Chapter 249: The Ever-Growing Demon Lord
"My goodness!!!"
Disbelieving exclamations erupted both in the stands and in the dugouts of the two teams.
Many had seen the trap set up by Inashiro Industrial High School's team, thinking if Furuya didn't swing, it would be one thing.
But if he did swing, his downfall was almost predetermined.
However, against all expectations—or perhaps as everyone secretly thought—
Furuya, even after falling into the trap, managed to adjust his swing last minute and forcibly hit the ball?
Not to mention the shock in the hearts of the fans in the stands.
Even the teammates in Seidou High School's own dugout felt their hearts couldn't stay calm at this moment.
"This kid is getting more and more inscrutable!!"
Just as this thought emerged among them, the two third-year players who were originally on second and third bases dashed like lightning back to home plate.
"Safe!"
"Safe!!"
These two runs were like two daggers plunged into Inashiro Industrial's chest, almost claiming their lives.
The total score quickly jumped from 3:2 to 5:2!
Seidou High School led by three runs.
If before, when Seidou High School was leading by one run, the players from Inashiro Industrial might have held a sliver of hope,
Thinking that if there was a slip in Furuya's performance and they seized the opportunity,
Then perhaps, they could turn defeat into victory.
But now, that possibility seemed to have vanished.
How strong is Seidou High School? No one knew this better than the players of Inashiro Industrial.
Their understanding of Seidou was deep before, but today's game only deepened that impression.
They knew too well the overall strength of this team!
If Seidou High School didn't have their current ace Furuya, didn't have Sawamura...
Then maybe, just maybe, the players from Inashiro Industrial might still think they had a bit of hope.
But there are no ifs in this world...
Even though Seidou's ace looked like he was on his last legs, and his stamina could fail at any moment,
Even if he did run out of stamina, the players from Inashiro Industrial hardly dared hope they could score three runs off him in one go.
That's Furuya!!!
Even though he's just a freshman at Seidou High School, who doesn't know by now that Furuya has evolved into a terrifying demon lord that everyone fears?
His fastball can reach 159 kilometers per hour?
Even his regular pitches easily exceed 150 kilometers!
Is this still a high school freshman?
Even if he were placed in the professional leagues, in the major leagues,
With the pitching speed he has shown, he would probably hold his own, wouldn't he?
It's not to say that Furuya is now qualified to compete in the major leagues.
But at the very least, he could hold his own there.
A pitcher who could hold his own in the majors, placed in their high school...
Isn't he a demon lord?
From the perspective of Inashiro Industrial High School's team, their view of Furuya only grew more imposing.
He seemed like an unbeatable demon god.
Meanwhile, in Seidou High School's dugout, the teammates' faces were filled with excitement.
Following the return of the stubbled senior and Captain Yuuki, they swarmed around them.
"Well done!!"
Ryousuke, who rarely praises others, smiled and gave a thumbs up.
His reluctance to leave the ballgame had much to do with his concern over the outcome.
The coach had told him to trust his teammates.
But the opponent was Inashiro Industrial, the team they lost to last year.
How strong and troublesome was this opponent?
Ryousuke remembered it vividly.
The coach told him to trust his teammates, but how could he?
But now it seemed he had worried too much.
Whether it was his younger brother who took his place on the field, or the other teammates of Seidou High School.
Everyone performed well on the field, even perfectly.
Ryousuke's obsessions gradually dissipated with everyone's spectacular performance.
It must be said, having people to rely on felt really good!
"Two runs in one go, those guys from Inashiro Industrial have no chance now."
Kuramochi also spoke excitedly.
This leadoff batter for Seidou High School was never a saint.
He absolutely wouldn't soften just because the opponents were in trouble.
If possible, he wouldn't even mind kicking them while they were down.
"It's mostly thanks to Furuya's efforts!"
The stubbled senior said with a crooked smile.
Clearly, the main third batter of Seidou High School's baseball team was quite satisfied with their current situation.
From the moment they joined Seidou High School, Koshien had been their goal.
Although everyone was vocally aiming to dominate the national scene,
the teammates knew deep down that this was just the tradition and dream of Seidou High School's baseball team.
If there was a chance to compete for it,
of course, they wouldn't mind; they would definitely give it their all.
But before that, before they could dominate nationally, there was a larger hurdle they had to overcome no matter what.
That was Koshien.
They first needed to stand out in West Tokyo; only then could they have a chance to pursue bigger dreams.
The teammates at Seidou High School had put in a lot of effort.
Whether it was the current members or the seniors from previous years, they had all given their utmost every year.
Thanks to their efforts, Seidou High School's baseball team had fielded a formidable team each year.
Yet even so, they had never been able to overcome that high wall and truly make it to Koshien.
The stubbled senior and others had been working towards this goal for three years without realizing it.
In their final year of high school, both the stubbled senior himself and the other third-year seniors were carrying out not only their own will but also that of their predecessors.
They were all in, pushing towards Koshien!!!
But even at the beginning, even they were uncertain inside.
Could they really break the curse?
Could they really defeat the formidable barriers standing in their way?
Up to now, they were in the ninth inning of the West Tokyo final, leading 5:2.
The once seemingly insurmountable giant that blocked their path was now beneath their feet.
Koshien seemed almost within reach.
The stubbled senior and many other third-year players at Seidou High School felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Having Furuya join their team had been an incredible boon!
While the current achievements of Seidou High School's baseball team weren't solely Furuya's doing, the foundation of the team was built by these teammates, piece by piece.
It was precisely because they had laid this foundation that, with Furuya becoming the team's ace and filling their last gap, they could soar high.
Even so, the third-year seniors at Seidou High School were immensely grateful to Furuya.
The competitive environment in West Tokyo is incredibly fierce!
To put it bluntly, given Seidou High School's strength and performance over the years, if they weren't in such a hellish district like West Tokyo,
Dominating nationally might be debatable, but making it to Koshien would have been a cinch.
It was for this reason that the upperclassmen at Seidou High School were so appreciative of Furuya.
Even though they had built a solid foundation, without Furuya, the variable,
Beating Inashiro would not have been easy.
"We won!"
"This time, we must make it to Koshien no matter what!"
Players in Seidou High School's dugout began to celebrate in advance.
"The game isn't over until the last moment, we can't relax!"
Captain Yuuki was also happy,
But as the team captain, he had to keep a cool head at all times.
Just like now, he pointed out the key issue very calmly.
They were three points ahead.
Inashiro Industrial High School hardly had any chance of a comeback.
But would the guys from Inashiro Industrial High School accept this result peacefully?
Obviously not.
Put yourself in their shoes; if they were Inashiro Industrial, they definitely wouldn't accept this outcome.
As long as the game wasn't completely over, they would fight to the last moment.
"Victory is within reach, we absolutely cannot be careless."
"We need to score more if we get the chance!"
The teammates at Seidou High School were not ignorant of good advice.
After hearing their captain's words, everyone's face showed a determination to fight to the end.
Until the last moment of the game, they would not be careless.
"Masuko, it's up to you now!!"
If it had been earlier, the teammates at Seidou High School wouldn't have had high hopes.
Not only did their ace perform like a demon,
Before the last inning, Inashiro Industrial High School's ace had been flawless.
At that time, Seidou High School's teammates had used up all the methods they could think of.
In the end, none were effective.
They had to admit, Narumiya Mei's strength was unfathomable.
But now, the situation had changed.
The deeply formidable Tokyo Prince was having stamina issues.
Not only that, he had consecutively lost four safe hits, dropping a whole three points.
Now the situation on the field was, two outs, runner on second.
Furuya was eyeing the base, ready to sprint forward at any moment.
Put yourself in the opponent's shoes; the pressure they felt was imaginable.
As long as Masuko swung fully, there was a high chance he could help them score another point.
At the batting area, Masuko also intently watched his opponent.
The issues that his teammates in the dugout could think through, he naturally could as well.
And because of this, his determination to hit the ball out was equally fierce.
As soon as the baseball came his way, he would swing without hesitation.
On the pitcher's mound, Narumiya Mei, having already lost three runs, inevitably felt the impact on his pitching.
"Whoosh!"
This pitch was not only slow but also poorly placed.
Masuko, who had been eagerly awaiting this moment, saw the ball flying towards him, his eyes almost gleaming.
"Ugaa!!!"
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If he missed it,
Not to say whether their coach would forgive him,
Masuko himself wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
He had to hit this ball.
With both hands firmly gripping the bat, he swung decisively at the incoming pitch.
"Boom!!"
As the strongest hitter on the Seidou High School baseball team,
Once Masuko decided to go all out, the bat in his hands moved like thunder...
"Ping!"
To the disbelief of the spectators, the white baseball was solidly smashed and flew out.
In the stands, the die-hard supporters of Inashiro Industrial High School felt their hearts sink at that moment.
They knew better than anyone what this hit meant.
Despite their reluctance to accept it,
They had to admit, this was the final outcome.
It's over!
This time, it was completely over!!
Inashiro Industrial High School's supporters could almost see the scoreboard change.
From 5-2 to 6-2!
A four-point gap...
The scenario imagined by Inashiro's supporters didn't actually happen.
Just as the baseball was about to land, a figure like a black lightning bolt shot out.
"Our team has never been just Narumiya alone!"
This man, like a black lightning, was Carlos.
Like a savior, he emerged at the crucial moment and caught the ball with his glove.
"Snap!"
"Out!"
For the teammates at Inashiro Industrial High School, this was undoubtedly a very long moment.
They felt themselves undergoing immense torture.
Fortunately, it all ended.
They finally secured the last out.
Three outs, and the sides switched.
The game moved to the bottom of the ninth inning, with Inashiro Industrial High School at bat.
Seidou High School was just three outs away from clinching the game.
In Seidou High School's dugout, the teammates were highly motivated.
Coach Kataoka carefully assessed Furuya's condition and ultimately decided to let him finish the last inning.
At the same time, the coach also turned to Tanba.
"If Furuya's stamina becomes an issue, be ready to take over at any moment."
Inashiro Industrial had taught Seidou High School a lesson.
Even the most skilled pitchers, once they face stamina issues, their performance inevitably suffers.
It was true for Narumiya Mei, and their ace was likely no exception.
This wasn't distrust in their ace, but rather adhering to objective reality.
"Yes!"
Tanba's voice was exceptionally loud.
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