"NO—!"
A roar—unhuman, unearthly—shook the stadium.
Dust exploded outward as an oppressive aura blanketed the court. From the haze, a monstrous black-purple silhouette erupted, wielding an axe-like shadow that slammed down toward Byoudouin.
Death.
The thought flashed through Byoudouin's mind. His body instinctively recoiled—a single step back that saved his life.
The Glowing Shot, now infused with destructive force, rocketed past Byoudouin's forehead. A spray of blood arced through the air.
The spectral figure vanished as quickly as it appeared.
As the dust settled, Oni Juujirou stood with crimson eyes, his expression twisted into something feral. Then—
The children.
He whirled around.
Yoru and QP stood before the kids, their bodies shrouded in a ghostly light, having intercepted the shockwaves. The ground around them was shattered—proof of the force they'd absorbed.
Oni exhaled.
The glow around Yoru and QP faded. A silent nod passed between them.
Then Oni turned back, voice guttural: "I won. Leave. Now."
He knew Byoudouin hadn't meant to endanger the kids. The racket's break had sent the ball wild. Anger burned in his chest—but he held it back.
Across the net, Byoudouin was a mess. Blood streamed from his forehead, staining his face. Fuwa, now off the referee stand, looked pale.
If Yoru and QP hadn't arrived in time…
Destruction.
This wasn't just a Glowing Shot. It was an unfinished technique—one that combined the sweet spot with an SSS-tier impact point. The result? A ball that erased everything in its path—concrete, flesh, even organs from delayed internal trauma.
For adults? Survivable. For children?
Lethal.
---
"Tch."
Byoudouin snatched his bag and left without another word. Fuwa followed, casting one last haunted glance at the cracked court.
Yoru pulled up Byoudouin's stats:
[Name]: Byoudouin Houou
[Age]: 15
[Techniques]:
- Personal Stats (10)
- Tennis Fundamentals (10)
- Glowing Shot (7)
- Destruction (3)
- Birdshot Strikes (9)
- Pirate's Thrust (7 variations)
[Talent]: Phoenix Rebirth
[Power Level]: 10★
[Phoenix Rebirth]: Grows stronger with every defeat or injury.
Yoru whistled.
No wonder the original Byoudouin could eventually topple Volk. This man thrived on pain. Hell, in canon, he'd survived a lightning strike mid-match, died briefly, and came back stronger—unlocking Arayashiki (Alaya-vijnana), the deepest layer of Asura's Path.
Even if he destroyed his body to win, this talent ensured he'd always return.
But right now?
His mental and technical stats were peaked at 10, while the rest lagged.
---
Yoru then checked Oni's updated data:
[Name]: Oni Juujirou
[Age]: 15
[Techniques]:
- Personal Stats (11 in Power)
- Tennis Fundamentals (9)
- Center of Gravity Jump Smash (9)
- Pinnacle of Perfection (SEALED)
- Asura's Path: Demonic Power (UNCONTROLLED)
[Talent]: Peerless Strength
[Power Level]: 10★
[Asura's Path - Demonic Power]: Massively amplifies strike force. (UNCONTROLLED)
"Why 'uncontrolled'?" Yoru frowned.
But before he could ponder further—
"WAAAH—!"
The kids, now sobbing, demanded attention. It took forever to calm them down.
---
Later, outside the orphanage:
QP broke the silence. "Oni. Your Pinnacle…"
"Gone." Oni flexed his hand. "When I panicked for the kids, something else awakened. Now… I can't feel Pinnacle at all."
Yoru sighed. "Next time, call us first. If Sakura hadn't reached us today—"
Oni's grip tightened. He didn't need the rest spelled out.
"That Glowing Shot technique…" Oni scratched his spiky hair. "It's a sweet spot thing, right?"
QP nodded. "Use a cross-gut string racket with steel wires. Aim for the junction points—that's where—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
A memory surfaced: Yoru, after the match against Ralph, sketching a cross-gut pattern to a store clerk.
QP's eyes narrowed. "Yoru. You ordered those rackets… for Ryoma, didn't you?"
Silence.
Yoru's smirk was all the answer QP needed.
"You madman," QP muttered.
---