The stadium lights burned like artificial stars against the night sky.
A cold wind swept across the field, carrying the thunder of thousands of voices. The crowd filled every seat, their cheers echoing like waves crashing against a cliff.
Tonight, was the championship game.
And at the center of the diamond stood the player everyone had come to see.
Hara Takao.
A name known across the world of baseball.
The fastest pitcher.
The fastest batter.
A player whose reflexes seemed almost supernatural.
The scoreboard glowed in the darkness.
Final inning. Two outs. Full count.
The batter wiped sweat from his brow.
Everyone knew what was coming.
The radar guns were ready.
The cameras zoomed in.
The announcer spoke with barely contained excitement.
"Ladies and gentlemen… if Hara Takao throw another full-power pitch, we may witness the fastest pitch in professional baseball history!"
Takao stood calmly on the mound.
His fingers rolled the baseball slowly.
The seams pressed gently against his skin.
For him, baseball was not just a sport.
It was instinct.
Every throw, every movement, every calculation of distance and timing happened naturally inside his mind.
He lifted his leg.
The world seemed to slow.
The batter blinked.
Takao's arm snapped forward.
CRACK—BOOM
The ball shot forward like a cannon.
The radar gun flashed instantly.
183 km/h
The batter swung.
Too late.
The ball slammed into the catcher's glove with a sound like a gunshot.
STRIKE THREE.
The stadium exploded in cheers.
Takao simply exhaled.
To him…
It was just another pitch.
Hours later, the stadium lights faded behind him as Takao walked home through the quiet city streets.
His bat bag rested over his shoulder.
The cool night air felt refreshing after the intensity of the game.
Cars passed by slowly.
Neon lights reflected on the wet pavement.
Takao stopped at a crosswalk.
The pedestrian signal was still red.
Traffic continued moving through the intersection.
Then he noticed something.
A small child stepped off the sidewalk.
The boy was chasing a bouncing ball across the road.
Takao's eyes widened.
The traffic light for cars was still green.
Then headlights appeared.
A large truck.
Moving fast.
The driver didn't see the child.
Takao's brain instantly calculated the situation.
Distance.
Speed.
Timing.
Just like reading a pitch.
Three steps.
Grab the child.
Throw him.
He didn't hesitate.
Takao sprinted forward.
His legs exploded with power.
The child turned in confusion just as Takao grabbed him.
With a powerful motion—
Takao threw the child toward the sidewalk.
Perfect accuracy.
Perfect force.
The boy rolled safely across the pavement.
But Takao was still standing in the road.
The truck was already too close.
Bright headlights filled his vision.
For the first time in his life…
He couldn't react fast enough.
CRASH
Darkness swallowed everything.
Then came memories.
His childhood.
Practicing baseball until sunset.
His parents cheering from the stands.
The feeling of holding a bat for the first time.
The sound of a ball hitting the glove.
All the moments of his life flowed past like a quiet river.
Then the memories faded.
Takao slowly opened his eyes.
He stood in a vast white space.
It stretched endlessly in every direction.
Like clouds without a sky.
Like light without a source.
A calm voice echoed through the space.
Gentle.
Ancient.
Powerful.
"You have awakened."
Takao looked around.
"…Am I dead?"
A figure slowly appeared before him.
A man formed from soft golden light.
His presence felt warm.
Like sunlight on a winter morning.
"I am the God of Life."
Takao scratched his head.
"So this is the afterlife?"
The god smiled gently.
"Not quite."
"Your death came… earlier than it should have."
Takao blinked.
"So that was an accident?"
"Yes."
The god raised his hand.
Golden light rippled through the air.
And suddenly—
A vision appeared before Takao.
A vast continent unfolded like a living map.
Towering mountain ranges pierced the clouds.
Endless forests stretched across valleys filled with rivers and lakes.
Stone castles rose proudly above great cities.
Flying creatures circled high above the skies.
Dragons.
Huge shadows moving between the clouds.
Knights marched across fields in shining armor.
Mages stood atop towers surrounded by glowing runes.
"This," the god said softly,
"is another world."
"A world where swords and magic exist."
Takao stared in fascination.
"So… fantasy is real there?"
The god chuckled.
"In that world, humans coexist with many dangers."
"Monsters roam the wilderness."
"Dragons rule the skies."
"And kingdoms struggle for power."
Takao crossed his arms.
"Let me guess."
"You want to send me there."
"Correct."
The god nodded.
"You will be reincarnated into that world."
"But you will not begin as a hero."
Takao raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"You will be born into a low noble family."
"In that world, society follows a strict hierarchy."
"Commoners, knights, barons, counts, dukes… and above them all, the king."
"However…"
The god pointed toward the vision again.
"Titles are not absolute."
"In this world, merit determines status."
"If someone performs great service for the kingdom…"
"They may rise in rank."
"A commoner may become a knight."
"A knight may become a lord."
Takao smiled slightly.
"So even someone born low can climb up."
"Exactly."
The god lowered his hand.
"You will keep the talents you possessed in your previous life."
"My baseball talent?"
"Yes."
"But…"
Golden light surrounded Takao's body.
"To compensate for your early death, your abilities will be five times stronger."
Takao blinked.
"…Five times?"
"Your speed."
"Your reflexes."
"Your strength."
"Your perception."
All enhanced.
Takao slowly grinned.
"So my pitching power will basically be a weapon."
The god smiled knowingly.
"Indeed."
Takao stretched his shoulders.
"Alright."
"Sounds interesting."
"I accept."
The god raised his hand.
"Then your new life shall begin."
The world of white light faded.
Takao's consciousness drifted into darkness.
The god's final words echoed softly.
"May your second life be legendary."