"Seems like Alan can see now." Kenzo noted. "Yeah, this tells it." Poseidon endorsed. "Rauf tended his acupuncture points. His vision might come back shortly." explained Seraph.
"Thanks goodness. Made me worried." Seles said relieved. "Seriously, on whose side are you on?" asked Damian confused.
"Yours of course. But, Alan is like my own child. As his medical supervisor it's my duty to take care of him." Seles replied.
"Is that so, but I think one father is enough for him." Ezekiel yawned. "Haha! You're right." Seles agreed. Poseidon smiling at Ezekiel walked over.
"What's wrong?" he asked patting Ezekiel's head. "Vice-captain…? I don't know? I just feel very tired. See, I hadn't slept since morning and now my eyes can't keep up…" Ezekiel yawned once again.
Helios narrowed his brow grave, the moment Ezekiel caught his gaze he stood up wide awake. "Oh! No! No! It's nothing! Nothing at all! I don't feel tired from miles away, haha." he acted as Ebraham, Claude and Poseidon chortled.
"Hehe… don't worry about Helios and take a rest. I promise he won't do anything." Poseidon assured.
"Are you sure? You might not know, he would throw me in a river…" Ezekiel shuddered jus from the thought.
"Haha!" Ebraham and Azazel laughed with tears in their eyes, "Just where, do you even see a river here?" "Alright, alright he won't do anything so take a rest." Poseidon guaranteed Ezekiel who yawned drowsily. "Vice-captain… make sure to wake me up before your turn…" he whispered at the end.
Poseidon eyeing him snoring over Ebraham's shoulder stared seriously. "Looks like… I just won't be able to do that…" Poseidon smiled perturbed. "Kenzo can I go next?" he asked out of the blue.
"Hun? You want to go?" asked Ryan puzzled. Kenzo nodded, "Of course, even if you hadn't asked me you were still up next." Xavier smiled at Poseidon delicately which Poseidon soon returned back.
"Feng, don't hold back. Give all you've got and no need to worry about anything else." assured Alan heading towards the balling crease. Feng headed towards the batting line conflicted, "Don't worry he say's hun. But, I don't even know if his vision is all set. Moreover, I am also a fast returner so retuning his fast deliveries won't be a problem at all, in the end leaving him at a disadvantage. But still… I wonder why it feels unfair…?"
Stepping on the crease pitch he tapped his bat. Alan eyeing his hazy surroundings and Feng blinked his eyes. "Looks like it's still hazy. So better aim for the center wicket not to get wide deliveries." "Moreover, he is a completely defensive one. Getting him out effortlessly is nearly impossible." he theorized rushing towards the pitch.
"Feng Mir Ozer, a 2nd year middle schooler and a Defensive cricketer. A skilled left handed batsman who excels in countering fast deliveries. Mostly against, Yorkers, bouncers and off cutters. They say his skill Clad shield defense allows him to create a block way over the wicket which enables it to reflect all balls which can get him bold, turning him invincible from getting out by a wicket hit. And, that unusual ability of his has earned him the title of the 'The Iron Wall of Defense'. Moreover, he hasn't limited this quality of his to batting only but also towards wicket keeping as well, overall making him a great player. However, there is one more thing which is important to notice as well. His defensive play has turned him into an endurance player. Which means he is best at making partnerships and doesn't desire to claim sixes or fours." Nagi explained.
"What in the world? A player who doesn't aim for Sixes or fours? How can that be?" Aigou uttered astonished.
"Well this how it is. I don't think I have any right to debate over it. Seems like aiming for boundaries and sixes, he all leaves it to his partner." Nagi added.
"Eh… now that's interesting." smiled Senri interested. "So your highness, what kind of piece is he now?" asked Ren intrigued. Isa eyeing Kazuna and Orion smiled, "A rook."
"I wonder how a player who doesn't yearns for sixes or fours play like?" Haruf wondered amused.
Alan stepping over the popping crease bowled towards Feng. "A normal fast delivery aimed towards the mid-wicket." Seraph judged. Feng tracing the ball stepped forward stopping it with a dot return. Alan picked the ball up before him advising, "Little one, don't worry and smash the ball like you usually do. No need to get distracted because of my sight."
Feng glanced at him, "Like I'll do what you say. Hurry up and get your sight back. I don't like prolong plays." Alan nodded, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you enjoy it to the very end." The highschoolers eyed each other astonished. "Hey! He is a good boy. Unlike any other from before." pointed Noah amazed.
"Seems like it. A totally different ambiance seems to emerge out of him." Orion added. Senri smiled all amused. Alan once again landing on the popping crease threw the ball.
"It's his slice fast delivery." Ryan read. Once again tracing the ball Feng moved forward stopping the ball with a short hit. Standing back he eyed Alan who grinned.
Heading towards the pitch's end Alan jumped up rushing forward. Feng tapped his bat seriously. Throwing the ball towards Feng once again he stood straight. "It's an inswinger now, once again aimed towards at mid-wicket." Helios pointed while Xavier stared seriously. Feng stopped the approaching ball with a slow straight hit. Alan grabbing the ball which hit his feet stood composed.
Feng wondered, "He has been balling me different kinds of fast deliveries since the very beginning yet, all of them are aimed at my center wicket which means he is deliberately aiming for it. After all, his true aim is to take my wicket. However, does he not know that it's impossible because of my skill…?" "Wait! Does he…?" he guessed bewildered.
Alan eyeing his wrist band instantly removed it, heading towards the pitch. "It's a super-fast delivery now! The one he threw against Seraph!" recalled Adam.
"He is deliberately aiming for the center wicket right from the beginning as if he wants Feng to use his skills." Kenzo declared. Xavier smiled, "Looks like Alan realized that Feng was going easy on him."
"Then isn't Alan a total idiot? He should use this opportunity to recover." Luth remarked speechless. "No… his pride wouldn't allow him to do so. Moreover, he is testing us not the opposite." Cassiel replied. Leaving the ball, it once again flew like a bullet out of a gun.
"Oh drat! Now that's fast! You left me no choice Alan. So see it for yourself." Feng whispered as a silver light begun to surround the wicket as if wrapped in a gift box. A translucent aura surrounding it, it shone. Feng who tapped his bat, saw the ball however didn't dare swing it.
"Hey! He might get out. Why isn't he hitting back?" asked Elias baffled.
"Because it's fine even if he doesn't." replied Kazuna while Senri stared awed. The ball as soon as it enclosed towards the wicket was immediately reflected back like light on a mirror suddenly tapping onto the ground with a thud.
The whole stadium stood silent.
"It really didn't hit…?" asked Nagi surprised.
"What kind of skill is this?" Isa blinked stunned while Zach stared.
"That skill is the skill feared the most by our whole team… Clad Shield Defense." whispered Xavier proudly.
"Amazing…" whispered Azazel awed.
"No matter if the ball is fast or a spin there would be none to clash against the wicket." Ryan stated. "So cool…" whispered Adam with stars in his eyes.
"Clad shield defense… wonderful." commented Alan heading back.
Feng stared at him asking, "So are you still going to aim for my wicket?" Alan turning around smiled, "Of course, I have to break it after all. The moment I read about it. I was intrigued. A wicket that reflects balls? How can that be? But, in the end there must be a secret to it and I want to find that out."
Feng words sighed, "Then I suppose I won't be using it anymore." Alan blinked his eyes confused, "Why?"
"It's because I don't want you to break it. In these last two balls I want to show you something else instead. Are you ready for it?" Feng dared.
Alan amused headed back, "Do as you wish, after all I have all future ahead of me to break your clad shield defense."
Feng smirked, "A proud rascal to the very end hun? I can't help but relate him to our Ryan with that over confidence…"