(Whenever you think I've pushed the power scaling too high, just remember World Cup Ryoma—a middle schooler with top-tier global strength before even entering eighth grade. That kind of rocket-like growth nearly made me kneel in awe.)
"Tch!"
Facing a shot infused with extreme spin, Yoru countered with a Light Ball—shattering the rotation outright.
BZZZT—!
A blinding flash erupted across the court.
Another golden beam streaked across the net at blistering speed, its trajectory subtly curving mid-flight.
"More spin?" Byodoin Houou's brow furrowed.
Despite the velocity, the ball's path warped unnaturally—proof of terrifying rotational force. He didn't dare hesitate.
As he lunged for the return, the shockwave from the impact ripped past him, crashing into the back wall. The spectators seated there gulped, their understanding of middle school tennis shattered.
THUD!
Byodoin intercepted it, muscles straining as he sliced upward. The ball rocketed skyward, spinning violently before accelerating mid-descent, its path shifting unpredictably.
"Interesting. A prototype of 'Phoenix of Egypt'?"
Yoru smirked. When he'd scanned Byodoin's stats earlier, he'd noticed many of his signature moves existed already—just unpolished.
In the original timeline, Byodoin perfected these techniques after his first world expedition with Duke.
This "Flying Bird Shot" was clearly the precursor to Phoenix of Egypt. Though less refined, its erratic trajectory already made it a top-tier lob.
Damn, this guy's a freak of nature.
Byodoin had invented these world-class techniques solo. Post-expedition, most reached Otherworldly tier—some even beyond.
And the scariest part?
These moves would later evolve into perfect synergies with his Asura state, amplifying their lethality.
True U17 arc's ultimate hyper-carry.
BOOM—!
Yoru smashed a high-speed Light Ball, the golden streak piercing the court before Byodoin could react.
Using Light Balls as basic returns? That was Nanjiroh's most brutal training distilled.
Now, Yoru could weave Light Ball properties into any shot—elevating even simple rallies to lethal strikes.
"Too fast!"
Byodoin's pupils contracted. His body moved reflexively, his brain barely processing the trajectory before his racket connected.
"A high-speed Light Ball…?"
As he'd guessed, Yoru had fully integrated Light Ball mechanics into his fundamentals. Any one of these returns could be a standalone finisher.
Genius.
Even as an opponent, Byodoin had to acknowledge it. This was something he hadn't achieved yet—partly due to incomplete sweet spot mastery.
CRACK—!
He blasted it back.
Upon bouncing, the ball split into multiple afterimages, all rebounding at once.
"Hmph."
Yoru's sneer was icy. He blitzed through the illusions, intercepting the real ball with ease.
"That speed…!" Tanegashima's eyes widened.
Yoru never moved like this against me.
Had he improved?
Or… had he simply held back before?
Speed wasn't something one could spike overnight without being a track athlete. This was raw, unrestrained velocity—likely Yoru's true baseline.
THWACK!
The return was another spinning Light Ball.
"Now!"
Byodoin's preemptive dash put him in perfect position for a drop volley—but as he swung, a strange sensation flickered through his mind.
Too late. The ball was already airborne.
Then—it never bounced.
It rolled forward like a dead weight, leaving Yoru's swing to cut empty air.
"15-15! Byodoin Houou scores!"
"Huh?!"
"The… the captain just lost a point?!"
Seigaku's team stared in disbelief.
"It's… it's just unfamiliarity!" someone argued. "Who expects a ball to not bounce?!"
The murmurs reached Byodoin's ears clearly.
"Prototype of 'Spanish Bullfight', huh?"
Yoru studied the shot with interest. It resembled Fuji's Swallow Return but more extreme—zero rebound, just pure roll.
To return it, you'd need to intercept mid-air or scoop it off the ground.
Normally, Yoru would tank the next few points after losing one—but this wasn't a "low-stakes stomp" anymore.
Byodoin was one star below him.
Actual risk of losing existed.
…Guess I'll have to take this seriously.
"Clever trick," Yoru admitted. "Won't work twice."
"I've got plenty more."
Byodoin's retort was stiff. He knew geniuses like Yoru adapted quickly—but with his arsenal, constant vigilance was impossible.
Yet something felt off.
Why were the crowd's whispers so crystal-clear suddenly?
POW!
His next serve was another violent spinner, this time aimed straight at Yoru's body.
"Body shot?"
Yoru's return carried a new spin type—but more importantly, he'd realized:
Against a technique monster like Byodoin, passivity was death.
Time to seize the offense.
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