Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 549: A Crushing Defeat (Double-Length)

"Did Hirugami just get knocked away?!"

"Are they deliberately targeting the blockers? Is this their response to Kiryū's spike?!"

"Viktor really can't stand even one second of holding back. Even from the back row, he's forcing attacks," Nizhnev's assistant coach Valentin chuckled.

Coach Maksim nodded. "Probably Yaku's signal. After all, the other side keeps acting like they still have a chance."

"Smashing them head-on the moment they think they have hope…that's downright ruthless."

"We're kind enough to fly all the way out just to be their sparring partners," Maksim said coldly. "Snuffing out a future threat before the Club World Championship—there's nothing wrong with that."

"Hah, that's true~"

----- ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Serve change—Nizhnev serve.

Volvich launched a powerful jump serve.

Smack!

Hoshiumi received the ball cleanly, perfect first pass.

Atsumu jumped from the front row to set—Kiryū and Hirugami split off from opposite sides, launching their attacks.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew to the left wing—Kiryū Wakatsu leapt into midair.

"Double Block" Igor and Ivan jumped together.

BOOM!!!

The ball cut through just past the right side of the block in a brutal diagonal aimed at Nizhnev's right waistline.

SMACK!

It slammed into Volvich's arm and ricocheted out of bounds.

Kiryū Wakatsu scored with a spike!

[Ryujin 18 – 21 Nizhnev]

"Nice!"

"Awesome spike, Kiryū!"

The Ryujin players hyped each other up. As long as their offence kept working, there was still hope!

Serve change—Ryujin serve.

Kiryū tossed the ball high, then executed a textbook three-step approach, soaring upward with full force. His body bent in midair like a drawn bow; at the peak of his jump, he used his core strength to swing his arm forward.

BOOOM!!!

A deafening crack echoed—the ball was like a cannonball fired from a giant crossbow, blasting straight toward Nizhnev's backcourt.

SMACK!!!

The ball slammed into Mikhail's arm and flew out of bounds.

Kiryū Wakatsu scored a direct point off his serve!

[Ryujin 19 – 21 Nizhnev]

"There's still a chance! The tide is turning!"

"Kiryū, one more!"

Huff—

Feeling the trust of his teammates, Kiryū took a deep breath, held it, and launched a second serve.

BOOM!!!—

The ball ripped through the air, hurtling between Mikhail and Viktor.

"I got it!"

SMACK!!!

Viktor received it, and the ball rebounded high over Ryujin's court.

"Nice serve!"

"It's a chance ball!"

Atsumu stepped up and bumped it straight to the right side—Sakusa Kiyoomi leapt to spike!

"Double Block" Igor and Ivan quickly crossed over and jumped on the right.

But—they only covered the diagonal line.

Sakusa's eyes flashed with intent, and he slammed the ball downward.

BOOM!

The ball dropped near Nizhnev's front three-meter line—Yaku dove forward in a sliding save!

Smack!

"Cover!"

The ball floated toward the net—Kobzar scooped it up with an underhand pass.

Ivan jumped to spike from the same spot.

"Double Block" Hirugami and Sakusa jumped together.

—BOOM!!

The ball grazed Sakusa's fingertips and flew far out of bounds.

Touch out!

Ivan scored with a spike!

[Ryujin 19 – 22 Nizhnev]

"Tch."

It looked like luck was on Nizhnev's side. Ivan had meant to go for a high-speed shot, but hadn't expected Sakusa's bounce to barely reach the ball.

But—it wasn't all luck.

The real reason Nizhnev dared to give him the straight shot was because Yaku had successfully defended Sakusa's spike head-on.

"Sakusa…Motoya…I've been wanting to beat you guys for a long time," Yaku said seriously.

The regret of Nekoma never beating Inarizaki—Yaku was determined to break that today.

Serve change—Nizhnev serve.

Kobzar launched a powerful jump serve.

Komori Motoya received it easily—perfect pass.

Atsumu jumped from the front row to set, and without hesitation, sent the ball to the right.

Despite their usual bickering, Atsumu had absolute faith in Sakusa's ability!

Thud!

Sakusa leapt to spike!

"Triple block!" Mikhail, Igor, and Ivan jumped together.

This time, Nizhnev sealed off even the straight line!

BANG!!!—

Sakusa deliberately aimed at the block.

Ivan pressed his arms diagonally forward and tucked his wrist inward.

—SMACK!!

The ball popped up off the block and was slapped back down into Ryujin's court.

Komori dove to save it—

Thud!

The ball hit the floor.

Ivan scored off the block!

[Ryujin 19 – 23 Nizhnev]

"Hmph, always using the same trick on us," Ivan said smugly. "Just because we're tall doesn't mean we're stupid!"

"If you can say that line, you're already halfway to being stupid," Igor muttered beside him.

"?? What's that supposed to mean?" Ivan scowled.

"Well," Igor shrugged, "if you're gonna trash talk, at least make sure your opponent understands you."

Ivan: "..."

"Yaku-san!"

"Yes, yes, Sakusa definitely understood it," Yaku grinned. "Just look at his face."

Ivan looked—and sure enough, Sakusa was glaring at him, his expression pitch black.

"Heheh." Ivan grinned cheerfully.

Nizhnev continued serving.

Kobzar launched his second serve.

BOOM!!!

Kiryū received the ball, though the pass came up only halfway.

"They're trying to limit Kiryū's offence?"

Atsumu jumped to set—Ryujin launched a multi-point attack.

BOOM!!!—

With Nizhnev's block spread out, they couldn't stop the assault—Hirugami's spike blasted toward the back row.

Smack!

Yaku received it again!

"Nice one!"

"Cover!"

Ivan bumped the ball—too close to the net—Mikhail pushed it toward Ryujin's backline.

Komori sent it back up with a direct overhead pass.

Sakusa jumped to spike!

"Double Block"

Whoosh—!

Fake spike into set— the ball shifted to the left wing.

Atsumu jumped, feinting a spike—but the block didn't bite.

Kiryū Wakatsu launched a back-row attack!

—BOOM!!!

Mikhail jumped with one hand to block, but the ball shot past him toward Nizhnev's back corner.

SMACK!!!

The ball slammed into Kobzar's arm and flew out of bounds.

"Mikha!"

Yaku shouted, sprinting toward the sideline—Mikhail quickly backed up for a long chase.

Smack—!

Yaku bumped the ball back to the left wing near the net.

A long pass from the edge of the court!

Thud!

Mikhail jumped.

"Triple block!" Atsumu, Hirugami, and Sakusa jumped together.

BOOM!!—

Smack!

The ball hit Atsumu's arm and bounced out of bounds.

Touch out!

Mikhail scored with a spike!

[Ryujin 19 – 24 Nizhnev]

"This guy's nothing like the others…" Miya Atsumu stared grimly at Mikhail. "He's got both height and technique…"

"And he knows exactly how to score."

Mikhail gave Atsumu a faint smile.

"Bastard," Atsumu muttered between clenched teeth. That expression—it was just like that guy's!

Nizhnev continued serving.

Kobzar launched his third serve!

Having realised that power jump serves weren't working, this one dropped short, aiming for Ryujin's front-row middle blocker—Hirugami Fukurō.

Hirugami didn't panic. He took a step back to make space and prepared to receive—

"I got it!"

Atsumu shouted, forcefully cutting in front of Hirugami.

"—?!"

Hirugami had to step back again as Atsumu leapt up and sent a clean overhead pass to the right side.

Sakusa Kiyoomi jumped—executing a lightning-fast quick attack with perfect timing!

"Ivan!"

Igor stepped across diagonally and leapt to block, but Ivan reacted a beat too late.

—BOOM!!

The ball soared over Ivan's flustered block—a wipe shot!

Kobzar dashed into position to receive it—

Smack!

The ball struck his hands and veered toward the sideline.

"You're not getting past me again! The backcourt belongs to me now!"

Yaku Morisuke once again chased it down, this time sliding in with a soccer-style save, kicking the ball back into play!

"Igor!"

The final touch—Igor leapt from the middle and spiked!

"Double Block" Hirugami and Sakusa jumped together.

BOOM!!!

Blocked!

"One touch!"

The ball ricocheted off Hirugami's arm and shot upward.

Kiryū caught it—Atsumu quickly stepped in and set to the right—Hoshiumi leapt from the back row!

"Double Block" Igor and Ivan jumped together.

BOOM!!—

Smack!!

The ball was blocked again—but bounced back high!

Yaku, once again, was there outside the baseline to dig it back in!

Kobzar filled in, setting a high ball to the left wing.

Thud!

Mikhail soared into the air to spike!

"Double Block" Hirugami and Sakusa jumped to stop him.

—BOOOM!!!

The ball blasted over the blockers, hurtling toward Ryujin's backcourt.

Komori Motoya moved into position, both hands ready to receive.

SMACK!!!

But against the full power behind Mikhail's spike, Komori's resistance was meaningless. His arms were blown apart, and he collapsed to his knees.

The ball landed right in front of him and bounced high.

"It's over."

Mikhail scores!

[Ryujin 19 – 25 Nizhnev]

"Beeeep—!"

The whistle rang long and loud.

First set: Over.

Winner: Nizhnev Club.

"We didn't even hit 20 points… Is the gap really that big?" One of the Japanese staff muttered in concern.

"Don't worry—it's only the first set," another colleague tried to reassure. "We'll turn it around."

-----

One hour later—

[Ryujin 19 – 25 Nizhnev]

[Ryujin 23 – 25 Nizhnev]

[Ryujin 22 – 25 Nizhnev]

No matter how Coach Suzaku rotated players or adjusted tactics, the disparity in skill was clear.

Nizhnev's advantage in height and strength, combined with overwhelming blocking and powerful attacks, suppressed Ryujin across the board.

In their first practice match against Nizhnev, Ryujin failed to win even a single set.

"Suzaku, is there still time before the Club World Championship?" Hibarida Fuki asked quietly.

Suzaku knew what he meant.

Fuki wasn't asking whether they could beat Nizhnev—he was asking if they could be ready in time.

They both believed in the players' potential. Among the "Monster Generation," the youngest—Kunimi Akira—had only been in the pros for a year and a half. Even the oldest, Ojiro Aran, had just hit his third year—still only 22 years old.

This group definitely had the ability to make waves on the world stage. The real question was—could they do it in time?

"We have virtually no net advantage over Nizhnev," Coach Suzaku said without directly answering Fuki's question. "Forget the blocks—even our attacks weren't effective."

"It's probably their first time facing world-class blockers. A lot of technical details are off."

"Against these towering players, our strengths lie in fast, varied offence, all-round defence, and precision serving."

"So next, we need to strengthen their offensive aggression and raise our serve receive accuracy."

"Honestly, Fuki," Suzaku smiled, "this result was better than I expected."

"Yaku Morisuke is an incredible libero—he's elevated Nizhnev's defence by a whole level. Otherwise, we might've taken at least one set just now."

"But because of that," Coach Suzaku said, eyes drifting toward the players on the sideline—faces dark with frustration, but still burning with determination, "I'm more certain than ever."

"Their growth will be rapid—faster than we can even imagine."

-----

"Yaku, you really didn't hold back at all, did you?"

Kuroo Tetsurō, assigned to assist with hosting Nizhnev, threw a mock-threatening arm around Yaku's shoulders.

"What, should I have gone easy on them?" Yaku raised an eyebrow.

"Of course not."

Kuroo smoothly transitioned into a headlock.

"Who are you? Let go of Yaku-san right now!" Ivan glared down at Kuroo from above.

Kuroo: "???"

"Ivan, chill. This is a buddy from my high school days," Yaku said with a smile. "He was a really good middle blocker."

"Yes, Yaku-san!" Ivan quickly stepped aside and began sizing Kuroo up. He couldn't see how this small guy could've been some amazing middle blocker…but if Yaku-san said so, it had to be true.

Kuroo had no idea what Yaku told him, but the 2-meter-tall bear-like Ivan had suddenly turned into a tame pet.

"You've done well for yourself, punk," Kuroo grinned and gave Yaku a couple of secret "love taps" on the back of the head.

"Bastard—trying to beat me up in front of my juniors?" Yaku sneakily retaliated with a jab of his own.

After a brief flurry of playful "fisticuffs," the two broke out laughing.

"Yaku—congrats on making it to the Club World Championship," Kuroo said earnestly.

"You too. I'm glad you didn't quit volleyball," Yaku smiled back.

"Then how about we celebrate tonight? Group dinner?"

"Oh?"

"Everyone from Nekoma's coming—Coach Nekomata too. After all, someone's an international superstar now."

"Haha, I'm in. Any idea what we're eating?"

"Nope. But obviously—"

Kuroo: "Fish!"

Yaku: "Meat!"

"What? I'm the main character, we're eating what I want!"

"Says who? We should pick something everyone likes—fish!"

"Lies! You're the only one who likes fish! Kenma doesn't even want to deal with bones!"

"There's fish without bones!"

"That's a terrible excuse, you bastard!"

"Fish makes you smarter, baka~!"

-----

The visiting Nizhnev Club stayed in Japan for a week, playing a total of three practice matches against Ryujin.

3–0, 3–1, 3–2.

Nizhnev won all of them—but Ryujin grew tougher with each round.

"Next time, we'll be the ones to win," Komori Motoya declared, issuing a rare direct challenge.

"Keep dreaming," Yaku smirked. "Better hope we're not in the same group~"

At this point, there were five months left until the Club World Championship.

_________

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