Noticing the familiar aura, Q.P. murmured, "He's here."
The experience of Rakurai no Kōki (Light of Desolation)—complete focus on the match, utilizing every element to maximize the efficiency of his returns.
The experience of Aichi no Kōki (Light of Love and Wisdom)—the mind's deception of emotions, temporarily boosting muscle efficiency while suppressing the opponent's momentum with sheer presence!
These were insights Q.P. had derived from his match against Kōki, not inherent traits of Kōki itself.
It was this terrifying analytical and adaptive ability that forged Q.P.'s Perfect Pursuit.
And now, Yoru—wielding the "Super-Perfect Pursuit"—had pushed these battle-tested experiences to their absolute limit!
A chilling glow enveloped Yoru's body. The temperature on the court plummeted as an oppressive sharpness permeated the air.
[Super-Perfect Pursuit]: Perfectly develops one's abilities while extracting the combat experience of the three Kōki (Lights of Tenacity). Each extracted Kōki significantly increases the user's five stats and foundation by a percentage during matches.
Extracted so far: Rakurai no Kōki, Aichi no Kōki.
Yoru glanced at his fully amplified stats.
Combat Power: 11 Stars (+1.5)
A direct increase of 1.5 stars—on top of an 11-star base.
In the original story, Q.P.'s evolution into Ultimate Pursuit earned him praise from Volk as "the closest existence to the God of Tennis," nearly invincible.
Just how terrifying would be if it evolved into "Super-Ultimate Pursuit"?
[System Alert: Ryoma attempts to replicate 'Super-Perfect Pursuit'—Replication Failed. Mental Damage Sustained…]
[System Alert: Ryoma attempts to replicate 'Super-Perfect Pursuit'—Replication Failed. Mental Damage Sustained…]
[System Alert: Ryoma attempts to replicate 'Super-Perfect Pursuit'—Replication Failed. Mental Damage Sustained…]
"...Dudu, take Ryoma away. This match is beyond what he can handle now."
With his last shred of rationality, Yoru shot a glance at Duoduo Obando before plunging into a state of hyper-focus.
"Oh my God!"
Only then did Duoduo notice Ryoma's increasingly pale face. Without hesitation, he hoisted the boy over his shoulder and sprinted off the court.
Chitose Banten sucked in a sharp breath. "That kid… Was he actually trying to copy it? How reckless."
The others had heard rumors about Ryoma's talent, but this was on another level.
"...Incredible."
Ralph Reinhardt exhaled deeply, feeling the relentless pressure.
It hit him—Yoru had never been serious in their past matches.
Now, he was playing for real.
BANG!
A simple serve. Blinding speed. The ball landed mid-court before anyone could react.
Yet—
"Body forward. Calf muscles tense. Ball bounces—explode!"
Yoru appeared at the landing point instantly, a fading afterimage left in his original position.
"Lower the swing. Harness momentum for maximum return."
A flash of cold light—
BANG! BANG!
Two near-identical impacts overlapped as the ball cratered the chain-link fence, leaving a one-meter-wide dent. Had it not hit a joint, the fence might've shattered entirely.
"What… is this?"
Only after the ball embedded itself did the gust of wind from its trajectory whip past them.
No visible movement. No visible swing. No visible ball path.
"The pinnacle of fundamentals—discarding all technique to achieve absolute focus."
Q.P.'s gaze locked onto Yoru, his breath steady but his mind racing.
He could sense it—Yoru's Perfect Pursuit had evolved into something even greater.
"Yoru scores! 15-0!"
Gulp.
The spectators swallowed hard, their faces etched with disbelief. Yoru's performance defied everything they understood about tennis.
---
Around the corner, Duoduo and Ryoma—still leaning against the wall—flinched at the monstrous impact sounds.
Though they couldn't see the match, the sheer violence of the collisions told them everything.
BANG!
"Yoru scores! 30-0!"
BANG!
"Yoru scores! 40-0!"
BANG!
"Yoru scores! Game—5-0!"
Four serves. Four returns. Four points.
From the first move, Ralph couldn't track anything—only the delayed sound of the ball and the icy wind brushing past him.
During his match against Oni Juujirou, Yoru had been distracted, his mind fixated on "rewards," never unleashing Super-Perfect Pursuit at full power.
But after returning from England, something had changed.
For the first time, Yoru was treating tennis as more than just a "quest" to conquer the world.
BANG!
A basic serve.
Minimalist.
BANG! BANG!
Three sounds merged into one. Ralph stood frozen, unable to react.
Beyond the toss, there was nothing—no cues, no predictions, just the afterimage of dust swirling where the ball had been.
"How… is this possible?"
Helplessness. Total helplessness.
Ralph had never felt so powerless. Even in past losses to Yoru, he could at least see his shortcomings and improve.
But this time—nothing. Not even the sound reached him in time.
Meanwhile, Yoru stared at his palm, an indescribable sensation lingering in his chest.
---
Echizen Residence
Nanjiro slid open the door to a small backroom shrine.
No idols or photos adorned the altar—just a single silver tennis racket placed reverently atop it.
Lighting a cigarette, Nanjiro took a long drag, exhaling the acrid smoke with a sigh.
"Been a while since I talked to you. The old man wouldn't let me bring your portrait—said you belonged 'back home.'"
He chuckled bitterly, stubbing out the half-smoked cigarette onto the altar.
"Yoru's grown so strong… But now, I don't know how to guide him."
His mind drifted back to the day Yoru returned from England.
The path ahead was already murky—the "door" Yoru sought to open was the hardest Nanjiro had ever seen.
And now, after England, an aura even Yoru himself hadn't noticed had latched onto him.
Kōki—The Light of Tenacity.
It hadn't fully awakened yet. Could it awaken?
To Nanjiro's heightened senses, three distinct Kōki hovered at the edge of Yoru's potential—a convergence never recorded in history.
If awakened, it would elevate Yoru's power beyond measure.
But it would also make that "door" infinitely heavier.
Given Yoru's trajectory, he'd inevitably encounter the Realm of Gods—adding yet another layer of impossibility.
Nanjiro couldn't fathom the weight of that door anymore. It wasn't just a wall—it was a barrier sealing away destiny itself.
And if Yoru couldn't break through?
No matter how brilliant he became, his light would be fleeting—just another star swallowed by the abyss of time.
---