Goldensun Does It All By Himself
The fateful top of the 9th, Munhyeok High's final at-bat.
Seong-muk gathered the hitters and left them with one word.
"I've got just one request, guys."
"……?"
"Get on base somehow and hand it over to me. I'll finish off Ma Chowon."
"…!"
His teammates swallowed hard at Seong-muk's voice brimming with conviction. They couldn't help but believe in the man before them, given everything he'd shown so far. But connecting to Seong-muk was no easy task.
The inning started with the bottom of the order, 8th batter Seo Kyungsu. To reach the cleanup hitter Seong-muk at 4th, they'd need at least three runners on against Ma Chowon.
Even giving it his all at the plate, Seo Kyungsu's skills made it tough to pull a hit from Ma Chowon.
Thwack!
"Out…!!"
"Ugh…."
Seo Kyungsu popped a weak grounder to second and was out. The next batter, defensive specialist Lee Tae-kyung, lived up to his fielding-focused stats—his bat couldn't keep up with Ma Chowon's fastball, whiffing for a strikeout.
"……."
"……."
The mood turned icy in an instant.
Munhyeok High had been fired up, closing the gap, but one more out and their season was over.
"…Geum Seong-muk, I wanted another shot at you, but it won't be easy."
A utterly despairing situation.
That's when Choi Adam stepped up to the plate.
"……Hmph, hrrrm!!"
Choi Adam snorted, pawing the dirt. His determination to get on base burned fierce.
Thwack!!
"Eek…!!"
He jerked back from the high fastball. At 160 km/h, there was no describing its speed but insane. But he shook it off quick, eyes gleaming as he awaited the next pitch.
Thwack!
On the second pitch, Choi Adam swung like he'd timed it perfectly.
One oddity: an extreme downswing, smashing the ball down.
The third baseman snagged the sharply bouncing grounder only by leaping high.
As he fired to first, the third baseman blinked in shock. It was a play that would've nabbed most hitters, but Choi Adam was already nearly safe at the bag.
"Safe, safe…!!"
"Urraaatcha…!!!"
Choi Adam's infield single kept hope alive. Munhyeok High's fans roared back to life.
No sitting still now that he was on—Choi Adam took off for second on the first pitch.
"Second, second…!!"
"Tch, that little runt…!!"
Ha Hudong snagged Ma Chowon's heater and whipped to second. It looked simultaneous, but Choi Adam's perfect jump gave him the edge.
"Safe…!!"
"Haha, thought I was toast!!"
With his signature wheels, he'd gone from first to scoring position in a flash. He danced like he might bolt for third next.
"Tsk…."
Ma Chowon looked uneasy.
Ha Hudong waved it off—two outs, big lead, no sweat—but Ma Chowon, who didn't vibe with that type, was rattled.
Distracted by the runner, pitchers slip against hitters. Do Dojin crushed the second-pitch forkball right in the zone.
Thwack!
"Ma Chowon, huh? Didn't expect to face you today."
Ryu Ji eyed Ma Chowon like prey. His dragon blood awakened after ages, pumping his power stat up a notch as he stepped in.
He glanced at Seong-muk, flashing a hazy smile and rubbing his hands.
"…?"
Seong-muk tilted his head at the cryptic gesture. The meaning? Crystal clear.
"Seong-muk, I'm starving too."
"Can't yield this time…!!"
Thwack!!
Takahina Ryuji unleashed on the inside heater like he'd called it. The ball screamed right, clanging off the wall and kicking up.
"Tsk, thought it was gone."
Ryu Ji sighed.
Hand felt great, but settling for a double stung.
Anyway, golden chance: runners at second and third. Seong-muk yanked on his batting gloves and strode to the plate.
"Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk!!"
"Ma Chowon! Ma Chowon! Ma Chowon! Ma Chowon!!"
Chants for each player heated the air. Ma Chowon beamed happier than ever—this was the perfect finale.
"…Haha, just what I wanted. Geum Seong-muk!!"
Not planned, but facing off batter-to-pitcher thrilled him. His pitch count neared limit; Seong-muk was effectively last out.
Two outs, runners second and third.
No need to hold—Ma Chowon wound up big for the first pitch.
Thwack!!
"Strike…!!"
160 km/h fastball.
Seong-muk didn't flinch at the outside heat. Probably figured swinging there yields nothing good.
"Ball…!"
"Ball!!"
Seong-muk laid off the fork and high fastball. He swung on the fourth.
Thwack!!
"Foul…!"
Aimed for the fork but fouled into the screen. Fifth pitch slider missed the zone—full count.
Ma Chowon's count: 49 pitches.
One ball left.
Full count cornered him.
One pitch allowed on the mound.
Then Ma Chowon did the unthinkable again.
Telegraphed fastball.
Too solemn to be a bluff.
"What the—fuck…!? Cho-won, you idiot, what the hell's he doing…!!"
Manager Yoo Hwi-woong shot up, stunned.
In this clutch spot, some hot-blooded manga stunt? Utter madness from his view.
Too late to stop.
Ma Chowon bulldozes once hooked, and meddling earlier backfired. Yoo could only suck his thumb. Seong-muk grinned wickedly, like he'd called it.
'Knew it.'
Ma Chowon wouldn't let Seong-muk hog the cool "telegraphed fastball" spotlight. Foolish to others, but pure power worship to him.
That's why Seong-muk risked it earlier—telegraphing heat. Time to cash in the setup.
"Geum Seong-muk, this time I'll crush you power for power!!"
"No, don't…!!"
Whoosh!!
Yoo's shrill scream trailed as Ma Chowon's fastball left his hand. Seong-muk's bat exploded.
Ma Chowon who couldn't trust the foe.
Geum Seong-muk who trusted fully.
In competition's world, "trust your opponent" sounds weirdest. But here, it decided victory.
Thwack!!
"……..!!"
The instant ball met bat, Ma Chowon chilled. He turned, knowing defeat.
Announcers near frenzy. The whole stadium matched.
"Kuhaha, total defeat…!"
Ma Chowon wryly grinned, deflated. Lost as pitcher and hitter to Geum Seong-muk. Hit his 50-pitch limit, yanked.
The relief was third-stringer at best—couldn't stem Munhyeok High's blaze.
Thwack!!
Thwack—!
Thwack!!
Bottom 9th, Munhyeok High's last stand. On the mound: guardian deity Ri Donghyeok.
"Boooooo…!!"
"Get lost…!!"
Jeers erupted.
Ri Donghyeok scanned the stands, spotting the source sharp.
'Party sent plants.'
As the leader's bastard, his existence shamed the regime. Quick exit pleased them most.
'…People's sinker draws heat, huh?'
Shoulder rolls for final check. Jeers and slurs hammered his ears.
"That commie rat from the North defiles sacred high school ball!!"
"Go home, spy scum!!"
Mystery agitators in Daegwallyeong section amped the boos. But Munhyeok fans fired back.
"Ri Donghyeok! Ri Donghyeok! Ri Donghyeok! Ri Donghyeok…!!"
Matching Noah's cues, they chanted. Amid rival cheers, Ri smirked.
"Thanks, everyone."
Eyes shut, then open—dead serious. Big windup, submarine drop. Ball rocketed, hitter flinched, into Seok Un-gang's mitt.
Plunk!!
"Strike…!!"
"Woooah!!"
152 km/h heat.
His sinkers felt like bucking broncos—raw novelty overwhelmed new eyes.
Thwack!
"Out…!!"
Sinker hit, but rolled lazy to Ryu Ji. Smooth toss to first—one out.
Thwack!
"…Tch!!"
Next: infield grounder too, easy for Choi Adam to first via Lee Tae-kyung—two outs.
One out left.
Munhyeok stands boiled over. Ri felt inexplicable power surge.
Whirr!! Plunk…!
"Strike…!!"
"Ugh!"
No. 2 Ha Hudong whiffed—0-1. Ri eyed his hand, stunned.
'This… no way.'
Sensed something, needed proof. Second pitch: sinker dropping off plate.
Whoom!!
"Striiike…!!"
0-2 now.
Confirmation hit.
'Got it. Teammates trust me first, now the crowd too.'
Touch teammates' hearts, earn trust—spectators follow. Faith fuels pitchers stronger.
Mother's "People's sinker" virtuous cycle. Ri shivered, hairs standing.
Glanced at stands again.
"Ri Donghyeok! Ri Donghyeok! Ri Donghyeok! Ri Donghyeok………!!"
Their faith,
shouts,
eyes—
made him stronger.
Unshakable while on the mound.
Ri Donghyeok's sinker stat: A+ → S
'…Fuck, what?'
Ri suddenly eyed stands, yelped "Eek!!", and awakened sinker stat outta nowhere. Weird as hell, but Seong-muk shrugged—good's good.
'Last pitch obvious.'
He knew that buzz best.
Just powered his S fastball barrage. High school sophomore Ri same. Decider: sinker.
Whirr!!
"………!?!"
Already nasty sinker, now extra wicked movement. Ha Hudong's eyes bulged, swung wild. Unthinkable crack echoed.
Snap!!
Bat splintered, weak roller to pitcher. Ri scooped easy, fired to first.
"Out……!!"
"Game set! Final 14-11! Winners: Munhyeok High!!"
"Yaaaaaaah!!!"
"We won, fuck yeah!! We did it!!"
Infielder collapse in joy, Munhyeok dugout storms field, fans leap like their win.
Given up for lost, victory tasted sweetest.
"…Hmph!"
Perfect three-up-three-down finale for Ri. Unlike stoic norm, he pumped fist in glee. Seok Un-gang eyed sly.
"Th-this…."
"Grown stronger, Donghyeok si ju. Felt it catching your sinker."
"…Knew you'd notice. Can't fool Comrade Un-gang's eyes."
"Looking forward to next game too. Amitabha."
"Yeah, same here."
Team's quietest battery gripped hands tight, savoring. MVP Seong-muk swamped by press, no stat check time.
"Geum Seong-muk, any preferred pro team in Korea…!!"
"Pro two-way ball too? If not, pitcher or hitter preference!!"
"I'll answer all—one at a time please. One by one…!!"
Munhyeok basked in victor's perks. Stands corner: two blue-haired men in shades watched.
"Didn't see this coming, right bro?"
"Yeah, Daegwallyeong out before facing us."
Seoul's finest: Hancheong High core, Ryu brothers.
Always top-3 high school righty ace: Ryu Han-ul.
Undisputed closer king, never missed rep team duty: Ryu Taekjin.
"Troublemakers but strongest" fit them best. Younger by minutes Han-ul starts, ace title his—but insiders knew.
Real beast: brother Taekjin. Han-ul knew, respected big bro.
"Taekjin hyung, whatcha think?"
Taekjin pondered Han-ul's ask, answered.
"…Surprised for sure. Munhyeok way stronger than I thought."
"Whoa, high praise from you—rare."
Han-ul blinked.
Taekjin ant-stomped most teams; Munhyeok praise shocked.
"Still, just 'stronger than expected.'"
Whooo!!
Gale blew.
Blue locks whipped; Taekjin grinned.
"We're way stronger. Sejong Cup's ours."
One Sejong ticket.
Self-proclaimed Seoul strongest Hancheong High. Whirlwind Munhyeok High.
Who grabs it? Days away, Jongmyo Stadium decides all.