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🕑 Added 2025-07-17 17:01:04 +0000 UTCChapter 541: Beyond Ultimate? The Unfathomable Ishikawa
"Another level of ultimate quality?"
From the stands, Qp’s deep gaze locked onto Ryoga, who was shrouded in a hazy black mist. At that moment, he felt an intense sense of danger emanating from him.
"Who would’ve thought this year’s World Cup would produce so many super geniuses?"
Behind the German team, an elderly man leaning on a cane approached. It was Sigmund, the 78-year-old CEO of Sigmund Pharmaceuticals, one of the German team’s key sponsors and overseers.
"Yeah," nodded Kan Reitoru, the German team’s head coach, with a sigh. "At this rate, after this year, the global tennis scene is probably headed for an unprecedented shake-up."
Germany’s Polk.
Japan’s Byodoin and Oni. Spain’s Medanore. And boy in front of them, Echizen Ryoga.
But of course, the one stealing the spotlight, without a doubt, was Japan’s captain—a mere 12-year-old—Ishikawa.
These players were so exceptional that even the current world No. 1, Novak Brinner, would find them a handful.
"So," Sigmund paused, curiosity glinting in his wrinkled eyes, "do you think that Echizen has a shot at winning this match?"
"It’s tough," Reitoru shook his head. "Even if he’s stepped into the ultimate realm, his opponent is on the same level. His chances of winning this match are slim at best."
"Is that so?" Sigmund nodded, his weathered face relaxing into a slight smile.
Thanks to Nanjiro’s influence, he’d reached out to several Spanish team members, including Echizen Ryoga, but they’d all turned down his offers without exception.
Looking at the situation now, though, that might’ve been a blessing in disguise.
"Echizen Ryoga!"
As the two spoke, Polk, standing among the German team, fixed a stern gaze on Ryoga.
"What’s your ultimate realm like?"
"Second set, match start!"
After a brief break, the referee’s voice rang out again from the high chair. "Spain’s Echizen to serve. Game on!"
Tap! Tap! Tap!
All eyes turned to one side of the court, where boy with a confident smile was bouncing the tennis ball.
"Get ready to feel my tennis, Ishikawa!"
With that thought, Ryoga tossed the ball up and swung his racket with blazing speed. To the crowd, it was a fleeting streak of black light, followed by a BOOM! as the ball shot across the court like lightning.
Fast!
Too fast!
Many spectators only saw a blur before losing track of the ball entirely.
The stronger players instinctively tried to follow its path, hoping to read the serve’s trajectory.
"Hm?"
But almost instantly, their vision was swallowed by an impenetrable blackness, as if their senses were sealed off in a single moment.
"Depriving the five senses?!"
A Japanese team member blurted out instinctively.
"No, it’s not sense deprivation," came a calm, refined voice. "The ball’s speed is so fast that it causes a disconnect between our eyes and brain, throwing our neural processing into chaos."
It was Mitsuya.
Japan’s strategist, a master of data analysis, had pieced it together instantly.
"That’s not all," Kunimitsu added. "That black light has some kind of ‘polluting’ effect on mental strength."
Just moments ago, when he’d glanced at the ball, he’d felt a sharp sting deep in his mind. His usually sharp senses had been dulled significantly.
Wham!
The sound of the ball hitting the ground echoed.
"Huh?"
A moment later, Mitsuya’s voice carried a hint of shock. "No… no return?"
There was only the sound of the ball landing—no sound of a return.
Did that mean even Ishikawa couldn’t handle that serve?
"15-0!" the referee announced.
The crowd’s eyes widened, their vision slowly clearing as they zeroed in on the spot near Ishikawa.
There it was—a clear mark where the ball had landed.
"It’s real…"
The spectators were stunned.
Even Ishikawa couldn’t counter that mental-level interference?
"What an incredible ability," the representatives from other countries muttered, their gazes on Ryoga filled with deep wariness.
Mental pollution.
This wasn’t just about stripping away senses. It was akin to Medanore’s ability, capable of distorting judgment and thought itself.
This kind of tennis was undeniably more dangerous.
"But…" Julio, Spain’s vice-captain, frowned instinctively. "Was that guy really affected?"
After all, even Ryoga’s Devour had no effect on Ishikawa. It stood to reason that Japan’s captain likely possessed some powerful mental ability of his own.
Wham! Wham! Wham!
But Ryoga’s next three serves sailed through Ishikawa’s defenses without resistance, turning the Spanish team’s initial shock into wild excitement.
"Game!"
"Spain’s Echizen, 1-0. Switch sides!"
"WHOA!!!"
Seeing Ryoga score and land four straight aces without breaking a sweat, the Spanish team erupted in cheers.
"That black light… it’s dangerous," Yukimura said gravely from the Japanese side. "The power of Ten’i Muhou can swallow an opponent’s brilliance in an instant. This black light likely has a similar effect, but it’s even more terrifying."
"That’s not all," Sanada added in a low voice. "The power of Ten’i Muhou is like ink seeping in. The longer it goes, the deeper it sinks, impossible to shake off."
The Japanese team’s hearts sank.
At this rate, as the match dragged on, this black Ten’i Muhou—this ultimate quality—might completely warp Ishikawa’s senses and even his perception.
What’s worse, this ability was nearly impossible to defend against. Like osmosis, it could pierce even steel.
The crowd’s gazes toward Ishikawa were filled with worry.
"It’s definitely a powerful ability," Ishikawa said, smiling lightly as he glanced at Ryoga after switching sides. "Using intense negative emotions to deeply infect your opponent’s mental realm. I’ve gotta say, it’s almost impossible to defend against."
Ryoga’s expression didn’t change.
With Ishikawa’s insight, it wasn’t surprising he’d seen through so much in such a short time. But as Ishikawa himself said, even understanding the move didn’t make it easy to counter.
"Since you’ve stepped into this realm, let me show you my tennis."
Ishikawa spoke calmly.
Under the crowd’s watchful eyes, he tossed the ball high. His body arched back, and the moment the ball reached its peak, he sprang up, his racket whipping through the air with a swift overhead swing.
BOOM!
The motion seemed slow when described, but to the onlookers, it happened in a flash. With a crisp sound, the ball shot forward, its tip rippling the air like a stone hitting a lake, sending visible waves outward.
Then, the ball vanished completely from sight.
"What?!"
The top players from every country widened their eyes.
Even Ryoga, poised and ready, tensed instinctively.
The ball had completely disappeared?!
"So fast! Too fast!"
On the sidelines, Nanjiro, who’d been calm until now, suddenly narrowed his eyes as a thought struck him. "Using a special technique to maximize power and hitting at the perfect moment to send the ball into the golden trajectory of impact…!"
This was beyond even the ultra-high-speed dimension!
Could it be… Ishikawa had already stepped into a realm beyond ultimate?
At that moment, even Nanjiro’s heart skipped a beat.
BOOM!
The next instant, a pale yellow glow exploded without warning near Ryoga’s feet.
Instinctively, he unleashed the ultimate quality of his Dark Muga no Kyouchi. But as his racket swung, the ball had already shot past him.
Tap, tap, tap…
The ball bounced lightly behind Ryoga, and a brief silence fell over the court.
"15-0!" the referee finally announced.
His eyes still held a trace of disbelief. He’d just checked the Hawk-Eye system, but even with his version, it couldn’t fully track the ball’s path.
It only registered at the moment it landed.
"This kind of speed… you’d need an ultra-high-speed camera to capture it completely," he thought, his gaze toward Ishikawa shifting to one of awe.
That serve was the fastest he’d ever seen in his career. It surpassed professional-level play—likely even the top pros would feel a chill facing it.
"A serve beyond the ultra-high-speed dimension?"
In the stands, Polk’s eyes flashed with shock.
He hadn’t expected Ishikawa to hold back such a trump card during their match.
"This is hands-down the fastest and most terrifying serve of this World Cup!" Bismarck said, his voice full of awe.
Qp added gravely, "It’s not just limited to the World Cup. This serve’s danger level could dominate professional courts!"
As a top-tier tennis strategist who’d studied countless pros, Qp knew that with this serve alone, Ishikawa could rank among the greatest players in tennis history.
"Is this his true strength?" Reitoru muttered, stunned.
Sigmund’s eyes gleamed beside him.
A genius!
The ultimate genius!
If he could sign Ishikawa, Sigmund Pharmaceuticals would have a player capable of dominating the global tennis scene for the next decade, maybe longer.
"That serve… so fast!"
On the court, Ryoga’s shock hadn’t fully faded.
He’d known Ishikawa’s serves were fast, but that one still sent a jolt through him.
But then, his eyes narrowed, and he assumed a ready stance again. Having stepped into the ultimate realm, he was confident he could return any serve.
Even one that surpassed the ultra-high-speed dimension.
BOOM!
But the next moment, Ishikawa’s second serve landed right on the service line in front of Ryoga.
"…"
Ryoga instinctively looked down, his resolute confidence giving way to stunned disbelief.
"30-0!" the referee called, the silence around the court deafening.
Gulp.
The Spanish team, buzzing with excitement moments ago, froze as if doused with cold water.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two more unrelenting serves landed, and Ryoga couldn’t react in time.
"Game!"
"Japan’s Ishikawa, 1-1!"
In less than a minute, Ishikawa had evened the score.
The sheer speed of his comeback left the crowd dumbfounded, their awe of his strength hitting them like a tidal wave.
If Ryoga’s Dark Ultimate Quality felt dangerous and terrifying, Ishikawa at this moment was like an abyss—utterly unfathomable!
"Ugh!"
After a long pause, Ryoga snapped out of his shock and moved to his side of the court, preparing to serve.
He hadn’t lost yet.
Right now, their duel was still a serving battle. As long as he could hold his service games, all he needed was to crack Ishikawa’s serve.
"There’s no such thing as an unreturnable serve!"
As if to bolster his own confidence, Ryoga declared this and tossed the ball high.
Buzz!
The next moment, a surge of dark, fiery aura erupted. As his racket struck the ball, it carried a terrifying wave of negative emotions, slamming down on the service line in front of Ishikawa.
"Well said," Ishikawa replied with a faint smile. He raised his head, his racket already positioned in front of the bouncing ball. "There’s no such thing as an unreturnable serve!"
BOOM!
The moment he spoke, the black light enveloping the ball shattered, and it rocketed back with astonishing speed.
"How?!"
Ryoga’s heart jolted.
Ishikawa had broken free of his ultimate quality, Dark Prison. That deep well of negative emotions was supposed to bind even the most resolute minds like chains, leaving them immobile.
"No… wait."
Suddenly, Ryoga realized something.
As a top-tier genius, he quickly understood: his Dark Ultimate Quality, the embodiment of his invincible belief, had already been cracked when Ishikawa landed those four terrifying aces.
His ultimate realm had been pierced. Ishikawa’s mental strength had broken through the breach.
"Ishikawa Shin."
Ryoga’s gaze darkened. "You really are the most dangerous opponent, finding a way to crack my ultimate tennis like that. But… this ends here!"
Swish!
The next moment, Ryoga appeared in the ball’s path.
Dark flames surged around him again, erupting fiercely as he swung his racket.
"Feel the terror of Dark Prison!"
WHAM!
His racket collided with the ball.
"Hm?"
But then, Ryoga’s pupils contracted sharply as he sensed something.
Whoosh!
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Ryoga’s racket began spinning clockwise. Under the overwhelming force, he instinctively let go, watching as both ball and racket flew past him.
"What is this…?"
The spectators’ eyes widened.
From the German team’s side, voices blurted out in unison: "Whirlpool Baptism?!"
Chapter 542: Ryoga’s Madness, The Fusion of Dual Ultimate Realms
“How could it be [Baptism of the Vortex]?”
Representatives from various countries were stunned, their faces full of disbelief.
Even the German team, including Polk, found it unthinkable.
This was Polk’s signature technique.
From the moment he first used it, through his professional career and now at the World Cup, no one had ever managed to replicate it.
Why?
The Baptism of the Vortex didn’t just demand exceptional tennis skills—it required an extraordinarily powerful mental strength to exert precise control over force.
The vortex-like power, capable of crushing an opponent’s arm, stemmed from Polk’s ability to use mental strength to amplify a single unit of force into tenfold impact.
Yet.
Here was Ishikawa, effortlessly executing it.
Not only that, judging by the effect of the shot, his mastery of the Baptism of the Vortex had reached an incredibly profound level.
“He’s a monster,” Bismarck, known for his composure, couldn’t help but say. “That kind of tennis talent is downright terrifying!”
“Mm,” Qp nodded heavily in agreement.
Compared to Ishikawa, even Qp—hailed as a super genius and the finest product of Germany’s elite tennis education—paled in comparison.
This was the Baptism of the Vortex.
Even Qp, who had studied the technique for over three years alongside Polk, had no confidence in pulling it off in a real match.
And yet, Ishikawa had perfectly replicated it.
“This guy is just too strong!”
On the Spanish team’s side, not only Vice-Captain Julio but also Captain Medanore now looked at Ishikawa with deep awe.
Up to this point, they hadn’t found a single flaw in him.
Incredible five-dimensional stats.
Flawless technique.
And that terrifying insight and judgment.
Medanore put himself in Ryoga’s shoes, imagining facing such a formidable opponent, and a chill ran through him instinctively.
“Ryoga…”
Taking a deep breath, Medanore glanced at his teammate with a complex expression.
From here on, Ryoga was on his own.
“He tore a hole in the Ultimate Realm,” Nanjirō said sharply from outside the court, his gaze fixed on Ishikawa. “I didn’t expect him to break Ryoga’s Dark Ultimate Quality like that. Wait… no!”
Suddenly.
His eyes caught something, a glint of realization flashing through them.
“His state… Mind? Technique? Body? I see!”
Nanjirō finally understood.
“From the very start, he adjusted himself to peak condition. Mind, technique, and body—all perfectly aligned with no weaknesses. In other words, Ryoga’s Ultimate Quality couldn’t affect him at all.”
Mind, technique, body!
Before the concept of five-dimensional stats, these were the standards for measuring a tennis player’s strength. True top-tier players had to perfect all three.
In other words.
Ishikawa’s Ultimate Power wasn’t limited to just the Ultimate Quality and the four-in-one Ashura Shinto.
“This kid is way too strong!”
Even Nanjirō, deep down, felt a profound wariness toward Ishikawa.
Wham! Bam! Wham! Bam!
The match continued.
Having shattered Ryoga’s Dark Ultimate Quality, Ishikawa took control once again. At this moment, he had no weaknesses—impenetrable in defense, devastating in attack.
Even more terrifying.
He seamlessly switched between offense and defense, leaving no openings for his opponent to exploit.
Wham!
“Game!”
“Japan’s Ishikawa, 2-1!”
Wham!
“Game!”
“Japan’s Ishikawa, 3-1!”
Wham!
“Game!”
“Japan’s Ishikawa, 4-1!”
In the blink of an eye, Ishikawa claimed three more games.
His relentless onslaught left the audience breathless. After the initial shock, all that remained was deep reverence.
In competitive tennis, strength reigns supreme.
No matter how elegant the manners, how approachable the personality, or how ruthless and underhanded the tactics—ultimately, strength speaks.
At this moment.
People forgot Ishikawa’s age. In their minds, he was already on par with Polk—or perhaps even beyond him.
It could be said.
Ishikawa, at just 12 years old, could compete in professional tournaments, even the Grand Slams, and no one would doubt his ability. In fact, when guessing his ranking, people would likely place him in the quarterfinals or even semifinals.
“Sigh.”
Seeing Ryoga, drenched in sweat and completely suppressed in under 10 minutes, Hopkins from the American team let out a sigh.
“Echizen Ryoga’s tennis is truly extraordinary.”
As the No. 2 player on the American team, Hopkins had once been jealous of Ryoga, feeling that Reinhardt favored him too much and that his strength was overhyped.
But now, he had let go of his prejudice.
After all.
Even Reinhardt had never reached the Ultimate Realm of tennis.
“Such a pity,” Hopkins added with a sigh. “His talent, in any other era, would be top-tier. Becoming a legendary player wouldn’t be out of reach.”
“Indeed,” Valentín nodded, equally moved.
“But his luck is terrible—he ran into that guy!”
Their gazes turned to the composed, dark-haired boy on the court.
“Exactly,” even Reinhardt sighed. “Being in the same era as him is our misfortune.”
Compared to Ishikawa, even powerhouses like Polk, Byōdōin, Medanore, and Ryoga seemed to fade into the background.
Barring any surprises.
The future of professional tennis would be dominated by this boy, monopolizing championships.
“It’s over.”
Other countries’ representatives, and even some Spanish team players, sighed inwardly.
No one believed Ryoga could turn the tide.
In their eyes, at most two more minutes, and Ryoga would be forced off the court in defeat, reduced to a mere stepping stone for that terrifying boy.
“Looks like it’s come to this.”
However.
Unlike the crowd’s assumption that Ryoga was overwhelmed and out of fight, his mind was calm.
He had anticipated his opponent’s strength. The Dark Ultimate Quality he’d just unleashed wasn’t his full power.
“No way around it. To beat you, this level isn’t nearly enough.”
Gripping his racket with both hands, Ryoga spread his legs, lowering his center of gravity. Suddenly, a milky-white aura swirled around him.
“Is that… Muga no Kyōchi?!”
On the Japanese team’s side, Tezuka, Tōyama, and Chitose immediately recognized the familiar ability.
“This…”
The group then fell into confusion.
This was the World Cup final, and the opponent was Ishikawa—a truly flawless, terrifying existence. Muga no Kyōchi… was this a joke?
“No!”
Tezuka, sensing a shift in Ryoga’s aura, narrowed his eyes. “His presence is rising. This is… Tenni Muhou?”
“It’s the Light of Fortitude!” Mitsuya said gravely. “His mastery of Tenni Muhou has reached the point of complete control.”
Buzz!
At that moment.
The Muga aura around Ryoga surged again, his presence doubling in intensity.
“The Light of Love?”
In the stands, the French team’s players were stunned.
Camus, with his long golden hair, squinted in surprise as he studied Ryoga.
“He’s mastered that ability too?”
Camus himself had awakened the unique Light of Love by forming a deep bond with his racket, almost like a form of love. But Ryoga’s style was erratic and unpredictable, showing no attachment or care for his racket since the match began. He didn’t seem like someone who could awaken the Light of Love.
“No, it’s not over!”
Suddenly.
Amadeus from the Spanish team widened his eyes. “That presence… the Light of Loneliness?!”
At that moment.
Ryoga’s aura surged once more.
A lonely, desolate air emerged, yet astonishingly, it didn’t clash with the previous two Lights of Restraint.
“Could it be…”
Qp’s eyes sharpened as he realized something.
“The Ultimate… Quality?”
Bismarck’s heart skipped a beat as he caught the key detail.
Boom!
Sure enough.
The next moment.
A dazzling white light erupted from Ryoga, enveloping the entire court and stadium.
Rustle.
Moments later.
As the white light faded.
Ryoga’s figure emerged.
His Spanish team jacket fluttered lightly, his body shimmering with specks of light, his aura otherworldly, like a god descended to earth.
“It’s really… the Ultimate Quality!”
Siegfried, Frankenstein, and others felt a tremor in their hearts.
“Someone can wield both the Light and Dark Ultimate Qualities at the same time?” Polk questioned.
After all, Love, Fortitude, Loneliness, and Hatred, Fallen, Despair were completely opposing mental forces. Logically, these two abilities couldn’t coexist in one person.
“No, something’s off with his aura… this is?”
But.
Ryoga’s transformation wasn’t over.
Polk keenly noticed that within the white light, threads of black aura emerged. The black and white intertwined, merging into a gray, chaotic hue.
“No way!”
Siegfried’s pupils contracted sharply.
“Impossible!”
Even the composed Bismarck got goosebumps.
Qp’s eyes narrowed. “He’s insane! Forcing a fusion of two opposing Ultimate Powers? The clash of conflicting mental forces could turn him into an idiot!”
Madness!
Qp could only think that Ryoga had lost his mind!
The human body held immense power but was also incredibly fragile. One misstep could lead to mental collapse, or worse, brain overload, reducing him to an idiot or even a vegetative state!
But.
Polk, standing nearby, showed a look of admiration.
He knew Ryoga had no other choice. Neither the Dark Ultimate Quality nor the Light Ultimate Quality could defeat Ishikawa.
Only by fusing both powers did he have a chance at victory.
But Polk admitted he couldn’t do it himself. Known for his calm rationality, he, as a professional player, would never burn himself out for the sake of one match.
Still.
That didn’t stop him from respecting Ryoga.
“Maybe only someone like him can beat that guy!”
With that thought.
Deep down, Polk hoped Ryoga could withstand the terrifying mental strain and achieve a power beyond the Ultimate.
Boom!
Suddenly.
Ryoga’s aura exploded.
Waves of energy rolled outward, but the suffocating pressure vanished abruptly.
“What… happened?”
On the Spanish team’s side, Echizen froze.
“Could it be…”
Julio, Banberi, and others grew tense, fearing Ryoga’s attempt to fuse the two powers had failed. The cost of failure wasn’t just losing the match—it could ruin Ryoga’s life.
“Is it worth it?”
Outside the court.
Nanjirō stared gravely at the smoke-shrouded area.
“Of course… it’s worth it!”
The next moment.
A resolute voice rang out.
Then.
The smoke cleared.
Revealing a boy wreathed in black-and-white flames, his eyes blazing with light.
“He… succeeded?”
The Spanish team clenched their fists. Even Medanore grew tense.
“So…”
He looked at the boy, whose fierce presence exerted immense pressure just by being observed, and his heart trembled. “He’s truly entered a realm beyond the Ultimate?”
Chapter 543: Champion, A New Tennis Legend is Born (The Grand Finale)
At this moment, the Spanish team members seemed to see a glimmer of hope for a comeback, and excitement bloomed on all their faces.
"The legendary Realm of Tennis!"
Experts from various countries gazed in awe at the figure enveloped in black and white flames. Echizen Ryoga, the young man so closely tied to the legendary "Samurai" Nanjiro, had actually turned the tables in the World Cup finals from a desperate situation. That was the legendary realm, after all! Throughout the entire history of tennis, only a handful of people had ever entered it. Among them was the Spanish team's coach, the very same "Samurai" Echizen Nanjiro. And now, his descendant had also stepped into this realm.
"So..." Sigmund, leaning on his cane in the stands, thought with a complicated expression, "Is the future of tennis going to be dominated by the Samurai of the East for another decade or more?"
Thinking this, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. If only the conditions he had offered had been more generous, with more sincerity, perhaps this young man would be a contracted player for Sigmund Pharmaceuticals right now. But unfortunately, there's no going back in this world. With his immense wealth, he could only watch helplessly as a future tennis superstar slipped right through his fingers.
"I never thought that guy would come this far." On the American team's side, Vice-Captain Hopkins, along with other players including Valentin, felt a sense of melancholy. They never imagined that his talent would reach such an exaggerated level. And they certainly didn't expect that the one who would ultimately dominate the World Cup, and even become a shadow over everyone in the future, would be him.
"Ryoga..." Reinhard sighed inwardly. Even he hadn't expected Ryoga to cross into this legendary Realm of Tennis. Now, he could understand him. Staying with the American team wouldn't have given him a chance to reach the finals. Only the Spanish or German teams could provide him with a stage to showcase his abilities. Of course, the German team had Borg, the "Tennis Philosopher" who had once defeated the world number one, and QP, a super genius. There wasn't much room for Ryoga to shine there.
More importantly, though, was Nanjiro's presence. Because he accepted the Spanish team's invitation, Ryoga could easily get the playing opportunities he wanted by being with him. And now, facing Ishikawa's immense pressure, he had successfully entered the realm beyond ultimate through an incredibly desperate act.
"This match... it's over." Reinhard sighed softly.
Sharing his thoughts were Amadeus from the Swiss team, Camus from the French team, Zeus from the Greek team, and others. The gap between the legend and ultimate realms was like the gap between ultimate and other professional levels. No matter how strong Ishikawa was, it was impossible to change the final outcome.
The Ultimate Showdown
"The sixth game begins! Japan's Ishikawa to serve!" The umpire, high up in his chair, announced gravely.
Bang!
Immediately, a terrifying serve, beyond the observation range of ordinary people, suddenly vanished and then appeared without warning on the service line in front of Ryoga.
"It appeared!" Someone in the crowd involuntarily gasped in surprise.
The Spanish players instinctively twitched their eyelids wildly. It was too fast! They couldn't even track the bouncing tennis ball. Even Medano was finding it incredibly tricky at this moment.
Bang!
But in the next instant, a glimmer of black and white intertwined light suddenly emerged. Accompanied by the crisp sound of the ball being hit, a pale yellow glow exploded violently at Ishikawa's feet. And he... remained in his serving posture, unable to even return the shot.
"H-How could this be..." The Japanese team members looked on in astonishment.
"Is the legendary Realm of Tennis... really that terrifying?" Inui, Yanagi, and others wore grave expressions. There were hardly any serves that Ishikawa couldn't react to. Moreover, they had just looked around and noticed that the expressions of Byodoin, Oni, Tanegashima, and the others also appeared very solemn. Clearly, this return shot from Ryoga had already surpassed a certain boundary.
"Captain," Duke took a deep breath and turned to look at Byodoin next to him, "Can you return this ball?"
"It's difficult," Byodoin said gravely, "This ball is perfect in terms of speed, power, and arc. His mastery of power and technique has reached an incredibly terrifying level."
"Yeah," Oni, standing nearby, nodded heavily, "It's like Ishikawa's serve that transcends the hyper-speed dimension. This return shot seems to have disappeared from this dimension and suddenly appeared from another dimensional space."
"A legend..." Tanegashima, Irie, and others showed looks of shock. For them, the ultimate realm was already an insurmountable chasm. And the legendary realm... one might not even appear in an entire era. As far as they knew, the last player to reach this level was the one not far away, the "Samurai" Nanjiro, sitting in the Spanish coach's seat. Since him, despite a galaxy of tennis stars, the strongest had only ever reached the ultimate realm. And the German king who defeated the world's top professional was hailed as the person most likely to become a legendary player in the next decade. After the semi-finals, everyone thought it would be Ishikawa. As it turned out, no one expected that the first one to cross into that realm would be this previously little-known young man.
"Echizen Ryoga!" Oni said solemnly, "His talent is very high, but what's even more terrifying is his ability to devour other people's tennis. Along this path, who knows how many people's abilities have become nourishment for his own improvement."
"That's true, but this guy is also a ruthless one," Byodoin shook his head. "If he hadn't had that resolve to put his life on the line just now, he wouldn't have been able to cross into the legendary realm. There's an element of luck here, but more crucial is his own will and determination."
Tennis itself is a battle where the brave win. This path is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you retreat. There is no eternal overlord; even a slight lapse will see others overtake you. And now, Ryoga seized the opportunity. In the star-studded Australian World Cup, he became the most dazzling star. Everyone else paled in comparison to him.
Bang! "0-30!" Bang! "0-40!" Bang! "Game!" "Spanish team, Echizen, 2-4!"
Ryoga's Reign
In the next moment, the silent court was immediately filled with the excited and thrilled cheers of the Spanish team members. They had been holding it in for too long! Shaken by Ishikawa's strength, they had once believed their team had no hope of winning. But facts proved that the championship still belonged to them.
"Spain!" "Spain!" "Spain!" "Echizen Ryoga!" "Echizen Ryoga!" "Echizen Ryoga!"
Initially, some shouted Spain's chant. But then, it was replaced by Ryoga's name, which was much larger in number and louder in sound. The entire court, at this moment, seemed to ignite, with almost everyone simultaneously chanting one name.
At this moment, Ryoga held his racket, his body enveloped in black and white flames, dominating like a newly crowned king.
Bang!
Next, he hit a serve. The tennis ball first vanished into the air, then suddenly slammed like a cannonball onto the service line in front of Ishikawa. Dust flew everywhere, creating a highly impactful scene that left people's minds shaken.
"15-0!" "What? You can't even return it anymore?" Ryoga held his racket with one hand and glanced at Ishikawa with a smirk. "Since that's the case, I'll hit it a bit slower."
Pat! Pat! Pat!
Then, he bent down, gently tapped the tennis ball a few times, and then resumed his serving motion.
Bang!
Just like before, the tennis ball instantly disappeared and then, without warning, slammed onto the service line, abruptly bursting with a wave of air that kicked up dust.
Whoosh!
But just then, Ishikawa moved. He quickly raised his racket and, the moment the ball bounced, immediately swept it out.
Bang!
A crisp sound reverberated. Ryoga's serve was actually returned head-on!
"He returned it?" "So... strong!" "He actually blocked a legendary-level serve head-on?" Representatives from various countries were greatly shocked.
"Just as I'd expect from you!" Ryoga only smiled slightly in response. Then, a hint of coldness suddenly appeared in his eyes: "Unfortunately, it's too slow!"
Yes. In his eyes at this moment, the tennis ball hit by Ishikawa seemed to have been suddenly slowed down by some force. The spin and arc of the ball, the minute changes in the trembling of each tiny fiber, were all clearly visible to him. This was the legendary level of insight. At this time, Ryoga seemed to be in another dimension, launching a dimensional attack from a higher dimension.
Bang!
Suddenly, there was an explosive sound. Ryoga had struck at some unknown moment, and the tennis ball instantly exploded by Ishikawa's side.
"30-0!"
Silence! The entire venue was utterly silent! At this moment, Ryoga displayed complete dominance over the court.
Bang! "40-0!" Bang! "Game!" "Spanish team, Echizen, 3-4!"
After quickly taking a game, Ryoga completely suppressed Ishikawa with a crushing offensive.
Bang! "Game!" "Spanish team, Echizen, 4-4!" Bang! "Game!" "Spanish team, Echizen, 5-4!"
In the blink of an eye, Ryoga completed the score reversal.
"Oh, oh, oh!!!" Feeling that invincible aura, the Spanish team members cheered excitedly. They could win! They could really win! They seemed to see their team winning the World Cup and waving the Spanish flag!
"It's over." In contrast, on the Japanese team's side, many showed disheartened expressions. Facing Ryoga, who had entered the legendary realm, they had lost all fighting spirit. Although Ishikawa still held a clear advantage in the score, the match seemed to have ended at this moment.
"Is that guy actually going to lose?" Toono looked incredibly frustrated. Although he really wanted to see the other guy get severely beaten, it wasn't now. And why in the World Cup finals of all places?
"You jerk, weren't you so arrogant usually? Why are you useless now? Damn it, why are you messing up at this exact moment!!!" Toono yelled in annoyance.
"Idiot!" However, a cold voice came from outside the court.
Whoosh!
Upon hearing this, Toono's face stiffened. Everyone's bodies trembled involuntarily. Because the speaker was none other than Japan's head coach, Mifune Irihata.
"Open your eyes and look closely," Mifune swept a cold glance at Toono and said coldly, "That guy isn't even playing seriously!"
What?!
Everyone was startled upon hearing this.
"H-How is that possible?" Even Shishido, who was Ishikawa's teammate, couldn't help but murmur, "If he's not serious, how could he return that guy's serve?" That was a legendary serve. Even players with ultimate-level quality wouldn't be able to track the tennis ball, would they?
However, Tezuka, Yukimura, and the others noticed something was off. Because including Byodoin and Oni, the top high school players were all focused on Ishikawa at this moment.
"I have to say, you are indeed very strong right now." Meanwhile, on the court, Ishikawa smiled at his opponent: "By forcefully fusing two different ultimate powers, you've elevated your strength to the threshold of that realm."
"Hmm." Seeing his opponent's casual demeanor, Ryoga instinctively frowned.
Threshold? Where did this guy get the confidence to claim he had only touched the threshold of the legendary level?! That was far too arrogant! Thinking this, Ryoga's gaze turned cold, and his desire to amuse himself vanished. He didn't plan to hold back anymore; he wanted to make his opponent realize the chasm-like difference between himself and a legendary-level player.
"Are you angry?" Sensing the change in his opponent's emotions, Ishikawa shook his head. "However, it is indeed time to end this."
Pat! Pat! Pat!
As soon as he finished speaking, Ishikawa bent down and gently tapped the tennis ball. Then, just like usual, he tossed the ball high into the air.
"Don't blink. Feel this serve carefully." Accompanied by Ishikawa's smile, his racket quickly slammed down.
Bang!
A crisp sound resonated. In everyone's sight, the tennis ball instantly vanished. But Ryoga, on the other side, relying on his powerful insight, instantly saw the trajectory of the ball.
"Hmph, as I expected, it's just a bluff!" With a cold snort, Ryoga quickly moved to the predicted landing spot of the ball. He was so strong that he almost instantaneously moved to the optimal return position. Then, with the best racket angle, the best hitting power, and technique, he was about to swing his racket.
"Huh?" But in that instant, he seemed to see something incredible, and his entire body suddenly stiffened.
Thump...
The tennis ball gently rolled behind him.
"C-Can't move?!" Ryoga's eyes widened. He looked at his opponent in disbelief, completely unable to understand what had happened. He, who had entered the legendary realm, couldn't even swing his racket?
"W-What did you do?" Ryoga asked with a grim expression.
"It seems you still haven't seen clearly." Ishikawa shook his head. After changing his serving position, he tossed the tennis ball up again: "Remember, don't trust your eyes too much. You need to feel it with your heart."
Bang!
As soon as he finished speaking, the tennis ball was once again slammed by him.
"Ugh!" This time, the disdain on Ryoga's face vanished. He gathered himself, focusing his concentration to the maximum, no longer daring to be negligent in the slightest. The ball's trajectory reappeared. The ball's spin, power, and path once again clearly appeared before him. Just like before, he felt as if he could return his opponent's serve at any moment.
However, Ryoga didn't dare to be careless. He knew very well that this ball was probably not as simple as it appeared.
"With my heart?" Thinking this, he instinctively closed his eyes, reined in his five senses, and instead used his deeper consciousness to track the ball's trajectory.
Boom!
Suddenly, he felt his mind sink. He suddenly found himself in a smoke-filled court. In the next moment, an incredibly massive tennis ball, like a planet, was crushing towards his position.
"This is?!" Ryoga, looking up instinctively, was completely stunned by the scene before his eyes. He was actually inside a colossal hand. This hand was larger than a star, with countless stars seemingly orbiting it, emitting a terrifying aura like the depths of a starry abyss. And infinitely far beyond the hand's extension, he vaguely saw a majestic presence. On that figure, he felt five intense auras: sharp, profound, distant, brutal, and deadly.
Sword God. Omniscient and Omnipotent. Flawless. Ultimate Path. Starfall.
Was this a fusion of five top-tier Asura God paths?
No! More than that! He also felt the power beyond the hyper-speed dimension, and his most familiar ultimate quality, the Alaya-Vijnana, and that infinite gravity like a black hole.
Rustle...
In the next moment, under his shocked gaze, that boundless, colossal hand slowly closed.
With a bang, Ryoga felt his consciousness plunge into boundless darkness. The last thought in his mind was: "So, this is the true legendary realm..."
In comparison, his own fusion of only two ultimate qualities seemed utterly ridiculous.
Thud!
In reality, as Ryoga's racket fell to the ground, the umpire's voice followed: "Second set concluded! Japan's Ishikawa wins! Score 7-5!"
"We... won?!" The Japanese players present were stunned. The sudden victory left them bewildered. But then, everyone immediately reacted and cheered loudly in celebration.
"Champions!" "We are the champions!"
The venue erupted. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Ishikawa. There was awe, shock, and utter disbelief.
"H-How did he do it?" Outside the court, representatives from various countries watched the Japanese team members rush onto the court to celebrate their victory with Ishikawa, and all fell silent.
"It seems..." Germany's Borg said with a deep gaze, "He had already entered that realm."
"You mean?" Bismarck and the others turned to look at him.
"The true legend, or rather, the Realm of the Tennis God!"
"The Tennis God?" Everyone trembled upon hearing this.
And Germany's Retter, Switzerland's Coach Jean Onoigihar, Japan's Mifune Irihata, and Spain's Echizen Nanjiro—these tennis legends and famous coaches all looked with immense emotion at the black-haired young man at the core of the Japanese team. They had already witnessed the scene of a brand new tennis legend dominating the professional tennis world.
An incredibly young Tennis God... had been born!
(End of Book)
Comments
belamy20
Prince of tennis
Jozehz
What it is a POT story?
belamy20
No. But got dozen POT stories ... There's lot interesting story
DeadFodder
OHHHHH this was very good. Are there no side stories?
