The Fall into Darkness, Kanto Champions

"No need, just give me a new racket!"

Tezuka refused entry to the Seigaku members.

Struggling to his feet, he dusted himself off and then Tezuka to the sidelines of the court, taking a new racket from Oishi.

"Tezuka, how about... you forfeit?"

As they passed the coach's bench, Ryūzaki Sumire hesitated slightly before speaking, Tezuka shook his head.

"Coach Ryuzaki, I will finish this match!"

Fudomine coaching bench, Hanamura Aoi smiled and handed him a towel. Muneyoshi took a sip of his drink and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel.

"Muneyoshi, let's win this match!"

"Of course, Coach Hanamura!"

After a short break, the two returned to the court.

Seeing Tezuka reappear, Muneyoshi frowned, noticing his trembling, swollen arms and calf muscles, and said:

"Tezuka, your body is already exhausted, and your arm injury from constantly using that kind of rotational technique is quite serious. You'd better not continue."

Do you really want to ruin your entire career because of this one match? If you don't care, then I don't care either!

Hearing Muneyoshi's cold yet slightly icy concern, Tezuka felt a warmth rise in his heart.

But he shook his head.

"I know, Muneyoshi, but I'll finish this match. I want to see your true strength, just like those two tennis balls you hit to Yukimura yesterday!"

"I haven't seen it yet!"

As Tezuka stepped into Muneyoshi's Darkness Field once more, Tezuka eyes were almost completely covered by darkness.

But in his remaining clarity of mind, he still insisted on going on stage, just to experience Yukimura had experienced the day before.

Seeing the determination in Tezuka's eyes, and based on Muneyoshi's own understanding of Tezuka's character—who was devoted to the team and to honor—he understood that Tezuka's actions were driven by a deep sense of purpose.

If Muneyoshi doesn't grant his request, he will probably persist indefinitely.

Under such circumstances, the longer it drags on, the greater the chance of him getting injured. It would be better for Muneyoshi to take the initiative and send him down.

Looking into Tezuka's eyes, which were almost filled with darkness, Muneyoshi paused only for a moment before agreeing.

"Alright! But if you want to face them, are you prepared to go to hell?"

A dense, eerie light rose around Muneyoshi's body, and his tone was colder than ever before.

Tezuka didn't answer, but just glanced at Muneyoshi before crouching down in the receiving area to prepare.

"Tezuka's current state, both mentally and in terms of the five dimensions, has been weakened to the extreme by me. However, it's probably still impossible to make him submit. Let's stick to the original plan and detonate the darkness within him!"

Swish!

Muneyoshi served again, and this time the serve was so simple that even people outside the court could see it clearly.

Throw the ball and jump.

Bang!

With a crisp sound, the tennis ball flew towards Tezuka once again.

Although he didn't know why Muneyoshi hadn't done as he said, Tezuka still endured the muscle pain and caught the ball.

His steps were unsteady.

"You're incredibly stubborn... Since you're so determined to face it, then go to hell!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Muneyoshi's figure appeared instantly in the path of the tennis ball.

"Falling Bright!"

A surge of brilliant spiritual energy erupted forth, stirring up a frenzy in the surrounding darkness and shadows.

At that moment, a terrifying aura and mental pressure instantly enveloped Tezuka.

In his Tezuka, the last glimmer of light that had kept him clear-headed vanished, and he was plunged into complete darkness.

All that could be heard was Muneyoshi's cold voice from the other side, accompanied by a violent dizziness and drowsiness.

Swish!

A dark, terrifying light emanated from and contracted from the clenched palm of Muneyoshi's left hand.

At this moment, Muneyoshi was like an abyss, and the dark light emanating from him exuded a terrifying aura. The deadly danger almost made the audience behind Tezuka start to flee in panic.

A hint of gray light appeared in Muneyoshi's somber eyes, and within the pitch-black depths, layers of light and shadow spread along with the tennis ball.

With a flick of his right arm, Muneyoshi sent the unremarkable black and red racket swiftly striking the completely black tennis ball.

In an instant!

Boom!

With a loud bang, the huge sound of the smash echoed throughout the entire court. As the tennis ball flew back, darkness began to spread, and the entire tennis ball was enveloped in burning black flames.

It was as if a wall of air had appeared around the tennis ball. After flying over half the court, the air wall began to expand, and the tennis ball grew larger and larger.

"Ignite it, Dreams Abound..."

"Bang!"

The tennis ball grazed past Tezuka's feet, and a dark world instantly exploded in his mental realm. Countless illusions detonated in his mind, and he collapsed to the ground.

The tennis ball, still powerful, was embedded heavily in the wall behind him.

The small ball is surrounded by a dense network of cracks, resembling a spider web.

As the smoke and dust cleared, occasional bits of gravel still fell.

"Since Tezuka Kunimitsu, a player from Seigaku Academy, has lost the ability to continue the match, Saeki Muneyoshi from Fudomine Junior High has won this match."

After blowing the whistle, the referee paused for a moment before announcing:

"With this victory, Fudomine Junior High has won the Kanto Tournament finals with a record of three wins and one loss!"

As soon as the referee's voice fell, a deafening cheer erupted from the Fudomine players' area.

"We won!"

"Yay! We finally won!"

Muneyoshi stood quietly in the center of the court, feeling the cheers coming from all directions, and clenched his fists tightly.

"So this is what it feels like to be a champion!"

A feeling of genuine joy welled up in his heart. Saeki Muneyoshi looked around the court and saw many, many figures.

Atobe Oshitari from the Hyotei Academy, Sengoku from Yamabuki, Sanada Genichirou and Niou Masaharu Rikkai Dai who arrived at the last minute, and Yanagi Renji had been recording data.

Saeki Kojiro and Amene Hikaru from Rokkaku Middle School...

His gaze then turned towards Seigaku, where he saw them lift Tezuka down, saw Momoshiro and Kaidoh's faces full of resentment, and saw Fuji and Oishi's group anxiously surrounding Tezuka.

Looking at Akutsu, whose face was contorted with rage and who was staring at him menacingly, Muneyoshi's lips curled into a slight smile.

The champion will inevitably be met with hostility and scrutiny from everyone, but he can ignore all of that.

Finally, his gaze fell on his teammates from Fudomine, watching them run towards him.

Muneyoshi smiled happily.

"It's over."

Inoue Mamoru rubbed his slightly sore eyes; this match had completely exceeded his expectations.

Saeki Muneyoshi and Tezuka Kunimitsu!

Keith, Akutsu.

And yesterday's Yukimura Seiichi, Tachibana Kippei, and Masami Genichiro.

They delivered an exceptionally high-quality competition for this Kanto Tournament.

The tennis court is the best stage for these geniuses.

In the stands, Atobe stood up.

"Let's go! After watching a match like this, how can we not go back and practice more? And during the National Tournament, it will definitely be Hyotei Academy standing there!"

After saying that, he turned and left, and the Regular of the Hyotei Academy followed in Atobe's footsteps.

Students from Rokkaku Middle School, Yamabuki Middle School, Rikkai Dai, and other schools also left the venue; their award ceremonies had already concluded before yesterday.

Kojiro looked at Muneyoshi, who was surrounded by the crowd, and said with envy and determination, "See you at the National Tournament, Muneyoshi!"

In the Rikkai Dai region, Yanagi Renji put away his notebook, and Sanada glanced at Saeki Muneyoshi and Tachibana Kippei:

"Let's go, Yukimura's surgery is about to begin, and our training can't stop. We'll take everything back in the National Tournament!"

"Puli~"

Muneyoshi was greeted with enthusiastic cheers as he returned to the group, surrounded by a crowd.

"Great, Minister! We're the champions!"

Kamio Akira shouted excitedly.

Ibu Shinji nodded excitedly; even someone as composed as him couldn't hide the excitement in his heart.

Muneyoshi looked at the group of Regular who were filled with joy and excitement: Tachibana Kippei, Keith, Lin Xiu, Kamio Akira, Ibu Shinji, Ishida Tetsu, and several alternate members.

And standing behind the crowd, Hanamura Aoi, Muneyoshi organized everyone to surround Hanamura Aoi!

They cheered loudly:

"We are...* Army!"

P. S.: "Please vote with monthly tickets!"

My cold is as bad as a hepatitis B infection! My whole body aches terribly.