Zhou Hao, Yuki Tetsuya, Azuma Kiyokuni—Seidou High School Baseball Team had many powerful batters.
But if one were to ask who stood at the very top?
There was no doubt: it was these three.
Each of them was a top-tier presence on a national level.
Originally, in the nationwide rankings, there were the three star pitchers and the seven star sluggers—the ten greatest high school talents. Because Seidou had no prior Koshien record, even with a monster like Azuma Kiyokuni on the roster, not a single one of them made the list.
But things were different now.
As Seidou's strength grew, as their victories piled up, as Zhou Hao carved his legend deeper into Koshien...
People's views began to change.
Zhou Hao's pitching was no weaker than the three star pitchers.
And Seidou's three core sluggers were absolutely on par with the seven star sluggers.
When this year's Koshien ended and the online community re-evaluated their rankings, these three Seidou monsters would definitely qualify.
But right now, all three of them had been shut down.
Not even Kuroda—the universe team's ace—had managed to suppress them like this.
Yet Akutsu had.
In an instant, Akutsu's presence skyrocketed. Not only Seisho High School's supporters, but even neutral fans erupted in admiration.
"He's not inferior to Zhou Hao at all!"
"This is what a true national star pitcher looks like!"
"This duel is too intense. I'm fired up!"
"Who's going to score first?"
Everyone understood the truth of high-level baseball:
In a true pitcher's duel, the first team to score gains an enormous advantage.
Just thinking about that made the entire stadium buzz with nervous excitement.
After one out, Shimoi Teru stepped up to bat.
Though not comparable to Seidou's three core monsters, as Seidou's fifth batter, his batting power was still outstanding.
He raised his bat high, eyes locked on Akutsu.
But Akutsu didn't care about anyone's aura.
He simply wound up and pitched.
"Whoosh!"
The ball shot forward like a white bullet.
Shimoi finally understood—this was why their three monsters were struck out.
This wasn't luck.
This wasn't coincidence.
This was pure, overwhelming pitching ability.
He didn't swing.
"Thwack!"
"Strike!"
"Strike!"
Two strikes. Shimoi was already cornered.
Seidou's players and supporters held their breath.
This matchup sent chills down their spines.
Their fifth batter was being… overwhelmed?
Akutsu delivered again.
"Whoosh!"
Shimoi grit his teeth and swung—
And missed completely.
"Thwack!"
"Strikeout!!"
Another strikeout.
Seidou's fans clutched their heads.
This wasn't just bad—this was terrifying.
Even Shimoi couldn't touch Akutsu's pitch?
They suddenly understood how their past opponents must have felt facing Zhou Hao:
Pure. Helpless. Despair.
The sixth batter stepped up.
And was struck out as well.
Akutsu, in his own dominating way, made it clear:
Her pitching was absolutely not inferior to Zhou Hao's.
Scoring on her would not be easy.
Two innings ended.
The scoreboard remained deadlocked—0:0.
Top of the Third Inning — Zhou Hao on the mound
"I've conserved enough stamina. Let's pitch cleanly and quickly."
Zhou Hao's intent was clear—
He wanted a direct showdown with Akutsu.
"Today's opponent is dangerous," Chris warned. "You may need to pitch the entire game. Don't be reckless."
Chris was uneasy.
Akutsu's bullet pitch wasn't just fast—it carried a dangerous pressure.
It strained the fingers and wrist, but far less than Zhou Hao's high-level breaking balls drained him.
Akutsu was a third-year. Zhou Hao was just a first-year.
Seventeen vs. fifteen.
Experience vs. instinct.
"We can't follow their pace," Chris continued. "We set our own. The next few batters are weak. Trust your teammates."
Zhou Hao—reluctant but obedient—nodded.
"Whoosh!"
The ball shot from Zhou Hao's hand.
Seisho High School's seventh batter saw the straight pitch right down the middle—and ignored his coach's strict warning.
He swung.
"Ping!"
He hit it!
His eyes shone—
I hit Zhou Hao! I actually hit him!
This could be his moment of fame!
But the ball only bounced harmlessly on the ground.
Zhou Hao scooped it up effortlessly and threw to first.
"Out!"
One out.
Seisho's coach nearly fainted from rage.
"What is this!? Didn't I JUST tell you not to swing!?"
Zhou Hao was supposed to be treated like Kuroda—a monster whose stamina must be drained.
But instead of following orders, his players were acting like they were in a personal duel.
Before the coach could finish scolding, the eighth batter stepped up—
And swung at the first pitch.
"Ping!"
"Out!"
Two pitches. Two outs.
In the stands, Seidou's supporters trembled with excitement.
At first, they worried Zhou Hao had made a rare mistake.
But the truth was the opposite—
That "mistake" was bait. A trap.
Now with two outs in only two pitches, Zhou Hao had seized the rhythm completely.
"This pace is insane!!"
"He's too amazing!"
After two quick outs, the ninth batter stepped in.
He told himself he wouldn't swing.
He couldn't swing.
The coach's glare alone could kill a man.
Then Zhou Hao pitched—
A perfect strike right down the middle.
And the batter's body moved on its own.
Muscle memory overrode everything.
"Ping!"
A high pop-up.
Yuki Tetsuya stepped forward and caught it easily.
"Out!"
"Three outs, side retired!"
The Seisho coach was ready to explode.
Three batters.
Three pitches.
Three outs.
What was happening!?
This was supposed to be their inning to wear Zhou Hao down—
Instead, their "strategy" gifted him the easiest inning of his life.
After three innings, Zhou Hao had thrown fewer than 20 pitches.
If this pace continued, not only could he finish nine innings,
He could pitch into extra innings without issue.
All because his batters disobeyed every single order.
The coach glared at them.
"What is wrong with you? ALL OF YOU!?"
His players hung their heads in shame.