(Part 6)

"A pawn?" asked Aaron clueless. "But isn't handling the pawns no problem at all?" Ren asked. Isa shaking his head sideways spoke up, "Do you know why the pawn is known as the most foolish yet the most cunning piece on the overall chess board…?"

"It's because, the pawn is the only piece which has the potential to become the front line knight and even the domineering queen at choice. And, that king has send his pawn in front glimmering as the bishop of his board." he explained.

Senri and Kazuna looked at him in wonder. "Those middle schoolers have once more played a rather detestable card against Alan. More like, each and every player they sent one after another is a diamond shining brighter than the one before." Evan crossed his arms.

"So you mean…!" stuttered Noah as Zach interrupted, "Indeed… the moment Alan stepped over the pitch he had already fallen into a trap."

"Oh my~ oh my~" Senri chanted playfully as Kazuna gazed at Alan who stood confused on the pitch.

"Welcome… to this Joker's cage." greeted Heber. "Joker's cage?! Heber used it as soon as Alan balled!" Faris pointed standing up. "Yeah, so Heber is also taking him seriously." Damian comprehended.

"Or maybe he is like this because Kenzo put his high hopes on him." Silas assumed. "An admirer to show his strength to Heber won't give this chance away." Xavier added as Seraph nodded. Kenzo stared at Heber seriously.

"Heh… surprised are you Alan? I told you, the moment you deliver this ball I'll take you to different world. Seems like you didn't believe me?" Heber coerced.

Alan looking around eyed the surroundings which had turned into a little room full lots of toys and circus amusement materials loaded inside. More like a circus room had been set on the stadium more specifically on the pitch here the two of them stood.

"Where is this? A circus room? I can't see the stadium or the audience seats at all except for the pitch the two of us are standing on. Moreover, are the others still able to see me?" Alan thought perplexed.

"Don't worry too much Alan. This is just a consolidated space, I made with my ability. It only keeps you away from the sight of the surroundings. Fret not, the others can clearly see you from their seats while you can't." Heber explained tossing the bat on his shoulder.

Alan turned around eyeing him grave, "Eh… so this is how you play hun. Well then let's see what other tricks you show me. Dear Joker."

"Looks like, I can't see everyone on the outside however I can still hear them. So summing it all up this room is just a delusional space to control me and my movements. Heh… seems like a lot of fun is about to unfold from now on." Alan thought smirking.

"Say, your previous delivery was a wide. Everyone was shocked on the highschoolers side. Looks like you don't really give out free wide balls or do you?" Heber stated.

Alan smiled, "Yeah, you're right. I don't give out free deliveries. You were really lucky." Heber positioned himself once more.

Kazuna staring at Alan stood up heading down. "Huh? Where are you going?" asked Orion and Senri together who were unconsciously disturbed since their heads rested on his shoulder.

Rauf glanced. Standing closer towards the rails where Noah stood Kazuna called, "Alan."

Alan who was rubbing the balling on his thigh looked around baffled. "Kazuna?" he asked back unable to judge where the voice came from since being trapped into Heber's ability, "What's wrong?" "When your affront gives up… what do you use?" Kazuna asked out of the blue.

Alan looking at the juggler and the circus stunts man surrounding Heber before him wondered. "When my affront gives up…? When my affront gives up…? When my?!" he thought as a sudden clue clicked his mind.

Looking up unaware at where Kazuna stood Alan thanked, "Little Kazu, Kazu. I got it! Thank you!!" Kazuna relieved went back sitting down on his seat again. The highschoolers stared at him clueless.

Rauf sighed, "That rascal…"

"Haha… looks like you can't judge Alan on this one Rauf." laughed Evan as Haruf nodded. Nidou looking at him wondered.

"What was that?" asked Feng confused. "When your affront gives up… what do you use? Looks like some kind of code or words of advice to me." Guessed Poseidon.

"Hm… I wonder what the answer is…" Xavier pondered. Seles amused at their sights thought caringly, "Such kids…"

Alan twirling his wrist balled a fast delivery towards Heber who easily stopped it with a dot return. "Heh… not bad." he praised. "Hehe… everything's just begin." Heber replied. Alan once more running forward delivered the ball towards Heber. The ball wheezing outside the pitch landed closer to him. "An out swinger." Pointed Helios.

"Indeed… it was ranged exactly outside the stumps. More like an apprehensive ball." endorsed Xavier. "Looks like, Alan is finally playing on Heber's pace." Azazel pointed. "Right, but it's still not enough to convince Heber. Moreover Alan is still trapped inside Heber's Joker's cage. He has yet to know its horrors." Damian warned.

Heber staring at the ball turned the bat upside down as it lobbed towards the fine leg straight into the boundary. "Yay! A four it is!!" cheered Adam grasping Ryan from behind who seemed to suffocate on his move unable to utter a single word. "Three deliveries over hun…" Senri counted.

"Say… Alan can't see us right. Isn't that why you gave him the secret code?" he asked Kazuna. "Huh?! What do you mean Alan can't see us?" asked Orion and Aigou surprised.

"Heber's Joker's cage, creates an illusionary room from where a baller can't see the surroundings making them lose confidence in themselves. Alan can easily handle the pressure of that kind however, the thing to be most feared of is…" told Nagi serious.

"Facing Heber's tricks in the middle of balling. That room he created is his paradise. From there he can even control the pitch much less the baller." Kenzo continued.

"Yeah, I know that. I know how it feels when I faced him before. Geez… I don't even want to remember it!" Cassiel shuddered, chills leaving his spine.

Alan once more rushed towards the pitch balling Heber with twice the force then before as the ball flew outside the pitch again towards the off-side. "Really… he is one confusing Left hander." Alan thought as Heber stepping forward smashed the ball over the audience's seat claiming a six.

"Yahoo!! A six!" cheered Adam, Silas and Jules together. "Way to go." Damian encouraged.

"Such a fine young man you have in your sleeves, Kenzo." Helios remarked as he stared at Alan and Heber satisfied. "Hm…? What did you expect hun… since, he wants to follow my footsteps. He has to become like this." Kenzo stated.

"But still… he has shown me something acceptable. Damian my boy, gather around all the sweets and prepare them before he comes back." he ordered. Gabriel, Cassiel, Ezekiel with Ryan sighed while the others smiled. "Understood." Damian replied.

"And… a six this time. And now two more balls left." Heber noted. Alan standing on the pitch stared surprised as sweat instantly began dripping from his forehead. "There's something wrong… I feel as if my legs are getting weaker. I don't know why however, it feels heavy." he thought heading back.

"Finally sensed it hun… getting weaker aren't you, Alan Rex Lorenzo?" Heber pointed with a silent sneer. Alan turning around looked at him grave. "Alan's really in a pinch hun… it's the first time since the beginning of this challenge, I have seen him so serious." said Ren.

"He isn't in a pinch. That rascal's thinking." Nidou interrupted. Hearing his words the highschoolers turned around. Gulping the sports drink he gazed at Alan who went back ready to ball.

"That brat, when he's quiet, a storm is bolting inside his head. Just to find a solution at the end. In a pinch? Someone as crazy as him who faces me, can never be in a pinch." he exclaimed.

Alan once more running towards Heber twisted his wrist inside as the ball swinged suddenly changing its direction towards the left.

"An in swinger this time." read Helios.

"And towards the side wicket… however, it's of no use. As at this moment everything will go into slow motion…" Kenzo grinned.