As Zeus awakened the Olympus Rainbow Light, the strange aura around him grew even stronger. Akashi narrowed his eyes, his mental force stirring restlessly in his mind.
It was Zeus's turn to serve in the third game. The moment he tossed the ball, the entire court turned into a vast desert. The blazing sun above beat down, scorching the land.
"Alternate Dimension—Trial of the Gods!"
The ball shot through the distorted air like a meteor, streaking toward Akashi. Yet in the next instant, Akashi returned it cleanly. Zeus frowned slightly—he suddenly noticed Akashi's body was giving off a faint silver glow, eerily similar to their Silver White Light.
The sweltering desert seemed to have no effect on Akashi. Their rally was as fierce as ever, and not a single bead of sweat appeared on Akashi's face. That made Zeus cautious.
As their exchanges dragged on, even the Japan team members on the sidelines felt the heat, thin layers of sweat forming on their skin despite not playing.
Meanwhile, the Greece team looked completely used to it. They shielded themselves with chilled towels and drank iced water from the bench, as if already prepared for such conditions.
In the mental world, Akashi and Zeus battled in the endless desert. This space should have belonged solely to Akashi, yet somehow Zeus had been dragged in as well. Neither paid it any mind, both fully focused on exposing each other's flaws.
Akashi's Emperor Eye caught an opening. He struck immediately, sending the ball flying. But a sudden sandstorm swept past, and mysteriously the ball reappeared in Akashi's own court.
"15-0!"
The same thing kept happening. Every time Akashi pressed the advantage, Zeus would seize a point through inexplicable means. Still, Akashi stayed calm, not the least bit surprised.
"30-0!"
"30-15!"
"40-15!"
"Game! Greece! 2-1!"
Zeus quickly secured the third game. For everyone who knew Akashi, this was unthinkable. The one who was always unreadable was actually falling behind!
'So the sixth sense can reach this level? In the original, Tokugawa's premonition combined with Yukimura's Five-Senses Nullification resonance was needed to create this ability. But for Zeus it's innate. Sometimes the difference between people really is that unreasonable.' Akashi thought as he stared at Zeus.
Indeed, Zeus's so-called omniscience and control over the rhythm of the match came from his sixth sense, a talent he was born with. Unlike the resonance of Tokugawa and Yukimura, Zeus's mastery rivaled even Akashi's Emperor Eye.
But that still wasn't Zeus's most unique ability. Akashi could sense something else—an aura nearly identical to his own Alternate Dimension. Divinity. Gilgamesh's divinity granted Akashi tremendous boosts to his mental power and resistance, and Zeus carried the same divine aura.
"Maybe your ability can absolutely suppress others, but unfortunately for you, your opponent today is me," Akashi said coolly from the baseline, locking eyes with Zeus.
The next moment, countless phantom chains shot out from the void. A figure with long pale-green hair slowly emerged behind Akashi. At the same time, the desert vanished, half the ground now covered in lush grass.
"Alternate Dimension—Enkidu!"
The moment Akashi invoked it, Zeus felt as if confronted by a natural enemy. His hair stood on end, a wave of inexplicable dread surging through him, making even his own heart tremble in confusion.
"The gods crafted humanity's despair, so use me without restraint~" A distant, ethereal voice echoed faintly in everyone's minds. But when they tried to listen closely, it was as if nothing had been heard at all.
Akashi tossed the ball, his racket cracking against it with speed as it shot across to Zeus's half. Zeus moved to return it but suddenly realized his movement had slowed drastically. In the mental world, countless chains bound his body tightly.
The Rainbow Light burst forth, letting Zeus briefly break free. With a slide step, he reached the landing spot and struck Akashi's serve back. But as soon as he returned it, the chains tightened again, and his Rainbow Light dimmed.
Akashi flashed to the ball, his right hand driving the racket in a sweeping cross. The ball spun violently over the net, splitting into several shadows that formed a circular ring in the air.
In the mental world, Enkidu raised both hands, a blue-green wreath appearing above them. The desert was purified in an instant, grass sprouting rapidly, compressing the Alternate Dimension into a small space around Zeus.
In reality, when the spinning shadows slammed into the ground, they spread outward. When they vanished, the ball had already landed out of bounds. Zeus had only taken one step before freezing in place.
"Humbaba Wreath!"
"15-0!"
Zeus looked deeply at Akashi. The smile he always wore faded. Just now, he had been shaken by sheer mental force. That had never happened before.
"That return by Akashi-senpai looked a lot like Shiraishi-senpai's Round Table Stroke!" Kirihara said excitedly in the viewing hall, eyes glued to the screen.
"Mm~ pretty similar, and it feels refreshing as hell!" Shiraishi laughed as he answered.
"But maybe it's not as simple as Shiraishi's Round Table Stroke. Haven't you noticed? Since the fourth game, Zeus's expression has been stiff," Yukimura said gravely.
"He must have used an Alternate Dimension. And judging from his reaction, it's that green-haired one," Byoudouin sneered. Though the screen didn't show the phenomenon, Zeus's behavior gave it away.
"Looks like the match between him and Zeus has hit the boiling point," Mifune muttered, too focused on the screen to even sip his drink.
On court, Zeus felt his movements sluggish and heavy. He could predict Akashi's actions, but even anticipating them, he could only barely return the ball. That mental restraint weighed on him unbearably.
Even with his special ability, Zeus was suppressed. Many watching even felt the air cool again, the stifling heat easing back to the level before the match began.
"Game! Japan! 2-2!"
With his movement hindered, Zeus couldn't keep up with Akashi's speed and dropped the fourth game. But he had realized something—Akashi's mental force directly countered his unique gift.
"I have to admit, you're the most remarkable opponent I've faced. Not even Volk could do this. I acknowledge your strength, so don't get yourself hurt next—Akashi Seijurō!" Zeus said, his voice uncharacteristically serious.
"So you're planning to use your trump card?" Akashi replied, calm eyes fixed on him, tone icy.
"I know full well our chances of winning today's group stage are slim. Originally, I wasn't going to use this move. But after clashing with you just now, I've changed my mind. Going all out against you might be worth it!" Zeus smiled again, but his aura steadily rose.
As he moved to the baseline, the clear sky suddenly shifted. Dark clouds drifted in, blocking the sun. Lightning blazed in Zeus's eyes as he tossed the ball high. Thunder split the air.
The ball turned into a bolt of lightning, smashing onto Akashi's baseline like teleportation. A thunderclap followed, a blinding flash forcing the audience to squeeze their eyes shut. When it faded, a massive charred mark scarred the court. The blackened ball smoked faintly.
"Thunder Serve!"
"Ace! 15-0!"