[198] The Terrifying Power of the Dark Horse

Chapter 198: The Terrifying Power of the Dark Horse

The True Arrival of the Dark Horse!!!

While Seidou High and various other schools were steadily preparing for their next matches, a dark horse from the northern lands—a storm originating in the north—swept through Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, and even captivated the entire nation of Japan.

Representing South Hokkaido, the northern powerhouse Komadai Fujimaki High School delivered a shocking performance.

In the second round, they secured an overwhelming 8-0 shutout victory against the perennial Koshien contender and prestigious East Tokyo representative, Teito High School.

This landslide win shook not only the spectators but also every participating team to their core.

Initially, most people expected this match to be one-sided, and while they were correct about the result, they were wrong about the dominant side.

The audience watching the game displayed nothing but utter shock.

The overwhelming batting power and the stability of the bullpen shattered all previous perceptions of Komadai Fujimaki.

Throughout the entire game, Teito High, despite giving it their all, managed only five hits. Even more astonishingly, those five hits didn't result in a single run.

This marked the first miracle of Koshien this year.

Teito High, a team expected to comfortably reach the quarterfinals and even considered a strong contender for the semifinals or finals, was eliminated in such a decisive fashion.

The shock wasn't limited to the audience.

Even at the final moment of the game, the players of Teito High were left with expressions of disbelief.

Their head coach, Okamoto Ippachi, could only show a resigned smile.

The loss was a complete demonstration of a power imbalance—Teito was outclassed in both offense and defense.

In every aspect, Teito High fell short of Komadai Fujimaki's prowess.

To be fair, Teito High initially underestimated Komadai Fujimaki and made some tactical errors in their approach.

Coach Okamoto admitted post-game that he bore responsibility for the loss.

However, even to the keen-eyed spectators, it was clear that regardless of Okamoto's decisions, Teito's chances of winning were slim.

The gap in ability between the two teams was simply too vast—a disparity that strategy alone couldn't bridge.

One key factor was Komadai Fujimaki's mature bullpen strategy.

Each pitcher brought their own unique strengths, and the team seemingly had four primary pitchers in their rotation.

However, even the two pitchers they deployed against Teito High were more than enough to dominate the game.

After defeating Teito High, Komadai Fujimaki quickly became one of the strongest contenders for the championship this year.

This wasn't merely about defeating Teito High—it was the sheer dominance displayed throughout the game that made the victory remarkable.

Nicknamed the Dark Horse from the North, Komadai Fujimaki received this moniker from baseball media outlets following the match.

Many experts now view them as a legitimate threat to reach the finals.

The mastermind behind this transformation, head coach Kozo Nitta, has become a household name for leading this previously unknown team to national prominence.

Komadai Fujimaki has become the center of attention across the country.

As Komadai Fujimaki High School earned nationwide recognition, a first-year pitcher also emerged as a star, capturing the attention of the entire country.

This pitcher was none other than one of the original series' main antagonists—Masamune Hongou!

A first-year right-hander capable of throwing pitches exceeding 150 km/h, Hongou displayed absolute dominance in the final three innings of the match against Teito High.

He allowed only two hits, impressing not just the live audience but baseball fans across Japan.

Similarly, Furuya, who started for Seidou High in their opening match, was inevitably compared to Hongou.

At this stage, however, it was clear that Masamune Hongo surpassed Furuya in every way.

There was no need to elaborate further—just on control alone, Hongou completely outclassed Furuya.

Nicknamed the Northern Monster and the True Monster Pitcher, Masamune Hongou became a household name, a testament to his skill and recognition.

While Furuya and Hongou may share similarities in style, with both being power pitchers, at this moment, Hongou's performance was clearly superior.

Their future is unpredictable, but for now, Hongou stands out as the better of the two.

Fans are eagerly anticipating a potential showdown between these two power pitchers.

Even though Komadai Fujimaki employs a bullpen strategy and Seidou's true ace is Eijun Sawamura, it hasn't diminished the excitement surrounding a possible clash between Furuya and Hongou.

With Teito High's elimination and Komadai Fujimaki's meteoric rise, the Koshien tournament progressed, leaving only the final sixteen teams in the running for the championship.

These remaining teams would battle it out for the ultimate prize.

...

Seidou High's Dormitory

At the Seidou High lodging, in the large dining hall, the players gathered during their usual post-dinner relaxation time. The atmosphere was lively, with most of the team assembled there.

"A power pitcher, huh? Haha, Furuya, this guy is just like you!" Jun Isashiki, lounging with his legs crossed, chuckled as he glanced at the newspaper in his hands and teased Furuya, who sat diagonally in front of him.

"Yeah, but this Masamune Hongou guy's control is way better than yours," Ryousuke added calmly, delivering a sharp remark without hesitation.

Furuya remained composed, his expression unchanging as if unaffected by their comments.

However, Haruichi and Eijun, sitting nearby, could clearly see the flames of determination burning in Furuya's eyes.

After all, pitchers often have a natural rivalry, especially when someone with a skill set almost identical to theirs comes into the spotlight.

It was only natural for Furuya to feel challenged.

However, even back in spring, when Furuya had already shown flashes of brilliance, he was still slightly behind Hongou in terms of overall ability—let alone at this moment.

Eijun glanced at the newspaper in his hand. In the featured photo, Hongou stood behind Coach Nitta, exuding an intense, almost feral aura. Even through the image, his fierce presence was palpable.

"That guy looks terrifying," Eijun thought to himself. "Even in a photo, his ferocity comes through."

"Hey, Furuya, you're both from Hokkaido, right? Do you know him?" Kuramochi asked, tilting his head curiously toward Furuya.

"No, I don't," Furuya replied softly, shaking his head. His response didn't surprise anyone. Given Furuya's personality, it was evident he wasn't the type to actively make friends.

Kuramochi had only asked out of casual curiosity, so he quickly moved on, but the topic lingered in the minds of the team.

The looming presence of Masamune Hongou promised a fierce battle in the games ahead, one that everyone at Seidou High was eager to face.

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