The moment Kaedehara Taichi stepped onto the service line, the entire arena fell silent.

All five of Trentino's back-row receivers simultaneously tensed up, the sounds of their anxious heartbeats and nervous breathing clearly audible.

"Tweet!—" The referee's whistle echoed.

Taichi tossed the ball up, ran, jumped, swung—his entire motion was one seamless, powerful arc.

BOOOOM!!!

BANG!!!

Before Kageyama Tobio could even react, the ball had already bounced up near his feet.

No contact at all.

Kaedehara Taichi scored directly with his serve!

[San Juan 14 - 13 Trentino]

"134.8 km/h!!"

"Damn it…again…"

Boro's pupils constricted. He'd lost count of how many serves from Kaedehara Taichi had already exceeded 130 km/h.

The delicate balance Trentino had managed to hold was so easily shattered by Taichi's serve alone—it was a feeling so overwhelming that just imagining it made one feel powerless.

"Good, looks like you're starting to remember what it felt like in the last set."

Taichi looked mockingly at Trentino's players. Their momentum had been abruptly cut off, and on their faces was a visible seriousness and tension.

"Ah…such terrifying expressions."

The ball spun lightly in Taichi's palm, as if it had become the very centre of everyone's gaze.

San Juan continued to serve.

"Tweet!—"

The ball left his hand and shot into the air.

Taichi charged forward, leapt, his upper arm drove his forearm into a terrifying arc—air hissed sharply along his swing path.

BOOOM!!!

The ball was so fast it was nearly impossible to track with the naked eye, roaring across the court like a fired shell, aimed at Trentino's deep corner.

Libero Fabio crouched with his centre of gravity pushed as low as possible, knees bent forward at almost a 45-degree angle.

The instant the ball left Taichi's hand, Fabio launched himself forward, arms snapping up before contact, every muscle trembling with tension.

SMACK!!!

The ball flew out of bounds.

Yuri finally picked up the trajectory and sprinted after it.

Smack!

Even as he fully dove on his final step, Yuri still couldn't get the ball up. He slammed the floor in frustration and despair.

Ball down.

Kaedehara Taichi scored again with a service ace!

[San Juan 15 - 13 Trentino]

"As expected…it's come to this…"

"Not being able to stop this guy is normal. Once he gets into this state, the match completely tilts."

"But conversely—if we can limit Kaedehara Taichi in this state, then we really have a chance at a comeback!"

Coach Ferdinando's eyes focused intensely on the court.

Whether for the remaining two potential sets or a possible rematch in the knockout stage, Trentino absolutely had to survive this rotation!

"Tweet!—"

San Juan continued serving. Taichi's third serve!

BOOOM!!!

The ball screamed across the court with a sharp tearing sound. Fabio moved up again, but rather than reading the trajectory, his body was already reacting instinctively.

SMACK!!!

The instant the ball struck Fabio's forearm, the sheer force staggered him backwards two steps. The power surging up his arms made it almost impossible to control the ball.

Power, speed, spin—all stacked together.

Even when he managed to touch it, Fabio could only slightly redirect its trajectory.

"Get it—!"

Before he even called out, Kageyama was already moving, and the other four launched toward the net for a quick offence!

"Ramos!" Conte shouted loudly.

"Got it!"

The two of them sealed off the key three-point zone at the net. When the first pass is off, the setter's hand positioning usually gives away the attack direction!

Whoosh!—

The ball flew to the right—

At the critical moment, Kageyama chose to trust Zaytsev!

"Double block!" Ramos and Conte both shifted right and got in place.

Zaytsev soared high and smashed the ball down!

—BOOM!!!

The ball flew off Oikawa's arm and out of bounds.

"I've got it!"

Santiago chased after it, barely saving it back into the court.

Last attack—Taichi spiked from the back row!

Trentino didn't set up a block. Alexander received it, albeit semi-accurately.

Kageyama quickly covered and reorganised.

"What a troublesome guy!"

San Juan's front-row blockers spread out. The ball flew to the left wing, and Yuri went up for the spike!

"Double block!" Bruno and Ramos were forced to jump together on the left side.

BOOM!!!

The ball ricocheted off Bruno's arm and out of bounds.

Off-the-block point!

Yuri scored!

[San Juan 15 - 14 Trentino]

Trentino successfully broke San Juan's serve!

"So close."

Kaedehara Taichi had been guarding the baseline, anticipating Yuri's high-angled shots. He hadn't expected Yuri to choose a block-out play even when spiking above the block.

—"Trentino hasn't given up—they're fighting even harder than the first two sets!"

Serve rotation. Trentino to serve.

Zaytsev tossed the ball high and jumped for a powerful serve!

BOOM!!!

The ball slammed towards San Juan's deep corner.

Smack!!

Taichi received it, though it was a semi-accurate pass.

"Don't just stare at Taichi, or you'll really make things difficult for me."

Oikawa quickly stepped up and set to the right side. Conte rose for the spike!

"Double block!" Ryan and Yuri jumped together.

Conte struck the ball above the block—Trentino's libero wasn't on the court, and Alexander was covering zone 5.

BOOM!!!

SMACK!

The ball deflected off Yuri's arm and flew out of bounds.

Off-the-block point.

Conte returned the favour to Trentino using the same technique.

[San Juan 16 - 14 Trentino]

"Beep!—" Technical timeout.

"Well done! You guys are doing great!" Assistant coach Risen shouted encouragingly. "Keep going—when they loosen up, that's our chance to strike!"

The players listened quietly as Coach Ferdinando laid out the next tactical adjustments.

They could truly feel San Juan's overwhelming strength. Even when Trentino didn't make mistakes, they still trailed by two points in the middle and later stages.

"Offence! We have to close the gap quickly!"

"Don't rush." Zaytsev patted Kageyama's shoulder. "You're too tense."

"Calm down. If you face Taichi in this state, the outcome is obvious. Don't let the past get to you."

Zaytsev truly admired this setter. "Right now, you're really strong."

"Hah…"

Kageyama took a deep breath. From Karasuno, to AD, to Trentino—he'd finally found teammates stronger and more experienced than him.

"I got it."

Kageyama was never afraid of any match, but facing Taichi and Oikawa, he couldn't control his excitement and tension.

This match was special—it meant something.

"We'll win."

Alexander extended his fist. Kageyama bumped it with his own.

"Definitely."

-----

Technical timeout over. The match resumed.

Serve rotation. San Juan to serve.

Bruno stepped up for a powerful jump serve!

Previously, he liked using jump floats to disrupt Zaytsev and Alexander in the front row, but in this set, both were in the back row (Zaytsev wasn't even on court).

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Fabio easily received it with a perfect pass.

Alexander jumped from the back row; Kageyama set it perfectly in front of him.

Pause.

BOOM!!!

Conte and Ramos barely formed a double block, but the ball deflected off Ramos's arm and flew out of bounds.

Bruno, just back into position, didn't react in time.

Off-the-block point.

Alexander scored!

[San Juan 16 - 15 Trentino]

—"Beautiful spike!"

—"Kageyama's signature ultra-quick set attack! Trentino's offensive connection is seamless!"

Oikawa stared at Kageyama. The playful grin on his face was completely gone—only seriousness and focus remained.

Perhaps no one else could tell the difference, but Oikawa understood—this was a set he himself had never been able to master.

Serve rotation. Trentino to serve.

Kageyama stood at the service line, first glancing at Oikawa, then at Taichi.

One was the senior he had admired since middle school.

The other was the peer he had never been able to surpass.

"Tweet!—"

Expressionless, Kageyama tossed the ball high, the reflection of the ball flashing in his brown eyes for a moment.

BOOOM!!!

The ball landed.

Kageyama scored directly with a service ace!

[San Juan 16 - 16 Trentino]

The ball shot right between Taichi and Santiago.

Both of them saw the trajectory clearly—but neither moved.

"126 km/h!!!"

—"Three consecutive sets—he's scored at least one direct service ace each set!"

Kageyama Tobio had once again surpassed his own limits.

There was no excess motion at all; his clean, decisive swing left opponents no time to react. With this, Kageyama once again proved he was one of the top servers in this Club World Championship.

"Beautiful serve!" his teammates shouted in praise.

With that point, both sides were back to even footing!

Trentino continued serving.

Kageyama tossed the ball up again, the entire arena's gaze locked on him—while in his eyes, there was only the ball.

BOOOM!!!

Kageyama's second serve roared past like a streaking afterimage!

Smack!!

Taichi received it!

The first pass was a bit tight to the net. Oikawa leapt in the front row and pushed it up with one hand.

BOOM!!!

Conte spiked, but the ball ricocheted off Ryan and Yuri's double block and bounced back into San Juan's court.

Santiago saved it, Oikawa sprinted to set again—

Whoosh!—

Taichi soared from the back row and spiked!

BOOM!!!

The ball squeezed past the left side of the double block, slamming toward Trentino's back row.

Alexander received it, sending the ball toward the end line. Kageyama set it cleanly straight to the net.

Ryan jumped for a quick attack!

"Double block!" Ramos and Conte leapt up together.

BOOM!!!

The ball slipped past the right side of the block and slammed down onto San Juan's sideline, bouncing up.

—"Kageyama caught San Juan's block off guard, decisively organising a quick attack! Santiago couldn't get there in time—"

Ryan scored with the quick!

[San Juan 16 - 17 Trentino]

—"Trentino has scored three straight points and overtaken the lead in one sweep!"

"Don't worry, next ball!" Oikawa called loudly.

For the first time in a long while, Oikawa felt Kageyama's overwhelming natural talent—and that subtle, looming threat.

Trentino continued serving.

Kageyama served his third ball!

BOOOM!!!

The ball targeted Kaedehara Taichi!

"So confident?!" Miya Atsumu was a little surprised.

Smack!

Taichi lowered his centre of gravity and received it solidly. The pass was semi-accurate.

Oikawa quickly moved up and set it high in the middle. Conte soared to spike!

"Double block!" Ryan and Yuri jumped together.

—BOOM!!!

A high contact spike!

Conte's powerful shot cleared the top of the block and crashed toward Trentino's end line.

Smack!

Fabio received it!

"A chance to counterattack!"

Kageyama crossed half the court diagonally, setting it high to the left wing.

Alexander jumped from the back row to spike!

"Double block!" Ramos and Conte this time sealed off the straight line, leaving the cross-court to Taichi and Santiago.

BOOM!!!

The ball brushed Ramos's hand and flew out of bounds.

Off-the-block point!

Bruno lunged desperately forward to cover but still couldn't get it.

Alexander scored!

[San Juan 16 - 18 Trentino]

—"Incredible! Trentino has gone on a mini-run during Kageyama's service turn!"

"Beep! San Juan calls for a timeout."

San Juan hadn't actually made mistakes—the situation was still within Coach José's expectations.

However, if they allowed Trentino to keep scoring like this, it would quickly become dangerous.

José's main goal for this timeout was to break Kageyama's serving rhythm and reduce his players' reception pressure.

"That last defensive play could have been more aggressive." José pointed at the tactical board. "Since Alexander is hitting from the back row, we can let him have the short cross."

"Oikawa, guard the centre; Taichi shift left. That way Bruno can step up to reinforce the front row."

"Your rotations can be even faster—read the hitters' intentions more carefully."

"Yes!"

"Keep your attacking rhythm. Ramos and Conte, stagger your positions. Prioritise spreading out the block—we trust Oikawa to get the ball to you."

"Right, Oikawa?"

"Of course I can!" Oikawa replied confidently.

"Go—wrap up this win early!"

"Yeahhh!!!"

-----

Timeout over. The match resumed.

Trentino continued serving.

Kageyama served his fourth ball!

BOOM!!!

Once again, he aimed for Kaedehara Taichi!

Smack!

Taichi received it solidly. Perfect pass.

Oikawa jumped in the front row to set; Loser and Conte both launched into attack!

Ryan and Yuri split to block separately.

BAM!!!

Oikawa faked the set and tipped it down—second touch kill!

Point!

[San Juan 17 - 18 Trentino]

"Don't get too cocky, Tobio-chan."

San Juan successfully broke serve!

"Damn it!"

"You did great—don't worry about it!" Fabio encouraged him.

"If only we could have taken a few more points…" Kageyama didn't look satisfied with himself.

Serve rotation. San Juan to serve.

Ramos stepped up with a powerful jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Kageyama received it, semi-accurate pass.

Boro stepped back to assist as the setter; Ryan jumped for a quick attack in the middle!

BOOM!!!—

The ball ricocheted off Conte's arm and crashed back into Trentino's court.

Surprising!

No—perhaps not so unexpected.

After Trentino's scoring streak, Ryan's brief lapse was immediately punished by Conte!

Conte scored with the block!

[San Juan 18 - 18 Trentino]

San Juan continued serving.

Ramos served again!

BOOM!!!

Fabio shielded Kageyama, who received it; semi-accurate pass.

Kageyama quickly repositioned and set it high to the right side. Ryan jumped again for the spike!

"Double block!" Conte and Loser leapt up together, sealing off the direct shot.

After a mistake on the last play, Ryan immediately received Kageyama's nearly perfect set. He deeply felt the pressure—if he didn't score now, he might no longer deserve Kageyama's trust.

Ryan's upper arm drove the forearm through, wrist snapping down sharply at the point of contact—

BOOM!!!—

The ball squeezed through in front of the block.

"Short cross!" Oikawa flashed across, moving to San Juan's three-meter line on the left.

Pop!

The ball hit the tape at the top of the net, popped up, and dropped into San Juan's court.

"Huh?!"

Bruno dove forward, but the ball landed just in front of his palm.

Ryan scored!

[San Juan 18 - 19 Trentino]

"Is that even possible?! Damn it!"

Ramos swapped positions with Santiago, visibly frustrated.

Serve rotation. Trentino's serve. Alexander moved up to the front row.

Yuri tossed the ball, took his approach, leapt, and struck!

A jump float serve!

The ball dropped toward the front row—Oikawa stepped forward and lifted it with his hands.

Conte jumped for a spike—second touch attack!

Boro and Ryan both leapt up to block.

Whoosh!—

Conte faked the spike and set instead! The ball flew right—Taichi came charging from the back row for a pipe attack!

"Triple block!"

Alexander took the front, Boro and Ryan followed, jumping in from the left to reinforce.

BOOOM!!!

The ball tore through the block and fell into Trentino's court.

SMACK!

Yuri managed to touch it but sent it flying far out of bounds.

"No—"

A voice echoed in Kageyama Tobio's mind. This ball…we absolutely can't let it go!

"Left wing!"

Kageyama called the set direction early while sprinting after the ball flying out of bounds.

Catching it isn't enough—we have to build an attack!

His mind was running simulations—where the ball would land, his teammates' movement, the court space, all mapped in his head.

Just before the ball crossed the advertising boards, Kageyama leapt and cradled it steadily with both hands.

All ten fingers—enough to control every possible angle of the ball's flight!

WHOOOSH!—

The ball soared from outside the end line all the way back to Trentino's left front.

Alexander had absolute faith in Kageyama's set!

Thump!

"Perfect!"

—BOOM!!!

The ball soared past Conte and Loser's double block, dropped sharply, and pounded San Juan's centre court!

Santiago couldn't save it.

Alexander scored!

[San Juan 18 - 20 Trentino]

"Oh my god, oh my god!" The two commentators in the stands jumped to their feet at the same time.

"An absolutely miraculous set! Kageyama Tobio just saved Trentino!"

Trentino was first to reach 20 points!

It was the first time in three sets that Trentino had taken this key lead!

Trentino continued serving.

Yuri targeted Oikawa again with a float serve.

Oikawa's pass was perfect. Bruno stepped up to set, Conte and Loser both launched into attack.

"Left side!" Alexander shouted.

They'd read the set!

Conte went for the spike, facing Alexander and Ryan's double block!

BOOM!!!

Conte chose to force the attack!

The ball squeezed through the gap between Alexander and the antenna, falling just inside Trentino's left sideline.

Smack!

Fabio dug it up!

"Italy's guardian angel!!!" the commentator shouted passionately.

Waves of cheers rose in the arena—Trentino's home-court advantage was on full display.

Kageyama quickly repositioned and set. Alexander, Boro, and Ryan—three front-row attackers launched simultaneously!

San Juan's block was forced to spread out. Conte and Loser watched the left and right.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew to the middle—Boro for a quick attack!

A surprise attack point—even Boro himself looked slightly startled. Luckily, he was always ready to hit!

"Bastard!"

Oikawa leapt for a solo block in the centre, one-on-one at the net!

"Don't underestimate me!"

Boro swung decisively, pounding the ball down.

—BOOM!!!

The ball cleared the block cleanly, untouched!

Smack!

Taichi received it steadily.

Bruno stepped in to set. Taichi adjusted his steps and body posture on his approach.

Whoosh!—

The ball went to the middle. Taichi soared from the back row!

"Triple block!" Alexander, Boro, and Ryan formed a wall in front of him.

BOOM!!!

The ball ricocheted off Boro's fingertips and flew far out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[San Juan 19 - 20 Trentino]

—"San Juan refuses to let up!"

Serve rotation. San Juan's serve. Kaedehara Taichi moved to the front row.

Alexander took a deep breath. He knew—the real battle for him started right now.

"Tweet!—"The whistle for serve.

Conte stepped up for a powerful jump serve!

The ball curved sharply and slammed into Trentino's back row.

Smack!!!

Kageyama was forced to receive.

Unlike Ramos's serve, Conte's control was more precise and left no time for Fabio to cover.

The pass wasn't ideal. Boro stepped in as the setter and handed it off to the ace.

Alexander took his approach from the left and soared for the spike!

"Double block!" Loser and Taichi jumped up together.

A huge gap opened between the two, large enough to fit another player. Loser sealed off the straight shot, while Taichi positioned himself more toward cutting off Alexander's cross-court.

—"What kind of block is this? Such a huge hole in the middle!"

Taichi's stance hovered right between the cross-court and the second straight angle. For Alexander to force a tight cross would be incredibly risky.

That open space between them practically screamed "TRAP" in bold letters.

"How bold…But who's really taking the bigger risk here?" Ryan couldn't help leaning forward, wanting to see every detail.

"Like hell I'm scared of you!"

Alexander's gaze hardened. His arm tightened, and in a flash—

BOOOM!!!—

Taichi's block swung downward to seal the gap.

In that split-second—

—SMACK!!!

Alexander's expression froze as the ball crashed back down right by his feet.

Blocked.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with the block!

[San Juan 20 - 20 Trentino]

_________