"Game! Japan leads! 2–4!"
At the Japan vs. Switzerland match, Tatsuta rested both hands on his knees, panting heavily. In this third set, he had poured out every ounce of strength just to win two games with his serves. Yet ironically, victory now felt even further away than before.
Oni, on the other hand, was also showing signs of fatigue. Although his stamina was solid, constantly switching between Asura Path and Ten'i Muhō had taken a toll on his emotions, leaving him physically and mentally drained.
Fortunately, Coach Mifune had noticed in time. During the break after the third game, he told Oni not to activate either state again for now. That was why Oni was currently fighting while maintaining only his Alternate Dimension.
The seventh game was Tatsuta's service game. The white flames surrounding him had grown faint after the long match, and even his Aurora Ray serves had clearly slowed down. Still, he gritted his teeth and kept firing them off, refusing to give in.
Although Tatsuta's serves had lost some speed, Oni's movement—without the aid of Ten'i Muhō—wasn't particularly fast either, especially his lateral steps. That side-to-side movement had always been his weakness, usually covered only through his Ten'i Muhō state.
As the ball flew toward his left, Oni sprinted at full force. Just as it bounced, he lunged forward and dove, barely managing to return it.
Tatsuta, however, had already charged the net right after serving. When Oni hit the ground, the ball had just cleared the net, and Tatsuta leapt up, swinging both hands in a backhand motion—returning the shot with Oni's own signature Jack Knife.
Oni pushed himself off the ground with one hand and sprang up swiftly. Pivoting on his left foot and stepping forward with his right, he barely intercepted the Jack Knife in a near-split stance.
But Tatsuta was already waiting at the net. The moment the ball rebounded weakly, he simply reached forward with his racket—letting the ball hit the strings and drop softly. It fell slowly to the court on Japan's side.
"15–0!"
The following rallies played out much the same way. Using his serves as the opening advantage, Tatsuta gradually broke through Oni's defense. Though Oni's Alternate Dimension still pressured him mentally, Tatsuta was already teetering at the edge between life and defeat. That pressure no longer affected his resolve.
"Game! Switzerland! 3–4!"
As the players returned to their benches, Tatsuta's steps grew heavier. The white flames around him flickered weakly before finally fading into the air. His body could no longer sustain that state.
On the other side, Oni, drenched in sweat, sat down heavily as Coach Mifune's low, steady voice cut through the noise.
"No need to hold back anymore, Oni-kun! It's come to this—let your full power decide the rest!"
Hearing that, Oni paused for a moment before exhaling deeply. Determination hardened in his eyes as a faint pressure began radiating from him again.
When the break ended, both players returned to the court. It was Oni's serve. The moment he reached the baseline, an overwhelming aura burst out of him, surging through the entire stadium.
Tatsuta's pupils shrank in disbelief, and even Amadeus shot up from his seat, eyes wide with shock. A familiar blue glow flared around Oni's body, then a dark aura followed—black light rippling outward.
"Ten'i Muhō—Extreme!"
"Asura Path!"
In the next instant, the two lights fused into one. A brilliant golden radiance engulfed Oni's entire body—and the phantom Demon God behind him was enveloped in it as well.
"Legendary Radiance!"
Before Tatsuta could even react, Oni tossed the ball high into the air. The Demon God behind him mimicked the same motion. As Oni's racket came down in a crushing swing, the phantom raised its great blade and struck toward Switzerland's half.
In that instant, the ball transformed into a massive golden arc of light, slicing straight toward Tatsuta. Instinctively, Tatsuta brought both hands up to block, but the moment his racket clashed with the shining blade, his entire body was blown backward.
"Ace! 15–0!"
Tatsuta crashed to the ground and rolled several times before coming to a stop just in front of the fence. He wasn't seriously hurt, but his body was covered in dust, his expression twisted in exhaustion and disbelief.
"…Echizen Nanjirō… after all these years, Japan's new generation really has grown strong," murmured Coach Jin softly from Switzerland's bench, his eyes fixed on the golden light blazing around Oni.
"Yare yare~ So it really became unity of body and mind, huh? I had a feeling the moment I saw that guy controlling both Asura Path and Ten'i Muhō at once~" In the stands, Nanjirō covered his face with one hand, groaning as if in pain.
"That damn Mifune, what kind of ridiculous name is that… Legendary Radiance… just hearing it makes my head hurt! But I guess this means Japan's already locked their spot in the semifinals, huh~" He started shouting toward Mifune from afar, his tone full of playful irritation.
On court, Tatsuta propped himself up with his racket, wobbling as he stood. He still hadn't quite processed what had just happened. All he remembered was the moment he swung his racket—an unimaginable force had surged through it, blasting back into his arm and body.
The umpire, seeing that Tatsuta could still stand, urged him to return to play. Tatsuta forced himself to stop thinking, his expression tense as he took his position again at the baseline.
Oni waited until Tatsuta was ready, then tossed the ball once more. The phantom Demon God behind him moved perfectly in sync—every motion mirrored. In this state, every one of Oni's shots gained immense amplification.
When Oni unleashed another serve, Tatsuta lowered his center of gravity, his arm muscles tightening as he channeled power through his waist and abdomen into his arms. Then, gripping his racket with both hands, he struck the rising ball with everything he had.
At impact, the ball pressed deep into his racket face, warping it inward. But this time, Tatsuta had braced himself. After a moment of heavy resistance, he managed to send the ball flying back across the net.
Yet Oni seemed to have predicted that. He was already at the front court, his legs pushing off the ground as he leapt high, both hands gripping his racket in a fierce backhand strike.
The Demon God behind him jumped too, swinging its massive blade horizontally. At that same instant, the two central strings of Oni's racket began to glow faintly gold, the light quickly intensifying until it burst forth like a massive golden beam.
The phantom's golden slash merged seamlessly into that light, fusing power and form. In Tatsuta's eyes, a colossal golden blade was now cutting through the air toward him with unstoppable force.
"Golden Great Broadsword!"
Boom! A deafening crash erupted across Switzerland's side of the court. Dust exploded into the air, covering the entire half in a thick cloud. The crowd leaned forward, craning their necks, desperate to see what had happened.
Moments later, a shattered racket spun out from the dust, bouncing a few times before clattering out of bounds. Almost immediately after, the umpire's voice echoed through the stadium.
"30–0!"
As the smoke cleared, everyone saw Tatsuta standing at the center of the court, frowning deeply. His left hand clutched his right wrist tightly—it was clear that last shot had put a heavy strain on it.
On the bench, Amadeus slumped back in his seat, staring up at the ceiling blankly. The rest of the Swiss team sat in silence, their faces clouded with worry and disappointment. They all knew—Switzerland's hopes were gone.
Sure enough, in the next two rallies, even after switching to a new racket and giving everything he had left, Tatsuta couldn't resist the overwhelming might of Oni's Legendary Radiance. He couldn't even defend properly.
"40–0!"
"Game! Japan leads! 5–3!"
From Japan's bench, Byoudouin watched intently, a spark of fierce fighting spirit flashing in his eyes. Ever since his loss to Oni back in his first year, he had been waiting for a rematch. But that day had never come—Oni had avoided him, even stepping down from the First String to train Tokugawa instead.
As the match continued, it became completely one-sided under Byoudouin's sharp gaze. Tatsuta, a world-class player at his peak, now looked like any ordinary opponent—unable to counter or adapt.
Each ball Oni struck in perfect sync with his Alternate Dimension tore through Tatsuta's defense. Even when Tatsuta managed a desperate block, he couldn't hold off the storm for long.
"Game! 6–3! Match over! Winner—Team Japan! Total score 2–1!"
When the umpire's final call rang out, Tatsuta loosened his grip, letting his racket fall helplessly to the ground. He felt nothing but guilt for failing to fulfill Amadeus's wish. Switzerland had fallen, their journey to the semifinals ending here.
"The U-17 World Cup quarterfinal—Team Switzerland versus Team Japan—ends with Japan claiming victory with three wins and two losses!"