"My thoughts exactly. Even at the last delivery, he was able to confront Alan's ultrasonic serve which many can't even detect. Though, the result did not change. But, the way he carelessly tried to counter it is no joke. And with that fragile figure of his how was it even possible?" Zach endorsed, "It intrigued me that's why I came downstairs."
Kazuna eyed Xavier who rushed towards the pitch aiming for the second delivery. Stepping onto the crease he bowled towards Alan gently.
A slight whisper escaping his lips, "Critical pace… Slashing Knot."
The ball thrown harshly into Alan's stumps instantly slowed down.
"A Yorker?!" called Ezekiel however stood confused.
"It just slowed down?" wondered Azazel.
Alan traced the ball attentively. Xavier turning around smiled "The ball will burst into pieces and, it will be a clear bold." he declared.
At that instant, the ball was slashed from all eight sides breaking into pieces which in an instant passed aside Alan's bat soon transforming into a ball again aiming towards the wicket's center.
"Huh? The ball crumbled and joined again!?" asked Alan baffled. Sensing danger he suddenly called out, "Clad shield defense!" The ball before it could hit the wicket was abruptly repelled dropping on the ground with a thud.
Alan taking a deep breath stared at the ball thinking bewildered, "It was really… close." The highschoolers along with the middleschoolers sat stunned.
"It was an out…" whispered Feng thrilled.
"If he hadn't copied Feng's clad shield defense right at the very second, it would've been a clear bold!" Helios declared stunned as Kenzo, Ryan, Gabriel and Seraph too stared wide eyed.
Seles shocked to the core sat speechless. Rauf, Evan and Haruf too stared seriously. "Is he for real…?" Senri gulped excited. "A moment late and it would've been a bold." Isa stated while Noah and Ren stared stunned.
"After Helios… he is the first one to claim a real out against him…" Aigou recalled baffled.
"The ball was cut into slices as it passed by Alan's bat and rejoined once again to hit the wicket, such a cunning delivery." explained Nagi. Orion and Aaron too sat awed.
Kazuna and Zach stared the pitch silent. Alan dissolving the clad shield defense traced Xavier who picked the ball up heading back.
"It was really close… close to the point that my wicket was blown off. I better stay towards the defensive when my senses aren't even helping me." he pondered. Standing up he whispered, "You left me no choice Mr. Genius, Summon… Silver lightning eclipse."
The moment Alan called a thunder cackled as the silver light encircled him. "Even if I can't see the ball. I must predict where they are all aimed to. I wonder… what brother's expression is going to be right now. He must be clearly disappointed…" he thought dismayed.
"Do you wish to see it again?" Xavier asked.
Alan standing straight replied, "It would be an honor."
"He released his lightning eclipse." pointed Feng. "That means he can't detect the course of the ball." replied Gabriel.
But why? He can clearly see it right?" asked Adam puzzled. "No." rejected Seraph. "It's because he can't see it that's why."
"Huh?" Ryan and Azazel uttered puzzled.
"When the ball is cut into pieces, how do, you think one can detect this many pieces in a split second and hit them back. That's the reason why he opened it." "To detect them all…?" asked Heber confused. Ryan suddenly realizing gasped, "Does that mean Alan's trying to hit back a crumbled ball?!"
Kenzo hearing him apprehend smirked, "Yeah… he is all ready to break his delivery."
Xavier tossing the ball smiled gently. "Slashing Knot, a delivery in which the ball cuts and reshapes again. It is one of Vice-captain's most dangerous Yorker deliveries. And, Alan is trying to hit it back again when he clearly knows the moment his bat draws closer to the ball, it will split into pieces?" asked Feng baffled, "Even captain hesitated facing it."
"Feng, did Hugo devise a counter against it?" asked Cassiel curious. "Of course, he did. But, Xavier even broke that counter. After that, we don't know if there was another one made or not. Since, they didn't face each other often." recalled Mikael.
Kenzo gleamed commenting, "Very well done." Azazel stared at Xavier seriously.
Xavier rushing towards the pitch once gain delivered the same delivery to Alan. The ball slowing down all of sudden detected by the lightning eclipse closed towards Alan's bat. However, the moment Alan tried to hit it. The ball was sliced into pieces and rebuilt again aiming towards the wicket.
Alan missing the hit clicked his tongue calling out again, "Clad Shield defense!" The ball once more reflecting the wicket dropped dead before Alan rejoined. "Again… I couldn't return it once again… however, the moment I hit the ball it broke into nine total pieces while I can't hit the ball once it rejoins since, there is no space left between the wicket and the ball at that moment. This much information is quite enough." thought theorized.
Xavier picked the ball up. "Hey, Alan…" he called gently.
Alan eyeing him asked back, "Hm?"
"Shall I show it you once again?" Alan hearing his words stood perplexed soon sighed, "Boy, are you making fun of me now or do you seriously want me to counter your delivery?"
"Whatever you think. I am just enjoying my turn. After all, I haven't felt like this for a long time." Xavier replied amused.
Alan shaking his head responded, "Alright, you're on."
"Are you kidding me?! This way Alan will surely break it! Just what is he thinking playing around?" Mikael freaked out. Poseidon chuckled, "Haha… that means he is clearly toying with Alan since, he can't counter his delivery." "He better not." warned Azazel.
"That rascal bites your back." Gabriel remarked sarcastic.
"His back is not that vulnerable. Let Alan counter it? It's centuries early to think that." Kenzo stated. "I heard that you countered it once, Kenzo. Slashing Knot, how did you do that?" Cassiel asked. Kenzo turned around grim, "And, why do you think I should tell you?"
Cassiel exhaling pushed him forward, "Alright, alright if you don't want to tell me just say it. Don't stare at me as if you'll chop my head off." Seraph and Adam smiled at each other awkwardly.
Xavier rubbing the ball on his sleeve glanced at the sky expressionless. "It's the same… I don't feel anything different. Was the last time just a whim?" he wondered puzzled.
"I better end it now… I don't feel like playing for long." he added rushing towards the pitch. "Realm of Divine Ingeniousness… Release Unlimited Upgrade…" he whispered.
A silver beam flickering amid his forehead, it instantly surrounded his whole body in a flare. As soon as he stepped on the pitch, he bowled harshly towards Alan. Kazuna stared wide eyed at his sudden change. Xavier's hairs blazing silver flickered with a red star burning amid his forehead.
The ball which was thrown twice as fast as before went past Alan's lightning eclipse undetected. Alan unable to grasp the sight of the splitting ball for the third time called out once again, "Clad Shield defense!" In an instant a beam of light collided against the ball as the surroundings turned white.
"Critical pace… Evolved slashing knot." Xavier turned around.
His stare poised and aura ardently radiant. Alan looking behind his back eyed the ball dazed. The ball even though reflected back had successfully shattered the clad shield defense which dissipated into thin air.
"In the next one… you won't be able to use that trick again." Xavier warned.
Kazuna and Zach along with the middle schoolers looked at Xavier marveled. "Realm of divine ingeniousness…?" Isa pointed speechless. The middleschoolers sprung up in delight.
"Wohoo! It's the Realm of Divine Ingeniousness! Way to go Xavier!" cheered Hadi and Mikael proud.
Seles sitting above stared seriously. "Even his realm has evolved hun." Helios remarked awed. "Yeah, the last time I saw it, it's aura of emission was white whereas now, it has turned bright silver." Poseidon recalled. "Captain, Vice-captain… what in the world just happened to him after Hugo left?" asked Ezekiel staggered.
Kenzo closing his eyes declared, "Red Revolution… a tremendous change. Which means, he won't back down or turn around anymore."
"Red Revolution…" repeated Ryan clutching his fists tightly.
"So he is a realm achiever?" Aaron whispered.
"I thought, there would be no one else than, Rauf and little Kazuna to counter one. While there he is and a middle schoolers on top of it. He even evolved it to the highest phase, saying that he just achieved it is nothing." gasped Noah clutching the rails tightly.
"Unbelievable…" muttered Senri. Rauf looked at Alan once wordless.
"Is that boy seriously not world renowned?" Evan wandered.
"No he isn't. Quiet weird right? A talent like that and the world doesn't even know." replied Nidou flipping his pen up and down.