When Akashi heard Ludovic's words, a flicker of realization flashed in his eyes. It only took him a second to understand. Durandal was one of the three legendary holy swords of Europe, and its origin lay in France—the very homeland of Ludovic.
For a descendant of an ancient French noble family like Ludovic, recognizing that sword was no surprise. What did surprise Akashi was that a Noble Phantasm, one of Gilgamesh's treasures, could be recognized by someone in this world at all.
Ludovic himself was completely confused by what was happening. Though he had seen Akashi's match against Zeus, the footage couldn't capture the illusions of an Alternate Dimension. To him, Akashi's King's Treasury was something utterly beyond comprehension.
"Your Highness, it seems you've lost your composure," Camus's calm voice came from the sidelines, pulling Ludovic back to focus.
He quickly grasped the situation—this ability must be similar in nature to his own Knight's Will. The shock came not from its power but from how real and overwhelming the illusion felt, catching him off guard.
But while Ludovic was regaining his clarity, Akashi had already tossed the ball again. This time, two ornate short swords burst out from the golden ripples behind him, crossing paths as they streaked toward Ludovic from opposite directions.
For a brief moment, Ludovic hesitated, unsure which one to intercept. That hesitation cost him dearly—one of the blades transformed into a tennis ball mid-flight, speeding past his right side and landing cleanly beyond the baseline.
"King's Treasury—Ganjiang and Moye!"
"Ace! 40–0!"
The idea had come to Akashi the moment before—if Durandal could manifest, then so could other legendary blades. The twin swords Ganjiang and Moye, fabled relics from ancient Huaxia, were also among Gilgamesh's vast collection—at least in the Nasuverse that Akashi's Dimensional Space drew upon.
He didn't give Ludovic a second to recover. The fourth serve came fast, and the Japan team immediately recognized the artifact that manifested behind him—it was a weapon Akashi had unleashed more than once before.
"King's Treasury—Gáe Bolg!"
In the spiritual realm, a scarlet spear shot forward, piercing straight through Ludovic's heart and pinning him to the ground. It was a cruel, merciless image—one that repeated no matter how hard he tried to dodge. No matter what he did, the crimson spear always struck its mark.
"Game! Japan! 5–0! Change court!"
Returning to the bench, Ludovic dropped heavily into his seat. He was clearly on the losing side, yet not even a hint of despair clouded his face. His pride wouldn't allow it. If anything, his fighting spirit burned even brighter.
Camus said nothing this time. He understood that the prince already knew what to do next. There was no need for guidance—this was a battle Ludovic had to finish on his own terms.
Over at the Japan bench, Coach Mifune sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, looking utterly relaxed. For him, the match was already over. The French boy didn't stand a chance against Akashi.
"I've always wondered, Akashi-kun," Fuji said with a light smile, "just how many weapons can your King's Treasury create?"
"That probably depends on how much Akashi-kun can imagine," Yukimura answered before Akashi could speak.
As another player who wielded mental-based techniques, Yukimura understood the principle behind Akashi's ability. In his mind, anything Akashi could envision could be given form through sheer mental force.
"How many treasures, you ask? Honestly, even I don't know," Akashi said quietly as the break ended, walking calmly back to the court.
"'Treasures,' huh… quite an interesting term," Fuji murmured thoughtfully, his blue eyes now open and gleaming with intrigue.
The sixth game began—Ludovic's serve. As he stepped back onto the court, a strange energy surged from him, radiating with fierce determination. When he tossed the ball into the air, a phantom of a knight on horseback materialized behind him, clad in silver armor and holding a gleaming sword.
"Alternate Dimension—Royal Knight!"
The moment Ludovic served, the phantom knight charged forward. In the spiritual realm, the armored figure swung its sword down with blinding speed, aiming straight for Akashi. But Akashi merely tilted his head slightly—enough to let the blow pass harmlessly.
In the real world, the ball whizzed past Akashi's side and landed right on the baseline before bouncing out of bounds. His expression didn't change in the slightest—cold, calm, and unreadable.
"Ace! 15–0!"
"Hmph, finally showing your true power? Too bad—you picked the wrong opponent," Byoudouin said with a mocking grin from the Japan bench.
"Well, to open an Alternate Dimension at his age—that's impressive enough," Omagari remarked lazily, stretching his arms.
"Ah~ come to think of it, didn't little Akashi also awaken his Alternate Dimension when he was in first year?" Irie suddenly said with a teasing smile, glancing toward Oni.
"That kid's Alternate Dimension was beyond common sense. If I had to compare, I'd say its strength was about the same level as Camus's—both were born as second-stage users," Oni replied, recalling the first time he had faced Akashi. There was a trace of nostalgia in his tone.
While they chatted, Ludovic had already tossed his second serve. The knight's charge came crashing forward again, but this time, an enormous medieval castle rose behind him, its towering walls exuding overwhelming might.
Just as the knight's blade was about to strike Akashi, countless golden chains shot out from the void. In the next instant, the knight's phantom was completely restrained, unable to move. The ground beneath Ludovic's feet trembled violently.
Before the stunned eyes of the French team, Ludovic was blown backward by a surge of chains bursting from the earth. In the real world, the tennis ball zipped between his legs and landed cleanly beyond the baseline.
"15–15!"
Ludovic lifted his head in disbelief. Behind Akashi, a faint silhouette was beginning to take form—and the moment Zeus saw it from the stands, his expression flickered ever so slightly.
"Alternate Dimension—Enkidu!"
Within Akashi's half of the court, dozens of chains coiled and twisted through the air. From the cracks in the ground, fresh green vines sprouted and climbed upward, turning his surroundings into a dense, living forest.
Seeing this, Ludovic's face darkened. He realized that even his final trump card might not be enough. But instead of despair, his eyes hardened with resolve. He tossed the ball again, swinging his racket with all his might.
The knight once more began his fearless charge, and around them, majestic castle walls rose to enclose the arena. To the spectators, it looked like an ancient Roman coliseum brought to life.
This time, Akashi didn't immediately use Chains of Heaven. He wanted to see whether Ludovic had any hidden tricks left. The two began exchanging blistering shots. In the mental realm, the armored knight and Enkidu clashed head-on.
It was the first time anyone—be it the Japan team or the audience—had seen Enkidu fight without relying on his chains. Surrounded by spiraling links, the being's right arm transformed into a radiant blade. With one light step, Enkidu leapt forward and engaged the charging knight in close combat.
The battle between them was fierce and dazzling. But within mere moments, the knight began to falter. In the real world, Ludovic's movements slowed, his rhythm breaking. Akashi saw his opening—he swung his racket sharply, sending the ball across the court in a fast diagonal drive.
"15–30!"
"That's strange. Ever since the World Cup started, Akashi hasn't used his original Alternate Dimension at all," Kite said from the bench, frowning slightly.
"He's probably conserving energy," Krauser replied thoughtfully. "The opponents waiting for us ahead won't be easy."
"I'm not so sure. Didn't Akashi just use King's Treasury earlier? That looks like a power from his first Alternate Dimension," Tachibana said, joining the discussion.
"Maybe it's just me," Chitose mused, watching Enkidu's phantom on the court, "but I feel like there's some kind of connection between that previous Alternate Dimension and this one."
"15–40!"
As Fudomine's players continued their quiet debate, Ludovic stumbled again. His knight phantom was covered in deep cracks, the armor splintered and fading.
By contrast, Enkidu's white robe was spotless, untouched. The difference in power was unmistakable. Even Ludovic, proud as he was, felt a twinge of helplessness rise in his chest.
But a second later, he crushed that thought. Taking a deep breath, he threw the ball into the air again and slammed it forward with all his might. The ball glimmered with streaks of starlight as it shot toward Akashi's court.
As the knight phantom charged once more, Akashi's expression shifted slightly—he was done playing around. From the last two exchanges, he already knew Ludovic had nothing left to reveal.
Golden light surged in his left hand, blazing so brightly that Tanegashima unconsciously tightened his grip on his racket at the bench.
The instant the ball hit the ground, Enkidu's phantom behind Akashi vanished—replaced by a massive cannon, its barrel glowing with condensed energy.
A split second later, as Akashi swung, a deafening roar echoed through the air. The ball turned into a blazing golden sphere, its surface crawling with streaks of plasma.
"Glowing Shot—Mana Cannon!"
In the mental realm, the mighty fortress and the charging knight were both obliterated, erased by the cannon's overwhelming blast.
In the real world, Ludovic stood frozen. His instincts screamed at him that trying to block that shot would mean death.
The ball slammed into the backcourt, gouging cracks into the floor before rebounding violently toward the audience barrier. The spectators gasped as the golden glow surged closer.
Just before impact, a racket appeared in front of the ball. A faint, invisible pulse spread outward, steadily neutralizing the shot's force.
Tanegashima's arms trembled as he struggled to absorb the blast, gritting his teeth. Even with his ability, the sheer power of the Mana Cannon was almost too much. His feet slid back despite himself—until Byoudouin stepped forward, bracing him from behind.
Together, they stopped the light.
"Game! 6–0! First set complete! Winner: Japan Team! Total score, 1–0!"