Fierce Battle
"Saeki Muneyoshi, let me see just how far you can go!"
Oni Jūjirō stood with his body slightly turned to the side, his eyes fixed on Muneyoshi's direction. Instead of hitting the ball to get a feel for it, he squeezed the tennis ball hard and then prepared to serve.
Swish!
Oni Jūjirō tossed the tennis ball into the air, leaned back sharply, and swung his racket down hard the instant the ball hit the ground.
Bang!
There are no other techniques, just pure power and speed. The tennis ball is like a cannonball, with a speed that is no less than Muneyoshi's smash serve, and even faster.
Moreover, it wasn't just fast; its power was also astonishing. After flying off the racket, even with Muneyoshi's keen eyesight, he could only see a faint afterimage passing through the middle before it landed heavily in Muneyoshi's half of the court.
Bang!
The tennis ball slammed heavily to the ground, and Oni Jūjirō scored with all his might.
"15-0, Oni Jūjirō scores."
Muneyoshi came to the baseline and glanced at the large crater created by the tennis ball. He gained a clearer understanding of Oni Jūjirō's personality.
An eye for an eye.
If the opponent scores with a serve, he must return the point immediately.
Oni Jūjirō's serve isn't a technique; it's entirely based on his physical strength and speed. This serve alone demonstrates the terrifying power he possesses.
On the court, Oni Jūjirō came to the left diagonal service baseline and, just like before, forcefully served the tennis ball again.
Bang!
"30-0, Oni Jūjirō scores."
Same movements, same force and speed.
Muneyoshi didn't move. Looking at the ball pit that had reappeared at his feet, his expression became even more serious.
However, he didn't panic. With such a simple shot, he could catch it quickly once his eyes adjusted to the speed.
Muneyoshi took a deep breath and began to move his feet.
The basic single- or double-foot shuffling step is a very fundamental and effective technique.
This is perfect for facing an opponent who has no time to react and possesses astonishing strength.
Not only can it improve reaction time, but it can also increase one's strength by using the body's inertia during the small, leaping movements.
At this moment, Muneyoshi was extremely focused, his eyes fixed on the movements of Oni Jūjirō opposite him.
Bang!
Oni Jūjirō served another tennis ball, and Munehiko's eyes, which were gradually adjusting, immediately predicted the trajectory of the ball. Muneyoshi instantly leaped to the left and swung his racket forcefully before the tennis ball bounced off the court.
"It's... so heavy!"
Bang!
Snap... whoosh...
Muneyoshi caught up with the ball, but unfortunately the tennis ball was too powerful and had a strong spin. Saeki Muneyoshi couldn't return the shot and his racket was knocked away.
Despite his obstruction, the tennis ball still flew forward two or three meters and landed in his own half of the court.
"Oni Jūjirō scores, 40:0."
"You really hold a grudge, Senior Demon! But I can return your serve now!"
Watching the tennis ball fly back, Muneyoshi picked up the fallen racket and smiled confidently.
"Then try and fight back!"
On the other side of the court, Oni Jūjirō ignored Muneyoshi's words, glanced at him again, and then began serving again.
Bang!
The tennis ball was even faster than before, but this time, Muneyoshi unleashed his full speed, leaping out like an arrow.
He chased after the tennis ball as soon as it landed, and at the same time, his left hand reached out, and a ball of pitch-black light appeared. Muneyoshi gripped the racket in his right hand, the entire racket was enveloped in black mist, and he swung it back hard at the tennis ball.
"I didn't expect Muneyoshi to use the Darkness Shot again so quickly!"
Among the spectators, Irie and Tanegashima's expressions flickered slightly.
"Darkness is indeed good, but this level is far from enough!"
As the shadows loomed ahead, the bright moonlight seemed to be veiled in a black gauze. Oni Jūjirō quickly reached the tennis ball, jumped on one foot, and leaned forward.
A layer of black and red light appeared on his entire body.
"Black Jack Knife..."
Boom!
A tremendous thud resounded as a black and red trajectory instantly sliced through the court, like a massive black cleaver. The tennis ball roared as it slammed into Saeki Muneyoshi.
Seeing this, Muneyoshi unleashed all his power, gripped his rackets with both hands, and a purplish-black light burned on the rackets in his hands as he swung them at the incoming ball.
We want to intercept it.
However...
It lasted less than two seconds before the tightly gripped racket was knocked away again, the purplish-black light covering it was shattered, and the tennis ball slammed into the ground once more.
"Game, Oni Jūjirō scores, score 1-1."
Oni Jūjirō also held his serve, and in the same way as Saeki Muneyoshi.
Gently rubbing his arm, Muneyoshi stared intently at the person opposite him. The attack from just now had left his right hand still a little numb.
Oni Jūjirō's power is arguably one of his greatest strengths.
Now that Muneyoshi wants to fight Oni Jūjirō, a head-on confrontation is definitely not the best way to deal with him.
However, Muneyoshi did not back down despite realizing it. He silently picked up his racket again and walked to the service point.
He needs to try other methods.
He tossed the tennis ball into the air again, and it was then hit by Muneyoshi.
This time, Muneyoshi didn't use any other serving techniques, but instead used the most basic serve.
Seeing this, Oni Jūjirō roared, "What's wrong? Are you going to give up after such a small setback? Saeki Muneyoshi!"
Footsteps crossed, one stride.
Oni Jūjirō waved his arms, seemingly stirring up a heavy mass of air.
"Saeki Muneyoshi, I told you before that you should fight me with the determination to die. Have you forgotten? If you have, then let me personally send you to hell!"
As he spoke, his footsteps quickened, and a dark red light, carrying an incomparably fierce and heavy aura, reappeared on the edge of the heart.
A blast of air rolled in.
The moment the tennis ball flew over, Muneyoshi felt a heavy pressure on his shoulders.
This pressure is very close to the pressure that Amadeus put on him back then.
"Hell?"
Muneyoshi let his hair flow freely and his clothes rustle, his eyes filled with a deep silence.
This pressure seemed to have brought back unpleasant memories for him.
"I've seen it with my own eyes!"
"Shadow Sever - Chaotic Flower Burial!"
A black field spread out directly, and Muneyoshi rushed towards the incoming ball, his palm smearing a dense black light onto his racket.
He swung his racket backhand as if wielding a katana, and in an instant, a vast expanse of black light surged forth from around his body, surging like a tide across the entire court.
Oni Jūjirō's eyes narrowed slightly.
Even though he had seen it many times before, he was still drawn into its terrifying spiritual atmosphere the first time he faced it.
Moreover, Oni Jūjirō clearly sensed that Muneyoshi's attack had become even more powerful!
A blade composed of shadows and purple spiritual light slashed repeatedly at Oni Jūjirō's return attack in mid-air.
The threat of that shot was immediately neutralized by Muneyoshi, who then continued to attack with powerful smashes.
The dark red light, eroded by the shadows, transformed into streaks of black petals that drifted down...
Suddenly, a bright light appeared before Oni Jūjirō's eyes!
The darkness of the entire stadium seemed to converge on the sharpness of the blade, as if space itself had been torn open by a thread.
The tennis ball was spun back, its sharp edge even cutting through the air!
The icy, pure darkness distorted the space in front of Oni Jūjirō's vision and the surrounding trees.
"Good timing!"
Oni Jūjirō's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He neither dodged nor avoided the attack. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, held his racket vertically with both hands, and quickly ran towards the tennis ball.
His pale red eyes were full of seriousness, and his face, which originally looked very mature, now appeared quite dignified. The scar on his right cheek added a touch of three-dimensionality to him.
Tap tap!
His intense running revealed his well-defined muscles, and the ghost's reaction was beyond his limits.
He strutted forward, leaving afterimages in his wake, and swung his racket down at the blade of light that seemed to embody all darkness.
"Black Tomahawk!"
The fierce battle between the two began to truly reach a fever pitch from this point on.
P. S.: "I mentioned yesterday that I'd add two extra chapters if the monthly votes surpassed 1000, and you readers have been incredibly supportive. I almost had to start working overtime... I have a feeling I might collapse..."