In the evening, the day after the game, I was laying down on the field after just finishing my training.
I was looking at the screen in front of me with a grin.
[Rewards:
>1 S-Grade pitching elixir
>1 silver tier batting skill
>25 Ace points]
'Finally, I have enough points for a system update.' I thought as I pressed on the option.
[Does User wish to update the system?]
'How long will the update take, Max?'
[Update will take approximately 1 minute.]
'Ok, use the Ace points for the update.'
[Initializing update.]
[System will shut down for 1 minute.]
Suddenly, the screen disappeared.
I tried to bring it back up, but it was like it was never there in the first place.
'It really does have to shut down completely to carry out the update.'
After about a minute had passed, the system rebooted.
[System rebooting.]
[System update has been completed]
The screen then appeared back in front of me.
'Okay, let's see what's new.' I thought as I looked it over.
ACE SYSTEM
SYSTEM LEVEL: 1 (0/1000 Ace points to level up)
AGE: 15
TALENT ASSESSMENT: A-
POTENTIAL: (SS-)
ACE POINTS: 0
'Hmmm, so the next update will be after 1000 Ace points. That's a long way to go, but I'm not in a rush.'
I then looked at the User menu.
USER MENU:
-STATS
-MISSIONS
-SYSTEM SHOP (Unlocked)
-LOTTERY (Locked)
-Rewards (2 Unclaimed)
(One message unread)
'The system shop finally unlocked!'
I instantly clicked the option to see what it had in store.
SYSTEM SHOP:
-Elixirs
-Skills
I first clicked on the elixir option.
Elixirs:
-Recovery elixirs
-Strength Elixirs
-Agility Elixirs
-Balance and Coordination Elixirs
-Stamina Elixirs
-Mental Elixirs
(Each option has different grades to choose from)
'Holy shit that's a lot of options. So, each section has different grades of elixirs. I guess the price of the higher grades are more expensive.' I though, clicking on the options.
My eyes then widened instantly when I saw the pricing of each option.
C-grade Elixir: 100 Ace Points
B-Grade Elixir: 300 Ace Points
A-grade Elixir: 500 Ace Points
S-Grade Elixir: 1000 Ace points
SS-Grade Elixir (Locked)
SSS-Grade Elixir (Locked)
Ex-Grade Elixir (Locked)
L-Grade Elixir (Locked)
'…..'
My mind was blank when I looked at the options.
"Hehe…"
I unconsciously let out a giggle when I saw the last options.
'So, Ex for Extraordinary and L for Legendary? That sounds right. So, I can get to that level at some point in the future. I'm already excited.'
I then looked back at the starting options and frowned a little.
'Max, aren't these too expensive? I don't get many missions to be able to rack up this many Ace points.'
Suddenly, a robotic female voice invaded my head.
"User hasn't read the system message after the update."
I instantly flinched and looked around thinking someone had snuck up on me.
"User, this is Max talking."
'Max? Since when can you speak?'
"Since you updated the system. The update enhances the system as a whole, which now allows me to communicate with you easier."
'Oh nice! That's a whole lot easier than having to read the text on the system face.'
"As I was saying, you haven't read the system message after the update yet."
'Ah right yeah. Let me just see the skills shop first.'
I pressed on the option for skills in the shop.
Skill:
-Quickstep (Passive Skill)
Effect: Enhances Users agility stat by one grade whilst running between one base.
Cost: 300 Ace Points
-Slider Pitch (Passive Skill)
Cost: 500 Ace Points
-Bunting Mastery (Passive Skill)
Cost: 1000 Ace Points
(After you buy a skill from the shop, the skill is then refreshed with a new skill.)
'Oooh, those are some nice skills, definitely tempting to go on a spending spree. I'll have to be wise with my points and save them up. I really don't get a lot of opportunities to gain Ace Points yet. I guess I'll have to wait until the other tournaments start later in the year.'
I was deep in my thoughts, trying to strategize how I would save and use my Ace Points, until Max interrupted my trail of thoughts.
"Again, you should read the system message."
I could hear a slight annoyance in her tone.
'Oops, sorry Max. I got carried away there.'
I then went back to the main menu and clicked on the unread message.
[Congratulations on you first update of the system! As I reward for you hard work so far, you have been given a new function. The simulation training. This will be very useful to work on your skills and gain Ace Points and new skills at the same time.]
I went back on the menu and saw the new option on the screen.
'Simulation training? That sounds cool. I can also gain Ace Points as well?'
I instantly clicked on the option.
Suddenly, my whole vision turned black.
My body felt like a was swimming under water.
It felt foreign yet comfortable.
Then, a bright light entered my vision.
When got used to the light, I found myself on a mound in a huge stadium filled with people in the crowd, cheering loudly.
When I looked around for a while, I finally realised where I was.
'Koshien Stadium'
I was brought to the main stadium of the nationals of Japanese high school baseball, a privilege to only a select few who manage to make it to the national's stage after countless wins in their prefectures.
I felt goosebumps all over my body when I looked at the prestigious field.
'This is incredible.'
I then clenched my fist tightly.
'I'll definitely get here with Seido. This will be our stage to win.'
Suddenly, a screen popped up in front of me.
Simulation Training
Pitching Tasks:
>Pitch 5000 strikes – 500 Ace Points
>Pitch 1000 Four-Seam Fastballs – 100 Ace Points
>Pitch 1000 Two-Seam Fastballs – 100 Ace Points
>Pitch 1000 Cutters – 100 Ace Points
>Pitch 1000 Changeups – 100 Ace Points
>Pitch 1000 Splitters – 100 Ace Points
>Throw Pickoffs 1000 times – 100 Ace Points
>Strikeout AI Batter (Upgradable) – 1000 Ace Points + Gold Lottery ticket
Batting Tasks:
>Hit 1000 bunts successfully – 100 Ace Points
>Hit 1000 balls to the outfield – 100 Ace Points
>Hit 1000 foul balls – 50 Ace Points
>Hit 5000 fastballs – 200 Ace Points
>Hit 5000 breaking balls – 300 Ace Points
> Hit 500 homeruns – 1000 Ace Points + Golden Lottery ticket.
(User is only allowed in the Simulation training for 2 hours a day as it take a toll on your mental stamina.)
I glanced at all the tasks listed and drew a big breath out.
'That is a lot of work, it might take me a couple of months to get through all of them. But the rewards are just as good. This is what I needed to gain more Ace Points. I might as well try this out for a bit.'
Just as I finished my thought, a ball and a glove appeared in my hands.
'Convenient.' I thought with a smirk.
I then looked down towards Homeplate and saw an outline of a catcher that looked like fog, crouching behind Homeplate with a glove.
I started my windup and threw.
WHOOOOOOOSH
BAANG
The ball landed in the catcher's mitt with ease.
The ball appeared in my hand again after that.
I then threw another.
WHOOOOOOOSH
BAANG
'Might as well get started on some of tasks as I have time.'
***
After about 2 hours of pitching in the simulation training, I was sweating profusely on the mound, breathing heavily.
[User time limit in the Simulation Training has run out.]
[Exiting Training.]
I was suddenly forced out of the simulation.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself looking up at the sky on the field I was training on before.
'I was standing up before. I must have fallen over when I went into the simulation, I need to be careful about that. I should only use it whilst laying down or sitting in a good position in the future.'
I then checked the time and saw that only 20 minutes had passed outside of the simulation.
'No wonder it uses so much mental stamina; it's like a 2-hour workout has been forced into your head at the speed of 10x. Truly magical work.'
I then picked myself up off the floor and stood up.
'Ah, I still haven't used the rewards from the game yet.'
I then clicked on the rewards from yesterday.
-1 S-Grade Pitching Elixir
-1 Silver-tier Batting skill
'Max, use the s-grade pitching elixir.'
"Using S-Grade pitching elixir." I heard her reply.
I suddenly had tons of information enter my head at a fast pace, it mainly consisted of my pitches and how to use them more effectively.
I then felt some stimulation in my muscles, it was painful but not as much as the physical elixirs.
It felt like my muscles were being moulded slightly, adjusting them to a fit an ideal pitchers' physique.
After everything finished, the system gave me a notification.
*DING*
[User's Pitching stat has been improved from A to S-. congratulations!]
I practically jumped for joy.
'My first s-grade stat and it's pitching. Perfect.'
I then clicked on the batting skill option.
Suddenly, I bright silver light developed the screen, and the skills appeared in the middle with some fireworks around it.
[Sweet Spot (Active Skill):
Effect: During an at bat, for one pitch, User can hit a pitch perfectly in the middle of his bat, generating more power in your swing.
Cooldown: 2 batting cycles]
'That's a damn good skill!' I thought as a grinned at the screen.
I then gathered my stuff and headed back to the dorms.
'I have a lot of work to do now before the major tournaments start. I will make sure I'm 100% ready to take on anyone.'