Chapter 82

Dan breathed slowly as he warmed up with Maddie. They’d started at mid court, playing ‘mini tennis’, hitting soft balls back and forth within the service box on either side, to warm up their limbs, and technique. Then, after a few minutes of that, they’d moved back to the baseline. Here, they ran through their basic strokes, hitting at a comfortable power range, to just warm up their shots, and see how they were playing. Tennis, Dan had come to find, could really vary day by day it felt. Some days, his body, everything, just seemed to move and click right, while others, his swings felt clunky.

Today, luckily, everything seemed to be in top form. Well, more than that, actually. Already, as he hit back and forth with Maddie, he could feel the benefits and growth his new racquet had given him. The climb into the 40s for top spin, was immediately noticeable. His balls seemed to race down towards the court as they arced over to Maddie’s side, and they bounced a bit higher than they had in the 30s.

That being said, he knew his skills were nowhere near where they needed to be to take on Maddie properly. He’d skimmed her stats and knew everything was in the great or excellent range. Meaning at a minimum, everything of hers was in the 60s, though Dan was guessing more likely 70s and 80s.

Still, Maddie was human, and Dan had magic powers. He could see where shots were going to go, with decent precision given his powers were at tier 3. Basic Skill assist was invaluable, even if it wasn’t as precise as he figured he needed it to be, to play professionally. And then, of course, there was auto-battle. While he’d promised Peter he wouldn’t try and flat out Ace Maddie like he had in the match against the girls, he was still resolved to try, at least once, to get her.

Not at 500 percent though. That was clear in his mind. Not only was he not about to trash his body like that again, but losing that much stamina, early on, would hurt. When he’d had 15% stamina reduction, it had still cost him 17 points of stamina, for a single second at 500 percent. His stamina reduction was now at 22%, but still, that would be 15 or 16 stamina drained in a single shot. Considering Maddie’s stamina levels, and her skills, Dan knew he would need to conserve his stamina, as much as he could, across these sets. The match was a best out of three, and Dan, was hoping he could at least force them into the third set, though he knew, chances of that, were practically nonexistent. That would only happen in a story or anime.

I’d say 300, once or twice, should be fine. Syn responded to Dan’s question. He’d been trying to pick the voice’s brain, on what a safe maximum would be for his serves. You’re fine at 100 percent for auto battle. And you already know 200 percent will drain 1 stamina per second. Stamina drain rounds up, after all. And you’re not at a level yet, where you can abuse that and just stay at 200 percent indefinitely…

Dan completely missed his warmup forehand at that statement. Was that a possibility? Playing at 200 percent, in auto battle, permanently? That seemed completely broken. And yet, why was that what surprised him? He had a magic racquet. He had special powers, and he was talking to a god-like voice in his head.

Great swing there. Must have hit the ball so hard it phased through your racquet. Way to keep her on her toes. Syn said with his snarky style. Oy, good job though, the odds just went up with that little display. You’re gonna make me a killing.

So, Syn and Peter were both placing bets on this match. Because of course they were. What as Dan? A freaking prized racehorse. Then again, he owed Peter a lot. And Syn had just given him a magical racquet. At least Sophia was treating him like a human, and not just a piece of meat. Then again, would that last bit be so bad?

He missed another ball, shook his head, and growled at himself. Now was not the time. Now, he needed to focus.

“Alright,” he said silently to Syn. “So a 300 percent serve…I should do my slice, yeah?” He was skimming his serve stats. His Kick Serve, with bonuses, was sitting at a 19. His flat was at a 25, as was his slice. He also got a 5percent increase to his accuracy with the racquet, which he figured, would be helpful. However, if he was going to burn a 300 percent auto-battle, and the stamina that came with it, on the serve, he wanted to be certain it would go in. And the slice serve, from his experience, had a better accuracy in that regard, than the flat.

Flat serves, he knew, were brutal. Their efficiency came from not only the speed and power of the serve, but the deadly trajectory you could send them on. They were forceful, and meant to either Ace your opponent, or force them to send back a weak return that you could then control the point from. Because of their flat, direct path, there was little room for error and net clearance, and Dan didn’t have Peter’s height, nor the jump down, to really trust in it. Not at 300 percent power. The only reason the 500 percent one had been so impressive, was because that had bumped the stat to the max, meaning it was guaranteed, 100 percent, to go in.

The slice serve, on the other hand, had better net clearance, in exchange for raw speed. It would fly with a fun, curved motion through the air, and upon hitting in the service box, would also spin and bounce accordingly. The more or less spin Dan applied, the difference in the trajectory. It was a serve, Peter had taught him, that was used to put his opponent off position, and with better accuracy, could actually be used to force them into some unfavorable return positions. A powerful slice serve towards the body, or just to one side or the other, could force his opponent, especially if they weren’t ready for the spin, into an awkward returning position. A wide angle slice serve, meanwhile, could pull his opponent far off the court, giving Dan a more open court for his next shot.

You’re over thinking things. Syn said as Dan continued to warm up. Maddie was motioning, indicating it was time to warm up their serves. A time, to ease his shoulder and arm back into the serving motion, and to test out what it was he wanted to do. Though, slice serve is probably better for this instance. No way are you acing her as you are now. The slice, at the very least, may catch her off guard. And if you open with it, you’re may actually get a freebie off her.

Just, Syn’s voice cut in even as Dan tossed a ball up, preparing to practice his slice serve. Don’t hit a single slice serve in the warmup. Only do flats. Don’t let her see that you even have a slice serve in your repertoire.

The voice made a good point. It was also pretty underhanded, and devious. Making it honestly, a great idea. He was the underdog here. He needed every advantage he could. And given the way Peter had talked Dan up to Maddie, he had a feeling she’d be expecting a flat from him. Sure, she’d seen him go through the motions on the different types of serves when he’d been trying out racquets, but they had been the weakest possible serves he could put out, given his injury.

Now, at full health, he could really warm up his flats. Maybe even burn one or two stamina points on his final two warm up serves, to give her a 200 percent flat. That would mean the equivalence of a 50 flat, with whatever his actual strength stat was, doubled. Something that, on a normal day, against any of the regular players back at his school, would be more than respectable. Something that should, to some degree, lull Maddie into a false sense of security, or at least, get her prepared for a flat. And then, he could pull the trigger, on the trap he was laying.

“Syn, you may be a dick,” Dan said with a grunt, as he sent a practice flat towards Maddie, “but, I’ll give you this much, you’re actually quite crafty.”

The serve was wide and deep, but, it was a warm up. Maddie, in return, sent a flat back to him, that was just a little stronger than what he’d sent, but deadly accurate. Her next practice serve, was even stronger, and hit nearly in the same spot as the first. She was giving him a taste of what was to come. And, he guessed, was trying to goad him on. The mind games had already begun.

Imma take that fully as a compliment. Syn said with a chuckle. Now, get out there, and make me proud buddy. Show us just what you can do, with your new gift.

“With pleasure.” Dan said, sending another set of flats towards Maddie. On his final one, he activated auto-battle, and the serve blasted over the net, with what felt like more than double the speed and power of his other flats. Maddie’s eyes blinked for a second, but she managed to still return it easily, even as a smile came onto her face.

“Well, about warmed up then?” She said, motioning towards the balls on Dan’s side of the court, against the fence. She’d been returning his practice serves with ease, and he noticed, had just placed all three in a nice little cluster in the back corner of the fence. Show off.

“Yup, I’m good here.” He called back. “The Ace discount still applies, yeah?”

Maddie laughed, taking up her position on her side of the court, ready to receive the first serve of the Match as Dan collected the three balls on the ground.

“I’ll admit, that last serve was impressive, given how long Peter says you’ve been playing,” she sounded genuine, “however, that serve will never, ever, Ace me, unless I let it go through pure boredom.” She twirled her racquet in her hand, squatting low, a predator taking in its prey. “Since you’re Peter’s student, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt though. Give me your best shot.”