flstandardbreds Chapter 722: The Gap Between Master and Professional Level, Reinhardt's Opportunity
Chapter 722: The Gap Between Master and Professional Level, Reinhardt's Opportunity
"Finally, it has some flavor."
Beichuan's voice was not loud, but it carried a steady and confident tone, gently resounding over the court.
He stood on the opposite court, his posture lazy and casual, as if he was not there to participate in a fierce tennis match, but a guest invited to comment on a player's performance.
The sunlight filtered through the high dome, casting a soft golden edge on his outline.
At this moment, Ralph Reinhart's powerful serve had just landed, spinning in a sharp arc.
Beichuan narrowed his eyes slightly, followed the trajectory of the tennis ball, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He nodded, as if approving the attack, but also as if examining it from a superior position.
Then, he slowly raised his hand, palm facing up, and circles of light golden air currents circulated around him. That was the aftermath of the advanced field he had just used - the Clear Sky Expedition.
But just a moment later, he waved his hand lightly, as if brushing away dust, and completely dispelled the power.
The lingering sense of oppression in the air dissipated instantly, and the arena, which had originally seemed solemn due to the domain suppression, suddenly regained some clarity.
At the same time, footsteps broke the silence.
"Tread, step, step..."
Beichuan walked forward at a steady pace, as if he was taking a leisurely walk.
His actions were out of tune with the tense atmosphere on the court, yet somehow made people feel it was natural.
Just behind him, the tennis ball that had just been hit back was rushing towards the net at an extremely fast speed, with a whistling sound that tore through the air.
There is a sharp contrast between the two: one is an explosive impact, while the other is as calm as strolling in the garden.
The spectators around the stadium held their breath, their eyes fixed on the figure walking slowly forward.
His figure looked particularly slender in the sunlight, his sportswear fitting tightly to his strong back and swaying gently with his steps.
His eyes were calm and deep, as if he had already foreseen everything that was to come.
Just as the tennis ball was about to cross the net, Kitagawa's movements suddenly changed.
He stopped abruptly, quickly grasped the racket in his right hand, and placed it horizontally in front of his chest, like a sword-wielding warrior facing an enemy's sudden attack.
His gaze focused, and his entire aura suddenly changed. His originally gentle temperament was replaced by a sharp edge.
The strength that had been tempered to the limit quietly gathered on his right arm, and the muscle lines tightened in an instant, like a bowstring ready to be released.
"Zero Tennis..."
Before he finished speaking, Beichuan's figure had disappeared from the spot.
The next second, he appeared where the tennis ball was about to land, as if he had never left there.
A blurry afterimage was left in the air, and he had already adjusted his posture, ready to meet the high-speed tennis ball.
"tread!"
A soft shout was heard, accompanied by the sound of a racket breaking through the wind.
"No end!"
Almost instantly.
Beichuan swung the racket in his hand fast and slow, hitting the tennis ball horizontally at an extremely precise angle.
The movements appear effortless, yet they contain extreme power and control.
"boom!"
There was a slight collision sound, almost imperceptible.
However, it was this faint sound that foreshadowed the birth of a ball that could change the course of the battle.
The initial trajectory of a tennis ball is very similar to that of an ordinary slice, low and fast, and seems to be nothing special.
But the moment it crossed the net, the ball's path suddenly changed - it not only fell rapidly, but also had a lateral deviation similar to a sidespin serve, flying low towards the backcourt.
What’s even more surprising is that when the tennis ball hit the ground and bounced, it didn’t continue rolling forward as usual, but suddenly changed direction and rolled back along the ground, as if it had self-awareness.
"Valid ball!"
"0-40!"
"Kitagawa scores!"
The referee on the high platform blew the whistle, the sound clear and decisive.
The whole place was in an uproar.
Beichuan stood there quietly, the racket still in his hand, slightly lowered.
His breathing was steady, as if the shocking blow just now was just a casual one.
Ralph Reinhart on the opposite side still maintained the posture after hitting the ball, holding the racket with both hands and leaning forward.
His face was slightly pale, and he stared blankly at the tennis ball that finally rolled back to the ground, with a huge wave of emotion in his heart.
“Is this the physical fitness of a master?”
"I really don't know what to say."
He muttered to himself, his voice full of weakness and confusion.
I thought I was strong enough to at least compete with the opponent in this game.
But reality gave him a hard slap in the face.
The speed, angle and variability of the ball just now were far beyond his comprehension.
The ability to control the ball's trajectory at will is like some kind of supernatural existence.
In fact, top-level professional strength is already quite rare in the world of tennis.
Even in world-class open tournaments, there are few players so young yet of this level.
Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, Free State Open... The entry threshold of these events is extremely high, and the age requirement is generally over 15 years old.
In this age group, there are only a handful of players who can reach the top professional level.
As for the master level, it is quite rare.
Once you step into this realm, it means not only a leap in technology, but also a comprehensive improvement in mental will, physical coordination, tactical thinking and many other aspects.
Many professional players spend their entire lives only to reach the top professional level and are unable to go any further.
And Beichuan has obviously crossed that threshold.
Not only that, he also displayed an almost instinctive fighting intuition.
The ability to remain calm and make the best judgment even in extreme situations is one of the most core qualities of a master.
"Hey hey hey~"
Beichuan suddenly spoke, his voice full of teasing.
"Captain Reinhardt, this is not the time to be dazed and distracted."
He had a harmless smile on his face.
There was a hint of sharpness in his eyes.
He certainly saw Ralph Reinhardt's hesitation and fear at the moment.
But this is not surprising.
After all, although the Free State U-17 training camp attaches great importance to the training of young players, before they truly reach the master level, their understanding of this ability is ultimately just talk.
But Beichuan is different.
He had already crossed that line.
We are even constantly exploring higher levels.
Even a cursory display of top-tier professional-level skills is enough to shock the opponent.
"Breathe...breathe..."
Ralph Reinhardt took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.
His fingers trembled slightly, and the palm holding the racket was soaked with sweat.
"I'm truly sorry for letting Kitagawa-kun see me behave so badly."
He smiled bitterly, his tone full of helplessness and self-mockery.
He finally understood that the gap between him and Beichuan was far more than just level.
That is a qualitative leap, the gap from quantitative change to qualitative change.
If Beichuan is only at the top professional level, then he might still be able to fight with his experience and will.
But now, facing a true master player, he couldn't even find the most basic way to deal with it.
Strength, speed, skills, these basic attributes may be improved through training.
But the spirit, mind and intention, these invisible and intangible things, are the key to determining victory or defeat.
Unless he uses the method taught to him by Echizen Nanjiro now and force himself into the master level.
Otherwise, there is no room for change in the outcome of this confrontation.