(Part 2)

Running off, Xavier stepped on the popping crease while Ezekiel tapped his bat on the ground holding Seraph's illusion. As soon as Xavier unleased the ball from his split fingered grip. Tapping on the pitch closer towards him, the ball flung up towards Ezekiel aiming for the mid stump.

"A slow delivery." Ezekiel read stepping back on the batting crease pulling his bat up. As soon as the ball reached him, he tossed his bat to hit however, before it could...

Xavier whispered, "Ring of Limitation, Sixth hue, Nullifying black." Upon his words, a black ring had surrounded Ezekiel as his illusion of Seraph instantly vanished hitting the ball shortly sweep towards the off side.

"Oh drat…!" Ezekiel gasped.

"Catch it! Adam!" Poseidon called as Adam ran before the ball, raising his hands up effortlessly catching it. "Out! Out it is!!" he cheered throwing the ball up again joyfully as Xavier beamed.

Nidou drank his sports drink uninterested.

"Finally after a fifty Ezekiel left! I was tired!" Ryan uttered relieved.

Ezekiel who stared at the black ring that dissipated around him wondered.

"So it's a new ring hun. A black one this time." Kenzo observed while Cassiel entered the data in his journals. 

"Haha! Good job, vice-captain!" Feng remarked Xavier who nodded.

"So what does this one do now?" Gabriel asked.

"Nullifies illusions. More like skills which are copied are all nullified." Xavier replied.

Alan blinked surprised, "Nullifies every copied skill means…"

"Wow..." Cassiel gasped.

"That means Ezekiel will lose from you every time now. 0% chances to win anymore." Poseidon looked at Ezekiel who pouted.

"Seriously not fair…" he cried, "And here I thought I would beat him and get revenge from the inter academy finals."

Xavier chuckling went over. "Come on, no need to get disheartened. I am sure you will win next time." he patted his shoulder.

Ezekiel not believing a single word he said uttered, "Not possible. Alongside that smile of yours it's impossible."

Xavier laughed amused. Seraph dabbing Xavier's shoulder praised, "Good job." Kenzo too nodded beside Helios who smiled.

"Next is Helios on the batting line." Nidou informed.

Alan going to Nidou beside him asking, "So how is it? They are magnificent aren't they?"

Nidou glanced at him rolling his eyes, "Magnificent? Magnificent my foot! Tch! they are just so, so."

Hearing his praise and criticism at the same time Alan laughed heartily, "Haha! Haha!"

"Come on, Alan." Poseidon called out beside the others.

At night, the boys laid side by side each other. "Sigh~ another day has passed now." Ezekiel gaze at cave's roof.

"Yeah…" Adam concurred drowsily sleeping beside him.

Kenzo changing the rubber grip of his bat eyed them one by one from the corner of his eye. "Where is Seraph?" he inquired finding him the only one missing.

"He's still outside practicing. He looked worried." Xavier replied as Cassiel exhaled, "He's been like this for three days now." 

Seraph staring at his left arm took a deep breath. His gauntlet resting on a nearby stone it glinted with the shining moonlight. Eyeing the radar gun resting on the ground he ran tossing the ball. Leaving from his grip it blazed through the trees, drowning inside the river ahead. Picking the radar up, he read, "170.6 m/s…" 

Still not satisfied he took another ball out of his pocket. Suddenly, light trickles of water struck his arms as he looked up at the sky, "Will it rain…?"

Turning to the ball he wondered, "No matter how many times I try I can't hit it again. The 4th infrasonic wave. Was it just a fluke when I delivered it to Alan back at the base…?" "Even my gauntlet is removed then why?" he thought confused.

  Alan panting before Nidou clenched his bat tight.

"What is it now? Whose skill are you going to cheat next?" Nidou taunted tossing the ball up in midair and catching it again.

"Look forward to it old fox. You'll be surprised by my copying talent." Alan replied brazenly.

Nidou headed back murmuring annoyed, "Twerp…"

The light drizzle changing into a strong rain it started thundering. Alan breathe out, "Darn it. I can't even see and my sense of feeling is numb to the core. Moreover, this rain will distract even my sense of hearing now."

Balling harshly towards Alan, the ball passed by his bat and his wicket down the mountain, Alan turned around clueless.

"Pft!" Nidou sneered, his hairs dripping wet, "Haha! Rascal, serves you right."

Alan ignoring him turned around, "Forget it old man and tell me something. The ring Xavier just discovered… can it nullify my copied skills as well?"

"Of course he can. But, only if he is strong enough to counter your copied skills that is." Nidou replied. "More like, if his will is stronger than yours, You are dead! Haha!" he taunted at the end.

Alan rolled his eyes, tapping the bat again, "As if… I'll let that beat me."

Nidou balling him grunted, "Take this! And sleep you overconfident rascal!!"

"A Googly." Alan thought stepping forward. "As tired as I am right now… only that can return it. Better than getting out. Well Rauf… I'm sorry." he thought apologizing.

As soon as the ball hit the bat he whispered, "Pirates… of the world… Burst!!"

The moment Alan clashed the ball, a harsh pain lingered his body breaking even his last bit of strength. Out of breath he coughed. The ball creating 100's of illusions flew over the ground claiming a huge six. Meteors of burning flame beside the thundering rain seemed to land on all sides instantly vanishing at the ground touch. In the end only a single ball fell behind Nidou halting dead. Nidou eyed the ball grim.

"Cough, cough!" Alan coughed harshly. Crouching on the ground he clutched his chest gasping for air. Nidou alarmed rushed over, "Hey rascal, what's wrong? Hey, get up!" he picked him up in his arms shaking left to right. However, Alan still coughed ceaselessly.

"Tch!" Nidou clicked his tongue shoving his hands into his pockets, immediately taking out a glass bottle. Opening it, he pulled a pill out shoving it in Alan's mouth anxiously. "It was his sense of scent that was attacked. This brat! Who told him to use Rauf's skill out of the blue!? Isn't he half dead himself?!" he thought cross.

Picking him up, Nidou took him before his pallet under the tree's shade. "Thinking about others when you yourself are dying. Are you trying to earn a humanity savior award?!" he uttered vexed.

Soon laying him down safe from the pouring rain Alan shook left and right uneasy, little by little calming down and entering a deep sleep. Nidou sitting on the ground, checked his pulse, "Don't tell me I am entering a Deja-vu now…?" Sighing relieved he stared at him recalling.

(3 Years Ago) 

Thunder crashing furiously on the mountain top. Rain water sloped down like river amid the forest full of trees. Sight covered by heavy fog while cold unbearable gale sent chills down the spine. Amid the unpleasant weather a figure leapt over rocks climbing upwards, fighting the rain which hailed down like landslides, Nidou blinking his eyes rushed. "Darn! Who knew it would rain so early…" he cursed, suddenly changing his route to the right. Stopping before the open top he squinted his eyes looking around.

"Coach Nidou!" barged in a voice.

Turning around Nidou spotted a group of boys shading their heads with their arms, standing under a huge tree. Nidou leapt towards them. "Are you alright?" he asked nervously eyeing them one by one. 

Amid them a tall young man with golden hairs nodded, "Yes, we are. We were practicing together and it suddenly started thundering out of the blue."

  "Tch, darn it! Don't worry…" Nidou assured, "Listen to me Rauf. Take all of your fellows back to the base from the rear side of the mountain very carefully. You'll reach back to the base faster that way and make sure not to lose anyone, okay?"

Rauf nodding replied, "Yes, I will."

"Good." Nidou smiled patting his shoulder. "Head coach…" called another one. His hairs dark red standing like wild fire he wiped the water off his eyes, "Alan… where is he?"

Hearing him, Nidou stood clueless, "Huh? Where is he? What do you mean where is he? Isn't he with you all?"

"Alan went with you didn't he? So how come would he be with us?" Rauf asked back nervous.

Nidou instantly remembering bit his lip. "Don't tell me…!" he whispered sprinting away. "Take them back Rauf. I'll bring Alan back!" he exclaimed.

Rauf gulping clasped his fists, "What is happening…?"

Isa stepping forward patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, head coach will bring him back. Let's return first. It's thundering uncontrollably." he warned.

Rauf eyeing him and Evan alongside Elias and Zach agreed taking a detour from the backside of the mountain.

Nidou dodging the branches and swamps panted breathless. "That rascal… is he still at it?!" he thought in disbelief.