The instant the bat collided violently with the lightning-fast baseball, an overwhelming torrent of power erupted from the point of impact. An irresistible force surged along the bat, transmitting its full might directly into the batter's hands.
This terrifying force was like a ferocious beast rampaging out of control, baring its fangs and claws as it charged toward Classmate Ishiguro's hands, which were gripping the bat tightly.
In that split second, Ishiguro felt as though the webbing between his thumb and index finger had been struck by a heavy hammer. A searing, unbearable pain shot through his hands.
It felt as if countless steel needles were piercing straight into his bones, causing him to let out an involuntary, muffled groan.
At the same time, the tremendous impact struck his body like a monstrous wave.
His entire body trembled violently against his will, and he staggered backward, nearly losing his balance and falling to the ground.
However, the ordeal was far from over.
After violently colliding with the bat, the menacing baseball let out a deafening Ping!!!
The sound rang out like a clap of thunder on a clear day, echoing across the entire field and sending a chill through everyone who heard it.
In the next instant, the baseball broke through the bat's stubborn resistance at astonishing speed, transforming into a blazing meteor that shot straight toward the protective netting behind home plate.
With a heavy Thud!, the baseball slammed into the netting, causing the supposedly sturdy barrier to bow inward under the tremendous impact.
A moment later, the ball rebounded high into the air, traced an arc overhead, and finally descended toward the ground.
"Foul ball!"
Ishiguro stared at the scene as though he had witnessed something utterly unbelievable. His mouth hung open so wide that an egg could practically fit inside.
His already prominent eyes widened like copper bells, while the expression on his face resembled that of someone who had just been drenched from head to toe in ice water.
For a long moment, he remained completely stunned, unable to recover from the shock.
"Hmph! You think you can advance the runner with a sacrifice bunt?"
Kitamura Kou stood on the pitcher's mound, slightly raising his chin as he looked down at the bewildered Ishiguro in the batter's box.
His gaze was filled with undisguised contempt, as though the batter standing before him wasn't even worth taking seriously.
At the same time, he muttered under his breath, "That depends on whether you even have the ability to bunt against my fastball!"
Only after what felt like an eternity did Ishiguro finally emerge from his daze and regain his senses.
He clenched his teeth so tightly that they nearly seemed ready to shatter, barely managing to suppress the cry of pain threatening to escape his lips.
Slowly, he lowered his head and looked at his hands, which were still trembling uncontrollably.
At that moment, his heart was like a raging sea, its waves crashing wildly against one another.
So painful! This is unbelievably painful!
His pitches haven't weakened at all despite the stamina he's already expended. If anything, they're even heavier and more powerful than they were during my previous at-bat!
Where on earth did this monster come from?!
Unfortunately, he had little time to dwell on his shock. He needed to recover the feeling in his hands as quickly as possible.
He slowly clenched his hands into fists, attempting to restore sensation and strength to his trembling, slightly numb fingers.
Every time he tightened his fists, a wave of soreness spread through his muscles. Nevertheless, he persevered, refusing to give up.
There was only one thought in his mind.
Damn it! Hurry up and recover! I absolutely cannot let the team's comeback be ruined because of me!
Seeing that Ishiguro had remained out of his batting stance for quite some time, the umpire behind home plate called out to him.
"Hey, batter! Is something wrong?"
"Huh? Ah, no, I'm fine."
Although his hands were still aching faintly, Ishiguro couldn't simply ignore the umpire's reminder. Reluctantly, he resumed his batting stance.
"Hmph! You still haven't learned your lesson?"
Kitamura stared intently at Ishiguro from across the field. When he saw that the batter had once again foolishly decided to attempt a bunt, he couldn't help letting out a contemptuous snort.
At the same time, a dangerous glint flashed through his otherwise calm eyes.
Although the gleam disappeared almost immediately, the coldness and ruthlessness it carried were enough to send a shiver down anyone's spine.
In an icy voice, he muttered, "Since you're so determined to throw yourself into despair, I'll let you experience that terrifying feeling all over again!"
His words seemed to carry an invisible pressure, making anyone who heard them feel a chill creep up their spine.
As soon as his voice fell, Kitamura's entire aura changed abruptly.
He was like an enraged lion, radiating an overwhelming presence that seemed to dominate everything around him.
He then slowly raised both hands above his head, preparing to deliver his next pitch.
Seeing that Kitamura was no longer paying attention to him, Classmate Kusano immediately seized the opportunity.
Without the slightest hesitation, he broke into a full sprint toward third base, moving like a gust of wind in an attempt to disrupt Kitamura's pitching rhythm.
"He's stealing a base!"
Kobayashi Keisuke immediately shouted a warning.
However, Kitamura appeared not to have heard him at all. He continued his pitching motion without the slightest change in rhythm.
His right arm swung forward, and he hurled the baseball from his hand with the force of a thunderbolt.
Boom!!!
The baseball shot forward like a cannonball, carrying astonishing speed and power as it hurtled straight toward Ishiguro.
Although this pitch was no less powerful than the previous one, Ishiguro, now trapped in a desperate situation with nowhere left to retreat, showed no intention of backing down.
He gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging as he fixed his gaze on the baseball streaking toward him like a meteor.
The moment the ball approached home plate, he resolutely thrust his bat forward, attempting to meet the rapidly approaching pitch.
The veins on the backs of his hands bulged as he tightened his grip around the handle with all his strength.
Ping!!!
The bat and baseball collided violently, producing a deafening crack that echoed across the field like a spark igniting an explosion.
Once again, that familiar, overwhelming force surged through the bat and into Ishiguro's hands before spreading throughout his entire body.
"Uuugh! Don't underestimate Kaidou High School's determination to conquer the entire nation!"
Ishiguro gritted his teeth, enduring the searing pain in the webbing between his thumb and index finger.
The impact was so tremendous that it felt as though his entire body was being torn apart from within.
His eyes widened, and even more veins bulged across his already flushed forehead.
At that moment, he was exerting every ounce of strength he possessed to withstand the overwhelming force crashing toward him.
He gripped the bat with both hands, leaning slightly forward as he planted his feet firmly against the ground. He refused to retreat even a single step.
Whether it was because he was exerting too much strength or because the pain had become unbearable, the muscles in Ishiguro's face began to twitch uncontrollably.
His once relatively composed expression twisted into something fierce and almost unrecognizable.
The small baseball was like an enraged lion, while the heavy bat resembled a ferocious tiger descending from the mountain.
The two forces collided in midair, neither willing to yield to the other.
For that brief instant, neither side gained a clear advantage.
The baseball and the bat remained locked in a fierce struggle, and the situation on the field reached an extraordinary deadlock.
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