《Ping Pong King》Prologue - Loss
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"The year is 2038 and the sport commonly known as Ping Pong has become the number one sport in the entire world." A TV announcer stated as the news was broadcasted throughout Beijing, China.
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"The chairman of the Ping Pong International Association also known as PPIA has declared the first Ping Pong event coined as Ping Pong King. Ping Pong athletes from all over the world will have the opportunity to participate in this worldwide event...."
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"...Japan has won the first Ping Pong King tournament - Genzaki Ren dubbed National Treasure Musashi has taken first place in the Ping Pong King event. Take a look here at the crowning of mister Genzaki Ren as the first Ping Pong King...."
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"It is the year 2049 and the undefeated Japan's winning streak had just been broken by America's Joseph Franz...."
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"Dark horse from China - Long ZiWang defeats opponents left and right. He is now in the finals facing off previous year's king - Joseph Franz.... Oh! Long ZiWang loses by one point. The deciding rally lasted for thirty minutes...it seemed Long ZiWang lost out in stamina...."
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"China's candidate for this year's Ping Pong King - Long ZiWang - had suffered a severe wrist injury and regrettably will not be able to hold the paddle ever again...."
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"Ever since the loss of Long ZiWang, China has never had a candidate reach the top 100...."
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"This is the year 2063, China has finally produced a talent. His name is Wan XiYang. He is 25 years old and the only disciple of Long ZiWang...."
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"Wan XiYang has finally reached the top 100 - the first since Long ZiWang!...."
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"Wan XiYang has just won against favored American candidate Carl Anderson and has moved on to the semi-finals!...."
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"Wan XiYang has beaten Japan's Hojo Maki and moved on to the finals to face of Korea's previous champion - Choi Sujong...will he bring the victory that China has always dreamed of obtaining?" A news reporter stated as the cameraman zoomed in on Wan XiYang's face.
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Wan XiYang is an average looking young man with piercing eyes and a high nose. He stood straight at a height of five feet ten inches. He wore the red uniform of China. The pressure of the final match for Ping Pong King caused Wan XiYang to feel a bit nervous. He reached over and stroked his paddle - a habit he had developed to calm his nerves. The paddle he used was both a symbol of good luck and his weapon of choice in this match. The paddle used to be his master Long ZiWang's paddle when he attended his first and last Ping Pong King tournament. His master presented the paddle to him to use for his matches in the Ping Pong King tournament.
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As the two competitors waited, Wan XiYang had a flashback. He thought about his childhood...when he had watched his first Ping Pong King event. He was enthralled at the intense competition...of all the special moves that were used. When he was old enough, he pleaded for his father to buy him a paddle and a ball. He would practice every single day before and after school. Because he came from a poor family, he was only able to afford a paddle and one ball. After the ball broke from wear and constant use, XiYang started using other round objects - stones, fruit, nuts, etc. He became so proficient in Ping Pong that by the time he reached 12, he was caught by the eye of Long ZiWang who viewed him as a talent...a genius of the ages.
XiYang was taken in as Long ZiWang's disciple and under his master's tutelage, he was able to invent many special moves as well as further perfect his skills and reflexes. XiYang was a quick learner and once he mastered all there was too learn from his master, he set out to win some local tournaments as well as provincial and national tournaments. He acquired the title Speed Demon for his fast and powerful playing style. It was at his first national tournament where he met the love of his life - Li MeiGe, a fellow competitor. They fell in love and after a few years, he proposed. Li MeiGe agreed...however, her parents set a condition - win the upcoming Ping Pong King event.
Now, back to the present...Wan XiYang looked at his opponent. Korea's Choi Sujong was a powerful and cunning player with many feints and tricks up his sleeve. This upcoming match will be his toughest. Wan XiYang prayed to the gods above...to the Ping Pong god...and to his ancestors for help and guidance. If he wins this competition, his life will be set. Money, love, happiness...everything will be in his grasp.
The whistle sounded...it was time to begin the final match. Wan XiYang got into position. It was his serve. He held the ball and took a deep breath. As the crowd quiets down, XiYang threw the ball into the air.
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"Splitting the Heavens!" XiYang yelled out one of his special serve moves. The paddle like a large blade splitting the Heavens smashed at the ball sending it flying over the net and to the other side of the table. Usually, he was able to score immediately with this serve, however his opponent was able to receive the shot.
"Cradle Spin!" Choi Sujong roared as he received the ball with a lob coupled with a backspin.
"Skim the Waters!" XiYang cried out as he chopped the ball.
Seeing XiYang chop, Choi Sujong grinned. Something was up.... Choi Sujong received the ball with a sideways spin and exclaimed. "Twister!"
The ball flew towards XiYang and as he reached over to receive the ball, he found that the ball did not bounce but instead continued to spin on the table. XiYang's heart sank as the first point went to his opponent.
Not good! XiYang thought. The first point went to Choi Sujong. This is disadvantageous to me.
The match continue on. However, XiYang was psychologically affected by the loss of the first point and kept losing more points than gaining until finally...it was the last game. They already played two games. One game was won by Choi Sujong while the other game was won by XiYang. The score for the last game was currently 23-24, Choi Sujong's match point. It was Choi Sujong's serve as well. Wan XiYang positioned himself in preparation for the serve. This was a critical moment for him and he did not want to lose it.
Choi Sujong tossed the ball in the air and smashed down with a mixture of a backspin plus sidespin. The ball smashed into the table and swerved to the right. XiYang was expecting this and lunged to the right side. Just as his paddle was going to connect with the ball, the ball suddenly changed directions again and turned to the left. However, XiYang had studied Choi Sujong's moves from previous videos and expected it. This move was Choi Sujong's famous move - the Sidewinder. XiYang smiled as he reacted towards the ball. However, just as he was about to hit the ball, the ball moved once more. It lifted itself up just a fraction. This fraction caused XiYang to hit the ball with the top part of his paddle, sending the ball flying out of bounds.
"H-how!" XiYang muttered in disbelief.
As if he heard XiYang's disbelief, Choi Sujong sneered and said, "That was my newest move - Rising Sidewinder. You lose!"
Korea cheered at Choi Sujong's victory, while China sighed in disappointment. Wan XiYang was stunned by his loss and he refused to believe it. It looked as if he would go insane at any moment. He lifted his head up and cried. "NOOOOOOOO!!! GOD WHY DID YOU FORSAKE ME!! WHY!!"
He collapsed onto the floor. "Why...why...if only I could turn back time...if only...."
Suddenly, he noticed something strange. Everyone had stopped moving...like they were stuck in time. He looked around and saw a white man with pure white hair and eyes in a white toga. The man beckoned to him. Words magically appeared in his mind.
Do you want to win! The white man also known as the White God spoke.
"Yes! Can you make it happen?"
On one condition. You need to help me with a task. Complete it and I will grant you your wish.
"Anything!"
Good. Then, step into that portal.
A portal appeared in front of XiYang. He hesitated a little but recalling his loss, he gritted his teeth and stepped in.
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