(Part 7)

"Abracadabra~" Heber chanted as the ball slowed down. Alan gazed at the sight dumbfounded as the highschoolers blinked stunned.

Seles stared at the sight seriously. Heber soon changing his position slammed the ball towards the boundary claiming a four again. And as soon as it did. Time once more began to move normally around the pitch.

"See… I told you. There is no end, no limitations for magic." Heber warned smirking.

"What the hell?! Did he just stop time?" asked Orion in a frenzy.

"No, he didn't." replied Evan. "He slowed it." Haruf continued.

Nidou eyeing the highschoolers explained, "That tricking rascal, slowed down time. The moment Alan balled inside his own cage he trapped the movement of wind constantly slowing the ball down until it reached his bat. In that way, the delivery looked like balled in its usual speed to us and everyone else however, is in reality slowed down. But still, he could only do that in his own consolidated space and not outside it. Now then, the point is… what will Alan do?"

Kazuna eyeing the pitch whispered, "And, it's the last ball." Alan looking at the ground quivered excited with his eyes red gaze burning bright.

"Incredible! He really slowed down time! But too bad I have already seen a move like this before. So I just have to break this little space of his with a ball matching his opposite!" he thought.

"What's wrong? Are you still shocked?" asked Heber jumping up and down. "No… I am fired up!" Alan responded.

Heber smiled, "Come on then." "Too bad, it's the last ball left." he continued.

Alan twirling his ball stood on the left side of the pitch. "So what? Not that it matters. Not at all… until I beat you!" Alan claimed. Hearing his words Heber eyes widened, he grinned back.

"Alan's is changing sides?" Feng pointed. "Seems like it hun… but how can he bowl a fast delivery when he is standing right on the pitch?" asked Seraph perplexed.

Seles smiled from above, "Haiz, Haiz… you know you kids aren't the only ones who have tricks up their selves." The middle schoolers looked at him puzzled. "Do you mean… Alan has already found way to counter Heber's tricks?" asked Ezekiel surprised.

"I won't say he did but he already had… since, the very beginning." Seles replied. "Since… the very beginning?" asked Damian confused. Seles repeated,

"When your affront gives up… what do you use? Remember what Kazuna said before?" the middle schoolers including Ryan, Kenzo and Xavier eyed him silent.

"It isn't a secret code to begin with. It simply means, when you can't look ahead of you or if your sight gives up what do you use? And, the answer for that is your mind.

Form the very beginning, Heber had been a controlling type unlike Gabriel and Adam who were the aggressive ones. Alan had already prepared himself to play along with his games. And now, it's time he answers all of those tricks back with a single trick." Seles explained.

"Then that means… the ones who were being played along were us to begin with?" asked Feng and Christopher shocked.

Seles smiled, "Nope, the moment Heber threw Alan in a trap little did he knew that he had fallen into one of his as well." Kenzo gazed at Heber silent.

Ryan smirked at Alan, "Heeh… not bad."

Alan before balling hopped twice. Heber eyeing him stood puzzled. "Heber bin Saad… looks like, it's finally good bye." Alan claimed spinning his arm as the ball wheezed through the pitch with a speed as fast as of a bullet train on metal track.

Heber jolted. "Is that a spin?!" he thought surprised. "A right handed slider bowled from the left side?!" asked Poseidon. "How can that be…?" Cassiel gasped shocked.

"Isn't Alan a pace bowler?!" asked Azazel in disbelief. The middle schoolers along with Xavier, Helios, Seraph and Kenzo eyed the pitch speechless. "So this is what they meant by tricks up his sleeve…" whispered Xavier as Ryan stared at Alan with his eyes widened.

"No way…" uttered Adam.

The ball spinning went into Heber stumps as he eyed it. "No way! There's no way I'll lose my wicket!" he thought. All of a sudden changing his form he turned around slamming the ball with a dot return in a blink of second.

And, as soon as he did. The illusionary circus room which he had created since the beginning shattered!

Alan closing his eyes turned around gazing at the audience seats which were once more reveled before his eyes. Eyeing the highschoolers a satisfied smile rested his face. Kazuna gazing back at him nodded smiling lightly.

"It broke! Alan broke the Joker's cage!!" cheered Aigou clapping his hands against Elias's and Ren's who smiled back.

"However, it should've been an out. Even till the very end, Heber maintained his calm and changed positions, to counter the momentum of the ball creating a dot return." explained Nagi.

"A highly skilled player." commented Evan as Haruf nodded.

"But still, he didn't use that jumping play or to counter any of Alan's deliveries. Who knows what other kinds of tricks, he has up his sleeve." Aigou gazed at Heber intrigued.

"I can't help but want to play against him…" he whispered curiously. Isa and Elias smiled.

"Seems like, you like that brat hun. Well then congratulations." Noah commended. Aigou eyeing Heber smiled silently.

"He stopped it. He really stopped such a dangerous spin. Heber didn't get out…" whispered Jules sitting down with a thud breathing a sigh of relief. "Yeah… however, his joker's cage was still shattered." continued Silas.

Kenzo spoke up, "That's as far as his limit goes. Since, Heber can't counter spins. In case of meeting a spin bowler, his joker's cage turns ineffective and facing sliders like the one Alan threw before he couldn't use his acrobatic play at all. Leaving him no choice but to return it with his utmost concentration."

Heber kneeling on the ground smiled at Alan, "So in the end you still managed to keep your glory at its peak hun?"

Alan nodding replied, "Of course, I did. And, I forever will. But still, you were supposed to get out on the last delivery which you evaded splendidly. Sigh, I really met one hell of a clever joker today, good job." Alan commented walking towards him giving his hand, "It was fun playing with you, let's have a longer game against each other next time. And, at that time make sure to reveal every single one of your hidden tricks."

Heber blinked his eyes soon sighing. Grabbing his hand he stood up shaking it, "Really… you're weird."

"Heber Bin Saad, go back to your friends with your head held high. You played great. Make sure your admirer see that pride of yours as well." Alan advised.

Heber nodding left his hand heading back to the middle schoolers who waited for him. Up to Alan's surprise a yellow wrapped candy was left over his hand instead. Alan gazed at Heber's back surprised.

"Alan… you really made my day. And, since tricks won't work on you. I'll let you have it… my sweet of victory." Heber waved his hand without turning back.

Alan looking at the candy thought amused, "A joker living up to his name…"

Heber walking over stood before Kenzo as the middle schoolers stood silent. None daring to utter a single word.

"Geez… Kenzo's expression is a bit harsh. Heber did play well didn't he?" Adam whispered in Seraph's ear and repeating again in Ryan's ear.

Seraph looking at them glanced at Helios and Xavier who had no idea of what's going to happen next. Heber just like Alan told stared into Kenzo's eyes fixated as the two of them gazed at each other wordless.

Soon breaking the silence Heber spoke, "I did my level best. It isn't a joke but he's hella strong… and, I am sorry for letting all you down. Your highness."

Azazel, Damian, Faris, Jules and Silas gazed the two of them worried. Kenzo exhaling stared gravely, "Tell me one thing… you didn't ate the sweet I gave you right?" Hearing his words Heber flinched looking away.

"He didn't?! You played against Alan without eating the candy?! But wait- didn't you eat right here before you left? So how come??" asked Azazel puzzled.

Heber looking away nodded.

Grasping his response Kenzo abruptly smiled. The middle schoolers eyed him astonished. "Good job… It still isn't up to my level. But, your progress is acceptable." Kenzo complimented in his bizarre way.

"Quit comparing everyone to your likes, you fake king." Ryan taunted rolling his eyes in disbelief. Kenzo killed his tongue annoyed. However, Heber stared at Kenzo dumbfounded, "What did you say…?"

Kenzo glanced back, "What?" "I don't like repeating myself, so go and enjoy all the sweets Damian got for you. And, since you saw your own limits make sure to work even harder than before to overcome this loss and exceed. Or else, you won't even be able to reach up to my knees." he added.