256-260

*Chapter 256: The New Leader of Court 3*

*Boom!!!*

Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed across the court. The spectators outside the court saw a terrifying shockwave erupt from the spot where Inoue was enveloped in a cloud of dust. As the dust settled, Inoue's figure became visible.

At that moment, his entire body was shrouded in a dark, ink-like aura, exuding an intimidating and fearsome presence that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

*Sizzle...*

The tennis ball spun rapidly on his racket.

"He caught it?!" The high schoolers from Court 3 widened their eyes in disbelief.

"The Path of Asura!" Tokugawa's gaze was fixed on Inoue. In that moment, he could vaguely see the shadow of a blue-faced, red-haired, and menacing Asura behind Inoue.

Now, Tokugawa understood how Inoue was able to unleash such a move. Clearly, Inoue had used Oni's image as a blueprint and simulated this form through some special ability. This power was truly awe-inspiring.

What surprised Tokugawa even more was that Inoue's opponent, the newcomer named Ishikawa, was able to match Inoue in this state. This newcomer had every reason to be proud of himself!

"But unfortunately," Tokugawa shook his head inwardly, "as a newcomer, you have no chance against the power of Asura—huh?!"

But in the next moment, as if sensing something, Tokugawa's expression changed abruptly.

*Boom!!!*

Almost instantly, a terrifying force surged through Inoue's racket and slammed into the wall behind him.

In the blink of an eye, the thick concrete wall caved in. Countless碎石飞溅，一道道手指粗细的裂纹迅速蔓延开来。

*Whoosh!!*

The shockwave from the explosion turned into a fierce gust of wind, causing Inoue's clothes to flutter wildly.

"This... this level of power?!" The high schoolers outside the court felt their scalps tingle.

But soon, Yamato and the others breathed a sigh of relief. After all, no matter what, Inoue had managed to block the attack.

*Swish!*

However, everything happened in the blink of an eye. Before they could even process what had happened, Inoue seemed to sense something and quickly tilted his head to the side.

*Rip!*

In the next moment, his racket was cleanly sliced in half, as if cut by some sharp weapon. The upper half flew into the deep crater left by the exploding tennis ball.

Inoue's body was also sent flying by the combined force of the impact and the gust of wind. With a loud thud, he fell to the ground unceremoniously.

"Game over!" The referee on the high chair sat up straight and announced solemnly, "Ishikawa Shin wins, 6-0!"

*Whoosh!*

As soon as the announcement was made, the crowd erupted in shock.

No one had expected that Ishikawa, who had defeated Tōjin with a score of 6-0, would once again defeat Inoue with the same score.

However, after the initial shock, any doubts in the spectators' minds were completely dispelled by the terrifying crater in the distance.

Let's be real! Among the Japanese U-17 team, only two high schoolers—Byōdōin and Oni—had ever demonstrated such destructive power. In comparison, the newcomer Ishikawa's talent seemed to surpass even theirs.

Under these circumstances, unless someone was completely out of their mind, no one would dare question the newcomer who had defeated Inoue with sheer strength.

"It's over," Yamato and Nakagauchi sighed outside the court.

Faced with reality, they had no choice but to accept it. Moreover, after witnessing Ishikawa's strength firsthand, they no longer had any doubts. On the contrary, everyone now felt a deep sense of awe toward Ishikawa.

"Ahem, ahem..."

At that moment, Kurobe's voice came through the nearby broadcast system: "Private matches are prohibited on the courts. Since this is the first offense for both Ishikawa Shin and Inoue Kyōta, only a verbal warning will be issued."

"Additionally," he paused before continuing in a serious tone, "since Inoue Kyōta has lost the match, his position as the leader of Court 3 will be taken over by Ishikawa Shin."

The leader of Court 3?

Upon hearing this, Marui and Genichirō exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

*[Ding!]*

At the same time, a system notification sounded in Ishikawa's mind.

*[Player has defeated boss-level opponent Inoue Kyōta. Reward: 7,800 experience points.]*

*[Player has obtained the advanced tennis skill dropped by Inoue Kyōta: Black Hole.]*

*[Black Hole Lv1: An advanced skill that creates an area of absolute stillness by cutting through space with a racket swing. (Note: This move places a heavy burden on the body. It is recommended to limit its usage during matches.)]*

"Black Hole?"

Ishikawa ignored the experience points. What he cared more about was the skill dropped by Inoue.

In the original story, this move was a divine technique capable of stopping the world's top high schooler's ultimate move. If used properly, Black Hole could become a game-changing skill.

After all, Ishikawa wasn't Tokugawa. With the help of his system, he could quickly level up his skills. Once he reached a professional level, he was confident he could hold his own against even the top players from Germany.

However, being cautious and always aiming for maximum efficiency, Ishikawa decided not to upgrade the skill immediately. Instead, he planned to familiarize himself with it first, raise its level through practice, and then use skill points to enhance it further.

With this in mind, Ishikawa glanced at Inoue, who had gotten up from the ground, and walked toward the net.

Inoue's expression was grim, but his upbringing prevented him from fully displaying his frustration. After composing himself, he walked to the net and shook hands with Ishikawa.

"You're strong," Inoue said, his gaze sharp. "Your talent is the greatest I've ever seen."

"You flatter me, senpai," Ishikawa replied with a smile. "If you hadn't held back at the start, I might not have won so easily."

This was the truth. While the match ended with a 6-0 score in Ishikawa's favor, Inoue had been holding back the entire time, trying to create a dramatic comeback. However, Ishikawa had taken a commanding lead early on.

In a real match, Ishikawa was confident he could still defeat Inoue, but Inoue wouldn't have been shut out completely.

Of course, if Ishikawa went all out and unleashed his full power—combining his third-level sword intent and ability resonance—Inoue would still have suffered a crushing defeat.

"You're humble," Inoue observed Ishikawa closely, noticing the sincerity in his eyes. He nodded appreciatively. "That's a good mindset. But I must warn you, the waters here are much deeper than you think!"

After saying this, he studied Ishikawa's reaction. Normally, a loser giving advice to the winner would seem laughable. What right did the defeated have to lecture the victor?

However, Ishikawa remained calm.

"I know," he nodded slightly before replying, "This place is indeed not as simple as it seems. But my goals have never been limited to just this place."

"Huh?" Inoue was taken aback by Ishikawa's response.

"The U-17 is too small," Ishikawa shook his head with a smile. "Don't you think so too, senpai?"

With that, he glanced at Inoue.

*Swish!*

That glance was calm and devoid of any probing intent. Yet, its clarity and serenity caused Inoue's body to tremble involuntarily.

In that moment, Inoue felt as though he was standing at the foot of a towering mountain. The peak was so high that it seemed to pierce the clouds, inspiring awe and fear. Just taking a single step forward required immense courage.

But halfway up the mountain, there was a figure climbing steadily and resolutely. Upon closer inspection, it was Ishikawa!

Each step he took was firm and unwavering. Despite the mountain's overwhelming presence, Ishikawa showed no hesitation or doubt.

Though his figure appeared tiny against the vast mountain, Inoue felt an indescribable sense of awe.

"I understand," Inoue's expression shifted as if he had realized something. His gaze grew determined.

"Ishikawa," he looked at his opponent, a fiery fighting spirit burning in his eyes. "Next time... I won't lose to you!"

With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.

"Inoue (senpai)..."

Not far away, Oni and Tokugawa watched Inoue's retreating figure with complex expressions.

Then, their gazes shifted to the black-haired boy on the court.

Tokugawa's eyes were filled with wariness, while Oni's held a mix of surprise and admiration.

However, what surprised everyone was that Ishikawa, who had just won the match and become the leader of Court 3, didn't show any signs of arrogance. Instead, he calmly called over Marui and Genichirō and continued with his daily training.

"This kid is mature beyond his years," Tōzō remarked with a complicated expression as he watched the footage of the calm and composed boy training.

"Yeah," Saionji nodded in agreement. "Who would have thought that a middle schooler could master the Perfect Harmony of Pinnacle and Sword Intent, and possess near-professional-level strength?"

While they felt a mix of emotions, the coaches were mostly relieved. Having such a top-tier talent on their team, rather than in countries like Germany, France, or Spain, was a huge advantage for the upcoming Melbourne Tennis World Cup.

"Hmm," Kurobe looked at Ishikawa on the screen with a complicated expression.

He too felt that Ishikawa was far too mature, to the point where the coaches' roles seemed almost unnecessary.

"Let's revise the training plan," Kurobe said after a moment. "Increase our observation of Marui and Gen. Focus on recording Ishikawa's daily training and progress."

He knew that with a player like Ishikawa, whose abilities were constantly evolving, the coaches needed to keep a close eye on him to adjust his training and nutrition plans accordingly.

After all, if they couldn't contribute to his training, the least they could do was ensure his body kept up with his rapid growth. Otherwise, they'd be completely useless!

With the plan set, the coaches' room returned to its usual state. The sound of keyboards clacking filled the air as the three coaches immersed themselves in their respective tasks.

Time passed quickly.

Before long, the orange sun had half-disappeared behind the mountains.

Deep in the U-17 training camp's mountains, a brown-haired, bespectacled figure with a tennis bag slung over his back stood at the foot of a steep cliff, ready to take on the challenge!

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 257: Special Training for the Light Shot

*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!*

Night had fallen.

At one of the U17 courts, two figures were engaged in an intense training session. However, this wasn’t a normal practice. Every time they swung their rackets, at least five flashes of light could be seen.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that they were simultaneously returning five tennis balls in a single instant.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!*

The sound of the balls cutting through the air echoed across the court.

On one side of the court, Tokugawa, standing tall and composed, suddenly split into multiple afterimages. Each shadow corresponded to a tennis ball. In an instant, he completed his swing, and with a series of explosive sounds, the balls were sent flying back.

*Boom!*

However, one ball slipped past Tokugawa, grazing his side before landing precisely on the baseline and bouncing out.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!*

On the other side, Oni stopped his movements and looked over with a serious expression. "What’s going on? Your focus seems off."

"Sorry, Oni-senpai," Tokugawa shook his head. "I’m not in the best state today. I couldn’t concentrate during training."

"Is it because of the match earlier today?"

"Yeah," Tokugawa admitted without hesitation. "I haven’t seen Inui-senpai since then. I’m worried about him..."

"Don’t worry about that," Oni waved his hand dismissively. "He’s gone to that place to get stronger."

"That place... the mountain?" Tokugawa suddenly realized. A year ago, when he had first arrived at U17, he too had suffered a crushing defeat and had gone to the mysterious depths of the mountain. In the end, he returned to U17 with unprecedented strength.

If Inui had gone to that place, Tokugawa couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation for the changes in his strength upon his return.

"Inui has found his goal," Oni said, his voice firm as he looked at Tokugawa. "And you mustn’t lose sight of your own. Think carefully about why you want to become stronger!"

"I... I understand!" Tokugawa nodded heavily.

Oni’s words struck a chord within him, and he was suddenly reminded of a certain golden-haired figure. His gaze hardened with determination.

"Let’s go again!" Tokugawa immediately assumed his receiving stance.

"Good," Oni nodded in satisfaction. With a swift motion, he tossed up ten tennis balls and, in a single motion, sent them all flying toward Tokugawa.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!*

Not far from the two, a black-haired figure was training against a wall.

An hour of monotonous practice had left Ishikawa’s forehead glistening with sweat. Yet, his movements remained precise, as if he were a machine, with no variation in his swing angle or power.

*Bang!*

Suddenly, Ishikawa struck the ball with the edge of his racket, sending it flying with tremendous force.

*Crackle...*

A flash of lightning accompanied the ball as it tore through the air, leaving a fist-sized hole in the wall before rebounding back.

*Hum...*

But in the next moment, the ball seemed to freeze in mid-air. Upon closer inspection, one could see a faint, glowing black mark.

*Black Hole!*

This was an advanced technique Ishikawa had acquired after defeating Inui. After several hours of practice, he had already raised it to level 2.

For Ishikawa, who possessed the Truth of Chess—a skill that allowed him to predict and judge his opponent’s moves—he could maximize the potential of the Black Hole.

"I remember that Black Hole has its limits," Ishikawa thought, recalling a scene from the original story where Tokugawa’s Black Hole was shattered by the ultimate move of Germany’s strongest player.

Black Hole wasn’t invincible.

Of course, as the saying goes, it’s not the technique that’s strong, but the person wielding it. Ishikawa was confident that he could level up Black Hole to level 7, or even 8 and beyond. By then, even that move wouldn’t be able to break through it.

For now, though, he wanted to try breaking his own Black Hole. However, neither Gale nor Awakening could penetrate it. Ishikawa’s shield was stronger than his spear.

Thus, he continued to increase the power of his shots, attempting to break through his own Black Hole trap.

"Maybe I should try that move?" Ishikawa thought.

Since he was at U17 and had already witnessed the glowing tennis ball, he wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to study it.

"According to the original story, the Light Shot is about finding the sweet spot on the racket—the area where the racket can deliver the most power."

*Boom!*

With that in mind, Ishikawa tossed a ball into the air and struck it with the center of his racket.

The ball flew out, and with his strength and technique, it exploded with considerable force, smashing into the wall and sending debris flying.

"Not bad, but not enough," Ishikawa shook his head.

To others, this shot might seem impressive, but to him, it was just a normal strike.

"The sweet spot isn’t necessarily the center of the racket," Ishikawa narrowed his eyes.

In his understanding, the sweet spot was the area on the racket where the most power could be generated. This meant that the sweet spot varied depending on the racket’s weight and material.

With that in mind, he began experimenting.

Using a process of elimination, he systematically tested different areas of the racket to find the spot that felt the best.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!*

One shot after another, the power of Ishikawa’s strikes gradually increased as he continued to swing.

*Bang!*

With a loud crash, the ball, now carrying a faint glow, slammed into the wall like a cannonball. The already damaged wall began to crumble further.

Feeling like he was onto something, Ishikawa focused and continued to practice.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!*

However, as he analyzed the data, he noticed something strange. After the initial few powerful shots, the subsequent ones were actually weaker than his normal strikes.

"What’s going on?" Ishikawa frowned.

The more he practiced, the worse his performance became. It felt like he was losing his original style of tennis in the process.

"Hmm..."

Standing still, he looked at the shattered wall and then at his racket, deep in thought. "The sweet spot... it’s probably not a fixed point."

As he had thought earlier, the sweet spot varied depending on the racket. And with each shot he took, the condition of his racket changed slightly.

This meant that every time he hit the ball, the sweet spot on his racket shifted.

"So, relying solely on data to find the sweet spot isn’t going to work," Ishikawa realized.

He thought back to Byoudouin and Tokugawa. In the original story, both of them had mastered the Light Shot to an incredible degree. He suspected that the sweet spot was tied to a deeper, more profound level of tennis skill.

With this in mind, Ishikawa resumed his training.

This time, he didn’t rely on data. Instead, he used his instincts and experience, focusing on the feel of each shot. He immersed himself in the subtle changes of the ball and the vibrations of the racket, even imagining himself as the racket.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!*

Shot after shot, the power of Ishikawa’s strikes visibly increased. Yet, he wasn’t using any special techniques—just simple, precise swings.

At this point, while he hadn’t fully mastered the Light Shot, his technique had improved significantly as his racket and arm moved in perfect harmony.

*Bang!*

Another ball flew out, hitting the wall with such force that the surface visibly dented.

*Crackle...*

Sparks flew as the spinning ball rebounded.

*Snap!*

Ishikawa caught the ball in his hand.

"This impact..." He frowned slightly as he felt the immense force in his palm.

He remembered that in the original story, Byoudouin had caught a Light Shot from Ryoga with one hand.

"Perhaps the Light Shot isn’t just about improving technique," Ishikawa thought.

With that in mind, he decided to work on his grip strength in his spare time.

---

The next day, Ishikawa woke up early for morning training.

After taking over Court 3, as the court’s leader, he received a 20% experience boost during training. However, unlike his time at Hyotei, he didn’t enforce strict discipline on the other members of Court 3.

He set some basic rules to prevent any serious misconduct, but how the others trained was up to them.

This relieved Ochi and Nakakuchi, who had been worried that the new leader might come down hard on them. Fortunately, Ishikawa didn’t seem too interested in managing Court 3.

Among the players, only Marui and Hara continued to train with Ishikawa every day. Over time, their schedules—eating, sleeping, and training—became synchronized. Many of the high schoolers secretly referred to the two as Ishikawa’s lackeys, comparing them to the trio of Oni, Tokugawa, and Inui.

The general consensus was that while Ishikawa was undoubtedly strong, the other two in his group were far from matching the level of Oni’s trio.

Marui and Hara, however, paid no attention to these comments. During their training with Ishikawa, they noticed a significant improvement in their skills. The two, already strong, were rapidly crossing into a new realm of ability.

Seeing their dedication, Ishikawa adjusted their training regimen. Aside from basic drills and Light Shot practice, he had Marui and Hara form a doubles team to train against him.

At first, the two thought it was some kind of joke. But when Ishikawa started hitting ten balls at once, they realized the seriousness of the situation.

*Multi-ball training!*

This was the method Oni and Inui had used to train Tokugawa. Now, Ishikawa was using it to train himself—and to push Marui and Hara to their limits.

Initially, the two struggled to keep up. But gradually, they adapted to the intense pace.

Seeing their progress, Ishikawa increased the number of balls to eleven. The pressure mounted, but Marui and Hara gritted their teeth and persevered.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!*

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the afternoon, at Court 3, three figures were engaged in high-intensity training.

On one side of the court, Marui and Hara, tracking the incoming balls, split into multiple afterimages as they swung their rackets.

On the left, seven versions of Hara simultaneously returned seven balls. On the right, Marui split into eight, returning eight balls.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!*

In an instant, fifteen balls flew toward Ishikawa like a barrage of arrows.

It was evening, and Court 3 was mostly empty. Otherwise, the sight of fifteen balls being hit at once would have shocked many of the high schoolers.

However, Ishikawa, the target of the barrage, remained calm.

"Not bad. You’ve finally mastered the eight-ball return," Ishikawa nodded in approval.

Marui’s talent was exceptional. After five days of training, he had perfected the eight-ball return. It wouldn’t be long before he broke through to the ten-ball level.

*Swish!*

Ishikawa’s gaze shifted to Hara. "Senpai, you can’t fall behind either."

With that, he tossed another ball into the mix, bringing the total to sixteen.

"What...?" Marui and Hara’s eyes widened in shock.

Sixteen balls? Was this guy even human?

*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!*

In an instant, Ishikawa swung his racket, sending eight balls to each side of the court, targeting both Marui and Hara.

"This..." The two quickly realized what Ishikawa was doing.

Marui glanced at Hara, who wore a look of intense concentration.

The incoming balls gave them no time to think. Marui immediately focused, facing the balls with his full attention.

"Eight balls?" Hara’s eyes narrowed.

He felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him. Normally, he might have given up, but under Ishikawa’s pressure—and inspired by Marui’s flawless performance—his competitive spirit ignited.

With a determined expression, Hara swung his racket, splitting into seven afterimages to return seven balls.

"One more..." Gritting his teeth, Hara mustered the last of his strength to return the eighth ball.

*Thud!*

After returning the eighth ball, Hara collapsed to the ground, completely drained.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!!!*

Meanwhile, all sixteen balls landed at Ishikawa’s feet. He nodded in satisfaction. "Well done, senpai."

Both Marui and Hara had nearly reached the ten-ball level. In less than half a month since joining U17, they had made incredible progress. Ishikawa was confident that, with another month and a half of training, they would surpass their original strength.

"Sixteen balls..."

Meanwhile, in the coaches’ room, Kurobe watched the training session with a glint in his eye.

On the data sheet in front of him, Ishikawa’s entry still read: *[Unable to Measure].*

Kurobe couldn’t even determine if sixteen balls was Ishikawa’s limit.

His gaze then shifted to the team battle application form on the side. When he saw the name "Oni Juujirou" signed at the bottom, a complex expression crossed his face.

"Even the Gatekeeper of Hell couldn’t resist joining in..."

*(End of Chapter)*

*Chapter 258: Group Shuffle Battle (Part 1)*

Early morning.

U17 Training Base.

As usual, everyone started their morning training.

Inside Court 3.

The trio was training as usual.

The other high schoolers, after witnessing the noticeable progress of毛利 (Mouri) and 原哲也 (Hara Tetsuya), had also become more motivated in their training.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Court 5.

Known as the first major threshold for transformation in the U17 Training Base. By this court, the number of players had significantly decreased.

At this moment.

Inside the court, two groups of players were training.

Outside the court, about ten high schoolers stood watching.

Thud!

(patreon belamy20)

Inside the court.

A black-haired figure swung his racket with force.

The powerful stroke sent the tennis ball whistling through the air like a gust of wind.

"Nice shot!"

Opposite him.

A blue-haired young man with a distinctive strand of hair sticking out chuckled and dashed to catch up with the ball.

"So fast!"

The spectators around Court 5 were startled.

Thud!

Immediately.

The blue-haired young man struck back, sending the ball flying with a powerful shot.

The ball was so fast that the forward player on the other side couldn't react in time. He could only watch as the ball whizzed past him.

"Is this the strength of 鹜尾前辈 (Washio-senpai), who was originally from Court 3?"

Bang!

However.

Before he could think further, the black-haired young man on the other side had already returned the ball.

"Too slow, too slow!"

On the other side.

A young man with a bandage on his nose, who had been waiting in position, smirked and raised his racket to counter.

Bang!

The ball landed in his racket.

A heavy sensation spread through his arm.

But with a slight raise of his brow, he channeled his strength and sent the ball back.

"As expected of 都忍 (Toshinobu), his strength is terrifying."

The young man, 铃木惷 (Suzuki Shun), who was originally from Court 3, said with a smile.

It turned out.

After being demoted to Court 16.

The trio, fueled by shame, had worked their way up from Court 16 to Court 5 in about two weeks.

During this time, they had been training intensively every day. Their goal was to redeem themselves in the shuffle battle to return to Court 3 and erase the shame of their previous defeat!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

At this moment.

The three continued their intense match on the court.

Another high schooler could only stand by and watch, completely unable to intervene in the trio's battle.

Although the gap between Court 3 and Court 5 didn't seem that large.

However.

The level of this match was already beyond his reach!

Thud!

In the end.

Toshinobu, fighting two against one, still lost to the combination of Suzuki and Washio.

"What a pity!"

Seeing this, a player from Court 5 sighed, "If Toshinobu-senpai were just a bit stronger, he could have taken on both of them."

Hearing this.

The other high schoolers from Court 5 nodded in agreement.

"Naive."

Only Toshinobu, who had lost, knew the truth. Even if he were twice as strong, he still wouldn't be a match for these two. After all, they were still hiding their ultimate move, the so-called "Miracle of Doubles"!

Back then.

Mouri and Hara, the two newcomers, had only won because the shuffle battle was a singles match, not doubles.

Otherwise, with their doubles skills, they would never have lost!

"But... I'm still far from their level."

Toshinobu looked down at his hands, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

He knew.

If it were that person, even if Washio and Suzuki used their ultimate move, they still wouldn't stand a chance.

During this time, he had been training with all his might to become stronger. But in private, Toshinobu had also observed the training at Court 3.

He realized that the gap between him and that person wasn't shrinking—it was only growing wider!

"Ugh!"

Thinking of this, Toshinobu's gaze turned cold. Under the surprised eyes of others, he continued his training by running laps around the court.

Seeing this, Suzuki and Washio gritted their teeth and followed suit.

Not far away.

A tall figure watched them intently.

Evening.

The setting sun stretched the shadows of Toshinobu and the others across the court.

By now, they were drenched in sweat and nearing their limits.

Huff... Huff... Huff...

With each step, their legs felt as heavy as lead. The exhaustion was taking a toll on their minds, making them feel dizzy.

Vaguely, a figure seemed to appear before them.

"You've done well."

A deep, powerful voice rang out.

Whoosh!

Hearing this familiar voice, the three instinctively tensed up, their expressions changing.

"G-G-Ghost-senpai!"

They looked up.

At the red-haired young man who, despite being the same age as them, commanded their respect and fear.

鬼十次郎 (Oni Juujirou)!

The supervisor of Court 5!

Known as the "Gatekeeper of Hell," he was a terrifying player!

In some ways, the pressure he exerted on them was far greater than that of the three coaches.

"I've seen your progress."

Oni looked at them, his tone serious. "Do you want to return to Court 3?"

Court 3?

The three were stunned.

After exchanging glances, Toshinobu replied, "Of course we do, but... the coaches haven't arranged any shuffle battles for us."

In the past, they hadn't paid much attention to the coaches.

But now, things were different.

As the defeated, they were naturally at a disadvantage. Especially when facing Court 3, if they challenged them without permission and lost, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing face.

Under U17's rules and the personalities of the three coaches, they would definitely be expelled!

"That's not important."

Oni stared at them. "All I need to know is, do you have the confidence to win?"

"Yes!"

This time, the three answered without hesitation.

"Good."

Oni nodded in satisfaction. "Training ends here for today. Remember to rest well. Be here tomorrow at 8 AM sharp!"

"Understood."

The three nodded.

They had a vague idea of what was coming.

But out of respect for Oni, they didn't ask. After finishing their training, they obediently went back to rest.

Meanwhile.

Inside Court 3.

石川 (Ishikawa), the supervisor of Court 3, was training by hitting against the wall. Mouri and Hara, having reached their physical limits, had already left.

Bang!

A loud crash.

The tennis ball slammed into the wall and rebounded at an astonishing speed.

"Hmm?"

At that moment.

As if sensing something.

Ishikawa caught the ball and turned around. A staff member in a black jacket approached him and said respectfully, "Hello, Ishikawa-senpai. This is something Coach Kurobe asked me to deliver to you."

With that, he handed over a letter.

"Thank you."

Ishikawa smiled as he took the letter. After the staff member left, he opened it, and a glint flashed in his eyes.

"A group shuffle battle, huh? Interesting..."

Ishikawa raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "I wonder if this was arranged by the three coaches... or if it's that person's idea?"

Whoosh!

Thinking this.

Ishikawa narrowed his eyes, spread the fingers of his left hand, and a dazzling light burst forth.

Bang!

With a swift swing of his racket, the tennis ball spun like a bullet, shooting straight toward the opposite wall.

Boom!!!

A loud explosion echoed.

The wall was blown open, leaving a visible hole!

*[Ding!]*

*[Player's advanced technique, "Light Strike," has leveled up. Current level: Lv2]*

"Leveled up?"

Turning his back to the thick smoke, Ishikawa's eyes gleamed with thought. "If the final opponent is that person, then I really need to step up my game!"

He hadn't expected.

To face that person so soon.

But.

Despite the suddenness of the upcoming match, Ishikawa remained calm. Since the encounter was unavoidable and he couldn't stick to his original plan of gradual training and improvement.

He accepted it and prepared to accelerate his evolution.

And now.

He was entering a realm that even he could only speculate about, one that couldn't be measured by data!

Thinking of the opponent he was about to face.

Even the usually composed Ishikawa felt his blood heating up, his heart racing with anticipation!

The next day.

8 AM.

The expected individual shuffle battle didn't happen.

Under the surprised gazes of the other high schoolers, Ishikawa's Court 3 and Oni's Court 5 met at the central court of U17!

It was then.

That everyone realized today's event was a group shuffle battle between the two courts!

*(End of Chapter)*

*Chapter 259: Two Wins, Two Losses (Update 2)*

“Next up, the group shuffle match between Court 5 and Court 3 is about to begin!”

On the high chair, the referee glanced at the lineups and team leaders before announcing in a solemn tone, “According to the rules of the U17 training camp, the losing team will either be collectively demoted or promoted. The match will follow a best-of-five format, consisting of two doubles matches and three singles matches. Each match will be decided in a single set.”

Around the court, high school students who had gathered to watch listened intently to the referee’s instructions.

A group shuffle match! This was something that had almost never happened within the U17 camp. Based on the referee’s announcement, it seemed that Court 5 had initiated this challenge.

Whoosh!

In an instant, all eyes turned to the imposing, fiery-red-haired young man with a fierce expression. Many were curious about his motives for initiating this group match.

Some thought of Inui. Since he and Oni were close, perhaps this was Oni’s way of avenging Inui’s loss, especially since the coaching staff hadn’t planned for such a match.

But most didn’t believe that. Oni wasn’t the type to do something so petty. There had to be another reason.

“First match, Doubles 2!” the referee announced loudly. “Court 5’s Toda Naoya (2nd year) and Iwami Haruto (2nd year) versus Court 3’s Hara Tetsuya (1st year) and Takei Toshio (3rd year).”

As the names were called, the four players stepped onto the court.

“Isn’t that the rookie who defeated Suzuki-senpai?” Toda and Iwami exchanged glances upon seeing Hara Tetsuya.

“It’s fine, this is doubles. As long as we stick to our strategy and play our usual game, we’ll definitely win!” The two from Court 5 were brimming with confidence.

The match began.

Having reached Court 5 and earned Oni’s trust to be selected for this match, Toda and Iwami were no pushovers. Right from the start, they launched a fierce offensive.

Takei Toshio from Court 3 responded actively. In the early exchanges, he managed to hold his own against the two, even gaining the upper hand at one point.

But Hara Tetsuya sensed something was off and tried to step in to assist, only to be brushed off by Takei, who was overly confident in his ability to handle the two second-years alone.

This turned out to be a mistake.

Toda and Iwami lured Takei into a trap and then launched a relentless assault. Without Hara’s support, Takei was quickly overwhelmed, losing three games in a row.

Takei’s confidence crumbled. Despite his skills, he had overestimated himself. Facing the coordinated attacks of two opponents, he had no chance.

In the fourth game, Hara Tetsuya finally stepped up.

He had been observing coldly from the sidelines, unmoved by his partner’s struggles.

“You’re too arrogant!” Toda and Iwami taunted. “It’s too late to step in now. Do you really think you can take us both on?”

But when Hara began his assault, the two quickly realized how naive they had been.

Every shot from Hara was devastatingly powerful. Within a few exchanges, their hands were numb from the impact, and their returns started to falter.

Seizing the opportunity, Hara launched a relentless offensive, winning five consecutive games and securing the match point.

Whoosh!

As the ball soared into the air, Hara leapt up, his eyes sharp like a hawk’s. With a powerful smash, he sent the ball hurtling down.

Below, Toda and Iwami desperately tried to block the shot, stacking their rackets together in a last-ditch effort.

Thud!

But Hara’s smash was too powerful. It tore through both rackets and sent the two sprawling to the ground.

“Game over!” the referee announced. “Court 3’s Hara Tetsuya and Takei Toshio win, 6-3!”

“He’s… so strong,” the surrounding high schoolers murmured, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at Hara.

Facing two opponents alone and turning the tide in such a dire situation—this level of skill and confidence was far beyond what most second-string players could achieve.

“Has he gotten even stronger?” Suzuki, watching from Court 5, narrowed his eyes. Compared to two weeks ago, Hara’s skills had clearly improved. This made Suzuki, who was eager for revenge, feel a sense of urgency.

“Don’t overthink it,” his teammate Mukahi patted his shoulder. “Focus on our match first. We can worry about revenge later.”

“I know,” Suzuki nodded.

“Next up, Doubles 1!” the referee continued. “Court 5’s Suzuki Akira (3rd year) and Mukahi Kazuya (3rd year) versus Court 3’s Yamato Yuudai (2nd year) and Nakagauchi Naikido (3rd year)!”

The four players stepped onto the court.

As former members of Court 3, they were all familiar with each other. Without any formalities, they quickly decided the serve and took their positions.

All four were strong players. In singles, Nakagauchi was arguably the strongest, but this was doubles, and Suzuki and Mukahi had impeccable teamwork.

However, this was also doubles, and Yamato’s signature move, Mugen no Yume (Infinite Dream), which created illusions akin to Kyoka Suigetsu, was fully unleashed.

The score remained tight, reaching 5-5.

In the end, Suzuki and Mukahi activated their doubles synergy ability, Sync, and clinched the match.

“Game over! Court 5’s Suzuki Akira and Mukahi Kazuya win, 7-5!”

With one win and one loss, the next match was Singles 3, featuring Court 3’s Mori against Court 5’s Dosaka Rintaro, a second-year.

Without any surprises, Mori dominated the match, winning 6-0.

“Huff… huff…” Dosaka, exhausted after just 10 minutes, stared at Mori in disbelief. “This guy… he’s a monster.”

From start to finish, Dosaka hadn’t won a single game—or even a point. This level of skill made Mori seem like a first-string player. It was hard to believe he was just a rookie.

“Not bad,” Coach Kurobe nodded in approval from the coaching room. “Mori has improved significantly. If things continue like this, he’ll likely take second place in the fall tournament.”

“Second place… right,” Coach Saito agreed after a moment’s thought. He had momentarily forgotten about Ishikawa, who was in a league of his own, surpassing even the rookies.

As for the fall rookie tournament… it had essentially become a battle for second place.

“Speaking of which, does that kid even need to participate in the rookie tournament?” Coach Tokugawa mused, his expression odd as he watched Ishikawa on the screen.

The more he observed Ishikawa, the more he realized just how monstrous the boy’s talent was. Not only was he a prodigy in tennis, but he was also skilled in kendo and ancient martial arts. Words like “monster” or “genius” hardly did him justice.

“Perhaps…” Tokugawa suddenly said, “this is why Oni chose to initiate the group shuffle match at this time.”

“Fourth match, Singles 2!” the referee announced. “Court 5’s Tsunomori Shinobu (3rd year) versus Court 3’s Matsudaira Chikahiko (3rd year)!”

The two players stepped onto the court.

“Matsudaira,” Tsunomori said coldly at the net, “if you forfeit now, I might forgive your disrespect.”

“Are you joking?” Matsudaira, who usually addressed Tsunomori with deference, even calling him “young master,” sneered. “You don’t actually think you can still beat me, do you?”

In their previous matches, Matsudaira had never won. But after witnessing Tsunomori’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Ishikawa, Matsudaira’s perspective had changed. The shadow of Tsunomori’s dominance had lifted, and he had secretly trained harder than ever, waiting for this moment.

Now, the opportunity had arrived.

“This time,” Matsudaira said with fierce determination, “I’ll make sure you never rise again!”

Bang!

Twenty minutes later, as Tsunomori’s smash landed beside Matsudaira, the latter’s expression froze.

“Game over! Court 5’s Tsunomori Shinobu wins, 6-2!”

“Idiot,” Tsunomori muttered coldly as he landed. Without a second glance at Matsudaira, he walked off the court.

Tsunomori had no interest in Matsudaira. After his crushing defeat to Ishikawa, Tsunomori had focused solely on improving himself. With Ishikawa as his goal, this minor victory meant nothing to him.

Whoosh!

Tsunomori’s gaze shifted to the imposing, red-haired figure on his team’s side. Then, his eyes locked onto the black-haired, handsome youth on Court 3.

The group shuffle match was tied at two wins and two losses. The final Singles 1 match would determine the outcome.

At this moment, everyone—Tsunomori, the other high schoolers, and even the three coaches—was focused on this last match.

In fact, one could say that this was the match they had all been waiting for from the very beginning!

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 260: Singles 1, Ishikawa vs. Oni (Part 1)*

"Two wins, two losses."

Outside the court.

Yamato, with a slightly nervous expression, glanced toward the 5th court where a towering, fiery red-haired young man stood.

Oni Juujirou!

The captain of the 5th court!

But from what Yamato knew, Oni held an exceptionally high status within the U-17 training camp.

There were even rumors that he was the only person in the entire U-17 who could rival the top-ranked representative of the first string, Byoudouin Houou!

According to the rumors, Oni was once the strongest player in U-17. However, for some unknown reason, he left the first string and had been serving as the captain of the 5th court ever since.

Regardless, Oni's strength far surpassed that of ordinary first-string players and even the former captain of the 3rd court, Inui Jyuto.

"I have a feeling," Yamato said, narrowing his eyes, "that this match was initiated by Oni-senpai."

"You're not wrong," Nakahachi, standing beside him, adjusted his sunglasses and smiled with anticipation. "It's been a long time since I've seen Oni-senpai take things so seriously. The last time he was this serious was probably when he saved Tokugawa from Byoudouin, right?"

"Nakahachi-senpai," Yamato turned to him in surprise, "you've always called Oni-senpai 'boss.' Did you two know each other before?"

"Of course!" Nakahachi grinned. "I've been following Oni-senpai since our days at Okayama Oku Middle School. Thanks to him, I was able to come to this place."

"Okayama Oku?" Yamato raised an eyebrow.

For some reason, the name of the school sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

"I see."

Now, Yamato understood the relationship between Oni and Nakahachi.

This further confirmed the rumors—Oni's strength was likely far beyond what most people imagined.

"Fifth match, Singles 1."

"Representing the 5th court, Oni Juujirou, versus representing the 3rd court, Ishikawa Makoto."

"Both players, please prepare!"

As the referee on the high chair announced, the gazes of the surrounding high schoolers fell on the two representatives about to take the court.

"What kind of racket is that?!"

At that moment, someone from the 3rd court side, Genjiro, exclaimed in shock as he stared at the towering figure calmly walking onto the court.

"Only two strings on the racket?"

Mouri, squinting, was also startled by the racket in Oni's hand. The racket had only two strings, one horizontal and one vertical, forming a cross.

"Can you even hit a tennis ball with that kind of racket?"

Some second-year representatives muttered in disbelief.

A cross-string racket!

From the looks of it, the player could only use the intersection of the two strings to hit the ball.

In a casual practice match, it might be manageable.

But Oni's opponent was Ishikawa, the one who had defeated Inui, shattered the wall, and displayed astonishing strength!

Wasn't Oni being a bit too overconfident?

At the net.

The two figures faced each other.

Oni looked at the young man before him and nodded. "I have to admit, you're the most talented player I've ever seen."

"Senpai, you're no ordinary player either, right?" Ishikawa smiled as he looked at Oni, whose head was marked with a bright red *[Lv84]*. "I heard you were once the strongest in this camp?"

"Oh?" Oni raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You've even looked into that? Inui was right—you're much more mature and shrewd than you appear."

It had been nearly a week since Inui left. Before departing, Inui had spoken with Oni, telling him that Ishikawa's strength was far beyond what he had shown and that Oni should step in to help if Byoudouin targeted Ishikawa upon his return.

As someone who had voluntarily stepped down from the No. 1 position to focus on nurturing newcomers, Oni naturally felt responsible.

However, as he observed Ishikawa, he realized that both he and Inui had underestimated the newcomer.

Many times, Oni had watched Ishikawa train from a distance. Seeing the visible improvement in Ishikawa's skills, Oni felt a growing desire to face him in a match.

Ishikawa was strong—far stronger than he had been during his match with Inui.

But Oni knew that Ishikawa's talent hadn't fully blossomed yet. That kind of explosive growth required immense pressure.

Inui wasn't enough.

Oni believed he could be the catalyst Ishikawa needed to reach his full potential. Perhaps, before Byoudouin returned from his Southeast Asia expedition, Ishikawa could give him a surprise!

"Oni Juujirou..."

Outside the court, Genjiro frowned as he stared at Oni's face. "Why does he seem so familiar?"

"Huh?" Mouri, standing beside him, looked over in surprise. "You feel that way too?"

He had thought it was just his imagination.

The first time he saw Oni, he had felt a sense of familiarity, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.

"Was it during our time at Rikkai Dai?" Genjiro asked.

Back then, Mouri had briefly attended Rikkai Dai before transferring to Shitenhouji due to a move.

"No," Mouri shook his head. "I remember it was after I transferred to Rikkai Dai. It was during the summer... wait!"

At that moment, both of them suddenly remembered something and exclaimed in unison, "The National Tournament!"

"I remember now," Genjiro nodded repeatedly. "Oni-senpai was the captain of the team that won the National Middle School Tennis Tournament three years ago!"

"Right," Mouri also nodded. "It was Okayama Oku Middle School, an unremarkable school that became the ultimate dark horse and won the national championship!"

Okayama Oku Middle School!

Oni Juujirou!

At that moment, all their previous doubts were resolved. As they looked at Oni again, a hint of wariness flashed in their eyes.

It was hard to imagine how strong Oni must be now, considering he had led an unknown school to defeat powerhouse teams and top players three years ago.

Then, Mouri's gaze shifted to Ishikawa.

Among all the high schoolers in U-17, only he knew that Ishikawa was a first-year middle schooler.

Ishikawa and Oni were both the strongest players of their respective generations.

But there was a six-year age gap between them.

This made Mouri worry whether Ishikawa could withstand Oni's attacks.

"The match will now begin, best of one set!"

At that moment, the referee on the high chair, after confirming both players' readiness, announced, "Oni Juujirou of the 5th court to serve, first game!"

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone's attention focused on Oni.

He tossed the ball into the air and, with a simple swing of his cross-string racket, sent the ball flying like a cannonball.

"He hit it?!"

"Can you even serve with that kind of racket?"

"Look at the power—it's terrifying!"

Terrifying?

Hearing this, Nakahachi, Oni's loyal follower on the 3rd court side, shook his head with a smile. "That serve isn't something just anyone can return."

Despite the simplicity of the cross-string racket, the power behind the serve was astonishing. Anyone with below-average strength or without systematic grip training would likely have their racket knocked out of their hands upon contact.

Thud!

However, just as Nakahachi had that thought, Ishikawa returned the serve.

"This guy..."

Nakahachi instinctively narrowed his eyes.

He saw clearly that Ishikawa's wrist didn't even tremble when returning the serve.

Whoosh!

The ball flew back, aiming precisely at the intersection of the cross on Oni's racket.

Thud!

The ball landed perfectly on the spot.

"Amazing control!"

Nakahachi was shocked.

It was hard to believe that someone with Ishikawa's seemingly unimpressive physique could match Oni's power.

"Not bad."

Oni chased down the ball and intercepted it, feeling the intricate spin. He nodded in approval. "You're above average in every aspect. In that case, let's skip the warm-up."

Whoosh!

With that, Oni suddenly increased his power, and a strong gust of wind accompanied his swing.

Whoosh!

The ball, now tinged with a black glow, shot straight toward Ishikawa.

"This is..."

Sensing the peculiar energy emanating from the ball, Ishikawa raised an eyebrow. "Deep-level power?"

In the original story, Momoshiro from Seigaku had been sent flying the moment he faced Oni.

And Momoshiro's strength was considered above average even among all middle schoolers.

This showed that Oni's move wasn't just an ordinary return.

"No warm-up, huh?"

Ishikawa chuckled and shook his head. To the surprise of everyone watching, he suddenly increased his swing speed.

Whoosh!

With a slight distortion in the air, Ishikawa's racket made contact with the ball.

Thud!

The ball shot back with a speed like a gust of wind.

"Fast as the wind?"

Mouri raised an eyebrow but quickly dismissed the thought. "No, this speed and power are several times stronger than Sanada's 'Wind.'"

Thud!

However, despite this, Ishikawa's return was easily blocked by Oni.

At the center of the cross-string racket, a yellow-green ball spun rapidly.

"Not bad."

Oni nodded in satisfaction once again.

These two exchanges gave him a clear understanding of Ishikawa's reflexes and basic physical abilities.

Immediately, he increased his speed and power, sending the ball flying back.

Whoosh!

This time, the black glow on the ball became more pronounced.

The dark aura exuded a chilling sensation, and the power it contained made many self-proclaimed power players among the high schoolers pale.

"Bring it on."

Ishikawa smiled and increased his swing speed once more.

Thud!

The ball, now a mix of raging flames and sharp wind, shot toward Oni.

The flames roared like a tidal wave.

The wind cut like a blade.

In an instant, the high schoolers standing closer to the court felt a wave of heat and instinctively stepped back.

However, Oni remained unfazed and swiftly returned the shot.

Thud!

The flames dissipated.

The wind vanished.

Oni, with just his cross-string racket, easily blocked Ishikawa's special move.

Thud!

But Ishikawa returned it just as easily.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

On the court, the two figures continued to exchange blows.

Both displayed a level of strength that far exceeded what ordinary high schoolers could imagine.

Oni's towering figure stood like an unshakable tree, unmoved by the continuous exchanges.

Ishikawa, on the other hand, was as steady as a rock, holding his ground against Oni without showing any signs of weakness.

Thud!

However, just as the spectators were feeling the intensity of the match, a strange sound echoed.

Oni's cross-string racket was pierced through the center by the ball.

Whoosh!

The ball flew past Oni and, to the shock of everyone, smashed into the wall behind him, creating a crater about ten centimeters deep.

Crash!

Debris scattered.

The high schoolers couldn't help but gulp.

Who could have imagined that such a seemingly simple and fast-paced match could contain such terrifying destructive power?

*(End of Chapter)*