World-Class Techniques of Light and Darkness
Matryoshka!
Byōdōin's world-class ball skills.
Although he hasn't even started traveling the world yet, he's already created this move.
Although this approach is still very immature compared to the future, and the nesting dolls can only have one layer of skin, the method has already emerged.
"As expected of Byōdōin!"
Muneyoshi glanced intently at Byōdōin. Later, everyone believed that the opponent's strength lay in their Shining Shot and their Different Dimension pirates...
Everyone overlooked everything else about him.
The universally accepted methods for reaching a higher level are three paths: strength, speed, and technique.
Byōdōin is the one who has walked all three paths to the end, and the first one he walked was the Technique Form!
His flashes of inspiration are also his most formidable quality.
As the undisputed ruler of the country, Byōdōin's pride was unmatched.
He dominated the school; ordinary people only noticed his strength and speed, but overlooked his skills.
In fact, skill was the foundation of his dominance.
"Kid, what are you thinking about?"
Bang!
"Scattered!"
Byōdōin let out a soft chuckle, and with a flick of his wrist, he forcefully slicing the tennis ball back.
The tennis ball was extremely fast, falling directly towards the ground.
Boom!
The moment it landed, the tennis ball exploded into seven different streaks that scattered in all directions.
This is yet another prototype of a world-class skill; in the future, it will become: American Pirate!
However, this move posed little threat to Muneyoshi. Having practiced multi-ball consecutive shots for a long time, he could find a way to receive the ball without pausing.
He abruptly stopped with his feet, quickly straightened his body, raised Muneyoshi arm, and swung his arm downwards with great ease.
Bang!
The tennis ball, carrying a faint yellowish glow, flew back again.
"Seven-ball is played so casually; the speed, power, and eyesight are all quite impressive!"
Byōdōin mentally assessed Muneyoshi's performance, his smile remaining unchanged, and he seemed increasingly relaxed and at ease.
"Hey, no wonder Old Man praised you!"
"At your age, your skills are indeed no less than mine were back then."
He offered a soft compliment, but his hands showed no mercy. With a gliding step into the tennis ball's flight path, Byōdōin's racket swerved and swung.
Bang!
A powerful and sharp slice shot.
The tennis ball rose sharply and then fell rapidly due to a powerful backhand slice, and faintly, a red glow enveloped the ball.
As the tennis ball fell, a sharper whistling sound filled the air.
Muneyoshi only felt a blur before his eyes, a red afterimage flashed past his vision, and then the tennis ball bounced out from the left half of the court.
"... Phoenix"
A fiery red bird phantom flashed through Muneyoshi's eyes; this clean and crisp smash was much faster than Muneyoshi's own smash.
"2-1."
After losing another point, Muneyoshi became even more focused.
Suppressing his inner turmoil, he was determined to find out at least a shred of the other party's bottom line, no matter what.
Byōdōin Hōō kicks off again.
Bang!
A seemingly simple serve, yet its angle and speed inspire despair.
Muneyoshi crouched down, the afterimage of the tennis ball slowly overlapping in his eyes, and quickly determined the landing point of the ball.
He can't keep it any longer!
Swish!
Muneyoshi stretched his palm forward, and it seemed as if a black flame ignited in his palm, followed by a dark aura surging within his body.
A dark, eerie light began to spread from his body, engulfing the entire tennis ball.
The black Glowing Flame in his palm flickered continuously, and the incoming tennis ball finally became visible.
With the frenzied infusion of spiritual energy, the eerie light relentlessly eroded the tennis ball, finally "igniting" it.
"Dark Fluorescent Flame!"
Muneyoshi's cold voice came from the opposite half of the court, devoid of any emotion.
On the Byōdōin side of the court, Byodoin frowned, suddenly sensing a faint sense of danger.
Whoosh!
In sight, the tennis ball, which was swirling with waves of dark, Glowing Flame, gradually disappeared into the shadows.
It flew silently to Byōdōin's side.
Buzz buzz buzz~
A massive, almost imperceptible shadow was engulfing Byōdōin.
"This is... darkness?"
Byōdōin's eyes flickered, and for the first time, a look of shock appeared on his face.
A dark and enigmatic aura emanated from the pale yellow tennis ball, as if countless extreme emotions were intertwined upon it, seemingly capable of evoking unpleasant memories and feelings.
This instantly brought back memories of his battle with Oni Jūjirō a few months prior.
After the tennis ball landed, it was like a straight yellow line of light that drew back a black curtain.
"Hehe, well done!"
Bang!
With a loud bang, the tennis ball hit Byōdōin's feet, creating a deep crater, and bounced behind him.
Byōdōin's expression was serious. Even though it stirred up some unpleasant memories, he showed no fear. He strode forward, swinging his racket as he met the attacker.
"Hiss... hiss..."
The tennis ball rubbed wildly against the net, and a terrifying force emanated from the racket.
As he continuously released his force, the power deeply contained within the tennis ball was unleashed.
A powerful burst of energy instantly leaked out, leaving a shattered spherical area on the wall behind Byōdōin. Although the shattering was not severe, it was still quite astonishing.
"Drink up! You actually managed to do this, I acknowledge you, Saeki Muneyoshi!"
Byōdōin roared and exerted force with his arm again, finally deflecting the destructive power of the ball.
"In that case, welcome my gift!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an unparalleled golden light appeared in Byōdōin's hand, instantly tearing through the darkness that shrouded Muneyoshi in his half of the court. The terrifying aura made the entire stadium tremble.
"That's... Shining Shot!"
Looking at that all-too-familiar scene, Muneyoshi's thoughts drifted slightly.
From the moment he came into this world and set his goal, he has always trained towards Shining Shot.
Unfortunately, fate played a cruel trick on him. The first appearance of the Shining Shot he had been longing for did not come from his own hands, but from his opponent, Byōdōin.
However, such emotions were fleeting, and now he has embarked on a dark path.
It's no worse than light!
However, it won't be so easy for him to catch the Light Ball from Byōdōin.
The next moment...
Snap... Boom!
A piercing whistling sound shattered the silence as the Light Ball, filled with an aura of destruction, plunged into the dark shadows.
"Darkness Falling Darkness!"
Stimulated by the Shining Shot, darkness became more active than ever before. In just an instant, darkness completely enveloped him. As the eerie light around him deepened, the Dark Markings at the corners of Muneyoshi's eyes grew more pronounced.
Bang!
With a muffled thud, all the darkness coalesced on the racket, the black light, as dark as ink, transformed into a large net, enveloping the whistling, glowing tennis ball.
Muneyoshi's muscles tensed, and a crackling sound seemed to emanate from his body. He stomped his foot backward, assuming a sword-wielding posture, and in an instant, the tennis ball was swept back.
Call out!
A dark shadow swept swiftly from Muneyoshi's half of the court to Byōdōin's half, and only then did the sound of the tennis ball whizzing through the air ring out!
This ball seemed utterly ordinary, but after flying over the central net, it instantly transformed into ten streaks of light, each of which spun in a fan shape and flew away from Byōdōin.
Then they instantly coalesced again, forming a giant black sun setting.
Boom!
A hole the size of a washbasin appeared on the court surface, and it wasn't until the dust settled that Byōdōin discovered the tennis ball was still spinning inside the hole...
2-2.
"This shot..."
Both Byōdōin Rokkaku Old Man, who came to watch the battle after hearing the commotion, had shifting gazes.
The aura emanating from Muneyoshi's ball, and even the terrifying destructive power it conveyed, far exceeded their expectations.
"Hey, Saeki Muneyoshi, is this your resolve?"
I received it!
In the interplay of light and shadow, Byōdōin stood ramrod straight, a strange, enigmatic expression on his face, a hard, cold voice uttering his words.
"In that case, are you ready to face the horrors of hell?"
"Sizzle~"
The stadium lights started flickering for some reason.
It seemed as if something was suddenly about to break through the barriers of the world.
A mass of shadow, hovering behind him and looming over his imposing figure, churned and eventually solidified.
Tap... Tap...
A few distant footsteps sounded.
A taller figure emerged from behind the Phoenix of Byōdōin Hōō.
A pirate figure covered in skull shapes appeared on the court...
At that moment, Byōdōin, who was already wavering, finally pushed open the door that could not hold him back.
He has mastered the Different Dimension Realm and Asura Path!
P. S.: "There's no new book release period anymore, it's too short. If I hadn't updated for those few days with 10,000 words each day, I could have stayed up longer. But thinking about everyone's support, and everyone's continuous support with monthly tickets, I still want to satisfy you all. I should be able to put it on sale soon after I finish the reports these two days, and then I'll update like crazy! Everyone!! Until then, please vote with your monthly tickets!!~~"
There are so many reports and tasks at the beginning of the month. Only two stops today. I'll save some more drafts. For those of you with monthly votes, please vote for the kid!!!