Runs and bye runs claimed on last two balls, the boasting first over ended for Lahore with 14 runs scored at a loss 0 wickets. Seraph taking the second over walked to the pitch.
"Seraph, study those two for a while and then aim for their faults because I couldn't find a single one from my over. They are covering their wicket quite well. Returning all my swingers over boundaries and to boundaries without fret, it's disturbing when I even put it into words." Helios whispered swapping positions.
"Hm, I'll stay on guard." Seraph replied walking ahead. "Helios's swingers gets us instant wickets right from the first over. However those two are playing them quite relaxed and are scoring quite high too. I wonder if it would be same with my deliveries as well. But no matter what I must send one of them back." "Also…" he glanced at his left arm which was covered with a long black sleeve remembering...
(A Day Ago)
"Can you keep your 'Infrasonic Glint' concealed without your gauntlet on?" Rauf questioned.
"Without my gauntlet on…?" Seraph repeated unsure, "I don't know. I have never suppressed any skills with the gauntlet removed before. Playing against you and the highschoolers was the first time I tried to suppress it however Ezekiel had already made an illusion over my arm which didn't create much of a difference."
Rauf looked up, his glance solemn. "Then why don't you try it now?" he suggested.
"Right now?" Seraph asked.
"Of course, you won't be wearing your gauntlet from now on, I am sure you are aware of that. Your balling is a tide changing balling type. Even by mistake you can't reveal the tricks up your sleeves. Better know your control beforehand." Rauf suggested.
Seraph pondering for a while, rolled his sleeve removing the gauntlet over his left arm. Picking the ball up, he headed towards the pitch. Rauf followed behind.
"That's harsh pressure…" Seraph glanced at Rauf revealing a sweat. Gazing at the ball for a while he rushed towards the popping crease bowling.
Precision on mark. The ball hit the wicket bails. Plummeting down to the pitch they flashed red and black consecutively. The radar marking its speed; 164.5km/hr.
Rauf uttered, "Again."
Seraph picking the ball went again. The speed marking 162.8, 163.2, 163.8 and 164 km/hr. after repeated tries, Rauf gestured him to stop.
Seraph coming over, waited.
"164.5 k/hr. you can manage to ball with the same speed for an over. That states your control is not bad. Even without your gauntlet you can suppress the amount of power you want to use. After all, we know your speed goes way beyond this." Rauf said.
Seraph exhaled relieved however, a certain part of him felt revolting, "Why… why do you want me to hide it? My speed and strength? That is my only specialty. Now that I am released from my shackle you want me to suppress it, why?"
Rauf looked up, "Not everything depends on you and neither am I telling you to suppress your exceptionality. Right now you may think it's a burden to stop yourself however you'll realize the meaning behind my words real soon…" he headed back.
Seraph contemplated over his words, stood perplexed.
_____
"No wonder he said I'll realize it soon. For he knew, I'll have to keep a low profile just like the rest. And within laying low, I must win today's match!" Seraph thought poised.
Delivering the 1st ball of the 2nd over, a full speed Yorker. Beruni on the batting line hit the ball straight towards Seraph with the front foot defense.
"He's defending…" Seraph read however, up to his surprise the ball on the pitch's flop rather than halting spun straight. Warned by the move he kept his foot before the ball however it travelled out of his reach.
The batsmen taking a single run, Ryan immediately caught the ball threatening them to stop. Seraph alerted grasped the ball from Ryan's hand heading back.
"That was Seraph's fast delivery and Beruni without even flinching stopped it. Moreover, wasn't that a defense? Why did the ball suddenly move rather than halting on the pitch?" Noah asked confused.
Kazuna and Zachariah observed silent.
Delivering the 2nd ball which was aimed at full pitch. Nour returned it with the cover drive to the leg side. Heber trying to catch it misfielded as the batsmen secured 3 runs on the blunder. Seraph shook his head frustrated. Gabriel retrieving the ball tossed it back.
"I'm sorry." Heber apologized.
Poseidon dabbed his back, "It's alright. No need to be pressurized. Just focus on the ball." Heber nodded.
A run and a dot ball on further two deliveries Seraph ran towards the popping crease for the 5th one.
"Something's not right... why aren't those two not bothered an inch?" he thought, twisting his wrist and increasing his speed the moment he left the ball whispering, "Infrasonic glint Wave 1!"
As if shot a bullet out of the gun, the ball swung to Nour. Instantly amazed yet composed he lifted his bat high off the ground and smashed it towards the off side for a six.
"What a sight! 96 meters! What a shot by Nour Mirza!" Commentators exclaimed.
Loud cheers surrounding the stadium. The boys looked at the ball anxious.
"What in the world…?" Kenzo thought flummoxed.
The second over concluding after scoring two more runs on the last ball, Lahore's total runs accounted to 26 on the loss of 0 wickets.
Pressure casing Seraph and the rest, the third over was once again passed to Helios.
Beruni standing with Nour, gazed at his hand which trembled from returning Seraph's deliveries, "That delivery…" "Its speed might be more than our Arham's delivery. To think that you even returned it that high is more than an achievement." he praised.
"It's all thanks to that… but be careful of his deliveries, vice-captain. For I feel that his gentle gaze hides a devastating monster inside them. He is really strong." Beruni squinted his gaze alerted.
"I'll be careful, don't worry." Nour patted his arm heading to the batting crease.
Positions taken and guards raised. The 3rd over of the powerplay taken by Helios once again, he rushed towards the pitch. "Seraph also couldn't comprehend their play style. should we change variations or speed of the ball...? This is already a huge hassle to solve, that they are scoring runs like a walk in the park too." he thought, "At this rate we are really going to fall under pressure..." "But how come are those two so easily returning all our deliveries without breaking a sweat? I deliver swingers and Seraph is the master of Yorkers and exceptional fast deliveries. Changing the ball variations is also kept in mind and we are diversified in our balling types, so how can they differentiate in between so many deliveries and act against them so flawlessly…?"
Throwing the ball harshly it swung away from Nour. Nour stepping back evaded it as Cassiel caught the ball claiming a safe.
"Oh…!" Xavier gasped.
A dot delivery of the first over, Helios smirked, "Not daring to show off? You could've easily scored a boundary?"
Nour narrowed his gaze grave. Helios turned around heading back. "It was as if someone just told him to not to play this ball at all…" he thought.
2 more dot balls of the over, Helios delivered the 4th ball, "Twilight Sun break!" Aiming through Nour's legs to the wicket behind, he smirked kneeling down, "Finally opening yourself? Now that's more I like it!"
Playing a swift sweep short in between Adam and Kenzo the ball reached the boundary claiming a four. The highschoolers restless remained silent.
"You all realized it don't you?" Rovan questioned glancing at them.
"Of course." Aaron replied.
"Lahore middleschoolers might have only three batsman but as expected they are certainly sturdy ones." Alan stated.
Feng and Azazel on edge clutched their fists tight.
"Stay strong, stay strong!" Cassiel clapped his hands encouraging the fielders.
"Lahore! Lahore! Lahore!" went the chants. Pressuring and disturbing at the same time.
Helios wiped the ball with his sweat. "An inswinger also didn't work, outswingers weren't working from the beginning…"
"Helios Zadeh…" interrupted a voice.
Helios glanced behind to find Nour grinning, "Don't underestimate us and give us all you've got! Hiding your abilities within your pockets and on this stage will only send you back to your hometown!" he warned his eyes instantly turning golden.
Helios stunned headed back, "A… Pinnacle?"
At the end of the 3rd over Lahore scoring a total target of 32 runs with 0 wickets lost, Helios and the rest gathered up for a talk.
"Nour Mirza has a Pinnacle." Helios informed, "And most likely it's the Pinnacle of Perfection just like mine."
"Huh?! Seriously?! Then why didn't we discover that since the beginning? Don't your eyes change golden once you do so?" Adam asked.
"He can conceal and reveal it on whim, unlike Helios who cannot hide it. He was hiding it." Gabriel informed.
"This could also happen, I never knew that." Ezekiel pondered.
"Neither did, I." Helios shook his head, "As for Beruni I am still unsure…"
"He too is a Pinnacle user." Poseidon and Xavier interrupted together. Glancing at each other they chuckled lightly.
Seraph squinted his gaze clueless, "What kind of Pinnacle user?"