Jin was electric.
Not only was this his first official match, but it was also the first time he'd be unleashing his serve since upgrading it to C– tier.
He could feel it, raw energy humming through his arms, pulsing in his fingertips like a current barely held back.
He stepped to the baseline, eyes sharp.
"0–0. Love all," he called out.
Then he began.
The toss was flawless, just the right height, just the right angle. His brain seemed to move faster for a moment as he coiled like a spring, knees bent deep, core tightened to the max.
Then—
Boom
He exploded upward, uncoiling with brutal precision. His racquet whipped through the air like a jet engine on full throttle. The contact was perfect, a clean, centered smack that echoed across the courts.
CRACK.
The ball ripped through the air, a yellow blur barely visible.
It slammed into the service box and zipped past John before he could even move. His eyes widened, feet stuck to the court, completely frozen.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then the crowd lost its mind.
"WHOA! DID YOU SEE THAT SERVE?!"
"NO WAY—THAT'S A MIDDLE SCHOOLER??"
"That had to be at least 75 miles per hour! (120 kmh)"
Phones were already out. Some were rewinding footage. Others were just staring, stunned.
Jin stood at the baseline, chest rising and falling slowly, eyes steady.
He hadn't even gone full power yet.
Jin didn't want to waste it. That feeling pulsing through his veins like lightning.
He slid smoothly over to the ad side, never breaking rhythm. His voice rang out sharp and clear.
"15–0."
(A/N: Tennis score goes in increments of 15, 30, and 40.)
John blinked, snapped out of his daze by the call. He hustled over to position, still wide-eyed, trying to shake off the shock.
Jin bounced the ball once.
Twice.
Then launched into his motion again.
Everything was smoother. Sharper. Faster.
He tossed the ball, higher this time, and uncoiled with even more violence. His racquet carved the air, slicing at an angle so tight it looked impossible.
CRACK.
The ball shot out like a missile and shot hard toward the sideline, kissing the edge of the service box at the farthest, nastiest angle possible.
Ace.
Again.
John didn't move.
The crowd exploded.
"DID YOU SEE THAT ANGLE?!"
"NO WAY—that was even faster than the first one!!"
People were on their feet now. The buzz was electric. Even players from other matches had stopped to watch.
Jin stayed cool.
He spun the racquet in his hand once, eyes locked in.
That was only the beginning.
Jin didn't let the noise distract him.
He walked back to the deuce side, calm on the outside but inside, his blood was humming like a live wire.
"30–0," he called.
He bounced the ball.
Tossed.
BOOM.
Another serve.
This one was down the T. Clean, brutal, and untouchable.
John reached for it, but he was late by a mile.
Ace.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Three in a row?!"
"He's demolishing this guy!"
The tension around the court shifted. People leaned in. This wasn't just a normal match anymore, something was happening here.
Jin switched to the ad side again.
He barely paused before the next serve. His motion was fluid, automatic.
Toss. Coil. Release.
CRACK.
The serve screamed wide. It shot out, then bounced up at a crazy height like it was remote-controlled.
John didn't even twitch.
Fourth ace.
Game. Jin.
The crowd erupted.
A few claps turned into full-on cheering.
"He just aced the entire game!"
"Is this kid real?!"
Jin exhaled slowly, trying to stay composed but inside, he was grinning.
He walked to his bag to switch sides, heart thundering, eyes locked in.
Four serves.
Four aces.
Euphoria surged through Jin's veins as he soaked in the roaring crowd. Four straight aces. It was thrilling like every fiber of his being was alive.
But the high didn't last long.
Now it was time to return.
Jin narrowed his eyes, walking up to the baseline on the deuce side. He bounced lightly on his toes, locked in. His serve was his weapon but he didn't come here to be a one-trick player.
He came to dominate.
Across the net, John looked rattled. He twirled his racquet, lips pressed into a line. The sting of those aces was still fresh.
He tossed the ball for his first serve and promptly sent it straight into the net.
Jin didn't move.
John tried again.
Toss. Swing.
The ball sailed long, bouncing behind the baseline with a hollow thud.
Double fault.
"0–15."
The crowd murmured.
John exhaled sharply, shook out his arms, and tried to collect himself. But Jin could already see it, his rhythm was gone.
Next point, same story.
John, still visibly rattled, couldn't focus clearly on his serves and double faulted again.
"0–30."
John realizing his mental state took an extra 15 seconds before his next serve in order to reset.
John's next serve clipped the line, finally in, but Jin was on it like a hawk. He sprinted forward, at abnormal speeds and returned the ball at John's feet.
John fumbled the reply, barely tapping it over.
Jin charged in and swiped a forehand into the corner.
"0–40."
The crowd began murmuring again
"Did you see his speed?"
"I swear he reached the ball in moments."
Jin had his new skills to thank him for that.
John at this point was really starting to feel the pressure.
It was mounting. Crushing.
But he didn't give up.
The next serve was better. Deep, center, with a bit of heat.
But Jin ran it down, his feet flying across the court like they had minds of their own. He lunged, got his racquet on it, and looped the ball back high.
John tried to rip a forehand.
But it caught the frame.
Out.
Game. Jin.
The crowd let out a collective gasp, some even cheered. Two games in, and Jin hadn't dropped a single point.
On the sidelines, a few players exchanged glances.
"That kid's moving different."
"Who even is he?"
Jin turned toward the fence and let out a slow breath.
His heart was racing. Muscles burning. Blood thrumming with momentum.
And he wanted more.
He clenched his fist, then turned back toward the baseline.
"Let's keep going," he muttered under his breath, eyes gleaming.
(A/N: Special thanks to everyone giving power stones! Thank you for the support.)