King of Tennis (POT)

"Uh…"

In the broadcast booth, the female host froze for a moment at the referee's call before turning to her co-host in confusion. "Mr. Kim Gun-yoon, what just happened?"

"Hmm."

The former Korean pro tennis player was just as stunned. In theory, Park Geon-soo's shots should have been impossible for an average player to return—unless…

His expression darkened as he realized something. "If I had to guess, this player's technique is exceptional. In tennis, skill and power counterbalance each other. Park Geon-soo's raw strength is immense, but with enough spin and control, it can be countered."

His tone grew serious.

He'd only agreed to commentate on this U-17 exhibition match because his old friend—Korea's current U-17 head coach, Park Dong-geon—had assured him Korea's victory was "over 90% guaranteed."

But now? Things weren't looking so simple.

For one, Tokugawa Kazuya—this Japanese player—wasn't in any of the scouting reports he'd reviewed beforehand. That was a major oversight on Coach Park's part.

Still, as a former pro who'd followed Park Geon-soo's career, Kim knew the Korean powerhouse hadn't even begun to fight seriously.

They still had a solid chance.

The Court – A Storm Brews

"Good… Very good!"

Park Geon-soo's eyes burned as he locked onto Tokugawa. "I underestimated you. But if you think you can humiliate me, you're about to pay for it!"

—Hummm!

A dark, ferocious aura erupted around him.

In an instant, the muscular buzzcut athlete transformed—his presence now like a wild beast, primal and suffocating.

"No way…"

Even the Korean team was stunned.

A brown-haired player with square glasses gaped. "He's using [Berserk Mode] already?!"

"He's pissed," a tall, sharp-eyed teammate muttered. "You know how he is. Getting toyed with like this? No way he's holding back now."

Another smirked. "First set and he's pulling this out? That Japanese guy's screwed."

Screwed?

Lee Seung-bok's brow furrowed.

If anything, the advantage was not on their side. Who was to say this Tokugawa had even shown his full strength yet?

Meanwhile, their No. 3 had already burned through his arsenal—and now, his last resort.

This next play could decide the match.

As team captain, Lee felt anything but confident.

—BAM!

Park's next serve exploded like a mortar.

With [Berserk Mode] active, the ball's impact kicked up a dust storm as it rocketed toward Tokugawa.

"Not bad."

Tokugawa's eyes sharpened.

—CRACK!

His racket met the shot head-on.

The force strained his strings—but his grip didn't waver.

After all, he'd trained against power hitters who made Park look amateurish.

And his own grip strength?

A monstrous 90kg—on par with Oni.

So while the ball raged at first, it quickly submitted under his control.

"Impressive."

Even Japan's team nodded in approval.

That one return spoke volumes about Tokugawa's skill.

"Hmm."

Mitsudaka, their strategist, adjusted his glasses. "If we measure by traditional five-stats, Tokugawa's parameters are likely around 5 across the board."

"A 5?"

Kaji and Oomagari exchanged glances.

According to Kurobe's metrics, their own total stats hovered near 25. Tokugawa was already on their level—more than worthy of taking Duke's spot.

—SWOOSH!

The ball streaked back like a laser.

Park's fury spiked. "RRRGH—!"

His dark aura flared as he charged, a raging beast hellbent on destruction.

The crowd roared, electrified.

—BAM! BAM! BAM!

Park unleashed a barrage of brutal strikes, each one a potential match-ender.

Yet Tokugawa stood firm—unshakable as a mountain.

Then—

—POCK!

A flawless counter.

A clean winner down the line.

"0-30!"

"Wha—?!"

As the dust settled, revealing Park's stunned face, the Korean team froze.

Even in [Berserk Mode]… he'd been outplayed?

"This is bad."

Lee's jaw tightened. "Using your trump card early is reckless. And tennis isn't won by brute force alone."

As a graduate of Germany's elite training camp, he knew true strength lay in balance—leveraging strengths to mask weaknesses.

But Park?

He'd lost all composure.

His obsession with power, paired with consecutive losses, had shattered his focus. Even with enhanced strength, his efficiency had plummeted.

Meanwhile, Tokugawa remained ice-cold—his every move calculated, his spin-power hybrids maximizing every ounce of energy.

At this rate, Park would burn out first.

The match was already decided.

The Tides Turn

"Game! Japan leads, 1-0!"

"Game! Japan, 2-0!"

"Game! Japan, 3-0!"

Three straight games—in the blink of an eye.

Park, drenched in sweat, gasped for air.

His eyes burned red, veins bulging as fury and exhaustion warred inside him.

"Damn you… DAMN YOU!!!"

His rage teetered on the edge of meltdown.

"Geon-soo…"

The Korean team paled.

Some glanced at Coach Park, expecting intervention—but the man stood silent, arms crossed.

"His own father… isn't going to stop this?"

Whispers spread.

They didn't know—this was exactly what Coach Park wanted.

Years ago, on a camping trip, a three-year-old Park had wandered off. When his father found him, a wolf had been stalking close.

But as the beast lunged—

The toddler's eyes had glowed red.

The wolf fled.

From that day, Coach Park knew: his son harbored a monster within.

And now?

Tokugawa's pressure was unleashing it.

—POCK!

Another serve.

The ball vanished mid-flight—only for Park to blur into motion.

—BAM!

He smashed the "invisible" shot back!

"He returned it?!"

The Koreans erupted.

Even Coach Park finally smiled.

"It's working!"

His son's latent power was awakening.

"Subconscious instinct?"

In the booth, Kim Gun-yoon gasped. "To think Park had this hidden inside him!"

He leaned forward, addressing the camera. "Viewers, witness the turning point of this match!"

The audience held their breath.

On-screen, Park's aura swelled, his muscles coiling like a predator's.

"HRRAAAAH—!"

With a final roar, he unleashed his wrath—

—BOOM!!!

The stadium shook.

Then—

—THUD.

A body slammed into the wall.

Silence.

The Koreans stared, horrified.

Because the one sent flying—

Was Park Geon-soo.

"Cough… cough…"

Gasping, he looked up—and trembled.

In that split second before impact, he'd seen it.

A towering, demonic silhouette behind Tokugawa.

"That… that was…"

His voice cracked.

"An… Asura?"

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