The Villain Is Too Popular

Deep Blue Metropolis, outskirts of the coastal area.

Three Trilan Middle School buses roared past, heading straight for the resort hotel in the distance.

Soon after these buses passed, a figure standing on a hilltop, silently watching the vehicles, pulled out his phone.

"Target has arrived."

"Good, proceed as planned."

After receiving the reply from the other side, Fushan hung up the phone, his expression grim as he looked at the distant motorcade. Then he turned and disappeared into the mountain forest.

Coral Resort Area, Fluorescent Beach.

In October, the coastal area's sun was scorching.

Tendo, shirtless and in swimming trunks, lay leisurely on a beach chair, sipping coconut water through a straw, enjoying this rare holiday time.

Next to him, fourteen-year-old Caroline, though dressed in a relatively conservative one-piece swimsuit, already displayed the beginnings of her future intellectual and alluring figure, causing some passing male students to occasionally glance her way. However, due to Caroline's aloof aura that warned people to keep their distance, coupled with some seemingly legitimate campus legends about her, they all ultimately chose to stop short, despite their desire to approach and chat.

Noticing how these people kept their distance from Caroline out of fear, Tendo couldn't help but tease, "Caroline, look at the mischief you've caused. Those guys are scared to death of you now."

Hearing Tendo's words, Caroline quietly put down the book she was reading and turned her head. Tendo was holding a coconut drink in one hand and pushing down his sunglasses with the other. His cerulean eyes were full of amusement.

Slam!

Caroline closed her book and placed it on her clasped knees. "That has nothing to do with me. I merely let them know what they should be doing at their age."

"So, Caroline, is that why you sent the Browse history from every guy who tried to talk to you directly to their parents? I feel like they didn't deserve that."

Regarding Tendo's statement, Caroline calmly said, "If they focused on their studies, what I did naturally wouldn't affect them. So, the ones who need to reflect aren't me, but those whose brains are dominated by hormones."

"Also, Tendo, why do you think what I did was problematic? Do you perhaps have something on your phone that others shouldn't see?"

Tendo's expression stiffened, then he immediately argued, "Uh, n-no, Caroline, you're overthinking it..."

With that, Tendo swiftly adjusted his sunglasses and "whoosh," lay back down on his beach chair. But his right hand was secretly clutching his phone, clearly worried about something.

Seeing his small movement, Caroline deliberately said, as if casually, "Tendo, actually, as the strongest Automaton among the Star Children, I've always had the highest network authority among all of you."

"Therefore..."

"What?!"

Tendo sat up in shock, his face pale as he looked down at the phone in his hand, as if contemplating what Caroline might have seen. Seeing his nervous and scared reaction, Caroline couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright, Tendo, relax. Although I have the highest network authority among all the Star Children, your security clearance is above my network authority, so I can't actually see the information on your phone."

"Phew!"

Hearing this, Tendo immediately patted his chest, completely relieved. It was good that she couldn't see it; if Caroline had seen the information on his phone, who knew what would have happened!

However, his reaction piqued Caroline's curiosity. "Tendo, do you really often look at things you shouldn't?"

"..."

Tendo shook his head vigorously like a rattle-drum, indicating that he was different from others, and he only ever used his phone for study materials! Caroline, with a hint of a smile in her eyes, clearly didn't quite believe him. However, she ultimately didn't press the issue, generously choosing to let Tendo off the hook. After all, it was normal for teenage boys to have their little secrets; there was no need to question too much.

Still, she was quite curious about what Tendo usually looked at on his phone. Thinking this, Caroline secretly glanced at the phone tightly clutched in Tendo's hand with her peripheral vision, seemingly calculating something. As is well known, cats are very curious, and a Celestial Cat is naturally a cat!

Just as Caroline was wondering if she should secretly peek at Tendo's phone later, Chen Kong walked over, holding a beach volleyball and smiling.

"Sister Caroline, Brother Tendo, stop resting over there, come join us for a game!"

Facing Chen Kong's invitation, Tendo and Caroline, who had been sunbathing, exchanged glances, then both stood up.

"Oh? Are you starting to challenge me too, Kong?"

"Uh."

Tendo ran a hand through his hair, slicking it back, then took the volleyball from Chen Kong and bounced it playfully in his hand. "Let's go, Kong, I'll soon show you what terrifying, killer volleyball is."

"Huh? Ki-killer volleyball?"

Chen Kong stared wide-eyed at Tendo, clearly unable to understand why he would suddenly connect volleyball with killing. Tendo didn't explain much about it. After all, Chen Kong wasn't a transmigrator, so he naturally couldn't grasp the deeper meaning contained in his words.

However, it was fine if he couldn't understand, because Tendo would soon let Chen Kong know that volleyball... isn't something just anyone can play! In this brutal beach volleyball arena, only the strong... can leave alive!

A moment later...

"Hahaha, Caroline, take this outside spin serve!"

"Tornado Spike!"

"Boomerang Shuriken!"

"Tendo Domain!"

Accompanied by Tendo's arrogant laughter and a series of inexplicable move names, the volleyball in his hand seemed to possess some magical power, always moving in a strange trajectory that caught everyone off guard. What surprised the spectators even more was that, despite it being a multi-team beach volleyball game, Tendo had long since told his teammates to leave, facing Chen Kong, Chen Xing, Caroline, and Isabelle's four-person team all by himself.

Yet, despite being outnumbered, Tendo still displayed an almost overwhelming advantage. Because both his 'Star Core: Star Eclipse Eye' and 'Star Source: Vector Control' could be used without being detected by ordinary people. Thus, he was essentially playing volleyball with Chen Kong and the others while 'cheating'; it would be strange if he didn't have an advantage.

Bang!

After failing to receive Tendo's 'outside spin serve' yet again, Chen Xing looked at the volleyball continuously spinning on the sand, eyes blazing with anger. Good, good, you like playing volleyball this way, huh? Then let's see whose 'Dual Star System' is more powerful!

Chen Xing stood up, her originally fair skin visibly reddening. This was the sign of her using 'Blood Flame: Internal Combustion Method,' a Star Energy technique that enhances physique by burning a portion of her own blood.

And it wasn't just Chen Xing; Caroline also got serious. Her electronic cat eyes flashed with a torrent of data, and an invisible Star Energy data network connected to Chen Xing and Chen Kong, constantly sharing information on the volleyball court.

As for Chen Kong, he wanted to use his Star Core and Star Source. But neither his 'Star Core: Mark of the Void' nor 'Star Source: Dream Weaver' was suitable for this occasion. Because while Tendo was cheating, he was always cheating within limits, maintaining a level that wouldn't be noticed by outsiders. Therefore, Caroline and Chen Xing also tacitly chose to do the same, making outsiders believe they were just playing ordinary 'beach volleyball.'

But was this beach volleyball really ordinary?

As Caroline and Chen Xing also went into berserk mode, Chen Kong and Isabelle, as mere mortals, were quickly forced to leave this battlefield of the gods.

Looking at Tendo and the others, whose play was explosive and occasionally featured exaggerated special effects, even the well-traveled Isabelle couldn't help but say, "Kong, are these classmates of yours really ordinary people?"

Gazing at Tendo and the others, who were completely caught up in the game and gradually raising the volleyball to heights it shouldn't reach, Chen Kong wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced an explanation: "Ye-yes, they're ordinary people. It's just that their volleyball skills... are quite a bit stronger than average."

"Really?"

Isabelle looked at Chen Xing, who had just hit the volleyball so hard it sparked fire, and then at Caroline, who hadn't even reacted to Tendo's attack but was already waiting at the predicted landing spot as if clairvoyant. She simply couldn't connect these guys with ordinary people.

Could ordinary people make a volleyball burst into flames? Could ordinary people, within a minute or two, collect massive amounts of data and directly deduce the final possible landing spot of a volleyball?

Don't joke! These guys couldn't possibly be ordinary people!

Meanwhile, the dimensional viewers at Station 13, just like Isabelle, began to lampoon this 'superpower volleyball' game.

'Seriously, are you guys playing ball or trying to kill someone? This ball speed, this impact, this fire – who would dare to play with you after this?!'

'Do you have to carry a ball to kill someone? Interesting.'

'No wonder Tendo just said he'd show Kong what killer volleyball was. So he wasn't joking; his ball can literally kill!'

'Heh, brothers, I've got an idea. Since we have killer volleyball, do you think there'll be an anime called "Killer Tennis" in the future?!'

'The one before me, "Killer Tennis" sounds a bit off. How about "Prince of Tennis" instead?'

'Don't even say it, seriously, don't even say it. "Prince of Tennis" actually sounds like it has potential. If any company makes it, I'll definitely watch!'

Bang!

As Tendo struck another precise and powerful spike, the volleyball, manipulated by 'Vector Change,' immediately acted as if controlled by an invisible hand, tracing an exaggerated S-shaped arc in the air before precisely avoiding Chen Xing and Caroline below.

But just as the ball was about to land, a cat tail suddenly appeared. It not only perfectly cushioned Tendo's spike but also passed the volleyball to Chen Xing.

Gazing at the volleyball suspended in mid-air, sparks flew from Chen Xing's mouth. Her slender, toned legs powerfully pushed off, sending her soaring high.

Blood Flame: Crimson Blaze!

Accompanied by an exaggerated slapping sound, the volleyball struck by Chen Xing immediately carried a scorching, terrifying fiery tail, smashing heavily into the sand behind Tendo.

Looking at the volleyball, which, even after embedding itself in the sand, was still spinning and smoking, Tendo immediately voiced his displeasure.

"I protest! Caroline, Chen Xing, you're cheating!"

"Who plays volleyball with a tail? And does a normal person's ball burst into flames?!"

To this, Chen Xing and Caroline exchanged glances, both seeing amusement in each other's expressions.

Chen Xing straightened up, the mermaid lines beside her abs gleaming healthily in the sun. "Tendo, just because your ball can't catch fire doesn't mean mine can't."

Caroline's cat ears twitched beside her, her face unblushing: "A tail is also part of the body. Volleyball rules only forbid using feet, but they don't say anything about using tails."

"..."

Looking at the two, who were perfectly coordinating their arguments, Tendo felt that this amateur court was simply too dark. When would an un-cheating, 'green' player like him ever get ahead?!

Tendo picked up the volleyball, which had stopped spinning, and after patting it in his hand, he was about to give these two obvious cheaters a good retort. You want to compare cheat parameters with me, huh? Then let's see whose cheat parameters are higher!

But just as Tendo decided to stop holding back, his pupils under his sunglasses instantly contracted, as if he had noticed something. He then subtly adjusted his angle, his entire body tensing.

Bang—!

The volleyball struck by Tendo let out a piercing sonic scream, tearing the surrounding air into visible waves of airflow. Then, the high-speed volleyball, like a cannonball, precisely hit the head of a shark-like Star Beast that had just surfaced from the water.

The massive shark's head instantly exploded like a watermelon, splashing out a pile of blue blood. At the same time, the volleyball Tendo struck continued to fly with unabated force, piercing through two more marine Star Beasts before finally plunging into the sea, blasting a water column five or six meters high.

"Run! Star Beasts!"

Looking at the marine Star Beasts emerging one by one from the water, the crowd on the beach completely panicked and began to flee frantically.

Seeing this, Tendo removed his sunglasses, his face expressionless, and said, "Caroline, Chen Xing, Kong, you all take Isabelle and leave here first."

"Okay."

To Isabelle's stunned expression, Chen Xing immediately pulled her towards the resort hotel by the beach, leaving Tendo alone on the sand, facing the sudden appearance of over a dozen marine Star Beasts. After Isabelle and the others retreated to a safe distance, Tendo forcefully squeezed his knuckles, producing a clear crackling sound.

"A sneak attack? Well, you've definitely picked the wrong opponent."