Chapter 9
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<If the pitcher catches the ball, they must throw it to the end. Saying ‘Let’s give it a try’ while pitching is what makes a true ace and signifies carrying the team.>
<Stamina drops to 5 due to ???’s effect!>
This activates in a limited capacity!
<Activation period: Until the end of this game>
Suddenly, a black status window appeared in front of me.
Even when I searched through the system, it didn’t respond to my commands.
The usual blue screen had disappeared, and only the black window kept blinking.
‘If it’s Iron Arm… it’s Choi Dong-il’s skill.’
For now, I should check the temporarily added skill.
<Iron Arm (H)>
<Put your soul into every single pitch. This is the destiny and fate of an ace. You must bet your life on the pitch while saying ‘Let’s give it a try.’>
<The stamina reduction rate decreases significantly, and as stamina decreases, pitch quality, velocity, control, and strikeout probability increase greatly.>
‘As expected, it’s a History-grade skill.’
[Strike the Show] has a peculiar system.
A mistake pitch—where a red exclamation mark appears above the pitcher’s head—forces the ball to be thrown straight down the middle.
In ranked matches, how rarely this mistake occurs can determine the game’s outcome, so minimizing its chances is crucial.
…The problem is that my stamina is currently at 5.
With stamina at 5… what’s the mistake rate again?
No, no. Unlike the game, this is reality.
It’s not a world where a 170 km/h fastball flies just by tapping a button.
In the game, when stamina decreases, no matter how good the pitch quality is, a forced mistake happens straight down the middle.
Because of that, this History-grade skill isn’t highly regarded in the game.
But in real baseball, even if I throw a mistake pitch, the opponent doesn’t get an alarm for it.
They would just think I threw a fastball down the middle.
‘And even with low stamina, if your control and mentality are strong, mistakes rarely happen.’
-Whack!
“Strike, batter out!”
“Damn it!”
The batter cursed angrily as he turned back.
But such a scene didn’t matter to me right now.
‘Even throwing at full strength doesn’t seem to reduce my stamina much.’
Was it because my stamina was already at 5?
Honestly, as long as the results are good, that’s all that matters.
The next batter stepped in.
‘Two-seam, pitch 5.’
This time, aiming for a grounder.
I pitched skillfully, and the ball hit an unexpected spot, turning into a ground ball heading straight for the shortstop.
“Got it!”
Oh Ji-hoon caught the ball and threw it to first base.
The bottom of the first inning ended just like that.
First inning, total pitches… 14.
Second inning, total pitches… 34.
Third inning, total pitches… 41.
Fourth inning, total pitches… 55.
…
…
…
And by the ninth inning, total pitches… 132.
The coach watched the game, wondering if this was really happening.
Scouts from other schools and teams, Haneul High School’s starting members, and even Epinel watched in astonishment.
Kim Si-hoo also looked at me, seemingly intrigued.
The score was 8-0.
Kim Si-hoo pitched four clean innings except for the four hits he allowed to me and Yang Eui-ji.
But the pitcher who came up after him got pummeled by consecutive hits, and the score gap widened.
Meanwhile, I allowed neither a single hit nor a walk until the ninth inning.
The score difference was already overwhelming.
“It’s time for the bottom of the ninth.”
“Wait, wait. Let me talk to you for a second.”
As I grabbed the old glove I had used since middle school and prepared to head up, Yang Eui-ji approached me with a concerned expression.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Let’s see it through.”
“Hah… The coach told me to pull you out if you give up even one hit. I’ll lead as best as I can, so just hang in there.”
Yang Eui-ji stepped into his catcher’s position and signaled with his mitt.
‘My body feels like I’ve pushed it beyond its limits, but… this is strange.’
I feel great.
Before, I couldn’t pitch with everything I had, leaving me regretful.
But now, my body feels like it’s burning, urging me to throw even stronger pitches.
With the physique of a professional player and the skills embedded with legends, I felt like I could take on anyone.
First pitch.
The batter swung wildly as if dancing, then collapsed with a loud thud.
‘Eight pitches left for a perfect game.’
Second pitch.
A slider that flew toward the batter, then broke bizarrely just before the strike zone.
The batter stood frozen, staring at the pitch in shock.
“Ugh…!”
He called for time briefly, but I threw the same slider again.
Strikeout.
Six pitches left.
The next batter, a sturdy-looking player, stepped into the box confidently.
Surprisingly, he was a freshman, not a sophomore.
-Whack!
“Strike!”
-Whack!
“Strike two!”
-Whack!!
“Strike, batter out!”
A three-pitch strikeout with three consecutive fastballs.
The batter returned to the dugout with a look that something was wrong.
<Are you struggling?>
‘No, on the contrary, I feel something new.’
Nothing was displayed on the system window, but those letters from the black window continued to appear before my eyes.
<This guy is the last batter. Remember my words? Put your soul into every pitch!>
‘I know it very well!’
Strangely, the last batter was Haneul High School’s Cleanup Hitter, Lee Soo-rin.
“Coach, wait! Lee Soo-rin struck out in the eighth inning!”
“This is to test him against the best slugger in Haneul High under extreme circumstances. Any complaints?”
Lee Soo-rin had already struck out in the eighth inning.
But the coach suddenly sent him as a pinch hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth during the test.
I found it ridiculous but decided to just pitch.
“As expected of Haneul High’s Cleanup Hitter, I can’t let it end with such a miserable four strikeouts!”
Lee Soo-rin’s eyes began to burn with determination.
-Whack!
“Strike!”
[152 km/h]
If my stamina had dropped this much, the top velocity used to be 148.
Yet here I was, surpassing 150 so easily, despite being utterly drained.
‘No matter how I look at it, this is such a broken skill.’
The second pitch was a falling two-seam, but Lee Soo-rin managed to make contact and send it foul.
“Phew…”
‘Next, high fastball outside the zone.’
After jamming him low with the second pitch, my plan was to throw high to induce a swing and miss.
“Hup!”
I threw the ball at full power according to the lead.
-Smash!
‘Ah, I’m screwed.’
I could tell instinctively—this was a hit.
When I released the ball, the spin felt slightly off.
The ominous sound of contact echoed, and I turned my head toward where the ball was heading.
‘Was a perfect game too much to ask?’
True to his reputation as Haneul High’s Cleanup Hitter, Lee Soo-rin’s skill shone through.
Well, if that’s how it is, I’ll settle for a shutout—
“Waaaah…!”
-Thwack!
“Got it… G-got it!”
-Crash!
It would’ve been a hit, but Oh Ji-hoon leapt like a butterfly and somehow caught it.
“The game is over! The Blue Team wins 14-0!”
<Quest>
<Entrance Test: Show off your abilities to the fullest!>
<Hits 100, Home Runs 1000, Strikeouts 150, 1-2-3 Inning 300, Shutout 2000, Perfect Game 10000>
<Reward: Skill Random Ticket (E~H) (Reward based on score)>
<Calculating score…>
<Total score: 14,000>
<Reward: Guaranteed History-grade Skill Random Ticket, All Stats +2>
<Information>
<Name: Lee Seo-jun>
<Age: 17>
<Batter Stats>
<Power: 80 → 82>
<Speed: 82 → 84>
<Stamina: 72 → 74>
<Accuracy: 80 → 82>
<Defense: 89 → 91>
<Pitcher Stats>
<Control: 90 → 92>
<Velocity: 151 km/h → 154 km/h>
<Stamina: 72 → 71>
<Pitch Quality: 90 → 92>
<Mentality: 95 → 97>
The incredible joy of achieving my first perfect game in life and winning a History-grade skill.
And… though I couldn’t leave my name in history due to retirement from injury…
In the world of [3X3], I was able to prove myself as a pitcher at Haneul High School, a powerhouse school.
“Hey, Lee Seo-jun! You completely crushed it today!”
“Nice!”
There were more than enough reasons to roar in victory and joy.
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