Chapter 42: One Set Game

In the next few serve sets, team Madtaks tried their best to fight back against Erap's overwhelming performance. The game has shifted to a fast-paced format with little to no rest in between when it comes to team Madtaks.

Erap's performance was not as dominating as the Legendary Santi. However, the way Erap took advantage of team Madtak's lack of experience proves that he was not a veteran player to be underestimated. He was like a guerilla fighter adept in both melee and long-range weapons.

The moment team Madtaks focus on a close-net defense, Erap swiftly targets the backline with point-blank accuracy. Like a sniper taking out the whole army just by shooting a drum full of gasoline.

Every time team Madtaks changed strategy to a backline defense, Erap would also adjust by aiming the front line. And in case of team Madtaks switch to a scattered defense, Erap will then just aim at the loose empty spot. And finally, the moment team Madtak's focus their defense against Erap, the latter would just fake a powerful spike before passing to his side and letting either Glorio or Noynoy do the finishing kill.

Though Chiko's incredible reaction and Ferdy's otherworldly flexibility managed to keep them alive for now; but the current momentum being built by Erap should be enough to finish the game soon enough.

"So this is what a real veteran player can do...." Mark rapidly gasped for air as he tried his best to fight against Erap's dominant performance.

"His skills are not that really powerful. He was just taking advantage of our mistakes and inexperience. Don't get intimidated and try to anticipate his next move. Just don't get deceived though..", Ferdy added while wiping his sweat and his reddish eyes constantly narrowed.

Meanwhile, Chiko had been silent this whole time while his mind trying its best to follow and understand Erap's guerilla strategy. His eyes focused on the movement, team coordination, micro-movements, and even the facial expression.

Little did anyone know, Chiko is learning everything like a sponge and the reason he was not talking was that he was too immersed in Erap's incredible performance.

"With this and that... I see, so you can do that too." Chiko would mumble from time to time.

But before anyone could realize it, the score has already reached 18-10, leaving an 8 point gap for the tam Madtaks.

Team Bagsik has already reached the final 3 serves to finish the game and everyone in the spectator's area seemed to have expected the incoming defeat,

"There is just no stopping it when it comes to Erap. Defeat is just inevitable the moment he steps on the stage. I still applaud those newbie guys though for putting up a good fight."

"I agree. I just hope that they won't shatter the moment they realized the unspoken rule."

"Oh yeah now that you mention that, I feel even worse for them. I bet they are still expecting to switch spots."

"It's okay guys. If we lose this set, we can just fight back on the next one with everything we have experienced just now." Chiko finally spoke with a determined and hopeful gaze. Ferdy and Mark nodded in agreement. They too agreed that it is fine to lose this round - at least that was their expectation.

"Alright! 3 more spikes and the game is over! What easy money!" Glorio laughed victoriously towards his teammates. Hearing him, Ferdy and the rest of team Madtaks frowned.

"What did you mean game over? Aren't we supposed to play best-of-three sets?" Ferdy quickly objected.

"I really thought we are going to play three sets, that's why we just persisted despite the visual disadvantage of facing the sun from our position. So this was part of your plan indeed." Mark shared his complaint as well.

Hearing them, the referee started to reveal a sinister smirk before replying,

"You must be forgetting that this is not an official match. This is a street game, therefore the street rules are expected to be followed. I never said this is a three-set match. Now get ready cause we will start."

"But-"

PRRRRRRRT!~

"Last 3 services. 18-10 in favor of the team Bagsik. Game start!" the referee did not give the team Madtaks a chance to complain and hurriedly started the game. The spectator expected it and did not even react much except for some who are shaking their head in disappointment.

Knowing their plan from the start, Noynoy quickly nodded and cast the first of the last three services for Erap to finish the game.

"This is it pancit!" Erap excitedly shouted as he whacked the sepak takraw ball with a devastating spike serve.

WHAPAAAANG!~

One of his strongest spikes serves so far, creating a streak of the yellow line in the court.

"What a spike serve!"

"This is his strongest one so far. He's really going all out now!"

Even Noynoy and Glorio were surprised at Erap's merciless performance as they knew him as someone who loves to take it slow. There was a powerful vibration in the air as the ball passed beside them and crossed the net safely and with ease. It was aimed at a dead spot where no team Madtak's could reach in time - or at least that was their expectation.

PHANG!~ Chiko's figure suddenly arrived at the spot and countered Erap's most powerful spike serve so far with a simple foot stomp causing the ball to bounced incredibly high.

"What!? How did he get there!?"

"What an insane speed! I knew it, that farmboy-looking newbie is special."

"Just look at his foot! The shoe's soles are smoking!"

"What?! Holy sh*t!"

To everyone's surprise, Chiko's shoes were indeed smoking. This was because of his insane foot speed burst and sudden halt at the ball's landing spot.

Seeing this, Erap and the rest of his team suddenly felt another cold chill in their back. Even Ferdy and Mark felt their back being drenched in sweat at the sudden change of Chiko's aura.

"This..."

"Oh snap. It's that version of him again."

As the ball passed Chiko's face when going upward, everyone could feel as if the time slowed down.

"I have a question for you Mr. One-eyed-referee," Chiko spoke calmly but with his eyes hidden in the shadows. The referee did not reply as he felt an unexpected dominating aura from Chiko. He felt as if his throat is being held tightly giving him difficulty in uttering words.

"If we lose this next set. Does that mean we will lose the bet as well?"

Hearing his question, the referee can only nod as confirmation. Meanwhile, everyone was still waiting for the ball to land and check if Chiko had already surrendered.

"I see. Thank you for clarifying." Chiko's voice was as calm as the atmosphere before the storm.

WHOOOOSH!~

Everyone felt as if there was a sudden burst of powerful wind coming from Chiko. As if they are seeing Son Goku transforming to his super Saiyan stage. His eyes painted nothing but a burning fire of pure will to win.

"This... This is the same aura when he faced the legendary Santi!" Ferdy was reminded of that day when he first saw Chiko challenging the legendary takraw God.

That moment, was the same when Chiko lost a couple of balut eggs after it was accidentally hit by a ball after Santi's spike. It was the same Chiko who could surpass the natural logic.

"I believe I cannot allow making you score anymore," Chiko said while looking directly at Erap's fearful eyes.

And before they knew it, Chiko's figure flashed upward before twisting. His body seemed to have stopped mid-air as he swung his right leg with a devastating force behind.

It was a rolling spike filled with a furious will to win.

WHAAAPAAAANG!~

Before everyone could react, there was a long whistling streak of the yellow line in their view before their eyes. The ball landed in front of Erap's foot without the latter even reacting to it. It was as if his foot was glued to the ground. He felt as if he was about to get hit by an oncoming train, his soul leaving his body for a moment.

Large drops of sweat crawled their faces at the unfathomable presence before them. It was an utterly dominating attack that shattered their confidence in playing sepak takraw.

Little did everyone knew, the team Bagsik is actually experiencing was called the King's Domain. Even the legendary Takraw God failed to react against Chiko's attack during that time because of the sudden force of King's domain that can shatter the opponent's willpower and skills as if they never existed at all. Not only it can shatter mental fortitude, but it also temporarily caused physical paralysis that no one can explain.

The score was made.

Chiko's eyes glowed with a domineering glare out of the shadow of his face. Like a wild divine beast lurking in the shadow of the infinite dark universe.

There was a mix of utter silence, fearful and shocked gazes in the eyes of everyone around.

Chiko single-handedly defended against Erap's most powerful spike serve and returned it with five times the normal power.

"I will make you pay." Chiko's cold domineering voice echoed across the court and every member of team Bagsik suddenly lost their leg strength causing them to kneel before the so-called farmer newbie Teletubbies.