Ren bounced the ball once, twice. His wrist tape was already slick with sweat. The whole stadium seemed to lean in—not for him, but for the Dragon waiting at the baseline.
It's just a serve. Toss, swing, breathe. Don't think about who's across the net.
He tossed. Contact. A shaky serve skimmed the glass, slower than he wanted—but at least it was in.
Ryuji stepped forward as if time itself bent for him. One clean return screamed down the line.
Ren's HUD flared:
[Weak Spot Vision Lv.1]
The faint cone blinked across his left shoulder. He lunged, racket face angled—barely blocked the ball back.
Gasps from the stands. The rally wasn't over.
One more ball. Just one more.
Ryuji, unimpressed, flicked a crosscourt slice. Ren sprinted, shoulder screaming, and flicked it up.
Still alive.
For three rallies, he kept breathing, his legs burning, his heart slamming against his ribs. The crowd's rhythm shifted—no longer only chants of Dragon, but murmurs of surprise.
Then, like a lion swatting a toy, Ryuji ended it with a smash that cracked the baseline.
"Game over," he muttered.
Scoreboard: 3–0.
Ren collapsed to his knees for a moment, chest heaving. The contrast in levels was absurd—Ryuji's every shot was faster, sharper, heavier. Yet... for the first time, Ren had stolen three rallies.
From the booth, Ayaka's voice carried hope:
"Messiah #99 just survived a four-ball exchange against the Dragon. Maybe... just maybe he can adapt."
Shizuka gripped her knees tight. Don't crumble, idiot. Show him you won't kneel.
Maria muttered, "Chico... keep breathing."
Mio whispered the words Ren had once told her in another world: Losing forward.
Ren wiped his face, forcing himself upright. His HUD flickered again:
[System Anomaly: Rally Extension Detected.]
He couldn't win yet. But he could endure.
"Next point," he growled under his breath. "I'm not done."
The Dragon awaited, calm as ever. The storm had only begun.
Padel Knowledge Break #15 — Smash Variations
In padel, the smash isn't just one shot—it branches into multiple styles, each with its own tactical purpose:
· Power Smash (X1): Flat, pure speed, usually unreturnable if placed deep.
· Kick Smash (X2): Topspin applied, bouncing high off glass, forces awkward returns.
· X3 Smash: Hit with side spin, ball rebounds back over the net to the attacker's side—an instant point if executed well.
· X4 Smash (a.k.a. "Par 4"): Ball is smashed with precise angle + power to exit the court entirely (through side or back). Only elite players can hit it consistently.