Diamond Ace's Passionate Swing

Lin Xiao nodded slightly and then began his pitching motion. His movements were fluid and seamless, without a single unnecessary pause.

"call--"

The ball shot through the air like an arrow, making a sharp whistling sound.

"So fast!"

Hiromi Tate's pupils suddenly contracted; the baseball bat had barely been raised when the ball had already landed steadily in Miyuki's glove.

"Good shot!" the referee announced loudly.

The speedometer showed 155 km/h.

The Kiryu High School players on the sidelines gasped in shock.

"That's a straight shot? The speed is ridiculous!"

"The ball speed is still this fast in the second game?!"

"That guy's batting zone is strong? How come his pitching is so terrifying?"

Guan Guangmei gritted her teeth, adjusted the position of the baseball bat, and got into position again.

Lin Xiao remained expressionless as he received the cipher again.

This time, his pitching motion was even smoother, as if he and the ball had become one.

The ball flew out again, its trajectory even more unpredictable and its speed even greater.

"Bang!"

Miyuki's gloves made a dull sound.

"nice shot!"

The speedometer showed 158 km/h.

Guan Guangmei's forehead was covered in sweat, and her heart was racing.

He missed both straight shots. He had to shoot the third one, no matter what.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, his gaze sharp. He could feel the power surging within him, as if boundless energy awaited its release.

Miyuki raised a finger and pointed to the right side.

Lin Xiao gently shook his head, indicating that he wanted to throw a different ball. Miyuki was slightly surprised, but then understood and changed the signal.

Lin Xiao began his third pitching motion.

This time, his movements were more fluid; he lifted his leg and swung his arm to shoot the ball.

Guan Guangmei was fully focused and swung the bat early.

But the ball's speed exceeded his expectations; the straight ball whistled past, leaving a blur in front of his eyes.

"Strikeout!" The umpire raised his right hand.

Speedometer: 160 km/h.

The entire stadium fell silent, then erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

"Strikeout!"

"Lin Xiao is amazing!"

"Even Kiryu's fourth batter couldn't handle him!"

"This is the national runner-up team."

"Doesn't Lin Xiao have the strength of a national champion?"

Hiromi Tate stood rooted to the spot, staring in shock at her bat. That wasn't ordinary pitch speed; it was monstrous.

"This guy... isn't human at all..." he muttered to himself as he slowly walked back to the rest area.

Lin Xiao calmly wiped the sweat from his forehead, as if his behavior just now was nothing out of the ordinary.

Kiryu High School's fifth batter stepped into the batter's box, his face filled with unease. The hushed whispers of his teammates made him even more nervous.

"Calm down, watch one game first," he told himself.

However, Lin Xiao did not give him that chance.

The first pitch was a fast forkball, and the ball suddenly plummeted in the air, causing the five batters to miss.

"nice shot!"

The next two goals.

Lin Xiao used both inside-corner straight shots and outside-corner change shots, leaving his opponent with no chance to defend.

"Strikeout!"

By the time the sixth batter came on, he had completely lost confidence.

Faced with Lin Xiao's pitch, he could only swing passively and eventually struck out as well.

Lin Xiao walked down the pitcher's mound, and the Seido team members excitedly rushed forward.

"That's fantastic! Three strikeouts in a row!" Kuramochi exclaimed excitedly.

"Your ball is getting faster and faster." Miyuki patted Lin Xiao on the shoulder, his eyes full of approval.

"Hehe, just average, third in the world," Lin Xiao said modestly.

In the rest area, Director Kataoka stared at Lin Xiao's figure, his eyes flashing with an unusual light.

"Six strikeouts in a row..." Manager Kataoka muttered to himself, "This kid really has the makings of an ace."

Reiya Takashima nodded in agreement: "He was in excellent form today; his speed and ball control reached new heights."

"It's not just a matter of form," Coach Kataoka said seriously. "His growth rate has far exceeded my expectations. If this continues..."

The words were not finished, but the meaning was already clear.

Lin Xiao is on the verge of becoming a true ace pitcher.

On the bench at Seido, the team members all felt the sense of security that Lin Xiao brought. With him on the pitcher's mound, it felt like victory was just around the corner.

"He's really reliable," Yuki remarked, watching Lin Xiao's retreating figure.

"Yeah, with such strong offense and defense, he's practically a perfect player," Kominato chimed in.

The atmosphere in the Kiryu High School rest area was heavy. Hiromi Tate sat silently in the corner, clutching a towel tightly in his hand.

"That guy's pitching and hitting are so strong... Is this really fair?" one player muttered.

Coach Matsumoto frowned: "Don't be discouraged, the game has only just begun."

"Lin Xiao is strong, but no pitcher can maintain their best form all the time. What we need to do is wait for our opportunity."

However, Coach Matsumoto probably won't have a chance.

The second half of the second set is about to begin.

It was Seido High School's turn to attack.

Miyuki stood in the batter's box, his sharp gaze fixed on Hiromi Tate on the pitcher's mound. There were no bases on the field. He gripped his bat tightly and assumed the ready stance.

Guan Guangmei took a deep breath and calmly threw a fastball.

Miyuki swung the bat, but the ball was too fast and he only hit air.

"Uh," Miyuki said, feeling a little awkward.

"This idiot." Even Takashima Rei couldn't stand it anymore, even in the rest area.

"Miyuki really can't break the curse of having no bases," Chris joked.

"nice shot!"

Guan Guangmei smiled slightly and threw the second ball.

This was an inside pitch, and Miyuki had some difficulty judging it. He eventually swung, but only hit a foul ball.

"One more," Kiryu's catcher confidently gestured to Hiromi Tate.

The third goal.

Guan Guangmei threw a powerful, downward curveball.

Miyuki tried his best to chase the ball, but could only glide over it. The ball flew towards third base and was caught by the third baseman.

"Out!"

Miyuki returned to the rest area with a frown, and Lin Xiao patted him on the shoulder: "It's okay, I'll avenge you."

"Hahaha."

Miyuki: "Damn it, I'm being laughed at again."

Haruichi Kominato picked up his bat and headed towards the batter's box.

He was short in stature and looked even more immature in the batting box, prompting the Kiryu team members to show disdain.

"These first-year students are getting a bit arrogant, hitting the ball with wooden sticks?" one of Kiryu's teammates mocked. "They're lucky if they even touch the ball."

Hiromi looked at Haruichi in the strike zone, a contemptuous smile appearing on her lips.

He gripped the ball tightly and threw a powerful straight shot.

The ball moved with lightning speed, making a piercing whistling sound as it flew through the air. Haruichi remained calm, and although he couldn't swing, his eyes followed the ball's trajectory closely.

"nice shot!"

Ryosuke Kominato clenched his fists on the sidelines, intently watching his younger brother.

"Spring City, can you handle it?"

Hiromi Tate prepares to throw the second ball.

This time he slightly adjusted his grip on the ball, trying to throw a more deceptive shot.

As the ball left his hand, Haruichi's eyes gleamed with focused concentration. He had keenly grasped Hiromi Tate's pitching rhythm.

The bat swung out and hit the ball precisely.

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound of the ball hitting the court echoed throughout the stadium.

The ball flew high toward right field, and Shirasu stood up nervously on the sidelines.

Kiryu's right fielder chased the ball desperately, but watched helplessly as it landed on the grass in front of him. He then quickly picked up the ball and passed it back.

Chunshi had easily run to first base, standing on the base panting, a shy and satisfied smile on his face.

"Unbelievable!" Kiryu's coach, Matsumoto, stood up in surprise. "Are all the first-year students at Seido this good?"

Guan Guangmei's expression turned serious. He hadn't expected that this seemingly frail first-year student could hit his ball so far.

The atmosphere on the field immediately became enthusiastic, with chants of "Seido! Seido!"