Chapter 496: Life-or-Death Struggle
"Figures they'd pull something like that," Sskai muttered in the stands, curling his lip in clear displeasure.
From a purist's angle, Seikou's back-to-back intentional walks looked like nothing more than dodging a fight.
In high-school baseball it isn't unheard-of, just uncommon.
Tactically, though, it was perfectly legal—and perfectly logical.
Still, to any hitter with pride, it felt suffocating.
No one felt that sting more than Jun Isashiki, who practically vibrated with frustration beside him.
"They just want it that badly," former ace Tanba said with a sigh.
Chris nodded, worry in his eyes.
"Only one inning left."
Yuuki added quietly, "Down by one, and Seikou's cleanup starts the ninth… fate couldn't have written it better."
Kominato gave a wry grin. "The script practically writes itself."
Most of Koshien had mixed feelings about Seikou's eighth-inning gambit, but everyone agreed: if Seikou wanted to win, this was their best shot.
Realistically, only Seidou's 3-4 hitters—Eijun and Miyuki—had been a real threat to Tsunematsu. The rest of the lineup hadn't touched him. Playing it safe at the end made sense.
Which is why the ninth would be life-or-death:
Seikou's turn starts with their cleanup.
Seidou will send up the bottom of the order.
If Eijun gives up a run, Seidou might never get it back against a locked-in Tsunematsu.
Seidou did hold one card Seikou feared most—
but the crowd buzzed, eager to see whether that card would actually be played.
Then a new figure stepped from Seidou's dugout.
Instantly the first-base side roared to life.
"Just a one-run gap! Seikou's final cleanup barrage versus Sawamura's last stand—whose flame will survive? The ultimate showdown is about to begin!"
"Top of the ninth—Seikou batting! Cleanup hitter, first baseman Nagata!"
On the mound Miyuki laughed softly. "You know, an intentional walk right here wouldn't be the worst idea."
Eijun chuckled back. "True enough."
"But…"
"I have a feeling…"
"…you'd never agree to that." They finished the sentence together, sharing the same grin.
Golden battery.
Summer champions.
Seidou pride.
Their glory doesn't allow even the tiniest stain.
That choice sprang from a deeper, unshakable conviction: we have the power to topple any opponent who stands in our way.
With firm, deliberate strides Miyuki approached the plate.
Everyone in the stadium—whether expectant, anxious, or fearful—fixed their eyes on him.
He squatted into his catcher's stance, glove held high and steady for all to see.
That was Seidou's answer:
A head-on fight, no matter who the hitter is. Kings never flinch.
The temperature of this final showdown spiked; the atmosphere reached its boiling point.
"That's what champions look like."
"Golden battery—there isn't a hitter alive who can make them back down."
"Sawamura truly is an 'Ace Of Diamond.' We're watching a miracle in the making."
"The light of a generation!"
Fans gasped; the plate umpire's voice rang out, still thunderous even in the last frame.
In the batter's box, Nagata's mouth stretched into a feral grin.
Fierce aura poured off him, scarlet flashing in his eyes.
Opposite him on the mound, Eijun stood calm, almost icy.
Flame versus frost.
"First pitch!"
Miyuki's fingers flicked: low fastball, outside.
Eijun lifted his left leg, coiled, and fired.
Whoosh!
A white streak knifed toward the outside corner.
Nagata's power surged—
Boom! his whole torso uncoiling as the bat tore through the zone, wind screaming off the barrel.
But—
Swish!
Pop!
The ball slipped just under the bat's path and snapped into Miyuki's mitt.
"Strike!"
The final battle had begun.
This is it. This is the one. Hit it—HIT IT. I have to hit it!!
Nagata's intense killing aura was almost tangible, swirling around him like steam.
His grip on the bat was tight, unyielding.
But on the mound, Eijun remained completely unfazed.
Second pitch—once again, low and outside.
Whoosh!
As he raised his arm, a flash of white light streaked toward the plate.
The fierce glow of the ball sliced through the air.
Swish!
Nagata's metal bat whipped through the zone again, this time unleashing a shrill sonic crack as it carved through the air.
Ping!
He connected. Nagata had tracked the pitch and caught the outer edge.
The ball compressed off the bat's barrel, and his face twisted with exertion.
"Haaah!!"
With a loud shout, Nagata drove the bat through, full force.
Whud!
Thud!
The ball smashed hard into the ground with a heavy impact—
"Foul!!"
Two strikes. The count now pushed Nagata to the edge.
Incredible. This guy's insane. Not since that game against him… this is the first time I've felt this pressure again. But I swear—I'm going to take you down!
His blazing eyes never wavered. Even backed into a corner, Nagata's fighting spirit only burned hotter.
No retreat. Only full throttle.
That was how Nagata swung the bat.
Third pitch—two-seamer.
Attack when it's time to attack.
That was Eijun's creed—and Miyuki's strength as a strategist.
Boom!
Eijun's right leg kicked forward with power, his arm forming a sharp angle like a loaded spring.
The full twist of his core and the snap of his shoulder delivered the pitch with nothing held back.
Whoosh!!
A white streak roared toward the plate.
It's coming!!!
A flame racing across the sky—blinding, pure, fast.
Nagata stepped into it with everything he had.
Swish!
Ping!
As the pitch neared home, it began to dip at the last second—the sharp, late break of the two-seamer.
But Nagata met it head-on, swinging with all his might—
A deafening crack echoed across the stadium!!!
---------------
If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Leonzky