Yukimura had only decided to try it on a whim, but unexpectedly, it worked. Of course, that was largely because Dorgias's strength was only at half-step world-class level and his emotions were still unsettled after having his five senses taken away. Otherwise, just as Yukimura himself said, the technique might not have had any effect at all.
On the other side, at the Australian bench, Noah—supported by Milky—walked to Dorgias's side and spoke with concern.
"Big brother, is your memory… messed up?"
"I don't know. I could've sworn that was just the first rally, but somehow, the score jumped straight to a full game loss!" Dorgias frowned, finally realizing something was off, and turned to ask his younger brother.
"So it really happened… If I'm not wrong, big brother, you were just trapped in a 'time loop'! The current strongest pro, Volk, supposedly has a similar ability!" Noah replied grimly.
"You mean… that rally just now, I already played it once before?" Dorgias's words trailed off as his fragmented memory slowly began to return—he realized that he had just repeated the same sequence of movements from earlier.
"Exactly. Yukimura Seiichi… another terrifying middle schooler has appeared in the Japan Team. No one knows how many trump cards they're still hiding. Up until now, they've only sent out four high school players, and three of them were just in exhibition matches!" Noah's tone grew heavy as the pressure from Japan's overwhelming strength bore down on him.
"In any case, for the next game, big brother, focus only on the ball. Don't pay attention to your opponent's moves or expressions. If you lose focus even for a second, you might fall into that 'time loop' again," Noah warned seriously.
When the break ended, Dorgias stepped back onto the court, his expression tense and resolute. Across from him, Yukimura still wore that calm, unshakable smile, his jacket fluttering lightly behind him.
The fourth game began with Dorgias serving. He gritted his teeth, forced down his emotions, and tossed the ball high. With a clean motion, he unleashed a fast serve with excellent angle, sending it streaking toward Yukimura's court.
But Yukimura was already in motion, flashing to the spot before the ball even landed. His spiritual force rippled outward across the court as he returned the serve effortlessly. The two immediately launched into a fierce rally.
This time, Dorgias kept all his focus on the ball itself, completely ignoring Yukimura's expression or movements. It allowed him to barely keep up with the pace, rallying back and forth without retreating an inch.
It was worth noting that in the original matches, Dorgias had been able to keep pace even with Kintarō in his Ten'i Muhō no Kiwami state. While he was still just half a step below true world-class level, his overall performance was already approaching that tier.
Unfortunately, the exchange didn't last long. Once Yukimura activated Mirage Mirror, Dorgias began to fall behind. Yukimura's unpredictable shot angles completely nullified his ability to anticipate the next move.
"0–15!"
"0–30!"
Under the effect of Mirage Mirror, Yukimura swiftly took two consecutive points. Still, Dorgias's expression remained fierce and defiant—he couldn't afford to lose, not in front of Noah.
As Dorgias continued chasing every shot with all he had, the spectators who had been jeering earlier gradually went silent. All eyes followed the lone figure fighting desperately on the court.
Even though Dorgias couldn't find a way to counter Yukimura's Mirage Mirror, everyone could see that the rallies were lasting longer now. He was holding out more stubbornly than before.
"0–40!"
But in terms of overall ability, Yukimura still held the absolute advantage. No matter how fiercely Dorgias resisted, he couldn't avoid losing points.
When Yukimura fired his fourth serve, Dorgias's aura suddenly surged upward. The crowd erupted in cheers, shouting words of encouragement. Even the Japan Team was caught off guard by the sudden wave of support.
But despite the charged atmosphere, Dorgias still couldn't take a single point from Yukimura. At that moment, Yukimura stood like an impenetrable wall of sighs—unyielding, unshakeable, blocking Dorgias's path to victory.
"Game! Japan! 4–0!"
"He's never let go of that grudge about being expelled from the tennis academy because of his eye condition. Ever since then, Dorgias has wanted revenge against the Australian tennis world. But your dream was always to represent Australia on the world stage. That's why he's been torn between the two," Jean said quietly to Noah beside him.
"I know. But in the end, big brother chose my dream. Right now, he's walking the path I couldn't. That's why… my brother won't lose!" Noah replied with unshakable conviction.
The fifth game began with Yukimura serving once again. Another lightning-fast serve with perfect placement rocketed toward Dorgias's side. His eyes flared with determination as he lunged to the landing point and swung his racket in a clean, powerful return.
The two of them clashed fiercely, exchanging relentless attacks. Very soon, everyone noticed that Dorgias's movements and shot angles had both improved significantly compared to before. The pace of their rallies was getting faster and faster.
Seeing the ball shoot straight toward his right side, Dorgias quickly sidestepped, his arm muscles tensing as he unleashed a full-powered swing. The tennis ball turned into a transparent shockwave cutting across the air toward Yukimura.
Yukimura, already running, swiftly switched his racket to his right hand to counterattack at an opposite angle. But the moment the ball hit his strings, he realized just how heavy the shot was. In the next instant, the force blew his racket right out of his hand.
"0–15!"
"To train both hands to such a level—your technique is impressive. But unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that you lack power, boy!" Dorgias said confidently, his eyes burning with fighting spirit after scoring.
Yukimura gave no reply. He simply picked up his racket in silence, turned toward the baseline, and tossed the ball into the air. A streak of yellow light flashed across the court as his serve landed cleanly on the left corner and flew out of bounds.
"15–15!"
"So that's what you meant—you're saying you weren't even using your full strength yet? Interesting!" Dorgias grinned, a surge of excitement rising in him. It had been a long time since he'd felt this kind of thrill.
Yukimura again stayed silent, serving another ultra-high-speed ball. But this time, Dorgias focused all his attention and managed to read the general trajectory at the instant Yukimura swung. Though barely, he succeeded in returning it.
The rally intensified. Dorgias's momentum continued to rise, and surprisingly, he began to push back against Yukimura's Mirage Mirror. Their score started trading back and forth.
"30–15!"
"40–15!"
"40–30!"
"Game! Australia! 4–1!"
Sweat poured down Dorgias's face as he exhaled heavily. He had finally broken Yukimura's serve. Noah had been right—the Japanese boy wasn't invincible. As long as he could find a weakness, Dorgias believed victory was still possible.
"Right now, Dorgias isn't fighting alone…" Jean murmured from the Australian bench, his eyes fixed on the court.
In Dorgias's half, a faint illusion began to form beside him—Noah, wearing the Australian team uniform, his figure gradually becoming clearer. To everyone watching, it looked as if the brothers were playing doubles side by side.
"Big brother…" Noah whispered softly. Though he couldn't see, the energy in the arena told him exactly how hard his brother was fighting—for both their dreams.
"Game! Australia! 4–2!"
"Game! Australia! 4–3!"
"Game! Australia! 4–4!"
Riding his momentum, Dorgias won four consecutive games, evening the score. Just as he was about to shout in triumph, a wave of dizziness hit him. The world spun violently, and cracks—like shattering glass—spread across the air before his eyes.
"Game! 6–0! Match over! Winner, Japan!"
The voice of the umpire echoed coldly in his ears as the entire illusionary space collapsed. The score, however, was something Dorgias couldn't comprehend. His vision went dark, and he collapsed face-first onto the court, unconscious.
"Your story as brothers is truly touching," Yukimura said, standing with his jacket draped elegantly over his shoulders. His back faced the net as he turned his head slightly toward Dorgias's fallen body. "But this is a battlefield where national pride is at stake. Consider this dream my parting blessing to you both."
The Child of God—Yukimura Seiichi.