Chapter 26 — Unlocking Synergy
The next day's practice felt different the moment Zach stepped onto the field behind the sports store.
The team wasn't showing up in small groups like usual.
They arrived together.
Laughing.
Talking.
Arguing playfully.
Buzzing with nervous excitement.
Tyler jogged up to Zach, carrying two gloves, three snacks, and one very confused expression.
"Zach… today's the day. Today we reach PEAK TEAM-NESS. TEAMINESS? TEAM-NOLOGY?"
Zach blinked.
"Team synergy?"
Tyler gasped.
"Yes! That's the word!"
Blake walked up next, stretching his arm slowly. His shoulder still stiff, but improving.
"You ready?" Blake asked.
Zach nodded.
"Yes."
Tyler slapped both their backs.
"Let's become LEGENDS."
Coach Ramirez Joins the Training
Today wasn't just Ethan.
Coach Ramirez walked onto the field with a clipboard and whistle.
"Alright, Dodgers! Ethan and I are combining forces today."
Tyler raised a hand.
"Wait—like… Avengers?"
Coach smirked.
"Exactly like Avengers."
Tyler dropped to his knees.
"YES!"
Blake shook his head.
"He's too excited."
But Zach could see it—
Blake was excited too.
Warm-up Turns Serious
After stretches and simple drills, Ethan gathered everyone.
"Listen up. The Hawks aren't just good—they're coordinated. You saw Mason. What you didn't see is the rest of their lineup. They communicate constantly. They move as a unit."
Coach Ramirez stepped forward.
"So today, we're learning how to do the same."
He pointed at Zach, Blake, Tyler, Emma, Noah, Bryan, Micah, Eli, Jaden.
"All of you will learn your roles—and each other's."
Zach swallowed.
This was big.
Drill 1 — The Blind Triangle
Ethan placed three cones: left, right, and center.
"Zach, Tyler, Blake—this is for you."
Tyler puffed up proudly.
"Oh boy—pain training time."
Ethan smirked.
"You're not wrong."
He handed Tyler a blindfold.
Tyler froze.
"Wait… WHAT?!"
"You're calling plays blind," Ethan said.
"Your job is to guide Zach and Blake with your voice alone."
Tyler shook his head rapidly.
"Nope. Nope! My voice is chaos. You don't want this."
Coach Ramirez crossed his arms.
"Your voice is exactly why we do want this."
Tyler's eyes glimmered.
"…That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."
Tyler put on the blindfold.
Zach and Blake stepped into position.
Tyler yelled,
"LEFT ZACH! RIGHT BLAKE! SWITCH! SWITCH AGAIN! ZACH DIVE! BLAKE CATCH IT!"
They collided.
Hard.
Ethan sighed.
"Okay. Try again."
Tyler screamed,
"THIS IS SO MUCH POWER— I'M DRUNK ON IT!"
System Reaction
As they repeated the drill—
fumbling, arguing, adjusting—
Zach felt something in his chest warm.
Then—
PING…
"Team Synergy: 74%."
"Coordination Increasing…"
Zach blinked, stunned.
They were growing.
Together.
Drill 2 — The Moving Defense
Coach Ramirez placed the whole team in the field.
"Ball's going everywhere," he said.
"No announcements. No warnings. Rely on each other."
He rolled a grounder to second.
Emma scooped it—
fired to Zach at shortstop—
who relayed it to first.
Smooth.
Then a pop-up.
Bryan caught it shakily.
Fly ball.
Micah missed—
Eli backed him up instantly.
Tyler screamed instructions that made no sense.
"NOAH LEFT!
BRYAN UP!
ZACH, SPIN!
BLAKE, STRETCH YOUR SHOULDERS EMOTIONALLY!"
Zach laughed.
Blake groaned.
But they moved fast.
Together.
Better.
Ping.
"Team Synergy: 81%."
Zach's heart pounded.
It was working.
Drill 3 — The Full-Team Relay
Ethan lined up the entire team.
"One ball," he said. "Nine players. Fastest relay wins."
They passed it hand-to-hand —
clean, tight, precise.
Tyler dropped it once.
Then twice.
Then a third time.
Tyler screamed:
"WHY AM I LIKE THIS?!"
Zach patted him.
"It's okay."
Blake added,
"You're trying too hard."
Tyler froze.
"What?"
Blake glared.
"I said… you're trying too hard."
Tyler blinked.
"That… is the nicest thing YOU'VE ever said to me."
Blake muttered under his breath, but didn't deny it.
They tried again.
Perfect relay.
Everyone cheered.
The system chimed louder—
PING!
"Team Synergy: 90%."
"Threshold Approaching… Unlock imminent."
Zach's body tingled.
He wasn't the only one feeling it—
everyone was moving with sharper timing, better instincts, more trust.
A Sudden Visitor — Another Hawk
Halfway through practice, a ball rolled near the parking lot.
Bryan jogged to get it—
and froze.
A tall Hawks player leaned against a car.
Different from Mason.
Bigger.
Older-looking.
Smug.
He tossed the ball back lazily.
His jersey number: 9
He grinned at Bryan.
"Nice drills. You guys look cute when you try."
Bryan paled and ran back.
Emma whispered,
"Another scout…"
Blake clenched his fists.
Tyler peeked behind Zach like a scared cat.
"Why do they keep appearing?! Like evil ninjas!"
The Hawks player waved mockingly.
"We'll see you soon, Dodgers."
He walked away.
Zach felt a cold pulse inside him—
Ping.
"Hawks Scout #2 Identified."
"Skill Level: High."
"Monitoring your team's synergy."
Zach exhaled slowly.
The Hawks weren't just preparing.
They were tracking them.
Team Meeting
Coach Ramirez called everyone in.
His voice unusually serious.
"Alright, listen up. The Hawks have been scouting us. That means we're on their radar."
Tyler raised his hand.
"Can we get OFF their radar?"
Coach shook his head.
"Nope."
Blake crossed his arms.
"Good. Let them come."
Zach nodded.
"We'll be ready."
Coach cracked a smile.
"That's the spirit."
System Upgrade — Synergy Unlocks
As practice wound down, Zach felt a rush in his chest.
Warm.
Powerful.
Electric.
Then—
the system spoke clearer than ever.
PING!
"Team Synergy: 100% — UNLOCKED."
New Feature: Synergy Link (Basic).
You can now feel real-time emotional and confidence levels from all teammates on the field."
Zach's breath caught.
He could feel it—
Tyler's excitable joy.
Blake's steady determination.
Emma's calm focus.
Bryan's nervous pride.
Noah's chaotic energy.
The outfielders' ambition.
The team's unity.
The system continued:
"In-game bonuses: smoother communication, faster reactions, better coordination."
"Warning: Hawks synergy is higher."
Zach froze.
"Higher?"
The system pulsed.
"Prepare for the hardest game yet."
Zach's heart pounded.
But he wasn't scared.
He was ready.