"BOSS!!!"
"Equaline!!!"
"Hurry—someone call the medics!!!"
The moment Equaline collapsed, the U-17 high schoolers were stunned. Duke Watanabe was the first to react, sprinting onto the court like a madman.
At the same time, the three coaches—who had just been worrying about the possibility of Ishikawa's defeat and its unpredictable consequences—now wore expressions of sheer shock.
Kurobe, usually composed, barked orders at the staff before bolting down the stairs.
The other high schoolers exchanged uneasy glances.
No one had expected him—the invincible, tyrannical Equaline—to fall on the court.
The sight of the blood-streaked ground sent chills down their spines. The condition of their No.1 player was far from reassuring.
"The doctor's here!"
Soon, the U-17 medical team rushed onto the scene.
"Move aside!"
The doctor took one look at Equaline—veins bulging on his forehead, face twisted in agony—and immediately dropped to his knees, beginning emergency treatment.
Chest compressions.
Rescue breaths.
Frantically checking his pupils.
"No good—get him to the ER! Kurobe, contact a major hospital in Tokyo. And…"
The doctor's expression darkened.
"...Prepare for the worst."
Silence.
The high schoolers froze.
Especially the top-ranked players like Kojima and Oomagari. Their leader—the undefeated king who had crushed opponents across the globe—was in that critical of a condition?
"Understood."
Kurobe forced himself to stay calm.
He scanned the crowd, his voice stern.
"Everyone, disperse. Today's practice match is canceled. No lingering."
But no one moved.
Not even the second-stringers, who normally cowered at the coaches' orders.
Kurobe could only sigh. The atmosphere was suffocating.
Minutes later, the ambulance arrived. Equaline was loaded inside, and though many wanted to follow, Kurobe only allowed Duke Watanabe to accompany him.
As the ambulance disappeared, the tension thickened.
Then, Saotome turned toward the other side of the court, where Ishikawa stood with a solemn expression.
"Referee," Saotome said firmly. "Announce the results."
With Equaline gone—his fate unknown—U-17 needed a new leader, someone strong enough to steady the shaken team.
"R-right!"
The referee snapped out of his daze, his gaze settling on the lone black-haired boy still standing.
"Due to Equaline's inability to continue… the winner is second-string representative, Ishikawa Shin!"
A hush fell over the crowd.
Every high schooler, including the top-ranked players, now looked at Ishikawa with awe.
The old king had fallen.
A new king had risen.
Though still a newcomer, Ishikawa—the former head of Court 3—had now defeated both Oni and Equaline, cementing himself as U-17's strongest player.
The court remained heavy with tension, but the top players finally felt a flicker of stability.
[Ding!]
As the referee's words faded, a system notification echoed in Ishikawa's mind.
[Player has defeated boss-level opponent: Equaline Phoenix. Reward: 24,000 EXP.]
[Player has obtained special ability dropped by Equaline Phoenix: "Muga no Kyouchi" (Zone of Absolute Supremacy).]
[Detected duplicate ability. Merge?]
"Merge."
Without hesitation, Ishikawa confirmed.
A surge of energy flooded his consciousness. Fortunately, his mental resilience was strong enough to withstand it without flinching.
At the same time, his understanding of the eighth consciousness—**"Muga no Kyouchi"**—deepened. His already formidable mental power ascended to a new realm.
[Ding!]
[Player's "Muga no Kyouchi" has evolved into "Arayashiki" (Alaya-vijñāna).]
"This feeling…!"
The overwhelming power threatened to spill out. Though Ishikawa restrained it, the razor-sharp intensity in his gaze still made the others shudder.
The high schoolers instinctively backed away, leaving only Ishikawa, Marui, and a few others on the court.
"Power leakage…"
Ishikawa exhaled slowly.
Arayashiki's strength was immense—so much so that he couldn't fully control the sudden surge, causing his aura to flare unintentionally.
"Ishikawa, are you okay?" Marui asked, concerned. "Do you need to get checked out?"
"Yeah," Hara added, equally worried. "If you're feeling off, don't push it."
Equaline's collapse was still fresh in their minds. They didn't want a repeat.
"Ishikawa," Saotome said firmly. "They're right. After a match like that, a full check-up is necessary."
"I'm fine," Ishikawa reassured. "But if it'll ease your minds, I'll go."
Then, turning to Marui and Hara with a grin:
"Now that you're top-ranked players, slacking isn't an option. How about some training?"
"Huh?!"
They stared at him in disbelief.
Training?!
Hadn't they just witnessed the insane physical toll of his match against Equaline? And he was already recovered enough for more?
But Ishikawa's expression was dead serious.
"Ishikawa—" Saotome started, but Tanezaki cut in.
"It's fine. High-intensity matches require proper cooldowns and stretches."
"...Alright."
Saotome relented.
He knew the truth—after defeating Equaline, Ishikawa was beyond U-17's authority. Even the head coach would have to accommodate his requests now.
A player of his caliber could leave Japan anytime and instantly become a core member of any nation's team.
"Hah…"
Watching Ishikawa, Marui, and Hara begin their warm-up jog, Saotome exhaled in relief.
Despite being a middle schooler, Ishikawa carried himself with the maturity of a seasoned pro. And compared to his post-match vigor, Equaline's condition was far more concerning.
"Let's just hope for the best… Hm?"
Saotome's gaze shifted to the steps, where a lone figure stood frozen.
"Tokugawa… doesn't look right."
Tokyo – Suzurandai General Hospital
One of Japan's top medical facilities, renowned worldwide.
Outside the ICU, Kurobe and Duke Watanabe waited anxiously.
Equaline's condition was dire. Despite arriving in under 30 minutes, Kurobe had felt his body temperature dropping during the ride.
Now, ten minutes into resuscitation, hope was fading.
The golden window was the first three minutes. Every second beyond lowered the chances.
Kurobe's palms were slick with sweat. As a coach, he'd never been this shaken.
He'd always clashed with Equaline's arrogance, but now, he was praying harder than anyone for his survival.
Not just as a player—but as a prodigy who could dominate the world stage.
Yet…
Fifteen minutes.
Twenty.
Thirty.
The ER doors remained shut. Kurobe's heart sank.
Then—
Click.
The doors opened.
The doctor stepped out, mask hanging loose, exhaustion etched into his face.
"I'm sorry… We did everything we could."
Kurobe's world stopped.
Just hours ago, Equaline had been an unstoppable force. Now…
The gurney rolled out.
Kurobe's breath caught.
Equaline lay motionless, face pale, expression locked in a grimace.
But Duke Watanabe—seeing the same sight—suddenly relaxed.
Evening – U-17 Training Grounds
Ishikawa and Tokugawa were mid-match.
Tokugawa, still reeling from Equaline's hospitalization, had sought distraction in tennis.
Thwack!
Ishikawa's shot landed precisely on the baseline. Tokugawa barely registered it.
"Your focus is gone," Ishikawa said flatly. "This match is pointless."
Tokugawa grimaced.
He knew. His mind was elsewhere.
Equaline was his rival—his goal. He'd wanted to surpass him, to prove his own path right.
But not like this.
The thought of Equaline never playing again left him hollow.
"Again!"
Gritting his teeth, Tokugawa tossed the ball high, his racket arm bending back sharply.
Boom!
A **"Rainbow Serve"**—streaking through the air in a blur of colors before vanishing.
"Even faster?!" Marui and Hara gasped.
But Ishikawa didn't move.
The ball landed—out.
Snap.
A large hand caught it mid-rebound.
Marui and Hara tensed.
"No. 3… Duke Watanabe?!"
The burly, plane-haired player strode onto the court, expression unreadable.
Was he here for revenge?
But instead—
He stopped before Ishikawa and held out a golden badge.
"No. 1."
"Keep it," Duke said calmly. "You earned it."
"Duke!" Tokugawa blurted. "Is Equaline—?!"
Duke tossed something at him.
Tokugawa caught it—and froze.
"This is…"
"It's yours now," Duke said. "And don't make careless mistakes. On the world stage, they'll cost you your life."
"Wait!" Tokugawa's voice cracked. "Does this mean Equaline is—?!"
Duke didn't answer, turning to leave.
"Duke," Ishikawa called, smiling. "Tell Equaline I'll hold onto this for him."
Duke stiffened—just for a second—before walking away.
Ishikawa's smile deepened.
His worries had finally lifted.
The phoenix had risen from the ashes.
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