light formed by fusing the Olympus Silver Radiance and the Amber Radiance—fundamentally different from the Rainbow Radiance. Once Zeus activated it, his sixth sense grew sharper than ever.

This time, Zeus easily returned Ryōma’s serve. Yet under the boost of the Asura Path, Ryōma’s alternate-dimensional power increased dramatically. He met Zeus’s returns head-on, fighting him in a fierce rally.

Unfortunately, Ryōma had only just entered this state. After just seven or eight exchanges, Zeus caught a gap and fired a baseline passing shot straight past him to take the point.

”15–30!”

The next few rallies followed a similar pattern. With his heightened sixth sense, Zeus anticipated every one of Ryōma’s returns. Lightning occasionally flashed down during the match—not enough to harm Ryōma, but enough to keep him constantly off balance.

”15–40!”

”Game! 7–5! Match over! Winner—Team Greece! Total score 2–0!”

——————

”Game! Switzerland! 2–1!”

Meanwhile, in the other arena where Japan faced Switzerland, Amadeus once again used his sharp insight and calm precision to take the third game. Akutsu, on the other hand, looked visibly agitated.

When he returned to the bench, his face twisted in frustration—furious that he couldn’t overpower his opponent in a direct rally. Seeing his expression, no one dared to approach.

”Challenging your opponent in his strongest area—how foolish can you be?”

A cold voice came from behind Akutsu. His eye twitched at the sound, but he didn’t snap back. The owner of that voice was Akashi—and Akutsu knew Akashi was never wrong. More importantly, he knew he couldn’t beat him.

”Don’t forget what you’re best at. Don’t get dragged into your opponent’s rhythm,” Akashi said evenly, stepping forward with his jacket draped over his shoulders, his gaze calm but sharp.

”Don’t order me around! I know what I’m doing!” Akutsu shot back, his tone rough, but the flicker in his eyes showed he’d taken the words to heart.

Coach Mifune couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head. At this point, only Akashi could rein Akutsu in. Anyone else—even Byoudouin—Akutsu would ignore completely.

As the timeout ended, Akashi watched Akutsu’s back as he returned to the court, sighing quietly. He remembered how, in the original timeline, Akutsu had done the same—trying to trade power rallies with Amadeus, losing four straight games, and ending up beaten to a pulp by counter shots.

Although this Akutsu was far stronger now, he still chose to abandon his strengths and fight Amadeus head-on. Akashi could only shake his head inwardly.

’Don’t tell me this is still the effect of timeline convergence,’ he thought to himself.

Back on court, Akutsu’s wild aura suddenly shifted. A silver light rose slowly around him, his presence growing sharper and more savage.

”Alternate Dimension—Asura Path!”

Amadeus noticed it immediately, his instincts on alert—but he didn’t overreact. He tossed the ball high and swung down, sending it at blazing speed toward Japan’s side.

Akutsu pushed off hard, dashing to the landing point. In the next instant, Amadeus’s eyes widened in shock. Akutsu’s figure split into five overlapping silhouettes, each performing a different swing motion.

”Eighth Consciousness!”

A flash of yellow streaked beneath Akutsu’s feet. Amadeus froze—he couldn’t distinguish which shot was real. This was beyond what even he could comprehend.

”0–15!”

”Looks like the warm-up’s finally over,” Akutsu said with a cruel grin, his tone mocking as he stared straight at Amadeus.