Speaking of Yukimura's dream technique, it was actually the same type of derivative ability as his Five-Sense Nullification. In the past, Yukimura used dreams in almost the same way—first placing crushing pressure on his opponent, then guiding with mental force until the outcome matched his will.
So the dream often presented what the opponent most wanted to see. But this had a huge flaw: if the opponent's mental strength was not much weaker than Yukimura's, or even close to it, they could easily sense the inconsistency.
Although following the opponent's desires reduced his own mental consumption, if the dream broke too quickly, then it was nearly useless in the match.
This was why Yukimura had gradually used it less. At Nationals, his dream barely lasted one game against Tezuka, because with the two Radiances of Ten'i Muhō boosting him, Tezuka's mental power had already neared Yukimura's.
Now facing Oni under the blessing of Shura's Path, making the old dream work was impossible. So the suggestion Yukimura left in Oni's mind last set was only a backup—he himself didn't know if it would work.
During the break, Akashi gave Yukimura a major hint. If he combined dreams with his Future Seizure, the effect would be far greater than simply adding the two together. This was proven true—even Oni, empowered by Shura's Path, failed to notice he had stepped into a dream.
Yukimura also refined how he used it. No longer like Five-Sense Nullification, it didn't require overwhelming pressure. Instead, it required letting the opponent feel confident, convinced they were in control.
After Oni unlocked his Second Stage Alternate Dimension—Oni God, his attack power soared, his Golden Great Broadsword shattered Yukimura's Mirage Mirror, and Yukimura deliberately guided him for a game. Finally Oni believed he completely dominated and that Yukimura had no fight left.
In that mindset, the dream activated naturally. Oni felt no inconsistency, because the dream flowed perfectly with the current match—not simply pandering to his wishes.
"Hmph! That's why mental-type players are always troublesome and bizarre. Facing them always gives me a headache," Tsuge Ryūji muttered, as if recalling bad memories.
"That's why we train players' mental strength, right?" Saitō Itaru replied with a chuckle.
"Seems likely Oni-kun will lose this match," Kurobe said as he checked the updating numbers on his tablet.
"Don't underestimate him. The match may only be truly starting now," Mifune said with deep eyes, staring at Oni, his tone meaningful.
On court, Oni calmed his shaken mind and looked firmly at Yukimura. The children's voices had awakened his original resolve, and he entered a strange state.
Memories from the orphanage flashed through his mind, finally stopping at the children's Christmas wish list. Each heartfelt blessing and hope filled Oni with warmth.
'To become Japan's number one tennis player? Yeah… when I first heard Kintarō say that, I thought it was a joke. But maybe I really did lose myself on the road of chasing power,' Oni thought to himself.
Standing at the baseline, Oni glanced at Akashi on the sidelines and sighed softly. Then he tossed the ball up. With a loud strike and roar, the ball shot toward Yukimura with immense force and speed.
Yukimura instantly gathered all his focus, rushing to the landing point. In the next moment, massive mental power surged from his body, and even the spectators felt the heavy pressure.
Behind him, Morpheus's shadow burst with sacred light. Vast butterfly wings spread wide, and strange ripples surged toward Oni's Oni God.
"Alternate Dimension Technique—Nightmare Descent!"
The moment Oni intercepted Yukimura's return, desperate visions flooded his mind—being crushed by Byoudouin, the children in the orphanage showing disappointment, and himself swinging at empty air like a fool before losing the match.
Oni gritted through it with iron will, forcing the images back. Still, his body faltered slightly. His movements and shots both slowed for a moment.
Yukimura seized that brief opening. His spiritual power surged again, wrapping around the ball. When Oni, fighting through illusions, stepped to intercept at the net, the instant the ball struck his racket, it was blown from his grip.
"0-15!"
Oni clenched his right hand. The moment he received the ball, his hand had gone completely numb. He hadn't expected this—under Shura's Path, Yukimura's Five-Sense Nullification shouldn't work on him at all!
"Surprised, Oni-senpai? Wondering why your sense of touch was taken?" Yukimura asked calmly after scoring.
"Those images flashing in my mind just now… was it because of them?" Oni frowned, thinking it over.
"Maybe~ But what kind of images Oni-senpai saw, I can't say," Yukimura replied vaguely instead of answering Oni's question directly.
"Seems this boy named Yukimura has the makings of an excellent negotiator~" Kimijima suddenly smiled from the stands, his tone faintly approving.
The other First String members ignored Kimijima's words. Their full attention was on the court. The situation had already turned bad for Oni. Even under the suppression of a Second Stage Alternate Dimension, Yukimura still fought back, something none of them expected.
Oni didn't reply to Yukimura. He silently tossed up the ball again. But with Yukimura's return, waves of despairing visions once again assaulted his mind.
This time, Akashi's figure appeared too—the scene of last year when Oni lost badly to him. Even though he had already grasped the prototype of a Second Stage Alternate Dimension and Ten'i Muhō, against Akashi he still felt overwhelming helplessness. That memory was unforgettable.
The image carved deeper into Oni's mind. He knew it was an illusion, yet sometimes people couldn't easily shake the past, especially vivid ones.
Sensing his distraction, Yukimura instantly pressed harder. His mental power surged wildly, even sweat forming on his forehead.
Oni, under the support of Shura's Path and his own will, finally expelled the image from his mind. But Yukimura's return shot was already right before him. Oni swung decisively, yet at that instant, darkness swallowed his vision. Everything vanished.
Though his sight returned quickly, that brief blackout distorted his swing. The ball cleared the net, but flew high into the air, over the court, and landed in the stands.
"OUT! 0-30!"
Oni stared at the ball out of bounds. He didn't look upset or unwilling. The black radiance of Shura's Path only deepened, and his aura grew heavier instead of weaker.
Behind him, the Second Stage Oni God also shifted. The dense demonic aura became more terrifying, like breath escaping from hell itself.
"This is… so he's finally stepped through the gate, Oni!" Byoudouin muttered, his own emotions tangled.
Yukimura also sensed the change, but the match was at its peak. Only two points away. He had to win. Behind him, Morpheus pressed its hands together, and a sacred aura thickened.
When Oni served again, Yukimura's eyes flashed. Countless data from the match filled his mind. Morpheus's lips moved as if chanting, though no sound could be heard.
"Alternate Dimension Technique—Dream Whisper Incantation!"
With the strengthened Shura's Path, illusions could no longer shake Oni's movements. But visions of stolen futures appeared again—not one, but countless, flashing nonstop.
Even Yukimura's figure split into many, with balls flying from all angles. Oni's judgment wavered.
He reacted quickly, splitting into more than ten phantoms, planning to counter every possible angle with multi-ball striking. But after several rallies, one ball slipped past, striking the baseline and bouncing out.
"0-40!"
Using two Alternate Dimension techniques in a row drained much of Yukimura's energy. But with match point at hand, he could still endure.
"I should thank you, Yukimura Seiichi! This match with you let me rediscover the self I had lost. So taking the final victory—that's my greatest respect to you!" Oni's calm words at match point baffled many.
As his words fell, his Second Stage Oni God swelled, growing huge, nearly like Germany's giant Tankumaru.
From the aura of Shura's Path, a different light shone through—the Radiance of Strong Heart! With its appearance, the Oni God's shadow began to synchronize with Oni's movements.
"He actually did it! The second player after Nanjirō to awaken Legendary Radiance!" Mifune shot up from his coach's seat, so excited he didn't even notice his sake gourd spill.