Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: A Must-Win Game
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Geum Seong-muk versus Ma Cho-won.
A head-to-head clash between the two teams' ace pitchers.
Before the real pitching began, Seong-muk felt the sensation in his lower body growing even thicker.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Solar Divine Meridian shifts from Mid-Erection to Full Erection! Power stat strengthens from A → A+! Power stat strengthens from A+ → S! Contact stat strengthens from B → B+! Maintaining his previous power stat boost, Seong-muk added another layer of reinforcement to his contact stat.
Ma Cho-won grinned at Seong-muk, then went into a big windup and fired his first pitch—with a thunderous shout to boot.
"Uracha!!"
Crack!!
"...Tsk."
Seong-muk winced at the sharp sting transmitted from the bat to his hands. The announcers couldn't hold back their admiration.
[Foul...! Geum Seong-muk's hit ball slams into the back netting!]
[157 km/h right out of the gate!! Ma Cho-won unleashes an insane fastball!]
Ding!
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Ma Cho-won Nationality: South Korea Age: 19 Height: 189 cm Skill / Instinctively (S): Detects crises with his unique senses. Potential Keywords: Fireballer (S+), Iron Stamina (A+), Straight Fastball (A) Pitching Stats (*Potential) / Right-Handed Three-Quarter Stamina: A+ (*A+) Control: C+ Fastball: S (*S+) Velocity: A (*A) Breaking Balls: B+ - Forkball: B+ - Slider: B+ 'The king's still the king, huh.'
Casually tossing 157 km/h. Even with the same fastball S as Hassan, the backed-up stamina and velocity stats made the ball's sheer power on another level entirely.
It could probably go even faster here.
Boom---!!!
"...!!"
A massive explosion echoed through the stadium. The sound ripping through the mitt like it would tear it apart made the announcer check the scoreboard and yell at the top of his lungs.
[Oh!! Ma Cho-won! 160 km/h, 160 km/h on the board...!!]
-160km
The huge number blazed across the scoreboard carried an immense weight. It wasn't just a tiny difference in digits.
Seong-muk, standing in the batter's box, felt it best of all. He'd flinched and held back his swing on that one.
"Ball...!"
"Kgh, so close!"
Of course, it veered off just enough to be a ball after a couple of misses. Ma Cho-won looked disappointed for a moment before immediately going into another big windup.
For the third pitch, he chose another fastball. But Seong-muk wasn't about to just stand there and watch.
'Yeah, coming in straight like that, huh...!'
Crack!!
[Oh, Geum Seong-muk makes contact! The ball flies deep into the outfield!]
A massive hit that made the pitcher Ma Cho-won flinch. The center fielder sprinted toward the wall at top speed. He stopped right in front for a split second—
"Hup...!"
—then leaped and snagged Seong-muk's liner. The rare highlight-reel catch drew cheers from the Daegwallyeong High crowd.
[Aah, center fielder Lee Jun-gu makes an incredible grab on Geum Seong-muk's hit! So frustrating!!]
[That was a well-pitched ball met with a great swing? In most situations, that would've been at least a double, but the center fielder hauls it in!]
💬 Comments — Anonymous No way he catches that — GaljuHater Galju suppression real? Ffs ;; — Anonymous ↳ Reply Lmao if Galju was a year older he'd clear it fr Lmao still young so it makes sense — Anonymous Ma Cho-won's stuff is brutal;; How many pitches can he go? Think he threw like 80 last game — Anonymous Figure around 50 and you're good — Anonymous Seok Un-gang up next, could've tied or taken lead gg "...Tch, caught that one."
He thought he'd hit it pretty well.
It wasn't perfectly centered on the sweet spot, but thanks to the raw power doped up to S-rank, he'd sent it deep.
Yet it still gets caught like that.
Seong-muk thought elite schools were no joke.
"Kahaha, Geum Seong-muk...! You're even more impressive than I thought...!!"
Ma Cho-won, eyes sparkling as he watched Seong-muk head back to the dugout after flying out. He hadn't expected that kind of distance on a full-effort pitch.
"...You still got the out, didn't you?"
"No, if the location had been half a glove off, it clears the wall...! Khm, already looking forward to our next matchup...!!"
Ma Cho-won and Ha Hu-dong returned to the dugout, barely containing their excitement.
Before Munhyeok High's turn in the field, Daegwallyeong High's manager gathered his players for a pep talk.
"Alright, we've pushed it to the top of the 7th—no more room to back off...! Score more runs quick and put 'em on the ropes. Got it!!"
"Yes, sir!!"
The Daegwallyeong side strode confidently to the plate, convinced they could shred this unheard-of knuckleballer anytime.
But Park Chan-jun, now master of the knuckler, was no longer the trash-tier pitcher lobbing meatballs.
Thwack!
"Out...!!"
Crack!
"Ouut!!"
Thwack!!
"Out!!"
Following his scoreless 4th, Park Chan-jun shut down the 5th and 6th innings clean too. The crowd couldn't hide their shock as a scrub pitcher stifled Seoul's top-ranked lineup.
[Oh, Park Chan-jun!! Shuts down the 6th too! Munhyeok High's got a monster knuckleballer...!!]
[Daegwallyeong batters look frustrated. Getting bottled up when they need to score is a real headache!]
[Slow-mo shows his form isn't great, but the ball movement is elite...!!]
"Kya, Chan-joon ham!! Knuckle genius!"
"Knew you had it, hyungnim!!"
Park Chan-jun soaked up the massive cheers from his teammates as he returned to the dugout. The crowd naturally roared for him coming off the mound.
Sitting in the dugout with a dazed look—this was probably a first for him in life.
"Alright, let's go!! Chan-joon ham did that much—we can't just sit here!"
"Yeah, we got this!"
Munhyeok High's batters fired up in the box. But Ma Cho-won hadn't claimed the top of the Four Heavenly Kings unchallenged for nothing.
Boom!!
"Strike three!!"
Boom!!!
"Strike ouut!!"
Boom---!!!
"Striiike ouuut!!"
"Kahaha, yes!!"
Three straight strikeouts.
Mixing in forks and sliders with his 160 km/h heater, Ma Cho-won's pitching was devastating.
Just like that, the momentum flipped back.
Top of the 7th—Park Chan-jun facing his fourth inning.
Manager Myeong Sin-u clenched his fists and prayed to the heavens.
'Please hold on just this inning, Chan-jun...!'
Keep Park Chan-jun through the 7th, then Ri Dong-hyeok for two—perfect.
Worried if their bats would wake up against Ma Cho-won, but preventing more runs was priority one to mount a comeback.
But as the lineup turned over, Park Chan-jun's miracle run started showing cracks.
Crack!
[Hit! No. 9 hitter Lee Jun-gu drops a blooper in front of left field!]
[Building on that great catch earlier! Lee Jun-gu's got wheels too...! Against a knuckleballer weak to steals, tough spot for Munhyeok's battery! 1 out, runner on first!]
True to his inexperience, Park Chan-jun began faltering on the little things.
Thud!
"Take your base...!!"
"...Urk."
Overthinking the runner shook his control. Now two on after the walk.
At the plate: No. 2 hitter Ha Hu-dong.
Balanced power and contact—not an easy out.
Thud!!
"Strike!"
'Hmm...'
Ha Hu-dong tilted his head.
As catcher, he'd more or less figured out why Park Chan-jun's pitches were special.
'Those crooked, opinionated fingers shoving the ball—makes it dance unpredictably...'
Ha Hu-dong, giving Park a fair appraisal.
He stepped in seriously now.
No more underestimating the nobody pitcher—he'd crush him with his best.
Park Chan-jun fired the second pitch.
That's when he realized.
'Not moving...!?'
Sergei had warned him.
After dozens or hundreds of pitches, a few 'dead' knuckleballs that don't move would pop up.
Park had prayed it'd miss the zone, but the lifeless sphere sucked right into the heart of it—perfect to hit.
Crack!!
Ha Hu-dong swung without hesitation.
The ball screamed endlessly. Used to getting shelled, Park knew its fate instantly.
"Aah..."
[It's gone! Ha Hu-dong's blast carries...!! Clears the wall!!]
[Three-run homer over the left-field fence!! Ha Hu-dong roars!! Score's 11-7! A 4-run lead late is huge!]
Park Chan-jun hung his head.
Daegwallyeong fans watching on the edge of their seats went wild at the clutch blow.
"Ha Hu-dong, Ha Hu-dong, Ha Hu-dong...!!"
"Knew one of the Four Heavenly Kings would deliver!"
Guilt weighing him down?
Park Chan-jun's control stayed shaky after. He gave No. 3 Borjin a straight walk.
And now stepping up: this guy.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!!
The menacing swing echoed to the stands. Daegwallyeong High's cleanup hitter Ma Cho-won lumbered to the plate.
Ding!
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Ma Cho-won Nationality: South Korea Age: 19 Height: 189 cm Skill / Instinctively (S): Detects crises with his unique senses. Batting Stats (*Potential) / Right-Handed Swing Power: S (*S+) Contact: A (*A+) Speed: A+ (*S) Eye: B+ Defense: B Shoulder: S+ (*S+) Truly monstrous stats.
160 km/h as a pitcher, but his bat side boasts Heavenly Hitting Body potential. In the original story, he succeeds more often as a hitter.
No exaggeration to call him the strongest batter Munhyeok High had faced in the tournament.
Ma Cho-won exuded an overwhelming aura.
He was a living threat, setting off the pitcher's radar like crazy.
'No safe zone...'
Park Chan-jun's instincts screamed it'd get crushed anywhere. And it probably would. Right then—
"Yo, Chan-joon ham."
"......!?"
First baseman Seong-muk had somehow climbed the mound. Everyone watching was stunned by the sudden intrusion.
[Aah! Geum Seong-muk suddenly on the mound...!?]
[N-No way...!!]
The announcers recalled Ma Cho-won recently subbing in as pitcher himself. They got hyped.
[Is Geum Seong-muk gonna pitch himself!!]
[That'd make both teams have a position player volunteer to pitch! First time seeing this spectacle...!!]
💬 Comments — Anonymous What?????????? — Anonymous He's volunteering to pitch right? ⭐ Top Comment — Anonymous Lmaoooo this game's insane — Anonymous ↳ Reply Both teams full of crazies, all kinds of wild shit happens lmao Didn't he throw over 100 last game?? — Anonymous Yeah so he can legally pitch? The chat buzzed with questions. The announcers, sensing it, quickly explained.
[Geum Seong-muk threw 107 pitches against Kirin High last game, hitting the limit. Normally he'd rest this one, but...]
[Rules allow it...! Max 20 pitches though!!]
Some managers abused it—100, 20, 100, 20—but got branded 'ace-arm-wreckers chasing wins' and struggled to rehire.
Aware of the climate, Manager Myeong Sin-u rushed to the mound in shock.
"S-Seong-muk...! Huff huff, what's this?!"
"Coach, I'll pitch. Any more runs and we're done."
"But you overdid it last game. And Hancheong High before that."
"Fatigue's gone, I'm good. No point in next games if we lose this. Win first, worry later."
"Hmm..."
The manager reluctantly nodded, convinced.
"...Throw as much as you want, then come out. Dong-hyeok's ready anytime."
"Roger."
Manager Myeong saluted back and headed down. Park Chan-jun handed Seong-muk the ball with a bitter face.
"Sorry, Seong-muk. My fault you have to... "
"What nonsense."
"Huh...?"
"Without Chan-joon ham, we'd be done already. You're the only one who doesn't see it—check the crowd when you head to the dugout. See Munhyeok fans' faces."
Seong-muk pushed the reluctant Chan-jun toward rest. As he trudged off, head down, he finally looked up.
"......!!"
Clap clap clap—!
"Nice pitching, Park Chan-jun...!"
"Great work, Chan-jun hyungnim!"
Munhyeok students applauded his effort. Upperclassmen who knew his story teared up at his underdog tale.
Despite the runs, everyone knew Munhyeok still had a shot thanks to him.
"Aah... "
Chan-jun entered the dugout emotional. Seong-muk smirked watching him go.
'He'll grow tons from today.'
Gaining XP against Gangho High was good, but establishing 'I'm a helpful pitcher' was key.
For that, Seong-muk signaled Noah subtly: rally the crowd to clap for returning Chan-jun. Looked pretty touched—solid effect.
'Anyway, winning's simple.'
Don't give up a run from the mound.
Bats score 5+.
Of course, first mission's brutal. Facing elite slugger Ma Cho-won.
"Bring it, Geum Seong-muk...!!"
Ma Cho-won gleamed, awaiting Seong-muk's pitch. Seong-muk smirked and growled low.
"...Switch."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Solar Divine Meridian stat changes reset! Fastball stat strengthens from A → A+! Fastball stat strengthens from A+ → S! Velocity stat strengthens from A → A+! Power surged in his shoulder.
Seong-muk hit fastball S for the first time.
Other stats mattered, but fastball S was huge.
'Now I can throw it... 160...!!'
The magic 160 km/h.
Fastball S decides it.
Right after possession, twisting his body for 120s felt pathetic by comparison.
Dreamlike now.
Max effort would burn stamina, but Seong-muk buzzed like a kid with a new toy. Couldn't calm down without unleashing fastballs at full throttle.
"...Wanna go at it, huh?"
Grinning wickedly, he wound up huge—runners be damned.
"Then hit this, you bastard...!!"
Screeech!!
Boooom-----!!
Seong-muk's fastball blasted out at ferocious speed.
His message—not losing today's game—rang through the stadium with a massive roar.