Teammates Reaping Training's Rewards
Deep in the mountains.
Beneath a roaring waterfall, a massive man stood with palms pressed together, murmuring to himself.
"Form is emptiness, emptiness is form."
"All forms are illusory, and attachment brings only suffering."
Even under the immense pressure of the cascading water, Seok Un-gang chanted without pause. He was currently lost in a heart demon's grip.
Is this feeling pressure? No, it's impatience…
Back when Munhyeok High's baseball team had just launched, Seok Un-gang had been their sole national star, drawing constant heavy scrutiny.
But now, he wasn't the only national talent at Munhyeok High. Some teammates had caught the spotlight and joined the national team, while others had improved exponentially since they'd first met.
Un-gang possessed a mature mental discipline far beyond his peers, but lately, watching his comrades surge ahead while his own growth lagged had filled him with anxiety.
In the end, this is something I must overcome myself. I need to find my breakthrough.
Day after day, one day turning into two.
After regular training, Seok Un-gang dedicated himself to intense meditation.
He finally found his answer.
While reciting scriptures he'd memorized, a phrase emerged that perfectly addressed his situation.
Know impermanence, and your heart will not be swayed by anything.
"All things in the world change."
"My comrades' 'rapid progress' and my 'slow progress' are merely temporary states."
"So why do I cling to them?"
Un-gang slowly opened his eyes and rose. His mind felt refreshingly clear for the first time in ages.
Stepping out from the waterfall, he trudged toward a massive boulder. Cracked by years of erosion but still solidly built.
"……Hoo."
He drew a deep breath and reared back his arm.
His half-closed eyes snapped wide open.
Tathagata Divine Palm
BOOM--!!
The boulder shattered with a thunderous roar the instant his palm struck. Seok Un-gang clenched his fist in satisfaction.
"…One step forward."
Seok Un-gang's Power stat has risen from A+ to S!
Seok Un-gang's Power potential has risen from S to S+!
Name: Seok Un-gang
Nationality: Hong Kong
Age: 18
Height: 190cm
Affiliation: Munhyeok High School
Skill / Demon Monk (S)
: Power and Contact rise one rank when enraged.
Potential Keywords: Heavenly Earth Body (EX), Indestructible Diamond (S+)
Batter Stats (*Potential) / RHB, RHB
Power: S (*S+)
Contact: B
Speed: D
Eye: B+
Defense: S (*S+)
Arm: S (*S+)
Recommended Position: Catcher
The physical experience he'd accumulated was more than enough.
What he needed for growth wasn't harsher training.
Only enlightenment.
And faith in himself.
Un-gang, the top-tier slugger, had broken through his wall.
And another was on the verge of doing the same.
Tatata--!
A short guy barreled down the mountain at breakneck speed.
Two beasts chased him hot on his heels.
"Run harder, you rockhead…!!"
"If we lose him, no dinner tonight, wild piglet!"
"Squeeee--!!"
Wild boars carrying riders pursuing a man—a bizarre sight.
Common sense said no human could outrun boars for long…
"Damn, why's this kid so fast…!"
"At this rate, no bonus for us!"
During training, catching all the students meant a huge bonus, so these wild brothers had their eyes blazing as they spurred their boars.
They'd never failed when both boars chased one target—but this guy was different.
They were dying of frustration watching the tiny black figure dodge and weave just out of reach.
"Squeak, squeeee!!"
"Haha, catch me if you can, you pig bastards…!!"
Choi Adam barely evaded the boars' tusks. Rolling desperately through these mountains had boosted his stamina and honed his unique breathing rhythm.
"Yeah, can't catch me? Pisses you off, huh?"
"Squeeee--!!"
Adam even taunted them leisurely.
Already fast, he was now even faster.
"Okay, done…!!"
Adam crossed the finish line.
He panted, grinning ear to ear.
"…N-No way."
"He shook off the Rockhead-Wild combo…?"
The wild brothers stared in disbelief.
Adam flashed a victory V-sign.
"Puhaha, I did itttt…!!"
Choi Adam's Speed stat has risen from S to S+!
Name: Choi Adam
Age: 19
Height: 160cm
Skill / Bad Ball Hitter (A)
: Higher chance of hits on balls.
Potential Keywords: Gale (S+), Hitting Prodigy (A+), Defense Prodigy (A+)
Batter Stats (*Potential) / RHB, LHB
Power: D
Contact: A (*A+)
Speed: S+ (*S+)
Eye: B
Defense: B+ (*A+)
Arm: B+
Choi Adam had finally attained monstrous speed.
The moment he was reborn as the headache-inducing gale leadoff hitter.
Thus ended today's regular training.
Returning to the cabin dorms, the players met a familiar face.
"Oh, Ryu Ji…! You got here quick?"
"Long time no see, guys."
After Korea's win knocked him out, Ryu Ji had packed fast, caught a flight home, and joined training.
But seeing him alone, his teammates wondered.
"What, why're you by yourself?"
"Where's Hassan? He got eliminated before you, right, Ryu Ji sunbae…?"
Heads tilted in confusion.
Ryu Ji scratched his head.
"They said he still has rough edges, so they'll train him more back home. Now the country's treating him like a prized prospect."
"Ah!"
Ryu Ji was a spotlight prospect in Japan too, but only standout among his age group.
Unlike Japan, packed with heavy-hitters, Pakistan had only Hassan.
So they were pouring all their prospect resources into him, readjusting him back home.
"Hmm, if they're backing Hassan fully, that's good, but I'm a bit worried."
"Worried about what?"
Do Dojin pondered, chin in hand.
Un-gang asked him.
"From the broadcast, Hassan's face looked pretty dark. Not like the guy we knew…."
"Nah, don't worry about that."
Ryu Ji waved it off casually.
"He might be flustered at first, but once he's on the mound, the kid flips a switch."
"That's really nothing to worry about?!"
"But deep down, that pure Hassan you know is still there. I guarantee it."
"Then that's a relief. As long as Hassan si-ju's essence hasn't changed…."
Seok Un-gang smiled happily.
Ryu Ji warned him ahead of time.
"Un-gang, when Hassan baits you with Buddhism later, just let it slide. It's not his real feelings."
"Of course. As his hyung now, I'll handle religious jabs flexibly without getting hung up."
Un-gang declared confidently.
Of course, the future was unpredictable, but he felt solid.
"Oh yeah, where's Chan-jun hyung and Ji Suyong?"
No matter how Ryu Ji looked, Park Chan-jun and Ji Suyong were missing. Seo Kyungsu explained their whereabouts step by step.
"First, Chan-jun hyung went to Russia. The Rasputin family invited him personally to teach him the knuckleball."
"Oh, that's a huge opportunity!"
Ryu Ji lit up.
But Lee Tae-kyung, listening nearby, looked worried.
"Russia discriminates hard against Asians, right? Ugh, hope hyung's okay…."
"Nah, no need to worry."
Seo Kyungsu shut it down firmly.
What followed widened everyone's eyes.
"Turns out Chan-jun hyung's got that look that clicks there. He turned down some because of his girlfriend, but Russian beauties keep tempting him. He's in a bind."
"..............!?"
Everyone froze at Park Chan-jun's unexpected update.
Choi Adam's hands shook, then he shuddered in envy.
"Argh…! Damn it, I should've learned the knuckleball too…!!"
"You've got Shin Hye-ji sunbae, hyung."
"Shut your trap, you punk…!!"
Adam growled at Do Dojin's words.
He clearly hated being linked like that.
Naturally, talk shifted to Ji Suyong's situation. Dragged onto a deep-sea fishing boat, his phone was useless; they only exchanged letters occasionally.
"Got a letter from him today. Let's check it out together."
Do Dojin tore open the envelope and spread it out.
Chicken-scratch handwriting filled the page.
Friends, hyungs, dongsaengs…!
I miss you all so muuuuuch……!!!
Hope you're all doing great! I'm doing fine!
Some crew are high school baseball fans, so they take extra good care of me…!!
Waking at 4 AM for tuna hunts is routine now!!!
There's even a gym here, and catch partners—pretty sweet!!!!
Daily labor plus tons of rice and seafood's packing on muscle! You'll be shocked when you see me!!!!!
I'll be back on time!!!!!!
Stay healthy, don't die! Munhyeok High fighting!!!!!!
— Ji Suyong
"Ugh, loud…!"
"First time my ears hurt reading a letter."
"Phew, toughest read ever."
"Drains the soul."
The teammates tossed aside Ji Suyong's hieroglyph-decoding-level letter. At least he was thriving.
"Oh yeah, isn't Geum Seong-muk si-ju's game starting soon?"
"Right, finals time."
Seo Kyungsu grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV.
Korea vs. USA nationals appeared.
"Lee Tae-bin… that guy's up, huh."
Ryu Ji frowned at the screen. Known as the top high school lefty No. 2 nationwide, but Ryu Ji seemed to know more.
"What, you know something?"
"Faced USA in a scrimmage once. He started."
"Oh, how'd it go?"
"…Disastrous loss. Our lineup couldn't touch him. Seong-muk'll have a tough time."
"That bad…?!"
Lee Tae-bin was infamous for unreal changeups beyond high school level. Even storm-grown Ryu Ji struggled against them cold.
Noah held a Seong-muk cheer placard center, flanked by Olivia and Doyeon.
"Why're those three together…?"
Do Dojin was baffled.
To him, Noah and Olivia were his noona's rivals.
Yet here they sat cozily—brain-melting.
"Looks like Noah rounded 'em up. She's dead center; the other two look super awkward."
"…Ryu Ji sunbae knows what's up?"
"Dunno, but Noah's scheming something…."
His sister did unthinkable things when pissed, so Ryu Ji dreaded her plan.
"Eh, it'll work out. Let's watch."
"Yeah."
They refocused.
Top 1st: USA's Lee Tae-bin struck out the side. Now Korea's starter, Seong-muk, took the mound.
Opener: Not a traditional 5-6 inning starter.
More like a bullpen guy starting the 1st, handling 1-2 innings before handing off.
"Three days rest then starting again—obvious."
"He went all-out vs. you, sunbae. More's overuse."
Ryu Ji nodded.
He knew from facing Seong-muk how much power he poured into pitches.
"Still, guy's stamina's nuts—maybe 3 innings max?"
"Delivery food bet? I say 2nd."
"…4th for me."
"Dojin's losing already—pick quick, guys!"
Munhyeok players bet on Seong-muk's innings. They huddled around the TV as he took the hill.
Soon, every eye bulged.
"What the…?"
"No way…!?"
Cold sweat trickled.
Something insane was happening.
The Munhyeok players sat frozen, glued to the screen.