Chapter 494 - 173: Ryōma’s Resolve

Chapter 494: Chapter 173: Ryōma’s Resolve

"GAME! Spain leads! 3–0!"

As the umpire’s announcement echoed out, the Singles Two match between Team America and Team Spain entered a timeout. Ryōma returned to the bench with a complicated expression. In the past two games, he had been almost completely eroded by the Ten’i Radiance, unable to react at all to Ryōga’s shots.

"Ryōma, backing down like this isn’t your style! Don’t you still have another kind of radiance? Facing it head-on is a man’s romance!" On the American bench, Don Pacino couldn’t hold back anymore and spoke up directly.

Growing up as a street punk in the city, even though he had been recruited into the U-17 because of his tennis talent, the rough edge in his bones was hard to hide. On top of that, he treated Ryōma like a little brother, so Don Pacino was cheering him on in his own way.

"That’s right. Ryōma, the way you are now doesn’t look like Echizen Nanjirō-sensei’s son at all! Even if Ryōga over there is your older brother and also Nanjirō-sensei’s son, what was that almost-giving-up play just now?" Geisel Jackson chimed in, his tone both angry and conflicted.

"Alright~ that’s enough. Facing Ryōga’s special ability, no matter what techniques Ryōma uses, they’ll probably just get devoured in the end..." Kiko said, unable to keep listening.

"Well~ in the end, it’s because we lost earlier that Ryōma is under so much pressure," Dodo added with some guilt.

But Ryōma didn’t respond to any of them. In his mind, he kept replaying the earlier rallies. He had already confirmed that there was no way he could beat his older brother on fundamentals alone. After all, as players both trained by Echizen Nanjirō, Ryōma knew exactly how solid the foundation their father had laid for the two of them was.

’Is this your tennis? To me, this is nothing but Samurai Echizen Nanjirō’s tennis. And Echizen Ryōma... at best, you’re just a counterfeit~’ Akashi-senpai’s cold voice suddenly rang out in Ryōma’s mind.

’A counterfeit? Akashi-senpai, is my tennis really that worthless in your eyes?’ Ryōma instinctively questioned himself, but he already had the answer. Memories of countless practice matches with his old man surfaced one after another.

’Echizen Ryōma... that’s right. I am Echizen Ryōma. I’m not a second-generation samurai, not my dad’s copy, and definitely not some counterfeit like Akashi-senpai said!!! Then I’ll use my brother’s hands to completely say goodbye to my old self!’ Ryōma silently made up his mind, then picked up his racket and walked back onto the court.

The fourth game was Ryōga’s service game. Ryōga had already canceled his Ten’i Muhō no Kiwami. Looking relaxed, he walked to the baseline, picked up a tennis ball, and tested its bounce.

Standing at the backcourt opposite him, Ryōma suddenly flared with seven-colored light, his aura rising steadily. He had activated Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami, though this clearly posed no threat to Ryōga.

Sure enough, Ryōga glanced at Ryōma with mild curiosity, then casually tossed the ball up. After a sharp impact, the ball flew toward America’s half with fierce spin.

Seeing this, Ryōma shifted the power of Muga no Kyōchi into his legs. With a flash, he arrived near the landing point. After the ball hit the ground, it spun rapidly in place for a brief moment, then kicked sharply to the right.

"Samurai Outside Spin Serve!"

Unfortunately for Ryōga, with Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami boosting him, Ryōma’s speed had increased dramatically. With just a sideways step, he easily intercepted the ball. In the next instant, the power of Muga no Kyōchi transferred to his left arm, and Ryōma struck the ball with doubled speed and power.

Ryōga’s eyes narrowed slightly as he chased down the ball. Before it could hit the ground, he used a half-volley stance to drive it back into America’s half. With seven-colored light flickering around his legs, Ryōma appeared at the net almost like teleportation. Gripping the racket with both hands, he swung without hesitation.

However, the moment Ryōma’s racket made contact with the ball, an unimaginable weight surged through the frame into his arms. Just as he was about to shift the power of Muga no Kyōchi, he suddenly realized that Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami on his body had vanished without him noticing.

"15–0!"

"Looks like you still haven’t learned your lesson~ chibi!" Ryōga said slowly, looking at Ryōma with a playful smile as seven-colored light shimmered around his body.

"So that’s how it is. Even Ryōma’s special power that doubles the ball has been devoured by Ryōga," Hopkins said at the sidelines, frowning.

"Ryōma... are you planning to...?" Reinhardt looked at Ryōma with an extremely complicated expression, words catching in his throat.

Just as Ryōga chuckled and was about to toss the ball again, seven-colored light rose from Ryōma’s body once more. This time, the light gathered at his head in an instant, and tiny star-like sparks flickered around his hair.

"Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami!"

"You still won’t give up? Chibi!" Ryōga frowned slightly, but the smile stayed on his face as he hit his second Samurai Outside Spin Serve.

The moment Ryōga swung, Ryōma was already running to his left. After the ball landed, it kicked left just as expected, but in the next instant, Ryōma’s racket intercepted it and sent it flying straight toward the right sideline of Spain’s half.

A long trail of afterimages stretched out behind Ryōga. Just like Ryōma earlier, with Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami boosting him, his speed had risen sharply. In a flash, Ryōga caught up to the ball and snapped a backhand without hesitation.

The ball tore through the air and flew toward Ryōma’s open right side. It was a straight passing shot. With Ryōga’s previous posture, a crosscourt return would have been the easiest and most reasonable choice.

But Ryōma seemed to have predicted it. The instant the ball crossed the net, he was already waiting on its unavoidable path. When the ball hit his racket, the simulated images in his mind vanished instantly, and the seven-colored light and star sparks around him disappeared as well. Even so, he still managed to return the ball.

On the opposite side, star-like sparks immediately appeared around Ryōga’s hood. In the next moment, countless simulated images formed in his mind, including Ryōma’s next moves. Just now, he had devoured Ryōma’s Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami.

However, as Ryōga devoured Saiki Kanpatsu no Kiwami, the Hyaku Ren Jitoku no Kiwami aura on his body rapidly faded. After all, Muga no Kyōchi techniques couldn’t be active at the same time. Ryōga clearly didn’t care. He stepped forward aggressively toward the incoming ball.

Just as Ryōga was about to unleash a powerful drive, Ryōma began bouncing rhythmically in place. When Ryōga hit the drive, Ryōma pivoted on his feet and rushed toward the ball.

"One-Footed Split Step!"

"So heavy..." That was Ryōma’s first thought when he made contact. Still, he grit his teeth and sent the ball back. The return angle wasn’t ideal, and the ball floated straight up into the air over Spain’s half.

Ryōga instantly leapt high, his right arm driving the racket down in a brutal smash. Ryōma instinctively took a few steps back, but then seemed to notice something unbelievable. He froze in place for a moment as the ball streaked past him and bounced out of bounds.

"30–0!"

"Hey~ why didn’t you devour my One-Footed Split Step just now? Or is it that... you can’t devour footwork-type techniques?" Ryōma didn’t care about losing the point. He looked up at Ryōga, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"This is the last bit of dignity your big brother is leaving you~ how about it? Aren’t you touched, chibi~?" Ryōga replied with a grin as he pulled off his hood.

"Heh~~~~~~ is that so? But I remember your devouring ability can’t be controlled freely, right... nii-san!" Ryōma wore the same playful smile. In the next instant, dazzling cyan light erupted from his body, and a gentle wave swept across the entire court.

"Radiance of Love!"