(Day 4)
"Just like I said, keep your posture straight and eyes closed, sense the direction of the incoming ball, Feng. Catch them from all sides. Open you horizons." Alan trained.
Feng crouching in a wicket keeper's position nodded.
"Hey! This penalty for dropping bottles is the worst! My hands are aching after swinging bat for 3 hundred times now!" Adam groaned
. "Then handle the bottles patiently. No need to run here and there like a mad donkey!" Nidou uttered irritated .
"Huh?! Mad what?!" Adam retorted in disbelief.
Nidou twirling the ball threw it towards the other side. As fast and as precise it could be, it straightaway blew the wickets. Ryan stood stunned.
"This is how a leg spinner is delivered, brat. Pitching in the correct area is the key, remember where you are aiming the ball and at which bail of the wicket. Select your pace and then deliver it, no need to rush." he explained.
Poseidon running towards the balling crease threw the ball as it hit the center of the trunk after a lots of practice. "Huff… huff… I did it…" he whispered proud.
"Good, it did took us time but we did it. Let's show it to the head coach." Cassiel said.
Azazel twirled the ball in his hands aiming towards the tree however, the speed instantly deteriorated changing the ball's direction. It landed on the ground motionless. Azazel puzzled gazed at his hand. Gabriel picking the ball up threw it back.
"Why… can't I do it…?" Azazel thought.
"Leave vigor at a side for now, Azazel. Just focus on slamming that tree." Alan advised heading down. The four of them tracing his sight stood serious.
"As a knuckle bowler you tend to deliver slow balls at a high pace. Try to do vice versa now and see the results." he continued.
"Hun…?" Azazel questioned confused.
Alan stepped down the rock smacking his head soon taking the ball away from his hands. Azazel blinking his eyes rubbed his head.
"What I meant to say it that leave your knuckles at a side for now. Hit that tree with a bouncer. A low bouncer with an aggressive pace. Just like you delivered your ball to me last time however, do it without awakening your negative emotions. Try to bowl that way and see if you can reach this distance. I bet you will do it. You'll certainly fail once and also twice however, in the end you will perfect it. I guarantee that." Alan assured.
Azazel heeding his advice caught the ball thrown to him.
Nidou at dawn taking a look at the bowler's progress called. "Cassiel, Gabriel and Poseidon's bowling has reached the level of double throw. As of Azazel, he needs practice. He'll continue this drill tomorrow as well until he perfects it. That's all for today."
Azazel clenching the ball in his hand remained silent.
And, so night cased.
"Come on, Alan. Where is your vigor?! You deliveries are all dead! Do you think I am frolicking here?" Nidou tugging the bat on his shoulder shouted from far.
Alan panting wiped the sweat off his chin, "Cut me some slack, old hag…"
Grasping the ball he once again rushed towards the popping crease delivering a fast Yorker. Nidou not even surprised pulled his bat before him and single handedly slammed the ball back straight.
Alan stunned traced the ball wheezing past his ear and crashing the tree behind. An impact so strong that the branches of the tree came down falling one by one as leaves scattered around. Placing the bat back on his shoulder, Nidou drank his sports drink. "Alan… are you done playing around?" he asked grave.
Alan squinting his eyes, grasped his knees breathless thinking, "It's useless… no matter what I do. My deliveries are no match for him. Facing him now makes me think… what in the hell world was I doing all this time? I can't even return his deliveries nor can I deliver them correctly. What should I do…? How do I beat him? If I were to use my skills, I would definitely lose my senses in no time." Picking the ball up again Alan gasped, "Beating him is a hurdle which I must surpass. If I don't then how do I expect to stand before Rauf and opponents after…? Is there really no other way left?"
Tossing the ball up and catching it again, a silent smirk escaped his lips. His eyes instantly glimmering red with his expression proud as if caught a light he responded, "I am done playing around…"
Azazel balling harshly at the tree, turned around to deliver again. "Hit the tree with a bouncer. A low bouncer with an aggressive pace. Just like you delivered your balls to me last time however, do it without awakening your negative emotions. Try to ball that way and see if you can reach this distance…" he remembered Alan's advice.
"A low bouncer with an aggressive pace…" he whispered throwing the ball again as it went past the bushes and slammed onto the tree after his endless tries. A little low from the mark however perfect!
Azazel clutched his fists triumphant, "Yes!!" "Alright! Once again!" he encouraged himself continuing.
The middleschoolers placing the sheets in the cave laid down. Some already asleep, some awake and some practicing their skills they passed the still night. "How about I go and check on Azazel?" Helios looked at Kenzo.
"Nah, its fine. He is a man after all. Let him solve his own problems." Kenzo abstained. Swinging his bat front to back simultaneously, sweat dripped his forehead.
"Your highness." Xavier instantly called. "Shall I assist you?" he asked showing the ball.
Kenzo grinned, "Don't you have anything else to do, little genius?"
Xavier wondered for a moment, "Hm… I do have. I can sleep and even hear mid-night commentary with Poseidon. But, I am in no mood to do so. So, if I am not troubling you, shall I tag along?"
Kenzo nodding headed towards the waterfall, "Alright…"
Azazel tossing the ball panted. Looking up he traced it wheezing on the black mark in the center of the tree. Leaves bustling around, he jumped up victorious, "Yes!!"
All of a sudden, a loud bang was heard. As if something had been thrashed mercilessly. Birds too darted off the trees panicked.
"Huh?" Azazel looked in the direction of the mountain top. "What just happened…?"
Rushing up, he gasped for a breath. "That was a huge noise just now…" he thought. Suddenly, he saw Seraph, Xavier and Kenzo too following beside him, "Captain?"
"What happened Aza?" Kenzo questioned instead.
"I- I don't know? I just heard this loud noise from the mountain top and came here running." Azazel replied clueless.
"Don't worry, we'll check it out. No need to stress." Seraph assured.
As soon as they reached the top, their eyes widened. Unable to move a single step back or forth they froze.
"Pinnacle of Transcendence… Obliged Constellations return!" Alan uttered grave.
His hairs turning silver, the stars in the sky glimmered violently. Alan's jacket fluttering aggressively he dazzled. A strong force hitting Nidou's bat as if a meteor struck. Alan pointed his finger at the ball, his expression grave he ordered, "Break apart!"
And, as soon as those words escaped his lips the stars flared bright as the ball spun wildly on the bat, about to shatter it into smithereens.
Nidou smirking clasped the bat with both his hands. A golden aura emitting him. A shield began to grow between the ball and the bat, "Taoism… reflect. Ying, yang defend!"
The golden barrier clashing against the silver meteor, the wind howled unceasingly, as if a tornado rampaging. A second later and BANG!! The ball clashed creating a sight of damage.
Kenzo squinting open his eyes gulped beside the other three who shuddered from a strange thrill. Dust vanishing, the ball rattled rolling on the pitch before Alan's feet. Its skin from the top torn ruthlessly incapable to be used again.
Alan glanced at Nidou gleaming silver. "I told you… not to test me. I am strong… hella strong, old man!" he threatened.
His eyes showing no lies, no jests. Nidou picked his bat up looking at it stern. Cracks casing it from four corners, he tossed it aside. And, the moment it fell, it snapped into pieces
. Seraph, Azazel, Xavier and Kenzo turning around sat amid their feet. The scene etched as a nightmare in their memories. They shuddered.
"Is he Alan…?" Azazel questioned senseless.
Sweat dripping Xavier's forehead he grinned clutching his fists, "Unbelievable…"
"So this is the reality of a world ranker." Seraph admired.
"It… feels like as if he never showed us anything from the beginning." Azazel added dumbstruck.
Kenzo gazing at his hands which convulsed headed back wordless. "Your highness?" Azazel scuttled behind. After all… there was nothing left to say anymore.
"We all still have a hell to pass through just to stand at the point where he stands…" Kenzo thought taken aback.
Stars returning to their usual twinkle, Alan grasped his chest in pain. A trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth, he immediately wiped it dropping on the ground with a thud.
"Ah… serves me right. Now not only can I not see and hear… I can't even feel my body." he thought excruciatingly. His vision hazy, he laid down drifting into a slumber.
Nidou grasping a look from the corner of his eye. "He forcefully used his skills despite knowing the backlash he'll face alongside the pain. Tch! He's crazy!" he thoguht devastated.