The Match Heats Up

"Byodoin, the world is wonderful, isn't it? I've always looked forward to it."

Horio wore a confident smile as he looked at Byodoin, who had transformed into a pirate captain.

Having sensed the terrifying Genesis Aura, Byodoin, now enveloped in the power of Asura Divine Path, became excited.

"Of course, but excitement also means danger. If you want to see the world, let me show you what it's like first."

After saying that, Byodoin unleashed the power of Asura Divine Path and then unleashed the power of another dimension.

Suddenly, the two people on the field appeared on a stormy sea, with the surrounding lightning and thunder trapping them like a cage.

On the boundless sea, there was only that one pirate ship, exuding an aura of terror.

"Such powerful extradimensional force. It seems that even ghosts have fallen far behind you in the past two years."

Standing alone on the pirate ship created by the Byodoin's other-dimensional power, Horio sensed a power even stronger than the demon's domain.

Compared to the strength Byodoin had previously demonstrated, Horio couldn't help but look at Byodoin with a different eye.

"There are things in the world more terrifying than this. If this surprises you, then you have no way of conquering the world."

"Surprised? You're overthinking it."

Seeing a change in Horio's expression, Byodoin's teasing voice rang out.

These words had no effect on Horio, who then Byodoin Horio, released his Genesis Aura to cover his entire body.

Horio's figure vanished instantly from the pirate ship, replaced by the Creator God radiating Genesis Aura.

"Incredible! The strength of those two..."

"Is this the power that transcends the current level of tennis and reaches another dimension...?"

"This is the world they're talking about... We need to be prepared to die facing this world."

"Although it's scary, I'm inexplicably excited."

"I'll reach that level someday too. Hmph, the world is nothing special."

Off the court, the junior high school students, witnessing the overwhelming power emanating from both sides, gained a deeper understanding of the world.

"Let me see whether your Path of Creation God is stronger or my Asura Divine Path!"

On the field, Byodoin was now fully in form.

Horio wasted no time, and the tennis ball in his hand emitted a purple glow.

As the tennis ball fell, Horio swung his racket like a sword from the hands of the creator god.

The Light Ball Shot, imbued with the Genesis Aura, was fired. Although it wasn't Particle Light Storm, it was still more powerful than a regular Light Ball Shot.

The tennis ball was hit, and in an instant, an overwhelming momentum swept across the entire court.

Seeing this, Byodoin's eyes flashed with madness, and he moved his feet and swung his racket.

A dark aura swirled around the racket as it struck the tennis ball; the aura of World Pirate clashed with the Genesis Aura, both sides displaying an unyielding trend.

Ultimately, the World Pirate, who had merged with the other-dimensional power of the pirate ship, still slightly outmatched the power of the Creator God. With Byodoin's intervention, the tennis ball was returned.

The pressure on the field was mounting, and even the referees on the bench were starting to feel the strain.

When Byodoin returned Horio's Light Ball Shot, a crater was formed in the wall not far behind him by the force of the impact.

The dented walls cracked into small pieces, turning the once-solid wall into something as soft as tofu.

Meanwhile, Horio, who had already caught Byodoin's return ball, also saw a dent appear in the wall behind him.

To the spectators outside the arena, the two players were simply exchanging barbs, but the impact was enormous.

But for the two players on the field, the battlefield was still on the pirate ship at sea.

The pirate captain brandished his rapier, while Horio wielded his Founding Sword.

The two sides clashed fiercely, neither giving an inch, and the collision of their different auras unleashed a terrifying power.

"World Pirate!"

After exchanging blows for several rounds, Byodoin's rapier suddenly multiplied into many, and countless sharp blades pierced towards Horio.

Seeing the almost impenetrable wall of blades rushing towards him, Horio moved nimbly and successfully dodged them.

Then, the Genesis Aura was imbued into the Founding Sword, and the Shatter Attack was unleashed towards Byodoin.

The destructive attack left Byodoin with nowhere to hide, Byodoin immediately mobilized both of his powers and added them all to his arm.

The Genesis Aura formed a vortex that wrapped around Byodoin's arm, and the two completely different forces collided once again.

As the battle between the two continued, the score kept changing, and the stadium was getting increasingly damaged.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

"Horio scores, score 7-4."

Finally, after the walls behind the two players were completely destroyed, Horio won the tiebreaker and secured the first game victory.

"It's only the first game, and the situation is already so tense. That's amazing."

"This is truly a historic moment; it's an unprecedented match."

"I hate to admit it, but Horio has definitely left us far behind."

"Seigaku is really lucky. It's only because of Horio that Seigaku has a chance to achieve a three-peat."

Outside the stadium, the junior high students stared in disbelief at the dilapidated state of the field.

However, Atobe and others, who were more farsighted, did not take these people's speculations seriously.

"You guys are really naive. Do you really think that guy will stay at Seigaku forever?"

"What do you mean by that! Horio isn't staying at Seigaku, is he going to go to Hyotei?!"

Atobe's words made the Seigaku members frown, but only Momoshiro vehemently refuted them.

"Compared to Seigaku, Horio is better suited to showcase his talent on the world stage."

"That's right, an eagle that should be soaring in the vast sky long ago won't be confined forever."

Yukimura and Sanada, who had fought against Horio, shared the same view regarding Momoshiro's rebuttal.

"It seems I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Even your Echizen Ryoma has gone abroad, not to mention Horio Satoshi talent is even more terrifying."

Logically, when the All-American Open sent out invitations, they should have targeted him, but he was the one who stayed.

Although we don't know why he stayed, it's certain that he has the absolute ability to make his way in the world.

Do you really think Seigaku can retain its players? Three-peat? I bet starting next year, Seigaku will be brought back to reality.

Atobe's words were harsh, but none of the third-year students at Seigaku could refute them.

Momoshiro was still somewhat unwilling, but Oishi stopped him.

"Amo! Stop talking. Once you become the Captain Vice President, you'll have to lead Seigaku forward on your own."

"Oishi Senpai, why are you here too...?"

"I think the reason Horio stayed is related to Tezuka."

Just as Oishi finished speaking, Fuji interrupted Momoshiro.

"Tezuka, who has devoted all his efforts to Seigaku over the years, actually chose to leave the club before the National Tournament finals."

Even if it was to pursue one's dreams, such a hasty departure must mean something happened.

After Tezuka left, Horio, the strongest member of the team, stayed. There must be something we don't know about that.

"Oh? Did you make some kind of promise or something?"

The quick-witted Fuji soon guessed the gist of the matter. As Tezuka's old Atobe instantly deduced from Fuji's words that Horio must have made some kind of promise to Tezuka.

That's why Tezuka left before the National Tournament started, and even came to ask for my help.

Horio's promise is very likely to be winning the National Tournament.

"It seems that your Seigaku's national championship is not only thanks to Horio, but also to Tezuka."

Having guessed all this Atobe didn't care at all what the consequences of saying it would be. After hearing Atobe's words, how could the Seigaku members not understand?

Even the most impulsive Momoshiro fell silent upon hearing this.

"You've already gone this far, but you're still a little short. Horio Satoshi, as expected of the zero chosen by the beginner Coach."

Even after going through so much back then, and honing myself in hell, I still can't reach the zero standard in the mind of the initiation Coach.

Now that you, Zero, have appeared, let me see what you're made of!

On the court, Byodoin had reached the baseline and was ready to start the second set.

Having experienced a tiebreaker match with Horio before, Byodoin began to acknowledge Horio's strength.

However, due to his obsession with Zero and the fact that Byodoin hadn't encountered a worthy opponent to fight with all his might in a long time, he only wanted to force out Horio's deeper power.

After adjusting himself to his best condition, the tennis ball held in Byodoin's hand emitted a glow.

"Horio Satoshi, let's have a real world-class tennis match! Destruction!"

The mobilization of the Asura Divine Path and the forces from another dimension allowed Byodoin to unleash his own Light Ball Shot.

On the court, the debris from the previously destroyed walls was swept up by the force of the destruction, and the tennis ball carried it towards Horio.

Seeing this, Horio's expression turned serious, showing just how terrifying Byodoin's ball was.

Horio mobilized his Genesis Aura to its fullest extent, preparing to retaliate against Byodoin's all-out attack of destruction.

A purple aura enveloped the racket, and even as the racket was being swung, a wave of air was already appearing.

The closer the tennis ball got to Horio, the faster Horio clothes and hair flew around.

After the tennis ball bounced off the ground, Horio's racket caught the ball.

A hint of purple tinged the dark aura. Despite Horio unleashing his full Genesis Aura, he managed to return the ball successfully, braving the dark aura.

But as he returned the ball, several more strings on Horio's racket snapped.

Before Horio could react, Byodoin's counterattack had already arrived.

Unaware that his racket strings had broken, Horio his racket to return the shot.

Bang!

Byodoin Score, 15:0

The tennis ball landed, bounced, and hit the spot where the string had broken, passing right through the racket.