By the time Date Tech's players realized what was happening, the volleyball had already stopped rolling.
The duo's ultra-fast attacks had finally made themselves known on Date Tech's side of the court.
A deep, suffocating sense of helplessness clung to every Date Tech player, tightening with each breath.
This wasn't just the kind of first-seen, unblockable super fast attack Karasuno had demonstrated earlier.
It was worse, because Ichinose Guren could still serve.
Compared to the top-level jump serve in junior high, Guren, even entering high school and facing third-years who had a two-year physical development advantage, could be quickly adapted to and received.
But the sheer intensity of his daily training, pushing his body to the limit, allowed him to catch up to those older players at incredible speed.
Even though his badge was still not fully upgraded, his adolescent growth and relentless training had already elevated his serve far beyond his junior high level.
Guren's expression held a sly, half-smile as he tossed the ball, letting it rest perfectly in the palm of his left hand. Then, with a sudden, decisive motion, he announced to Date Tech:
"Here it comes again~"
BOOM!
The ball shot toward Date Tech's court, spinning fiercely, a violent missile of a serve.
The previously chanting supporters of Date Tech were now crushed into silence by the glaring "0" on the scoreboard.
Some girls even shrank back in fear, unwilling to watch their players face yet another unstoppable serve.
On the court, every Date Tech player's attention locked solely on the whistling volleyball.
Yet their libero, a first-year with limited volleyball experience and no elite talent, still couldn't react in time.
All he could do was watch the ball slam into the floor.
For Date Tech's captain, Moniwa Kaname, this was crushing.
The enormous pressure froze him.
This was the third-year players' last big tournament.
They knew clearly, volleyball was a passion, not a profession.
With their talent, even V3-level leagues were unreachable.
If they couldn't survive on volleyball, entrance exams would demand their full effort, win or lose.
He could accept his team's failure.
Last year against Shiratorizawa had already proven that they weren't strong enough to dominate Miyagi.
Yet he had hoped for a few more sets of competitive play, until Karasuno ran them 7:0.
Now it seemed: the second set might be their absolute limit.
"We have to play all three sets, no matter what!!!"
Moniwa's eyes locked onto the flying volleyball.
He had always been the toughest, most resilient player, just like Sawamura Daichi.
This time, Guren's serve was crystal clear to him.
Every part of his body, every bone and muscle, knew exactly what to do.
No thought. No strategy.
Just instinct.
"I can see it."
With a single impulse, he was already in front of the volleyball, moving as though pulled by some invisible force.
Feet planted, he leapt, hands moving naturally together, crouching to absorb the force, channeling his core and shoulder joints to adjust the ball's rebound.
A clean, fluid, utterly precise motion caught the massive serve perfectly.
Guren's eyes widened slightly, even he was surprised to see such harmony in Moniwa's movements.
Every motion screamed, This is exactly how it should be done.
But quickly, Guren saw Moniwa return to his normal state, trained, capable, but limited in talent.
"This guy…"
"What state did he just enter?"
"That set of movements… he was too good."
Coincidence or divine grace, Moniwa's masterful receive had perfectly countered Guren's serve.
Meanwhile, Karasuno's front row, lacking the calm control of Tsukishima Kei and Guren's all-round firepower, didn't seem as overwhelming as the Iron Wall itself.
Yet Shoyo Hinata's agile movement and Azumane Asahi's blocking created a formidable net of defense.
"Let's recover all the points we lost!"
Kamasaki Yasushi was energetic and fierce, but facing the 2-meter-high blocking pillar, Momozawa Yūdai, his spikes seemed less threatening.
Forced by the height and reach of Momozawa, Kamasaki aimed at the smaller Hinata, firing a rare, powerful spike.
"Touch!"
"You shorty!"
Despite appearing timid on and off the court, Hinata was ferocious in this confrontation.
He knew his own weaknesses and met them head-on.
Against Kamasaki, Hinata's soft-block absorbed most of the spike's force.
Meanwhile, Kageyama and Sawamura, idle in the first seven exchanges, snapped into focus.
Sawamura executed a near-perfect receive, echoing the almost Zen-like precision Moniwa had just displayed.
Then Kageyama set a tactical quick attack on Momozawa.
Although the spike wasn't as high as Guren's and not as fast as a Quick Attack, Momozawa's 2-meter frame and solid technique made it impossible for Date Tech to stop.
The first spike earned Karasuno a point.
Guren's earlier spikes and serves had not only secured six points for Karasuno, they had freed up space for the rest of the team.
Date Tech's Iron Wall didn't have enough time to adapt to the other attackers.
8:0.
A dream opening for Karasuno.
A nightmare for Date Tech.
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria