(Part 9)

Meanwhile, Venus sat before a vending machine in disarray, gulping nervously. "If Basid caused this mess, we're as good as dead," he muttered.

"Haha, is that really what's worrying you?" Ibn Sena teased, approaching with a grin.

Venus rolled his eyes, irritated, "What do you want now? Can't you just leave me alone?"

"Nope, I can't," Sena replied, crouching beside him and still laughing at the vending machine's chaos.

Venus twitched his brow, standing up and leaving, "Then stay here."

"Come on, Venus," Ibn Sena urged, "We're here for the first time and starting to observe players in the PSL. Who knows how the world out there really is? Do they respect their opponents, see you as a challenge, or even give you a chance to stand on the pitch? Remember what Senior Romeo always says?" Sena asked, looking up at him.

Venus, rubbing his neck, sighed, "Yeah, I remember."

"Then tell me," Sena prompted, extending his hand to help him up.

Venus grabbed his hand, pulling him up, "The world is like your step-family. Don't expect anything from it. You have to expect everything…"

"From yourself," they finished together, their hands clasped tightly.

"Senior Rovan's reached his fifty, right?" Venus asked, glancing at the LED screen.

"Yup. Let's head back," Sena agreed, starting to walk back as Venus followed, picking up a can of soft drink from the wrecked vending machine.

_______

Kazuna delivering a full toss delivery into Rovan's feet next, Rovan in the nick of time stopped in with a back foot defense. Kazuna, observing his discomfort and fatigue, grabbed the ball heading back.

The third delivery of the over, he stepped on the popping crease leaving the ball, a light whisper escaping his lips, "Spectrum Strike." A swift, vigorous, colorful aurora ball wobbled all the way down the pitch, it's type and kind untraceable.

Rovan, attempting to use his "Eye of Evidence" to read the delivery, winced as a sharp pain shot through his head. His shot going awry, send the ball high into the air. Kazuna, spotting the opportunity, called, "Xavier, catch!"

"OH! That's in the air…" Wasim gasped.

Stationed on Long off Xavier, who had his eyes glued on the ball positioned himself under it as it came into his hand, easily. His expression turning into a gleeful laughter, he threw the ball back up again clapping his hands against Helios and Ryan.

"And Taken! The finger goes up. Xavier ibn Zain with the crucial catch and Kazuna Al Hairs with his Second Wicket! Splendid!" Maaz remarked.

The crowd, torn between supporting Islamabad United and Karachi Kings, buzzed with mixed emotions as Rovan Baig walked off the pitch after a solid knock of 50 runs from 37 balls.

Azam, stretching himself headed inside. As Rovan walked back, Kazuna showed him an acknowledging smile, "You were great."

Rovan shook his head, removing his helmet, his hairs dripping wet from sweat, he replied, "Not as good as you were, though. Even taking my wicket at the end."

Kazuna went back. "You too completed your fifty didn't you? It's a tie. But, I'll still win next time." he told poised.

Rovan shook his head in amusement as a contented smile rested his face. Tracing Romeo waiting for him outside the boundary line, a comforting thought crossed his mind, "That's it. There's nothing better than having your best friend by your side after everything." As he crossed the boundary, Romeo extended his hand, but as Rovan went to clap it, he stumbled, and Romeo instinctively caught him.

"I'm... so tired," Rovan whispered, his chin resting on Romeo's shoulder.

"I know," Romeo smiled, patting his back.

As they returned to the pavilion, they were greeted with laughter and cheers from the team.

"Honestly, this game has me at a loss for words," Haris admitted.

"I'm with you on that," Alan replied with a smile.

"Romeo is truly something else," Seraph noted.

"It's as if his presence lingers on the field, even when he's not physically there."

Nagi nodded, "That's the essence of his game. They say he's in perfect sync with every player out there. He has a unique ability."

Nidou chimed in, "It's because of him that they're called 'Islamabad United.' That's the level you all need to push yourselves to reach."

Gabriel, Kenzo, Rauf, and Evan listened silently.

Meanwhile, Kazuna continued with a couple of well-aimed Yorkers, keeping Azam on edge. The last ball of the over, Kazuna stepped on the balling crease whispering, "Ghost Swing."

The ball delivered with twice the power, it swung towards Azam in an unpredictable manner, phasing through the bat and stumps abruptly striking them in the middle. The stumps blinked red while Azam stared behind him baffled.

"Yes!" Kazuna raised his fists, soon clapping them with Aaron's.

"He's got it! Another one!" Adam and Ezekiel exclaimed.

"Clean bowled! The bails are sent flying! Azam is rendered speechless on duck! But it doesn't matter Kazuna's on cloud nine, he's got his Third and Karachi's got their Sixth." Jones remarked.

"Islamabad on 164/6, Mikael…" Maaz added.

"Haha! Awesome!" Azazel, Heber and Poseidon clapped Kazuna's hand.

Kazuna smiled with a light nod.

Alan, looking at him uttered, "He's really smiling." Surprise in his tone.

"Yeah, it's been a while since I saw him like this." Senri said.

"It makes me relieved." Ren said.

"Keep up the good work everyone. Only two more overs to go!" Isa clapped his hands encouraging them.

Helios, taking the Second last over, twirled the ball in his hands. 

Suddenly, someone patted his shoulder as he turned around to find Poseidon. "Heli." he called.

Helios blinked, "Poseidon?"

"Let's get it." Poseidon said, standing on the mid-off.

"What?" Helios asked.

Poseidon turned around, his eyes flashing. "A wicket!" the two uttered together.

Suddenly, a faint silver aura enveloped them both, only to vanish as quickly as it appeared.

"Huh?" they blinked stunned.

"How did you know?" Poseidon asked.

Helios shrugged clueless, "I don't know. It just came to my mind."

Poseidon smiled going back to his position.

Helios, gazing at the ball wondered, "How… did I know?"

Seles, observed the two keenly. "Did any of you see it?" he asked the boys.

"I did. There was a faint resonance." Haruf told.

"Where?" Haris and Cassiel questioned.

"In between Helios Zadeh and Poseidon Agiel." Zachariah told.

"Captain and Vice-captain?" Ezekiel repeated.

"I knew it." Alan said, "I sensed it when they played the first match together as well. It's a bit weak but once they realize, we are going to get quite a formidable duo in the middle schooler's line up."

Kenzo looked at the ground silently.

Back on the field, Emaad scored two runs off the first delivery. As Helios prepared for the next ball, he whispered, "Twilight...!" But just as he was about to deliver, Poseidon's voice echoed in his mind, "No, Heli."

Helios adjusted mid-action, changing to "Blazing Flare." The reverse swing in-swinger darted from off-side to leg-side. Emaad attempted a quick single using his "Unseen Manoeuvre," but Heber, with his Triple L movement, intercepted the ball.

Helios exchanged a puzzled glance with Poseidon, both confused about how they had suddenly synchronized their actions again. 

"Helios used Blazing Flare? Wasn't he aiming for Twilight Sun break…?" Poseidon contemplated.

Mikael on the batting crease, tapped his bat looking up. A massive six struck on the next delivery, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Yes! Way to go!" Erum shouted frantically, while Maria clapped awkwardly.

Haitam smiled, completely unbothered.

"Why are you smiling, Captain?" Milan asked curiously.

"Because right now, Karachi looks super cool to me," Haitam replied, his tone full of admiration.

Erum raised an eyebrow, "Are your eyes made of stone? Can't you see who's got the upper hand right now?"

Zain covered his face in mortification.

Haitam shot her an irritated glance, "The upper hand doesn't matter. They are playing pretty wisely. It's the next ball that counts." he betted confidently.

Erum puckered her brow.

Helios stepped onto the popping crease, delivering a short ball. Mikael, anticipating the move, stepped forward and smashed the ball for another six, this time toward the off-side.

At that moment, Feng whispered, "Iron clad defense, Zoom Out!" A silver aura formed a dome around the boundary, sapping the ball's strength. Isa, sprinting from deep cover to extra cover, dove just in time, catching the ball with both hands.

Lying face-down on the ground, Isa laughed in disbelief.

"Senior Isa!" Xavier rushed over, pulling him to his knees. Isa wiped the dirt from his face, grinning, "Another one bites the dust."

The crowd roared in delight as Helios clenched his fists in triumph. The umpire raising his index finger signaling a wicket!

"Oh, what a sensational catch! Diving full stretch to his right, Isa snatches it out of thin air! That's absolute brilliance in the field! The timing, the commitment, everything was perfect!" Jones commented excitedly.

"Karachi Kings have made a dramatic and aggressive shift—this is exhilarating to watch!" Maaz added.