Ace of Ace

Chapter 2.2

 An Angel’s Life on Chance (2)

‘5,311 hours?! That’s… 220? 221 days?! And let’s see… That’s over 7 months!’

‘Dammit, 7 months from now it’ll be early next year . I need to recover before this year passes’

Next year he’d be turning 26 . Including rehabilitation time, he’d be well over 27 before he could start pitching properly .

‘Isn’t there a way to recover faster?’

As if the program was responding to his thoughts, new messages were displayed .

– recovery time using mental enhancement: 1,244 hours –

– may I commence the mental enhancement?

1,244 hours was equivalent to approximately 2 months .

‘Full recovery in 2 months, then I may be able to finish the rehab program by early next year’

This was Gun’s final chance .

Without hesitation, he responded in his mind .

‘I don’t know what mental enhancement is, but desperate times call for desperate measures . Hurry and commence the enhancement’

– initialising mental enhancement –

Within moments, Gun could feel his body rapidly heat up . He wanted to groan and scream in pain, but no sound, nor words could escape his mouth .

*12 days after the accident*

Gun was recovering at an unbelievable rate, surprising all the doctors and nurses .

“I have never seen a patient recover this quickly”

“Perhaps it’s because he’s an athlete that his recovery is outstanding!”

“Hm… maybe he was born with unique genes . His muscle density and recovery rate is no match for an ordinary human being”

“You mean to say, he was blessed with special gifts or powers?”

“Hm… as reluctant as I am, I’d have to assume so”

Gun was lying down on his nursing bed, looking at the texts that were displayed .

Health: D

Strength: E

Agility: E

Responsiveness: D

Trust: C

Luck: B

Mental Power: A

As the recovery processes progressed, the mere F’s on his stats were beginning to slowly rise .

‘Hm… I guess there’s no point telling other people about these stats, they wouldn’t believe me… What a shame . ’

Gun also knew that even if he could somehow prove that he could magically quantify and produce an accurate table of his stats, the people would only take him to a hidden laboratory for cruel experiments in an attempt to extract the power from him .

According to the messages, there were approximately 40 days left until all stats were to return to normal .

‘I wonder how long the rehab would take . I’d have to start from rock bottom again right’

He let out a deep sigh .

The minor league life was dooming .

‘Here comes the bread and strawberry jam again…’

——————————————————————————————————————

4th of January 2020 (2 years and 6 months ago)

Gun let out a breath of relief as the doctor notified him that the operation was successful .

“Only thing you need is some good rest now”

Gun delivered his words of gratefulness on his nursing bed .

“Thank you very much”

2 months ago, with the help of his minor league team, he was drafted into the top 40 list of the Major League and was aiming to be drafted officially into a team .

The major league, which he dreamt of for years .

However, due to a critical elbow injury, he ended up undergoing a surgery .

There were 2 things pointed out as the cause for his injury .

Firstly, his incorrect pitching form .

Gun held the ‘Inverted W’ pitching form .

Numerous major league pitchers from the past with high speed balls fell with the Inverted W form .

Gun also knew very well of the dangers and risks of adopting this form .

However, this form was also the best form to produce top speed fast balls . Gun was unable to resist the temptations of immediate quality performance for taking the risks of injuries, much like other pitchers from the past .

Secondly, he often overworked his body .

Gun was known for his significantly large amount of training . He trained even after games, typically working on mastering his Breaking Balls .

It didn’t come to a surprise that Gun faced such injury, for he was overworking his body with an incorrect form .

“It ‘s a miracle that your body endured for 4 years”

After he was discharged, the draft team officials visited his cabin .

Gun regarded it as a necessary visit of manners and courtesy to check up on a player’s conditions after an operation .

However, their purpose for the visit was different to what Gun had expected .

“Mr . Choi, you are now an unrestricted free agent, able to establish contracts with other teams”

Gun hadn’t even entered the major league yet, but they were talking about free agency .

It took Gun several moments to figure out the deeper meaning of their notice .

“…Are you saying that I’m no longer part of the team?”

“Mr . Choi, the team can no longer wait for you”

Gun’s age had already reached the end of that of a super rookie . He knew that very well . Which was exactly why he had spent so much time and effort training harder than others .

“Is it okay for a team to abandon their injured player like this? Without pre arranged meetings or negotiations?”

Gun yelled in a tone filled dense with emotions .

The team’s draft officials had experienced these types of abandonments numerous times, so they had grown accustomed to the players’ outrages .

“Mr . Choi, your talent is sensational . However, you are slightly different to the rest of the players . You own an absolute Achilles heel .

“I’m different to other players? Is it the injury?”

The official replied as he shook his head .

“It’s not the injury, Mr . Choi . It’s the military service . ”

It was true . Gun hadn’t yet served in the compulsory South Korean military service unlike many other players in his age .

Had he entered the Major League he wouldn’t have these worries . If you enter the Major League, and ultimately the Olympics and win a medal, you are able to apply for an exemption .  

However, all such hopes were blown away by the injury .

“Mr . Choi, I hope you are able to respect the team’s decision . ”

The official used the excuse of the military service, but in fact he wasn’t regarding Gun’s abilities that highly at all .

Had he seen true potential in Gun’s abilities, then despite the military service issues, the team would have waited 2 years or so .

However, that wasn’t the team’s decision .

They regarded Gun’s talents as quite ordinary .

Gun asked .

“Is there no other way?”

The official shook his head firmly .

“It was Thompson’s final call . It would be impossible to oppose it . Mr . Choi, please respect his decision”

A . Thompson was Boston Red Sox’s new GM . As soon as he was newly appointed, he used his very first opportunity to eliminate ‘ordinary’ or ‘hopeless’ rookies, and Gun was his first target .

“Pardon me, but I will be on my way, I have a lot to take care of today”

*Thump*

The door closed, and the draft official disappeared .

Gun murmured, filled with rage .

‘Damn it… To be abandoned like this . I will show those bastards what I’m capable of . I will become the second Bambino . *

*Legendary home run king, Babe Ruth’s nickname . After Boston traded away Babe Ruth at an incredibly low price, they failed to win a World Series for 86 years until 2004 . They often referred to this as the Bambino’s Curse .