A flash of inspiration struck Zhou Hao's mind.
At that precise moment, Kuroda threw his second pitch.
Boom!
The baseball whizzed in, and Zhou Hao, momentarily caught off guard, watched helplessly as it flew past him.
Clap!
Strike!
Two strikes. Zhou Hao was cornered.
Even more discouraging was the speed on the scoreboard: 153 km/h!
Osaka Kiryu supporters nearly roared in delight. Kuroda's speed had not only held steady—it had increased. Their confidence surged. The freshman ace from Seido had just been cornered by the nation's top pitcher.
The game was nearing its end. Zhou Hao's Spiral ball still packed immense power, yet here he was, facing Kuroda at full strength.
For Osaka Kiryu, it seemed like the perfect moment: their Ace had taken control, their victory almost certain.
Yet Zhou Hao remained calm. Excited even. Through the enhancement of his Sharingan, he could see the loopholes in Osaka Kiryu's defense.
Both teams were exhausted. Fatigue magnified flaws. Kuroda's confidence was absolute, but that very confidence created openings.
I can hit it.
Zhou Hao's eyes narrowed. His intuition and judgment aligned. He gripped the bat tightly, swinging exactly as his mind had simulated.
As the pitch approached, he swung with full force.
Buzz!
A low whoosh cut through the air. The Osaka Kiryu catcher instinctively frowned.
Is Zhou Hao really that strong at batting?
The thought flashed and vanished. No one truly believed he could hit Kuroda. The Ace's high-speed Straight balls were unbeatable. Most of Osaka Kiryu's players and supporters were convinced Zhou Hao would fail.
No one expected this.
Ping!
The bat connected with the ball. Zhou Hao's lips curled into a confident smile.
His instincts had been right. Kuroda's pitch, though still fast, had lost significant power. The late break that had dominated batters before was gone.
Go!
Zhou Hao swung with all his strength, sending the ball flying.
By the time Osaka Kiryu's fielders reacted, it was too late. The ball bounced past them, landing safely on the field.
It got through!
Seido's players and supporters erupted. They had waited for this moment. Even facing an unprecedented super monster like Kuroda, Zhou Hao had hit the ball and reached first base safely.
Safe!
One out, runner on first.
Osaka Kiryu's team and fans felt a ripple of unease. Something was wrong.
Meanwhile, Seido's supporters couldn't contain their excitement.
"The omnipotent Zhou Hao!"
"As long as he's on the field, nothing is impossible!"
A 150+ km/h pitch had been hit by a relatively small-framed rookie. The feat seemed impossible, yet it was real. Zhou Hao's hit had reconnected Seido's lineup, bringing the third and fourth batters back into play.
Now, Seido's chances are rising.
Hope rekindled. Though victory wasn't guaranteed, the team now had momentum.
"He will carry them through!"
Fujio, senior reporter at Baseball Kingdom, observed analytically:
"Although the speed hasn't slowed, the pitch's actual power has been greatly discounted. Zhou Hao, Seido's first-year rookie ace, can perceive this in real time and hit the ball successfully. His future is limitless."
The next batter stepped up.
"Third batter, number three, first baseman, Yuki."
Score: 2–3. Seido still trailed by a single run.
The moment Yuki entered the batter's box, Seido's supporters went wild, hope blazing anew.
--------------
Support me at patréon com/DaoOfPeeking