496-500

Chapter 496: Fierce Battle – Oni vs. QP  

So, this is what a finals-level semifinal looks like?  

Right from the start, these two are facing off! 

Oni Juujirou! 

QP!  

Both are the strongest players on their respective teams. Logically, this showdown should’ve happened in Singles 2. Yet, as if by unspoken agreement, both sides placed them in Singles 3.  

Opening with such a powerhouse clash instantly electrified the stadium.  

"As expected of a semifinal with finals-level intensity."  

Among the Greek team, Zeus’s eyes gleamed with intrigue. "In the German team, aside from Volk, QP might be the only one who can stand against Oni."  

During the group stage, he had fought Oni in a single-set match. Despite giving it his all, Zeus lost—costing Greece their chance to advance. That match had been Oni’s declaration to the world: Japan had a player with pro-level skill.  

But Zeus knew the truth.  

Oni hadn’t used his full strength. With his "Omnipotent" insight, Zeus sensed the terrifying power hidden beneath the surface.  

"This really is a clash of titans!" Hermes nodded solemnly.  

Though he was a strong high school player himself, Hermes had been defeated by one of Japan’s middle schoolers. That loss made him realize Japan’s team was far stronger than anyone had anticipated.  

Clearly, this opening match would be even more intense than Spain vs. Switzerland earlier that morning.  

Thud. Thud.  

At the edge of the court, two figures stepped forward.  

On one side—towering, broad-shouldered, with fiery red hair—stood Oni Juujirou.  

On the other—lean, composed, with golden hair—stood QP.  

They met at the net, shaking hands with a firm grip. The moment their eyes locked, each recognized the other’s formidable strength.  

"Pleasure to play against you."  

QP’s tone lacked his usual arrogance. His crushing defeat against Ishikawa seemed to have humbled him, adding a touch of humanity to his words.  

"Likewise." Oni nodded. "If I’m not mistaken, after that match, you must’ve found the true path to the ‘Ultimate Realm,’ right?"  

Ultimate?  

The word caught QP’s attention. He scrutinized Oni again but couldn’t see through him.  

"You’re even stronger than I expected." QP acknowledged coolly. "Then let me see just how powerful you are—the man who defeated Zeus!"  

The tension between them thickened.  

The crowd fell silent as the two retreated to their baselines after the coin toss.  

"Best of three sets," the umpire announced, glancing between them before settling on Oni. "First set, Japan’s Oni to serve. Game start!"  

All eyes turned to Oni.  

"Then… let’s begin."  

With a sharp exhale, Oni tossed the ball high and unleashed a thunderous serve.  

BOOM!  

The explosive sound echoed as the ball rocketed across the court like a cannonball. The sheer force kicked up a whirlwind of dust upon impact, shrouding QP in a haze.  

"This power?!"  

The German team stiffened. They knew Oni was strong, but this serve was beyond expectations. The match’s intensity was already skyrocketing.  

Yet no one doubted QP’s ability to return it.  

CRACK!  

Sure enough, the ball shot back like an arrow, piercing through the dust. QP’s expression remained calm, unfazed.  

"As expected of QP."  

From the stands, Zeus nodded approvingly. "His body must harbor immense strength to handle Oni’s power so effortlessly."  

Having faced Oni himself, Zeus knew just how overwhelming that raw strength was. Merely neutralizing it had drained him. Yet QP made it look easy.  

"Rumor has it, Germany’s elite training forged his body into steel," Hermes remarked.  

"A body of steel?" Zeus narrowed his eyes.  

If true, Japan wouldn’t find an advantage in brute strength.  

BOOM! CRACK! BOOM! CRACK!  

The rally escalated rapidly.  

Oni’s shots were monstrous, each strike radiating palpable pressure. Meanwhile, QP countered with eerie precision—every return landed exactly on the same spot.  

"Tch!"  

Among Japan’s middle schoolers, Fuji and Oshitari inhaled sharply.  

"He’s maintaining that level of control under Oni’s pressure?!"  

As technique-focused players, they understood the absurd difficulty of such precision. Beginners could aim accurately after basic training, but maintaining it against heavy spin and power was another matter entirely.  

Just handling Oni’s strength was exhausting—yet QP made pinpoint control look effortless.  

"Nothing’s impossible."  

Byakudou’s voice cut through their disbelief. "Overpowering Oni’s strength just requires superior technique. If you can’t do it, your technique isn’t good enough."  

"…"  

The middle schoolers exchanged wry glances.  

Simple logic—but executing it was another story.  

"So this is the terror of Germany’s elite tennis program," Yukimura mused, hand on his chin.  

Tezuka, beside him, tensed. His gaze locked onto QP, who traded blows with Oni without faltering.  

BOOM! CRACK! BOOM! CRACK!  

The first point stretched into a relentless exchange. The ball streaked back and forth, gusts of wind whipping the net sideways.  

"So this is Germany’s No. 2."  

Oni’s eyes glinted. Despite his efforts, QP refused to yield.  

SWOOSH!  

Suddenly, Oni leapt, swinging his racket with both hands in a devastating arc.  

"This is—?!"  

Shishido’s pupils shrank. "Jack Knife?!"  

He remembered this move all too well—the same technique that had nearly sent him flying off a cliff during training.  

BOOM!  

A deafening blast erupted.  

A black streak tore through the air like a bullet.  

"No, that’s not Jack Knife." Mitsuya corrected sharply. "That’s Oni’s true signature move—[Black Jack Knife]!"  

SHIIING!  

The ball split the air, turbulence rippling in its wake. It hurtled toward QP at breakneck speed.  

For a moment, even the German team’s middle schoolers held their breath.  

"What’s with the panic?" Seigfried scoffed. "You think a move like that can score against QP?"  

The Germans trusted QP implicitly. They were sure Oni’s power wouldn’t faze him—if anything, the jump left Oni vulnerable, and QP wouldn’t miss that opening.  

THUD! THUD!  

Sure enough, QP dashed through the dust, racket poised.  

He angled the frame sharply, wrist flexing to counter the spin with precision—a technique he’d mastered through countless matches.  

But the moment his strings met the ball—  

"This… power?!"  

QP’s eyes widened.  

CREAK!  

The ball sank into the strings like a lead weight, distorting the racket’s face. Had it not been a high-end frame, it might’ve snapped on impact.  

Even so, the force staggered QP. He managed a return, but the awkward stance slowed the shot, giving Oni time to recover.  

SWOOSH!  

Oni landed, then instantly sprang up again.  

His racket descended like a guillotine.  

BANG!  

The smash struck the court with hurricane force, kicking up a dust storm. The ball ricocheted into the wall—  

CRACK!  

—leaving a web of fractures in the concrete.  

"15-0!"  

Silence.  

Seigfried gulped. "Is… is this guy even human?"  

Even Germany’s powerhouses, like Frankenstein and the "Bear Cub" Klaus, paled.  

"His strength is off the charts." Bertie adjusted his star-shaped necklace. "I’d estimate it at 10."  

10?!  

Gasps rippled through the crowd.  

In tennis metrics, 5 was elite-level. 7 was pro-tier.  

10 was reserved for the world’s strongest power players.  

"Not just that." Volk’s voice was grave. "His grip strength is at least 150kg."  

"…!"  

More stunned silence.  

Average male grip strength hovered around 50kg. Pros reached 80kg. 120kg was world-class.  

150kg?  

That bordered on world-record territory.  

"With his natural strength, why train grip specifically?" Bismarck muttered, intrigued.  

"A grip over 150kg?"  

Spain’s vice-captain, Romeo, glanced toward Japan’s bench—where a black-haired teen stood at the center.  

"Is it coincidence that Japan’s players focus so much on grip training?"  

"Once might be chance. Twice is a pattern."  

Captain Medanore’s gaze darkened.  

Japan’s emphasis on grip strength was clearly deliberate.  

And he was right.  

After losing to Ishikawa, Oni had trained relentlessly at U-17’s back mountains—not just power drills, but grip-specific conditioning.  

At first, Inui found it odd.  

But Coach Mikuni supported it, refining Oni’s regimen. With his monstrous physique, Oni’s grip strength skyrocketed—from 90kg to 160kg.  

Now, his power had no weaknesses.  

BOOM!  

"30-0!"  

BOOM!  

"40-0!"  

BOOM!  

On the fourth point, [Black Jack Knife] struck again—this time, ripping the racket from QP’s hands.  

"Game!"  

"Japan’s Oni leads, 1-0! Change ends!"  

Dead silence.  

The German team stared, stunned. Even Becker and Bismarck wore expressions of deep caution.  

"Japan has someone like this…?"  

Volk’s gaze sharpened. He analyzed Oni, calculating whether that grip could withstand his own ultimate technique.  

Meanwhile, Germany’s coach, Kanata Leiter, narrowed his eyes.  

"So, this is their secret weapon against Volk?"  

But then—  

"Then why place him in Singles 3?"  

For the first time, the tactician found himself… puzzled.  

Chapter 497: Flawless Execution and Perfect Quality  

"Hiss!"  

"Did Qp just lose a game to his opponent?"  

"Oni Juuzou! As expected of the man who defeated Zeus, the Greek team’s captain—his strength is terrifying!"  

From the stands, representatives from various countries watched Oni with awe.  

In tennis, skill spoke louder than words—that was the sport’s allure. Nationality and age didn’t matter; only strength earned respect.  

"Speaking of which… Japan’s lineup is downright monstrous, isn’t it?"  

Analysts from other teams wore strange expressions. Players like Tanegashima, Irie, and Otori, who had already competed, were impressive enough.  

After all, Japan was only ranked in the lower twenties in global standings. Having Ryoma as their top player was already shocking, but Tanegashima and the other mid-to-high-tier players were putting pressure on even the top-ten teams.  

Add in their ridiculously talented middle schoolers, and it was no exaggeration to call Japan the ultimate dark horse.  

And now, Oni was displaying world-class tennis. It almost felt surreal—as if Japan were the ones aiming for a ten-peat in this World Cup.  

Thud!  

At that moment, Qp served.  

The German ace unleashed a blistering high-speed serve. While not as exaggerated as Otori’s "Mach," the ball’s velocity still left many spectators dizzy.  

"Nice shot."  

Oni nodded approvingly as the ball landed precisely on the centerline.  

He hadn’t underestimated Qp.  

During the exhibition match, Qp had shown skills beyond the professional level, nearly reaching the pinnacle. If not for Ryoma, he would never have been pushed to such a desperate state.  

And Oni himself? He didn’t consider himself as overwhelmingly strong as Ryoma.  

Crack!  

His racket whipped forward, returning the ball with force.  

But Qp’s offense was relentless.  

Capitalizing on his serve, he attacked without pause. The moment Oni’s return cleared the net, Qp was already moving.  

Thwack!  

The ball landed sharply on Oni’s backhand sideline.  

Oni chased it down without hesitation and fired it back.  

Yet Qp struck again—this time targeting the forehand sideline.  

Tap.  

The ball kissed the line with flawless precision.  

"15–0!"  

With that single point secured, Qp calmly collected the ball and returned to his serving position.  

"This guy is insane!"  

The Japanese team stared in shock.  

Not only had Qp handled Oni’s power, but he’d also placed his returns with surgical accuracy. His skill was terrifying.  

"As expected of Germany’s No. 2."  

Duke and Tanegashima nodded solemnly.  

Surviving in a powerhouse like Germany spoke volumes about Qp’s ability. Instead of avoiding Oni’s strength, he’d confronted it head-on and scored—a display of sheer willpower.  

Thud! Crack! Thud! Crack!  

The battle raged on.  

Qp maintained his razor-sharp control and aggressive play, dominating his service game.  

Three minutes later, he secured the game at 40–15.  

"His strength is at least a '6.'"  

Oni analyzed Qp’s abilities from the baseline. While Qp’s power wasn’t weak, it paled in comparison to Oni’s.  

But Oni wasn’t careless.  

Tennis wasn’t just about raw strength—technique, timing, and explosive force all played a role in a shot’s destructive potential.  

Especially technique.  

It could neutralize power—or even amplify it to terrifying levels.  

Take the "Glowing Shot," for example.  

Or Ryoma’s signature move—*"Awakening of Insects."*  

The latter had evolved with Ryoma’s growing skill and mental fortitude, incorporating more traits and nearing perfection. Its destructive force now rivaled even Atobe’s "Annihilation."  

To Oni, Qp was a master of this very concept.  

"I can’t keep playing like this."  

Oni’s eyes snapped open, locking onto Qp like a predator.  

A suffocating pressure engulfed the German player.  

Yet Qp remained unfazed.  

Thwack!  

He served as if nothing had happened.  

"His mental resilience is solid too."  

When his intimidation failed, Oni sprang into action. After a powerful return, he rushed the net. The moment Qp countered, Oni leaped, swinging his racket with both hands in a devastating strike.  

"Here it comes!"  

"Oni’s (senior/old man’s) signature move—Black Jack Knife!"  

A black shockwave erupted from the racket, electrifying the Japanese team.  

"Bring it."  

On the other side, Qp’s expression turned serious. Without hesitation, he braced himself, gripping his racket with both hands.  

Time seemed to freeze.  

The Japanese players were pumped—they expected Qp’s racket to go flying again. The German fans, however, held their breath in worry.  

Oni’s power was monstrous.  

Only someone like Volk could return such a shot head-on.  

But at the last second—  

Qp tilted his racket, striking the ball with its frame.  

BOOM!  

The ball rocketed back, exploding on Oni’s far side.  

"Game!"  

"Germany’s Qp, 1–1!"  

Silence.  

The stadium froze at the sight of the dust plume rising from the impact.  

Then—  

"OOOOOH!!!"  

The German fans erupted.  

"Incredible!"  

"That’s Qp for you—he returned even THAT!"  

"Heh, as expected of Germany’s No. 2, second only to Volk himself!"  

Amid the deafening cheers, Qp remained expressionless. He simply returned to the baseline, crouched low, and readied himself for the next serve.  

"This guy’s composure is unreal."  

Oni’s expression darkened briefly after his signature move was countered. But seeing Qp’s calm demeanor, he steadied himself.  

This was what the World Cup was about.  

This level of pressure was fitting for a semifinal of this caliber.  

Crack!  

He fired off another powerful serve.  

Qp attempted the same strategy, using precise angles to neutralize Oni’s explosive power. After all, spontaneous strikes were harder to control than premeditated ones.  

Crack! Thud! Crack! Thud!  

The match escalated further.  

Unable to break through, Oni unleashed another technique.  

Swish!  

The towering redhead’s form blurred, multiplying into afterimages. His arms moved like a thousand-handed deity, striking the ball in rapid succession.  

Bang! Bang! Bang!  

Multiple hits echoed at once.  

"It’s here!"  

Shishido and the others perked up. "Oni’s 'Multi-Strike' technique!"  

Unlike multi-ball rallies or "Muga no Kyōchi’s" simultaneous strikes, this move created multiple illusions from a single ball.  

Only one was real—but the opponent needed near-superhuman reflexes to spot it. While not as complex as "Muga’s" all-real strikes, it was still an advanced technique.  

Yet Qp remained unfazed.  

Swish! Swish! Swish!  

As seven or eight afterimages of the ball hurtled toward him, Qp calmly adjusted his racket and—  

Thwack!  

Sent the real one flying back.  

"What?!"  

The Japanese team stiffened.  

They’d expected Qp to return it—but not so effortlessly. It was as natural to him as breathing.  

"Impressive."  

Oni grinned and raised his racket again. His form flickered, multiplying the afterimages further.  

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!  

This time, ten illusions appeared.  

Yet Qp still stepped forward casually, deflecting the real ball with a flick of his wrist.  

Oni intensified his assault, increasing the illusions with each strike.  

12… 14… 16… 18…  

At 20 illusions, Qp’s expression finally shifted.  

Human perception had limits—but Oni’s strikes seemed endless. Even the unflappable Qp found himself cornered.  

Swish! Swish! Swish!  

Suddenly, Qp’s own form split into afterimages. His arms mirrored Oni’s technique as he swung at each incoming illusion.  

One.  

Two.  

Three.  

Four.  

The German team tensed as Qp’s racket met nothing but air.  

Thwack!  

On the thirteenth swing, he finally connected.  

The German supporters exhaled in relief.  

But then—  

Oni’s aura surged past a critical threshold. Under Qp’s pressure, he’d broken through, awakening a terrifying power.  

BOOM!  

A blinding white light engulfed the court.  

"That’s… the 'Pinnacle of Hard Work'?!"  

The German players recoiled.  

"No—this isn’t just that. It’s 'Steadfast Radiance!'"  

Becker and Bismarck instantly recognized it.  

Their faces hardened.  

They’d never seen "Steadfast Radiance" at this level before. Compared to this, Kintarō’s aura was like a trickling stream—and even Ryoma hadn’t reached this intensity.  

Crack!  

A white flash exploded at Qp’s side.  

No one could track the shot—not even the umpire. Stunned, he glanced at the fresh mark inside the baseline and announced:  

"15–0!"  

The crowd buzzed in confusion.  

Many German fans doubted the call—until they saw Qp’s unchanging expression.  

Crack! Crack! Crack!  

Oni followed up with three consecutive aces, sealing the third game.  

"Game!"  

"Japan’s Oni, 2–1! Change sides!"  

The spectators watched the white-cloaked Oni with reverence. This was Qp—one of the world’s best. Yet Oni had shut him out on his own serve.  

"Since when was Oni this strong?!"  

Hermes of Greece gaped.  

He’d thought he’d seen Oni’s full power before. Clearly, he’d been wrong.  

"Indeed."  

Zeus sighed. "To think he’d suppress even Qp. But…"  

His gaze shifted to the tall German representative.  

"It’s time for you to respond, isn’t it?"  

Hummm.  

A golden light erupted around Qp—intense, radiant, and overwhelming.  

The world’s top players stiffened.  

"Perfect… Quality?!"  

Chapter 498: Clash of Professionals – The Omen of the Demon’s Awakening  

"Finally… we’re entering professional-level play!"  

As QP bathed in golden light, elite players from all nations tensed with wariness.  

"Muga no Kyouchi" (Selfless State) – "Perfect Quality."  

Both were pinnacle abilities capable of propelling a player into the professional realm.  

Unlike Ryoma or Tezuka—who had yet to fully grasp Selfless State or lacked the necessary foundation—Oni Juujirou was different.  

His aura was overwhelming. The luminous particles of Selfless State swirled densely around him, amplifying his already suffocating presence.  

QP, however, represented another archetype.  

His golden radiance was blinding, yet his energy remained tightly controlled—almost as if condensing into a single focal point.  

BOOM!  

QP served.  

A flash of gold, and the ball vanished from sight.  

Too fast.  

This serve transcended ordinary perception, entering a higher dimension. Weaker players couldn’t even track its trajectory.  

CRACK!  

Yet for Oni—fully immersed in Selfless State—it posed no challenge.  

The moment his racket struck, a brilliant white light erupted. To most, it was a fleeting burst—but to top-tier players, its significance was unmistakable.  

"The power of 'Pinnacle of Hard Work' devours an opponent’s aura upon impact," murmured Becker and Bismarck, their expressions grave.  

In a match of this caliber, even a slight disadvantage could be fatal. Letting Selfless State consume one’s energy was perilous.  

CRACK!  

Yet QP returned it effortlessly.  

Upon closer inspection, whenever Oni’s light encroached, QP’s golden radiance flared like a shield—repelling Selfless State’s influence.  

"This is the power of Perfect Quality."  

From the coach’s bench, Germany’s strategist, Kanata Leiter, leaned forward, fingers steepled. "It nullifies all attacks—mental, technical, or physical. In essence, it’s absolute defense."  

BOOM! CRACK! BOOM! CRACK!  

Within moments, they exchanged over a dozen rallies.  

QP deflected every assault from Oni’s Selfless State. Their blistering speed whipped up twin cyclones of dust, obscuring all but fleeting afterimages. Even elite spectators struggled to follow.  

"Gulp."  

Belgium’s captain in his striped jacket swallowed hard. "These two… are monsters."  

Had this been Ishikawa vs. Volk, he’d have understood. But for non-ace players to reach this level? Unthinkable.  

"This is just the semifinals?!" Australia’s Fitzgerald paled.  

His teammates, once bitter over their loss, now felt oddly comforted—defeat by such titans was no disgrace.  

SWISH!  

QP struck suddenly—a surprise passing shot breached Oni’s guard.  

"15-0!"  

Oni retaliated, but QP’s service game dominance held firm.  

Three minutes later:  

"Game! Germany’s QP leads, 2-2!"  

The crowd buzzed. Oni fired back with a devastating Selfless State serve next game:  

"Game! Japan’s Oni, 3-2! Change ends!"  

"That serve… is inhuman!" The Germans grimaced.  

Oni’s serve—amplified by Selfless State—combined raw power with terrifying speed. Even QP struggled.  

"No choice," Bismarck admitted. "His 'Pinnacle of Hard Work' surpasses even Ishikawa’s. Surviving it is impressive enough."  

"Don’t underestimate QP." Becker’s eyes narrowed. "He’s holding back. His intellect won’t tolerate passive defense."  

After his crushing loss, QP had begun unifying his trinity of strengths. Regression was impossible.  

"Hmph."  

Leiter smiled faintly. "The opponent is strong… but your warm-up should be complete by now."  

WHOOSH!  

QP’s next serve was a phantom.  

Oni blinked—only to find the ball rolling behind him.  

"Impossible!"  

Even with Selfless State, he’d missed it entirely. Stranger still, the serve felt… familiar.  

"Too fast for you?" QP’s taunt dripped condescension. "Shall I slow down?"  

Japan’s bench erupted in outrage—but Oni remained focused. This was no fluke.  

WHOOSH! CRACK!  

Another golden streak. Oni swung late.  

"30-0!"  

Two unreturned serves confirmed their fears.  

"Wait." Ryoma scratched his head. "That serve… seems familiar?"  

The others froze.  

Tezuka and Inui exchanged glances—a realization dawning.  

"That’s… Selfless State’s power?" Inui murmured.  

"What?!"  

"QP has mastered it," Inui deduced. "But his version differs."  

Selfless State was unmistakable—a luminous vortex radiating outward. QP’s energy showed no such signature.  

"Unless," Ishikawa interjected, "Perfect Quality doesn’t just negate attacks… but absorbs them."  

Silence.  

The implications were chilling.  

"Rumors say QP fought both 'Love' and 'Loneliness' Selfless State users," Mitsuya added. "After facing Ishikawa’s 'Fortitude,' his Perfect Quality evolved further."  

"So he’s… beyond Perfect Quality now?"  

"Selfless State manifests differently per user," Ishikawa explained. "Oni’s 'Fortitude' dwarfs Tezuka’s or Ryoma’s. QP was biding his time—studying stronger variants to refine his own."  

In truth, during their last match, QP had glimpsed Ultimate Quality—the gateway to the highest realm.  

GAME! GERMANY’S QP, 3-3!  

The match hung in balance—but QP’s eyes now gleamed with predatory focus. Oni sensed it: the hunter had locked onto prey.  

"You were testing me all along." Oni’s voice darkened.  

Selfless State alone wouldn’t suffice.  

HUM!  

A seismic pressure erupted—like mountains collapsing.  

Switzerland’s injured Albert Federer and his cap-wearing partner Randy gasped:  

"Super-Gravity Tennis Dimension!"  

But Oni’s version was denser. The very air congealed under its weight.  

BOOM!  

His serve struck like a meteor. The shockwave rattled skulls.  

QP intercepted, golden light flaring to neutralize the gravity distortion—  

CRACK!  

—and fired back a laser-guided return kissing the baseline.  

"0-15!"  

Japan’s team stared in disbelief.  

"He returned Oni’s Super-Gravity serve?!"  

"His precision dipped, but he’ll adjust," Ishikawa noted. "QP has grown since our match."  

Pressure forged diamonds. Every opponent Ishikawa crushed had emerged stronger. QP was no exception.  

In the original timeline, without Ultimate Quality, QP would’ve faltered here. But history had bent—not broken.  

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!  

QP seized momentum, dismantling Oni’s defenses with surgical strikes.  

Five minutes later:  

"Game and first set! Germany’s QP wins, 6-3!"  

Germany’s bench erupted. This was redemption—proof they still dominated.  

Yet Volk and QP remained stoic.  

They knew: the true battle was just beginning.  

As QP took the court for the second set, an unsettling realization struck him.  

The atmosphere had shifted.  

Something dormant within Oni was… stirring.  

Chapter 499: Asura’s Dominance, QP’s Ultimate Quality!  

"What… is this feeling?"  

On the court, QP—who had won the first set—held the tennis ball, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.  

This pressure… aside from Ryoma, he had never felt it from any other player. Not even the captains of Team USA or Switzerland had ever weighed on him like this.  

It was as if something monstrous was awakening within his opponent.  

Tap. Tap. Tap.  

QP took a slow breath, bouncing the ball lightly against the ground.  

His hesitation baffled spectators—even his own German teammates.  

Logically, after winning the first set, QP should’ve seized the momentum to dominate. A swift, decisive victory would’ve secured Germany’s lead in the semifinals.  

Yet here he was, treading with uncharacteristic caution.  

"Is he really playing it this safe?"  

Kim Taewoo of Korea blinked in surprise. His knowledge of QP came mainly from his teammate Lee Seung-bok, who had trained at Germany’s elite tennis academy. In his mind, QP was the epitome of icy precision—a cold, calculating machine.  

But even Lee Seung-bok looked puzzled.  

"Hmm."  

QP was always composed, yes—but never hesitant. Never one to let opportunities slip.  

"So…"  

Lee’s gaze sharpened as he studied Japan’s fiery-haired giant.  

"Is this man still hiding power?"  

Thwack!  

QP finally served.  

Activating Perfect Quality from the start, his shot streaked across the court like a golden comet—too fast for the naked eye to track.  

Hummm.  

Oni, shrouded in the particle-like aura of Pinnacle of Perfection, met the ball with a crushing return.  

"Useless."  

From the German bench, the crew-cut "Tennis Machine" Frankensteiner shook his head. "QP has already dissected that move. Once he sees through a technique, it’s meaningless—no matter how many times you reuse it."  

QP’s genius was terrifying.  

His overwhelming skill often overshadowed his other gifts—like his ability to eternally expose flaws and dismantle any strategy.  

A technique he cracked once? Consider it obsolete.  

Before an opponent could refine that move, QP would’ve already deciphered its evolved form.  

And with Perfect Quality—which absorbed Love, Loneliness, and Steadfast Radiance—he could suppress even the Pinnacle of Perfection.  

Thud! Crack! Thud! Crack!  

True to form, Oni found himself cornered again.  

Yet QP felt a sliver of unease.  

"His strikes… keep getting heavier."  

Not just physically. The weight bore down on his mind, too—a tangible, suffocating pressure.  

Whoosh!  

Suddenly, the smoke screen before him split apart.  

A colossal tennis ball, shimmering with eerie blue-green light, hurtled toward him like a falling mountain.  

"Tennis… Beyond Limits?"  

QP’s eyes narrowed. "For a mere stroke to reach this level…"  

But he was a master.  

Talent, technique, experience, mental fortitude—all flawless. In that split second, he formulated a response.  

Swish!  

Golden light erupted around him as he swung.  

Boom!  

Then—  

The world twisted.  

Behind the smoke, a monstrous silhouette loomed—armored, fanged, its eyes burning with violet-black fire.  

"What… is that?!"  

QP’s vast knowledge failed him.  

A demon? A specter? Neither term sufficed.  

The entity towered dozens of meters high, its gaze crushing him under unbearable pressure.  

Yet QP didn’t falter.  

He swung.  

CRASH!  

The moment his racket connected, he knew—he’d miscalculated.  

The force was catastrophic. That towering figure wasn’t an illusion. It was a tsunami, a freight train, a battleship plowing through him at full speed.  

Whoosh!  

QP’s body hurtled backward.  

"No… way?!"  

"What kind of power is this?!"  

"Even QP got blown away—wait, what?!"  

But then—  

Midair, QP twisted like a bird in flight, landing gracefully.  

Tap. Tap. Tap.  

The ball rolled past him.  

"0–15!"  

The umpire’s call snapped everyone back to reality.  

QP hadn’t been sent flying—but he’d failed to return the shot.  

"What… was that?"  

Brushing dust off his shirt, QP studied Oni warily.  

"If I’m not mistaken," Coach Lendyll interjected, "that’s another supreme technique—the Asura Path."  

Nearby, Japan’s Coach Mifune remained unfazed. He wasn’t surprised Lendyll knew of it.  

"Coach," Germany’s Siegfried asked, "what’s this ‘Asura’ thing?"  

Bismarck and Becker leaned in. Even Volk and QP glanced over.  

"The Asura Path," Lendyll explained gravely, "is a fearsome tennis doctrine. It awakens by delving into the essence of one’s spirit, tapping into the primal consciousness within."  

"Compared to the Pinnacle of Hard Work, it’s far more potent—and far more destructive."  

His gaze locked onto Oni. "And his Asura Path has surpassed even that. It’s entered a higher realm."  

"Asura… Path?"  

QP’s eyes gleamed.  

He recalled the horror he’d glimpsed during his match against Ryoma. A fleeting sight, yet unforgettable.  

A new frontier.  

But QP wasn’t afraid.  

To surpass Ryoma, to become the god of tennis—he needed to conquer this domain.  

Swish!  

His focus sharpened.  

"Then let’s see just how strong this ‘Asura’ really is."  

Thwack!  

He served.  

Golden light clashed against Oni’s monstrous aura.  

Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack!  

The battle escalated.  

Each strike cracked the court. Pebbles disintegrated under the force. Smoke swirled like a cyclone, torn apart and reformed repeatedly. The air itself trembled, as if they stood on an ancient battlefield.  

At first, the fight was even.  

Then Oni’s Asura began overpowering QP’s Perfect Quality.  

Boom! Boom! Boom!  

Finally—  

Oni leaped, delivering the Asura Jack Knife. A dust plume erupted skyward.  

"Second set: Japan’s Oni Juuzou wins, 6–3!"  

"OOOOOH!!!"  

The Japanese team erupted.  

"As expected of Oni!"  

Inui and Yanagi exchanged relieved glances. Deploying Oni as Singles 3 had been the right call. Apart from Ryoma and Atobe, no one else could’ve anchored the team like this—not even against QP.  

"He… reversed the momentum?!"  

Spectators stared in disbelief.  

"This man’s too strong," Hermes of Greece muttered.  

"Indeed." Zeus nodded solemnly. During their match, he’d sensed Oni hiding power beyond Pinnacle of Perfection and Super-Gravity Dimension. Thanks to QP, he’d now witnessed it—the force that could sunder the earth itself.  

"This year’s Japanese team… is unstoppable."  

"The Asura Path, huh?"  

Sitting on the bench, QP replayed the match in his mind, his muscles remembering the devastating impacts.  

"Coach Lendyll was right. It surpasses both Steadfast Radiance and Super-Gravity Dimension."  

His eyes snapped open, locking onto Oni.  

"Oni Juuzou… you’re dangerous. A threat like you can’t be allowed to interfere. So—"  

He rose, racket raised.  

"Let’s end this."  

Hummm.  

Golden light erupted from QP again.  

"Worthless!" Shishido scoffed. "Perfect Quality can’t rival Oni’s Asura—wait, what?!"  

His pupils shrank.  

"That’s…"  

All eyes fixed on QP. Within his golden aura, specks of white light shimmered.  

"Pinnacle… of Perfection?!"  

The Japanese team stiffened.  

"No," Mitsuya cut in. "Not just that. It’s evolving from the golden aura. Could it be—?"  

A realization struck him. His hands trembled.  

BOOM!  

The light particles condensed—then exploded in a blinding flash.  

When it faded—  

QP’s body gleamed with a diamond-like radiance.  

His eyes opened.  

A single glance sent a jolt through the crowd, as if their very thoughts had been laid bare.  

"As I thought."  

Amadeus and Reinhardt exchanged grim looks.  

"He’s reached it—the Ultimate Quality."  

Chapter 500: The Asura Demon God, The Final Outcome  

Boom!  

The final set.  

Without hesitation, Oni unleashed a ferocious serve the moment the game began.  

The power of Asura erupted instantly, dark streaks of energy flooding across the court. The sheer intensity of the scene left many German players holding their breath, fists clenched unconsciously.  

Thud!  

Yet, Q.P. effortlessly returned it.  

Swish!  

His cold, gleaming eyes locked onto Oni, sending a chill down the spine of the Japanese player, even in his Demon God state.  

Whoosh!  

In an instant, Q.P.’s wrist twisted, and a diamond-like brilliance—symbolizing the pinnacle of Ultimate Quality—exploded from his racket.  

Oni’s instincts screamed danger.  

He focused entirely on the ball, bracing himself for the return.  

Crack!  

But it was too fast.  

Unbelievably fast.  

By the time he reacted, the ball had already shot past him.  

The diamond-like flash burst beside him, and Oni’s raised racket slowly lowered.  

"0-15!"  

The umpire’s call silenced the cheers from the Japanese team’s stands.  

"No… way?" Players from Court 3, like Nakagauchi and Tsutomu, stared in disbelief.  

Even Oni couldn’t return Q.P.’s shot?  

"Is this the power of the Ultimate realm?"  

In the rest area, Mitsuya and the others wore grim expressions.  

Ultimate.  

A domain reserved for the world’s elite, far beyond the professional level. Only by stepping into this realm could one hope to reach legendary status.  

The difference between those who had and hadn’t entered this stage was like heaven and earth.  

Take the quarterfinals, for example.  

France’s Camus had only briefly tapped into the Ultimate realm, yet that alone allowed him to score against Ishikawa. And it was only after Ishikawa himself entered that domain that he secured victory.  

"This is bad…"  

Mori, Enyou, and the others tensed.  

For the first time, they felt the creeping dread that Oni might actually lose.  

Boom! Thud! Boom! Thud!  

The match progressed, and their fears materialized.  

With Ultimate Quality activated, Q.P. completely reversed the earlier suppression. Now, it was Oni who was being overwhelmed.  

"Game!"  

"Germany’s Q.P., 1-0! Change sides!"  

"Game!"  

"Germany’s Q.P., 2-0!"  

"Game!"  

"Germany’s Q.P., 3-0! Change sides!"  

Three games passed in a flash.  

Q.P.’s dominance was suffocating. Even Oni’s Demon God state seemed powerless against him.  

"So this is the Ultimate realm…"  

Spain’s players—Mars, Román, even their captain, Medanore—watched with awe. Medanore’s gaze darkened as he studied Q.P.  

He hadn’t expected Germany to produce another Ultimate-level player besides Volk.  

"Japan has already lost."  

Medanore shook his head.  

It wasn’t that he underestimated Oni. The gap between Ultimate and non-Ultimate was like an invisible yet insurmountable wall—wider than the difference between a beginner and an elite player.  

Japan’s defeat was only a matter of time.  

Tap. Tap. Tap.  

Q.P. bounced the ball calmly.  

Oni stood ready, but the crowd’s anticipation was palpable—especially among the Germans, who were certain Q.P. would crush this game.  

Boom!  

The diamond-like brilliance erupted again.  

The German players clenched their fists in excitement—  

—But the expected point never came.  

"Wait… what is that?!"  

Frankensteiner’s eyes widened.  

Sssss…  

A dark mark had appeared on the court, right where Q.P.’s serve landed. The ball stuck to it, frozen in place as if sealed by the black void.  

"That’s—!"  

The Japanese team jolted to attention.  

"Black Hole?!"  

CRASH!  

Oni’s Asura power surged as he smashed the ball back.  

"What?!"  

"He returned Q.P.’s Ultimate shot?!"  

"What the hell is that black thing?!"  

The Germans were stunned.  

Ultimate Quality was Q.P.’s strongest form, a realm beyond professional play. How had Oni countered it?  

Thud!  

Q.P. calmly returned the ball again—  

But just before it hit the ground, another patch of darkness, speckled with starlight, trapped it once more.  

"Again?!"  

No one understood how Oni was stopping Q.P.’s attacks.  

By all logic, Ultimate techniques should be untouchable—far surpassing normal tennis in power, speed, and skill.  

"Black Hole?!"  

Mitsuya was shocked. "Wait, isn’t that Tokugawa’s move? Since when could Oni use it?"  

"Simple," Tokugawa replied. "Because it was Oni and Inui who taught it to me in the first place."  

"Not bad."  

Coach Mikudzune nodded in approval from the sidelines.  

Black Hole was originally developed by his mentor. After all, a technique that warps space through sheer force wasn’t something a high schooler could invent. Only a legendary player like the old man from Rokkaku could create such a move.  

At its core, the deeper the user’s understanding, the more unstoppable Black Hole became.  

"But…" Mikudzune narrowed his eyes. "Can defense alone win this match?"  

Oni’s skill and strength allowed him to use Black Hole more effortlessly than Tokugawa. But against an Ultimate-level player, pure defense wasn’t enough—especially since Black Hole drained stamina rapidly.  

The tide seemed to have turned, but the fundamental imbalance remained.  

"Oni… your limits go far beyond this."  

Mikudzune’s gaze sharpened as he watched the red-haired warrior on the court.  

"Show me what you learned on the Cliff of Resolve."  

Boom! Thud! Boom! Thud!  

The battle raged on.  

Black Hole stalled Q.P.’s offense, but Oni’s counterattacks couldn’t break through. Meanwhile, Q.P. analyzed the technique, probing for weaknesses with Ultimate precision.  

Yet as time passed, Q.P. noticed something unsettling—  

"His power… is still increasing?"  

Even in the Ultimate realm, Q.P. felt the pressure mounting. Oni’s strikes grew heavier, as if something dormant inside him was awakening.  

"Defense alone won’t win this."  

"His tennis is too overwhelming. I don’t have Tokugawa’s predictive instincts to anticipate every shot."  

"If this continues, I’ll lose. So I have no choice—I must summon that."  

With each collision, Oni’s resolve hardened.  

Like black iron forged in fire, his impurities burned away, revealing something raw and untamed beneath.  

CRACK!  

One final hammer strike—  

And the darkness within him erupted.  

Thick smoke swallowed the court.  

"Tch."  

Q.P. frowned as the haze obscured his vision. A suffocating pressure weighed on him—something he shouldn’t feel after entering the Ultimate realm.  

"Unless… he’s stepped into it too?"  

The thought flickered in his mind.  

Impossible.  

He dismissed it immediately. Even he had needed to merge the three Pinnacle Auras, suffer a crushing defeat against Ishikawa, and undergo a complete awakening to reach this stage.  

The Ultimate realm wasn’t so easily attained.  

BOOM!  

A colossal tennis ball tore through the smoke, hurtling toward Q.P.  

Purple-gray and crimson light intertwined, casting an eerie glow over his face.  

"Useless. This move won’t work on me now."  

Against Ultimate power, Oni’s Demon God was obsolete.  

"No—!"  

But Q.P.’s confidence shattered the next second.  

Because behind the giant ball wasn’t the Asura he expected—  

But a hundred-meter-tall demon god with six arms wreathed in serpents and dragons, its three faces (red, black, blue) contorted in wrath.  

ROAR!  

The Asura Demon God’s crushing presence bore down on Q.P.  

For the first time since ascending to Ultimate, Q.P. felt genuine threat. He readied his racket with absolute focus.  

BOOOOOOM!  

The moment he struck, the ground around him shattered, fissures spiderwebbing outward—leaving only a one-meter radius around him intact.  

"Holy…"  

The crowd gasped.  

Was this still human power?!  

"He’s finally… broken through."  

Mikudzune smiled.  

Oni’s talent had always rivaled Byoudoin’s. But staying at U-17 instead of competing worldwide had slowed his growth.  

His match against Ishikawa reignited his hunger. The training at the Cliff of Resolve reawakened his slumbering power.  

And now, under Q.P.’s pressure, it had fully awakened.  

"Incredible strength!!"  

Even elite players like Germany’s Volk and Spain’s Medanore watched with wary eyes.  

Oni’s Asura Demon God had entered the Ultimate realm—and its overwhelming power caught Q.P. off guard.  

Boom!  

"Game!"  

"Japan’s Oni, 4-3!"  

Seizing the momentum, Oni claimed four straight games, taking the lead.  

But Q.P. wasn’t done.  

The two Ultimate warriors clashed fiercely, each holding their serve until 6-6—forcing a tiebreak.  

What followed was a brutal tug-of-war.  

Both players, bearing the weight of their team’s hopes, refused to yield.  

10 minutes.  

20 minutes.  

30 minutes.  

4 hours later, the final set still raged on. Sweat-drenched and visibly exhausted, their movements slowed—but their spirits burned fiercer than ever.  

The spectators sat in stunned silence, too captivated to even feel hunger.  

At this point, the match wasn’t about skill, power, or stamina—it was a battle of will.  

Tap.  

Then—  

Oni, trailing by one point, accidentally hit a net ball.  

Swish!  

Q.P.’s eyes sharpened. Gritting his teeth, he forced his aching body forward—  

Thud.  

But after just two steps, his legs gave out.  

Muscle cramps—caused by extreme fatigue—sent him crashing to the ground in pain.  

Plink. Plink.  

The ball dribbled twice on the net…  

…then rolled back onto Oni’s side.  

"GASP—!!"  

The stadium erupted.  

Disbelief painted every face.  

"G-Game… set!"  

The umpire, voice hoarse from hours of calling, swallowed hard before announcing:  

"Germany’s Q.P. wins, 7-6!"  

"Match concluded."  

"Germany’s Q.P. defeats Japan’s Oni, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6!"  

(Chapter End)