Diamond No Ace: The Monster

Chapter 192: Divine-Level Rescue

Bottom of the seventh inning, Seidou High School baseball team was on the offensive.

The players were ambitious, determined to turn the unfavorable situation around.

The current score was 6:3.

For the Seidou High School team, this was undoubtedly a significant setback.

Before this inning began, many players from Seidou and their supporters were firmly convinced that they could end the game in this inning.

The score gap had widened to six points, and they hadn't conceded a single run.

By the seventh inning, they believed that scoring just one more point would naturally conclude today's game.

But now, no one harbored such illusions.

The "dark horse" standing before them had finally demonstrated the strength of a true underdog.

They were strong—so strong that it was almost unbelievable.

"Play it safe and focus on catching up with the score first!"

Before stepping onto the field, even Ota believed that now was the time to take a more cautious approach.

Scoring wasn't the top priority.

Although they had conceded three runs, the opposing team's three first-year batters had already finished their turn.

As long as Seidou could hold steady, the scales of victory would tilt back in their favor.

Not only Ota, but many in the stands shared this strong intuition.

They firmly believed that as long as Seidou didn't make mistakes, victory would ultimately belong to them.

Miyuki was the first to step up to bat.

Fans in the stands and teammates in the dugout cheered for him passionately.

This was both an expression of their hope and a reflection of their deep concern.

However, Miyuki ultimately failed to meet everyone's expectations.

Despite giving his all in the battle against the opposing pitcher, he barely managed to make contact with the ball.

The baseball bounced off the ground and landed directly in Mishima's glove.

"Out!"

One out, no runners on base.

The supporters of Seidou High School fell silent in the stands.

They felt the game was taking an increasingly unpredictable turn.

The Yakushi High School players were performing exceptionally well.

Not only that, but luck seemed to be on their side.

Previously, both teams had been equally lucky, and the outcome was largely determined by skill.

But now, that dynamic had shifted.

It was as if Yakushi High School had suddenly earned the favor of Lady Luck.

Everything they did on the field seemed to succeed effortlessly.

In contrast, Seidou's efforts always seemed to fall just short.

This tiny gap was preventing them from widening the score difference.

It wasn't until Furuya stepped up to bat that the enthusiasm in the stands reignited.

As a batter, Furuya's performance today had left a lasting impression.

The fans couldn't help but look forward to seeing more from him.

Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Furuya swung his bat with all his might.

Boom!

The terrifying sound of the bat slicing through the air was so loud that even many fans in the stands could hear it.

Hearing it, they grew wild with excitement.

"This is intense! Just like that—don't let up!"

Under everyone's expectant gaze, the white baseball soared high into the air after being struck.

Every single person kept their eyes glued to the ball, hoping that this hit would turn the unfavorable situation around.

The mere thought of the tide shifting was enough to make hearts race.

Players and supporters of Yakushi High School also watched the ball intently, wondering where it would land.

Through layers of tension, the ball eventually fell toward the backfield.

Seidou High's players and supporters felt a tinge of disappointment at the sight.

But overall, they were satisfied with Furuya's performance.

After all, hitting a home run wasn't just about skill; sometimes, a little luck was needed too.

As this thought crossed their minds, a third-year player from Yakushi High sprinted toward the ball's trajectory with reckless abandon.

At that moment, he summoned every ounce of strength he had.

Before this game—before he even met the father-son duo Raizou and Raichi—this ordinary third-year Yakushi player had never dreamed of reaching Koshien.

How could they?

It was like a student scoring only 300 or 400 points in college entrance exams dreaming of getting into a top university.

Even in daydreams, that seemed absurd.

But ever since Raizou arrived, everything had changed.

The carefree-looking man had said with a grin, "From now on, I'm counting on you guys."

"I'm waiting for you to take me to Koshien!"

That sentence had been deeply engraved in their hearts.

Although they initially thought he was just spouting nonsense, they still decided to give it their all.

After all, young people must fight for their dreams, even if it's just once.

And so they underwent hellish training.

The process was excruciating, and many teammates wanted to quit.

Even those who persisted would often joke that they couldn't endure it any longer.

As the summer tournament approached, they thought this grueling practice would finally come to an end.

But now, standing on the brink of leaving the team for good, this third-year Yakushi player—who had always grumbled—found himself unwilling to stop.

He hadn't had enough.

He wanted to keep playing with his teammates and make it to Koshien.

In the instant the ball fell, the young man leaped into the air.

It was a move he could never have managed before.

But at that moment, he pulled it off.

Pop!

The ball was caught. Furuya was out.

"Out!"

"Two outs, no runners on base."

The sudden catch left everyone in the stadium stunned.

Seidou's players, in particular, were utterly floored.

"This is ridiculous!"

No matter how much they racked their brains, they couldn't figure out how the opponent had pulled it off.

That kind of miraculous fielding was something even Seidou's own players could only accomplish with luck.

Coach Kataoka nodded silently.

"Their players have clearly undergone rigorous training, developing muscle memory to achieve such precision! Don't underestimate them—aside from the three first-year players, the rest of Yakushi High's team cannot be taken lightly either!"

Meanwhile, over in Yakushi High's dugout, the players were on the verge of losing their minds from excitement.

And rightly so.

Even they hadn't anticipated that their teammates could perform at such an extraordinary level.

Even the usually unreliable Raizou had tears in his eyes at this moment.

"You guys...!"

Faced with such a powerful opponent, they hadn't given up for a second. Instead, they fought back with everything they had.

This deeply moved Raizou.

"You've done so well—there's no way we can lose this game now!"

Although Shirasu managed to get a hit, Kawakami struck out, leaving Seidou High scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning.

At the end of seven innings, the score remained 6-3.

Yakushi High's players were brimming with confidence.

After scoring three consecutive runs earlier, they had already shown a new level of determination.

Now, with their ace securing three outs, Yakushi High felt like an unstoppable force, a relentless pursuer.

Even when facing one of the nation's strongest powerhouse teams, they showed no trace of fear.

"Go on! Create a miracle!"

Even the fans in the stands, inspired by Yakushi's spirit, were cheering enthusiastically.

Top of the eighth inning, Yakushi High went on the offensive.

Perhaps shaken by his previous performance, Kawakami made a pitching error.

Ping!

A Yakushi batter, seemingly harmless at first glance, didn't hesitate for a moment. Swinging his bat decisively, he sent the ball flying.

Thud!

The ball hit the ground and bounced, allowing the batter to make it to second base.

No outs, runner on second.

Yakushi's coach, Raizou, immediately signaled to his players on the field.

Although he had always claimed he wouldn't interfere with the game, insisting that the players should just enjoy themselves, he couldn't resist stepping in at a critical moment.

Seeing him frantically directing from the sidelines made it abundantly clear—he was determined to secure a run.

Fujio, the senior journalist from Baseball Kingdom magazine, quickly saw through Raizou's intentions.

"The score gap is currently three runs. Even if their three first-year players manage consecutive hits, the odds of them tying the game are slim."

"If they want to win this game, they'll need to score at least one more run before those three first-years come up to bat in the ninth inning."

And now, it was clear that Yakushi High was aiming to do just that.

The next batter from Yakushi High stepped up and executed a bunt.

Although he was tagged out, he successfully advanced the runner to third base.

"Safe!"

One out, runner on third.

In this situation, Yakushi High had plenty of strategic options.

They could go for a regular at-bat, attempt a squeeze play, or even use a hit-and-run strategy.

"The game's outcome hinges on this moment. Secure that run!"

Yakushi's coach, Raizou, was full of energy now, his presence commanding attention.

Even the fans in the stands noticed the shift.

Until the sixth inning, Yakushi High had seemed completely out of options.

But now, in the final moments of the game, they found themselves with a chance to stage a comeback.

"This dark horse team is unbelievable!"

The fans who were previously convinced Yakushi High had no chance at a comeback began to second-guess themselves.

If even the fans felt shaken, the players of Seidou High couldn't help but feel the pressure as well.

Miyuki, crouched in his catcher's stance, frowned slightly.

The situation was starting to feel precarious.

He quickly signaled to Kawakami, telling him to stay calm.

His pitches were still effective against Yakushi's batters.

Kawakami nodded.

As a second-year pitcher, he had been an essential part of the team.

However, in recent games, the responsibility of pitching had mostly fallen to Furuya and Sawamura, leaving Kawakami somewhat out of practice.

Especially in high-pressure situations like this, while he wanted to turn the tide, actually executing it was much harder.

Whoosh!

Despite his doubts, Kawakami gritted his teeth and threw the ball.

The ball hurtled toward the plate, but Miyuki's frown deepened.

Right down the middle!

Perhaps due to his long absence from the mound, Kawakami made a critical mistake.

The pitch was off by about ten centimeters, turning it into an easy ball to hit.

While most of Yakushi High's players didn't stand out much, they had all trained hard.

They weren't going to miss an opportunity like this.

And sure enough, the batter swung with all his might and sent the ball flying.

Ping!

The ball soared high into the air.

Given Seidou's defensive capabilities, it seemed impossible for such a pop fly to land safely.

Miyuki let out a small sigh of relief.

Although the pitch had been off, at least it wasn't a clean hit.

However, as this thought crossed his mind, Miyuki suddenly remembered something critical.

The runner was still on third base!

Pop!

As the baseball landed in the glove, the runner on third base from Yakushi High sprinted forward with all his might.

"The distance is at least 60 to 70 meters. This is doable!"

Yakushi High had studied Seidou's team extensively, analyzing every detail, including when it might be possible to steal home successfully.

From this position and distance, as long as the runner didn't trip, the success rate was practically 100%.

"Here comes the fourth run!"

The runner's eyes were locked onto home plate.

He got closer and closer, but just as he was about to reach it, he witnessed an unbelievable sight.

Boom!

With a deafening sound, the baseball shot toward home like a laser beam, landing perfectly in Miyuki's glove.

"Such a shame. Your plan was so well thought out. Unfortunately, our ace's throwing speed is downright illegal."

Pop!

"Out!"

"OUT!!"

A double play, just like that!

Three outs. Side retired.

It was now the bottom of the eighth inning, with Seidou High up to bat.

Many fans in the stands were left baffled.

"What just happened?"

Their attention had been entirely on the runner.

They hadn't expected the baseball to make it back to home plate so quickly.

It was absolutely incredible!

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