"This guy… he's actually this strong?"
The players of Osaka Kiryu High hadn't expected this at all.
The Ace of Seidou was only a first-year, pitching on the Koshien stage for the very first time. His heart should have been pounding with nerves. By their logic, once his so-called invincible pitch was struck, a fatal crack would appear in his composure.
They had counted on that weakness. As the nation's number one powerhouse—the Cosmos Team—they excelled not just in individual skill, but in controlling the rhythm of the game. It was the confidence born from overwhelming superiority.
But Zhou Hao shattered their expectations.
Even after being hit, his presence on the mound remained steady, like an unshakable boulder. The calm certainty in his eyes only made Kiryu's players uneasy.
Zhou Hao raised his leg and fired his next pitch.
"Boom!"
The exact same Spiral ball, biting with its vicious late break.
"Now!" Sato unleashed his swing with all his might.
"Ping!!"
Gasps rang out.
The Spiral ball—hit again.
The crowd exploded as the ball screamed into the gap. Kuroda rounded third and thundered home.
"Safe! One run scores!"
The scoreboard flipped. 0–1, Osaka Kiryu leads.
Two outs, runner on second.
It was the first run Zhou Hao had ever surrendered. Even though the Spiral ball was just as sharp, the Cosmos Team had already adapted.
In Seidou's dugout, hearts tightened. They had seen this story before—pitchers unraveling after one mistake, games slipping away. Their unease grew heavier with every heartbeat.
Coach Kataoka stood at the front, arms folded, his face unreadable. But his players felt the weight of an ominous premonition.
"Fifth batter, Hiromi Tachi!"
The next hitter was another powerhouse—a second-year slugger, both an outfielder and a backup pitcher. To earn a spot in Osaka Kiryu's starting lineup meant his bat was nothing short of deadly.
"Another run!" Kiryu's supporters roared. "Finish it here!"
In the Cosmos dugout, Director Matsumoto chuckled, his round face glowing. "The myth is broken. Let's see how long this rookie can last."
He respected Zhou Hao's Spiral ball, even admired it. Someday, the boy's name might echo across Japan. But not today. If Seidou fell in the first round, Zhou Hao's brilliance would be just a fleeting spark, forgotten in the shadow of stronger stars.
Almost everyone believed it—Zhou Hao's mindset would waver. After all, even veteran third-years faltered after giving up a run.
But Zhou Hao… was calmer than ever.
He had always known the Spiral ball's limits. Against ninety-nine percent of batters, it was untouchable. But elite hitters—especially those on the Cosmos Team—could prepare, adjust, and break it. That was reality.
Chris crouched behind the plate, watching closely. Zhou Hao's eyes were clear, his will unshaken. Relief washed through him. He was ready for this all along.
Now the question was—how to fight back?
Chris considered mixing in Straights, pairing them with the Spiral ball to secure the out. The odds were good. But before he could decide, Zhou Hao shook his head.
He wasn't going to risk it.
"Unlock the breaking ball."
Chris's lips curled into a grin. He hadn't expected to reveal their trump card so soon—but against Osaka Kiryu, there was no helping it.
"Alright then," Chris thought. "Time to shock the Cosmos."
He set his target and flashed the sign.
"First pitch breaking ball—Phantom!"
Zhou Hao nodded, wound up, and delivered.
In Kiryu's dugout, Director Matsumoto's eyes sharpened in an instant.
His pitching motion… it changed?!
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