Fated Battle

As Muneyoshi headed to Kanagawa, the Metropolitan Tournament also concluded.

In a secluded, sparsely populated mountain forest, a massive iron gate blocked the road's end, concealing a modern base within.

This was the Japan U17 Base.

Everything about this place was unknown to junior high students, but upon entering high school, talented students would receive invitations and be recruited.

This could be called a training base that gathered the elite of Japan's high school students.

On a court within the training camp, a match was underway, with high school students in uniform surrounding the spectators' area.

Around the court, surveillance cameras were all aimed at the center of the playing field.

"Game, Oni Jūjirō, 30:15."

Although this match, which had captured the attention of almost the entire training camp, had just begun, and neither of the players had shown much of their true strength yet.

However, the onlookers, including the expeditionary force and the players from other top-ranked courts, began to shed their dismissive expressions.

The two players on the court, whether in terms of power, speed, or technique—data related to their fundamentals—had fully displayed it all during their initial probing exchanges.

Their strength, far surpassing that of ordinary people, was showcased to the fullest.

Some of these senior students had been here for a long time. While their strength couldn't be said to be nonexistent, it was hardly remarkable.

However, years of being thoroughly beaten had made them knowledgeable and broadened their horizons.

Therefore, they knew very well that just the tip of the iceberg of strength these two had revealed was enough to crush most people here.

One of them was very familiar to them: the golden-haired, handsome, and dashing Byōdōin Hōō, who had not yet weathered the years.

This genius boy, already famous in junior high, was invited and recruited here as soon as he entered high school.

In just one month at the U17 Training Camp, he had won overwhelmingly in the ranking matches, held twice or thrice a week.

He had ruthlessly trampled on the pride of the seniors, leaving everyone breathless.

Now, he had advanced to Court 1 and was preparing to launch a revolution upon the return of the main team.

He intended to defeat all the main team members, seize the No. 1 position in the Japan U17 Training Camp, and overthrow the corrupt and incompetent third-year students.

His immense strength, flamboyant personality, and overbearing playstyle had, in just one month, almost crushed the spirit of the third-year seniors who coveted the main team's throne.

It truly made Byōdōin's moniker of "Overlord" well-deserved.

However, today, there was a small unexpected development…

A high school student, who looked remarkably old and came from who-knows-where, was recruited here as a hidden gem from the junior high scene…

Furthermore, he had been a full month late after his recruitment.

Whoosh… rustle~

A gentle breeze blew, kicking up dust on the court, and the leaves on the surrounding trees rustled.

"Game, Byōdōin Hōō, score is 1-1."

"Change ends!"

The referee's voice made the two players on the court temporarily pause. After the dust settled, the figures of the two engaged in a fierce battle slowly appeared before the crowd.

"This Oni Jūjirō is so strong. Where did he come from? I've never heard of him before…"

"I heard he's from Okayama Oku Middle School, a school that couldn't even pass the prefectural tournament…"

"Are you kidding me? With that kind of strength, he couldn't even make it to the prefectural tournament?"

The first-year freshmen, gathered from various regions, looked on in shock, relaying information they had somehow managed to gather.

After all, based solely on their exchanges so far, this first-year student, wearing a wine-red jacket and possessing a somewhat aged appearance, had displayed a level of strength that was no less than Byōdōin Hōō's.

Byōdōin Hōō had been undefeated in junior high across Japan!

This person who suddenly appeared could actually contend with him, which meant Byōdōin Hōō wasn't invincible?

"Heh, these two are really playing it safe! I didn't expect Byōdōin to have such a steady moment, abandoning his usual wild playstyle for such a conservative approach?"

Kiriya scoffed, muttering under his breath, "It seems this guy named Oni is a true master."

As students from the same year who had advanced together, Byōdōin's performance at last year's National Tournament was not like this.

From the very first exchange, he had displayed an overbearing and wild Hyper-Offensive playstyle that had overwhelmed many.

His style now was vastly different from then, so steady it didn't seem like Byōdōin at all.

Many acquaintances around them, hearing Kiriya's muttering, nodded in agreement. They felt the same way.

Although everyone knew that the truly exciting part of this match was just beginning.

The commotion from their brief exchanges had already made everyone impatient.

"Ara ara, it seems you guys know too little about that Byōdōin fellow,"

At this moment, Tanegashima Shūji and another person walked over. His gaze swept over the expressionless Tōno Atsukyō, Kimijima Ikuto, and other Makino Fuji players, and he chuckled lightly.

If one were to truly compare, the ones who understood Byōdōin best were their opponents.

Beside Tanegashima Shūji, Irie Kanata, a boy with golden hair and a baby face, took off his plain glasses, gently wiped them, and put them back on.

"Tanegashima-kun, what do you think..."

Irie Kanata pushed up his glasses, staring intently at the two players on the court. A serious light flashed in his eyes, and the usual smile was gone from his face, replaced by a solemn expression.

"He's strong... stronger than both of us. To put it bluntly, this Oni Jūjirō's current physical condition is completely crushing yours and mine."

Near the front of the court, Tanegashima Shūji had also lost his usual nonchalance, replaced by a more solemn and cautious demeanor.

He had played against Byōdōin Hōō many times, countless times throughout their three years of middle school. He had more say than anyone else regarding Byōdōin's strength.

Even though his wrist possessed a superhuman talent that others lacked, allowing him to hit shots that neutralized all the force of the tennis ball, nullifying any spin or Special Skill Shot applied to it, he was still not Byōdōin's match.

To deal with him, Byōdōin Hōō only needed to pay a little attention, using his superior physical condition to crush Tanegashima's defense.

Therefore, he had always regarded Byōdōin Hōō as a monster.

And now, he had witnessed someone who was not inferior to Byōdōin Hōō in any aspect.

"Is that so? So even Tanegashima-kun is feeling the pressure?"

Irie Kanata's lips curved into a smile, revealing charming dimples.

"As expected, it was the right decision to accept the invitation here. Tanegashima-kun, this place is truly deep. I really hope my strength can catch up to your backs..."

Hearing this, Tanegashima Shūji felt a ripple in his heart. After spending over a month at this U17 Base, he had learned more about things he hadn't understood before.

Things like the World Cup, Japan's ranking... and the future direction for their continued improvement.

It was a systematic plan for development. In just one month, their strength had improved considerably compared to before.

"Irie, we've been teammates for over three years now. You can't fool me!"

Tanegashima Shūji glanced at the harmless-looking boy with round-rimmed glasses beside him and said with some helplessness.

Irie Kanata's mental talent was no less than Ochi Gekko's, perhaps even stronger.

Furthermore, he possessed extremely sharp insight. Yet, after being teammates for several years, Tanegashima realized Irie's tennis style seemed to have gone astray.

It had been developing in a rather strange direction without anyone noticing.

He was worried; if Irie Kanata's strength hadn't weakened because of it, he might have already intervened forcefully.

ps: "Ding ding ding! The dashing Uncle Phoenix makes his first appearance, and the masters are all revealed. Let's get hyped.

Also, thank you to readers 20180116020017034, Qing Xu Dao Ren, Twelve Zodiacs in the Sky, and 20221111033738864 for your monthly ticket support. I'll add an update for you tomorrow. I'm still working today~"