Chapter 221: Kitamura Kou vs. Naoki Enomoto (5)

CRACK!!!

A deafening sound exploded across the field.

The baseball that had been flying toward home plate at incredible speed was struck perfectly by a bat that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

In an instant, the entire stadium was filled with the terrifying sound of the collision.

Everyone’s attention was drawn toward the Batter’s Box.

Their mouths fell open in disbelief.

Especially Naoki Enomoto, Sato Toshiya, the players of Kaidou High School, and their passionate supporters.

Every single one of them stared wide-eyed at the scene before them.

The small white baseball seemed to have been injected with tremendous energy.

In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a dazzling streak of light.

Carrying overwhelming force and terrifying speed, it shot toward the first-base foul line.

The baseball moved so quickly that the spectators could not even react.

All they could do was watch as it cut through the sky, leaving behind a perfectly straight trajectory.

BOOM!!!

Only after the baseball had already flown away did the sound of Kitamura Kou’s powerful swing finally arrive.

The bat tore through the air with such force that the surrounding atmosphere was violently disturbed.

A fierce gust erupted around home plate.

Dust particles were swept into the air, colliding and mixing together until they formed a swirling stream.

In just a moment, the dust gathered into a small tornado-like vortex.

It was an incredible sight.

Everyone originally thought that this overwhelming hit would become another spectacular Home Run.

However…

The baseball eventually drifted just outside the foul line.

It landed deep into the right-field stands.

“Foul ball!”

The first-base umpire’s voice rang out.

Kitamura Kou calmly looked toward the direction where the baseball disappeared.

His expression remained unchanged.

“So there really is a difference between imagination and actual combat.”

“Although I perfectly predicted the pitch, my timing was still slightly off.”

“My swing was half a beat slower than the ideal moment.”

“It seems I need to adjust my timing for the next one.”

While replaying every detail of the previous swing inside his mind, Kitamura Kou continued simulating different possibilities for the next confrontation.

Every movement.

Every angle.

Every possible variation.

He was already preparing.

However…

Naoki Enomoto was surprisingly quiet.

He lowered his head.

Because of the angle, no one could clearly see his expression.

His lips moved slightly.

It seemed like he was muttering something.

But his voice was so faint that it sounded like the buzzing of a mosquito.

Even if someone tried to listen carefully, they would struggle to understand.

“What a joke…”

“That arrogant brat from the practice game…”

“And now this annoying kid too…”

“They both actually managed to send This Great Master’s Gyro Ball flying this far?!”

“Who do you think I am?”

“I am Kaidou High School’s absolute Ace!”

“The pillar that supports this team!”

“There is no reason for me to lose!”

“Especially not to someone like you!”

“You irritating brat!”

“This Great Master will never lose to you!”

“Never!!!”

At first, his voice was barely audible.

But as the anger burning inside him continued to grow…

His voice gradually became louder.

Louder.

And louder.

Until everyone on the field could hear him.

Finally—

“Aaaaahhhhh!!!”

Naoki Enomoto roared toward the sky.

At this moment, the usual calm and arrogant Naoki Enomoto had completely disappeared.

His handsome face was twisted by rage.

His eyes were wide open, bloodshot from extreme anger.

A terrifying pressure radiated from his entire body.

He no longer looked like the composed Pitcher from before.

Instead…

He resembled a wild beast that had broken free from its restraints.

A creature driven purely by instinct.

A monster determined to destroy anything standing in its way.

Yet…

The players of Kaidou High School did not show any fear.

Instead, mysterious smiles appeared on their faces.

“Oh ho ho…”

“He’s awakened.”

“Ever since Enomoto was completely defeated by Shigeno Goro, he has been desperately refining his Gyro Ball.”

“Even without entering this state, his current Gyro Ball is already completely different from before.”

“That’s right.”

“Compared to the past, his ordinary Gyro Ball has improved tremendously.”

“But the Gyro Ball he throws after entering this state…”

“Even we, his teammates who train beside him every day, cannot imagine how terrifying it has become.”

“Hehehe…”

“I may not be able to guarantee anything else…”

“But there is one thing I’m certain of.”

“The speed of this pitch will definitely exceed 150 km/h!”

“This is the same state he entered when he fought against Goro-kun…”

Sato Toshiya’s eyes widened slightly.

However, instead of feeling nervous, he felt excited.

The heavy pressure that had been weighing on his heart finally disappeared.

He no longer needed to desperately calculate how to defeat Kitamura Kou.

His only responsibility now…

Was to properly receive the terrifying Gyro Ball that was about to arrive.

A pitch that could even continue charging forward like a wild beast after defeating the Batter.

Meanwhile, Kitamura Kou seemed completely unaware of the danger approaching.

His expression remained calm.

Like a peaceful lake without a single ripple.

He simply waited.

Waiting for Naoki Enomoto’s next pitch.

“Don’t underestimate me, brat!”

“Disappear before This Great Master!”

Naoki Enomoto let out a roar like a furious beast.

Then he threw the baseball with all his strength.

At this moment, he no longer cared about control.

Whether the pitch became a strike or a ball…

Whether it entered the strike zone or missed completely…

He left everything to fate.

WHOOSH!!!

The moment the baseball left his hand, the entire atmosphere changed.

This Gyro Ball was completely different from the previous ones.

Its speed.

Its power.

Its terrifying rotation.

Everything had reached another level.

As the baseball traveled forward, the surrounding air seemed to be forcibly torn apart by an invisible force.

A sharp whistle echoed throughout the stadium.

Before the spectators could even react…

The baseball had already arrived in front of home plate.

And then—

That familiar scene happened once again.

The baseball rushed forward like a fierce beast.

But in front of it…

A bat silently appeared.

Without warning.

Without hesitation.

Like a ghost.

It quietly waited directly in the baseball’s path.