Asura Path!

"Chiba Yun Chuan, the Chiba family, huh?

Hah, National Tournament champion? What an ambitious guy!

But only someone like him is worthy of being my captain!

Don't get too full of yourself. One day, I'll take the captain's position back!" Atobe's voice was very quiet. Only he and Chiba Yun Chuan could hear it!

"You'll find out one day that losing to me isn't shameful!" After saying that, Chiba Yun Chuan walked away.

"Chiba Yun Chuan!"

"Chiba Yun Chuan!"

"Chiba Yun Chuan!"

The players on the court suddenly began chanting Chiba Yun Chuan's name in unison. The cheers came in waves, spreading across the entire tennis court! The voices of two hundred people made quite a racket!

And Chiba Yun Chuan was relishing this moment of glory!

After a brief while,

"All right, settle down. I have an announcement to make!

"All Hyotei regulars, gather now!" Atobe shouted. The cheering on the court gradually died down until it was quiet.

The Hyotei regulars lined up, with two hundred tennis club members behind them, all waiting to hear what Atobe would say next!

"I hereby announce that Chiba Yun Chuan is officially the captain of the Hyotei tennis club." After saying this, Atobe joined the lineup.

He had made his stance clear!

Although it had only been a match, after seeing Chiba Yun Chuan's skill, Oshitari, Shishido, and the others in the Hyotei tennis club had all wholeheartedly accepted him as captain!

That was Hyotei: strength above all!

Just after Atobe finished speaking, Chiba Yun Chuan heard the system notification.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have completed the mission. As a reward, you have received Asura Path. Please claim your reward!"

As soon as the system finished its notification, detailed information on how to use Asura Path appeared in Chiba Yun Chuan's mind!

Asura Path: A prerequisite for entering the realm of another dimension. Allows the host to consciously imitate any tennis technique he has seen! (Limited to tennis techniques!)

Chiba Yun Chuan knew all about Asura Path, and he was thrilled to receive the skill!

His face lit up with excitement.

He couldn't wait to try out Asura Path!

After all, he'd only ever seen it in the anime before. Actually obtaining it himself had to be different.

But now didn't seem to be the right time.

Looking at the Hyotei tennis club members before him,

Chiba Yun Chuan restrained his excitement and spoke solemnly.

"Starting today, I, Chiba Yun Chuan, officially take over as captain of the Hyotei tennis club!

"Hyotei's rule that strength comes first will not change.

"Here, as long as you have the ability, you can become a regular, whether you're a first-year or a third-year!

"Only the strongest among you can become Hyotei regulars!

"Because our ultimate goal is victory!

"Our goal is to win this year's National Tournament!

"I don't expect you to keep up with me, because you'll never be able to match my pace!

"All I ask is that you don't hold us back!"

"Show-off Value +11"

Chiba Yun Chuan had firmly backed Atobe's system. It was the only way Hyotei could grow stronger and stronger, after all, Chiba Yun Chuan's ultimate goal was to win three consecutive National Tournament titles!

"That's all I have to say! The regulars will stay. Everyone else is free to go."

The tennis club members at the back began to disperse and practice freely, leaving only the row of regulars.

Chiba Yun Chuan slowly walked past them, stopping in front of each regular in turn.

Oshitari Yuushi, Mukahi Gakuto, Ootori Choutarou—

They were all familiar faces, and the Hyotei team looked much the same as it would a year later!

At last, he stopped in front of Atobe and whispered something in his ear.

"What?" Atobe looked startled.

Chiba Yun Chuan said nothing more and returned to the front of the lineup.

Looking at the eight people before him, he spoke slowly.

"To be honest, with the exception of Atobe, your skills are truly terrible. You're not even good enough to make me take you seriously!

"At this rate, forget winning the National Tournament—you might not even make it into the tournament!"

His words clearly struck a nerve with the Hyotei regulars.

After all, they were Hyotei regulars, the cream of the crop chosen from two hundred players!

Several pairs of furious eyes turned toward Chiba Yun Chuan, but no one said anything. That was Hyotei's rule: strength was king!

"Seems like you're not convinced? That's fine. I'll give you the chance to prove just how weak you are!

"Tomorrow, I'll play each of you one by one and show you what real strength looks like! You'll see how childish and ridiculous your thinking is!

"I've also specially invited a tennis coach to train you. The coach will arrive tomorrow.

"You'll follow the coach's instructions and train strictly. If anyone's unhappy, come to me. If you can win even one game against me, you won't have to train!

"But if anyone slacks off during training or disobeys instructions, I'll have a match with him!"

Chiba Yun Chuan's voice turned unusually stern on that last sentence. Even Atobe felt a chill run down his back when he heard it!

Chiba Yun Chuan also released his aura, and the Hyotei regulars immediately felt that he had become frightening!

So they answered in unison,

"Yes!"

Chiba Yun Chuan was very satisfied with their response.

"Dismissed. You're free to go!"

And with that, the afternoon tennis club session came to an end.

Chiba Yun Chuan didn't linger at the tennis club. Once everyone was dismissed, he packed up his gear and turned to leave!

Atobe left with him, of course, along with Atobe's personal bodyguard, Kabaji!

Only after Chiba Yun Chuan and Atobe had gone far away did the tennis club members gather together to discuss what had happened.

The regulars, in particular, breathed a deep sigh of relief. Chiba Yun Chuan's imposing aura had been overwhelming!

They hadn't really felt it before he played Atobe, but after he beat Atobe six to zero, they felt the pressure.

"He finally left."

Ootori Choutarou patted his chest as he exhaled.

Shishido Ryo rubbed his chin with his right hand and asked, "What do you think Captain Chiba is really like?"

"I don't know, but sooner or later, I'll surpass him!" Hiyoshi Wakashi's eyes were full of fighting spirit. He'd wanted to defeat Atobe before; now there was someone else on his list!

"His strength is unfathomable." Mukahi Gakuto watched Chiba Yun Chuan's retreating figure. For a moment, the scene of Atobe and Chiba Yun Chuan facing off replayed in his mind!

Though Chiba Yun Chuan had left, the news began spreading like wildfire throughout Hyotei Academy.

As one of the nation's top four schools, everything that happened at Hyotei Academy drew attention!

And so,

The news that Hyotei Academy had a new tennis club captain, who had beaten Atobe six to zero, spread straight beyond the school.