(Part 2)

"It's his highness's turn now." Azazel pointed.

"Senior Elias against Senior Mael felt as if they were on the same level." Adam added. 

"Orhan Armad, (2nd year middleschooler) a left handed swing pacer. He is known for variety of fast deliveries but he is mostly famous for his short balls and catch outs ones. It's like playing against Azazel but with a higher level of difficulty." Ren phrased.

Azazel furrowed his gaze attentive.

"It's a good chance to learn. Make sure to observe their bowling lengths and stance more attentively." Evan advised.

Kenzo tapping the bat on the crease looked up, squinting his eyes to evade the floodlights, he concentrated.

Orhan rushing towards the popping crease bowled the first delivery of the 2nd over. Sharp, in line, however; a little short, a bouncer headed towards Kenzo which he evaded. The ball coursing straight into the wicket keeper's hand.

Heading back, Orhan silently glanced at Kenzo.

"A bouncer on the very first ball…" Kenzo smirked.

The second delivery, an inswinger delivered. Kenzo stopped it with a front foot defense as Zhangli caught it handing it back to Orhan. "Good job, all of you." he encouraged clapping his hands.

Orhan pushing his hairs back grabbed the ball. His middle and index finger on both the rough and shiny side of the ball, his thumb rested on its bottom seam.

Delivering the 3rd ball of the over, Orhan whispered, "Wild bounce!" The ball short, like his usual deliveries aimed for the off side, carrying twice speed yet, high to Kenzo's shoulders.

Kenzo startled, took the chance and pulled his bat up. The impact of the ball on the bat, he pushed it backwards between the third man and long on boundary. Immediately turning around to find the ball going over the fielder's head for a six. A breathe of sudden relief escaped his lips. 

"Close! Had it been a little short it would've definitely been a catch." Ryan gasped.

"Really close." Helios agreed.

"A Six! Perfect timing, balanced stance and manimun of power used." Maaz exclaimed.

Kenzo turned to Orhan who smirked. His yellow gaze showing a route to his devious schemes.

"This little…" Kenzo uttered irritated, tapping his bat on the crease.

Orhan aiming an outswinger next. Kenzo stepped forward smashing the ball towards extra cover and into the deep extra cover scoring 4 runs.

Orhan glanced at him grave.

"An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth." Kenzo thought grinning back.

Three runs scored on the last two balls, the second over ended.

"22 runs for no loss…" Seles whispered.

Sides changing and Kenzo again on the batting crease, tapped his bat. "Kenzo." Elias called.

"Hm?" Kenzo responded.

"Stay on guard, he might be much trickier than Orhan." Elias warned.

Kenzo nodded. "Don't fret too much. I'll handle it." he assured.

"Will he be alright?" Adam inquired.

"He will be." Helios smiled confident.

Alan glancing behind too gave out a light beam. 

Mael twirling the ball, delivered the 1st ball of the 3rd over. Kenzo glanced at the fielders around. "They are gathering on the slips. 4th, 1st and leg slip just like in the start. They weren't there in the last over though…" he observed.

Stepping on the popping crease, Mael whispered, "Flicker delivery." As soon as the ball left his grip. It travelled in a straight line and passed by Kenzo's bat, vanishing the moment he blinked. Taken aback by the delivery, he gave a sideway glance to find the ball in the keeper's hands.

"OH!" the wicketkeeper went beside the slip fielders while the entire stadium fell silent for a moment, "The ball…?"

Mael caressing his hairs with an unmoved expression headed back.

"Did he even deliver it?" Azazel, Xavier and Seraph whispered puzzled.

Musa squinted his gaze solemn.

"189.2 km/hr." Nagi informed, "Mael's fastest ball delivering record. He recently mastered to this speed."

"Unbelievable…" Aigou blinked surprised.

Rauf closed his eyes, "There's nothing unbelievable about this. If you have evolved then they have evolved as well. What matters is that 'Whose 'Evolution' stands superior and dominates whom." 

"Oye, oye… are you kidding me?" Kenzo gulped grinning, "To think he is actually bowling me that delivery again and again?"

Mael delivering the 4th ball of the over, Kenzo tapped his bat prepared. An Inswinger aimed for his feet, Kenzo shot it back straight for the long on taking a run.

Elias, now on the batting crease adjusted his gloves. Slamming a four towards extra cover on the next delivery, he smiled proudly at Kenzo.

"Tch…" Kenzo rolled his eyes swearing, "Just get out on the next delivery."

Mael grabbing the ball headed back. Elias tapping his bat looked ahead. "Really... long it has been however…" he wondered, his gaze narrowing, "Is this really my stage?"

Delivering the last ball of the over Mael whispered, "Flicker delivery." Roaring with speed, with full length, it went past Elias as he pulled his bat away abruptly, as if already known what might occur next however futile. Hitting the edge of the bat it travelled acutely towards the leg side slip fielder and in an instant Catch! 

OUT!! Ardent calls escaped the fielders as Mael raised his fists up. The umpire raising his index finger next too affirmed.

"YAHOO~!!" the entire stadium went applauding.

"Edge and catch taken!! What a wicket! Elias Hud Armand, the mastermind of Karachi Kings dismissed on 12 runs with 9 deliveries played! What a jolt for the kings!!" Maaz commented.

Unable to grasp what had happened, the boys in Karachi's pavilion went silent. "Huh?" Isa uttered bewildered.

"Senior Elias…?" Helios too blinked confused beside Ezekiel, Seraph, Azazel and Feng.

Alan yawning, kept his hand under his chin unfazed. "Too early, Elias. This time it was seriously too early." he thought exhaling. Glancing at middleschoolers and highschoolers behind, he looked at the ground ahead where Peshawar Zalmi were celebrating while Kenzo remained fixated on his spot. 

"Heh~ cunning wasn't it. Nonetheless, it's my loss." Elias removed his helmet heading back.

Kenzo in disbelief, stood on his place as stiff as a stone. "Hey… are you kidding me?" he thought utterly baffled.

"Well then, best of luck, your highness. Don't worry, I know you didn't mean it." Elias dabbed his back, heading back to the pavilion.

"Karachi losing their 1st wicket in the 3rd over at 27 runs and such an important one a top of it. The next batsman to arrive is Senri Ibn Daud the skipper…" commentators called.

"Geez, they are hella noisy." Orion removed one of his earplugs out.

Elias retuning inside the pavilion, Senri dabbed his back heading out. Rauf sat with his eyes closed, as the middleschoolers all looked at him curious.

"Senior Elias… are you alright?" Xavier questioned slightly wary.

"Hm? Of course I am." Elias gave an assuring beam. Seeing him smile so casually, the middleschoolers raised their brows slightly irritated.

"Why do I feel annoyed seeing his face?" Gabriel whispered to Christopher.

"Who knows, I feel twice annoyed. Since there's a feeling that he was joking around."

Elias shook his head, "I wasn't joking around. Mael's bowling was definitely dangerous. After all, fast balls are my weakness, Zachariah…" he turned to him, "Have I even scored a single boundary in your overs?" 

"None…" Zachariah shook his head.

"See." Elias shrugged his shoulders sitting down as Aigou handed him a sports drink. "Thank you." he smiled.

"No need…" Aigou puffed his cheeks irritated, "I just wanted to see you play a little while longer."

"I am sorry." Elias apologized sincerely.

Cassiel still confused asked, "Senior Elias, did you dream something last night?"

Mentioning his 'Lucid Dreaming' everyone once again turned to Elias. Rauf glanced from the corner of his eye. After a short while of silence Elias revealed a light curve of his lips, his eyes hidden, "I did… but it just wasn't meant for me. I hope you all do understand."

Pedro silently observing them noted down his files.

Back at the pitch…

"Hello~ Earth to Kenzo~" Senri waved before him who stood as still as a statue. "Oh dear, to think it was such a trauma for him that Elias got out. What should I do about it…" he thought scratching his hairs as a Kenzo abruptly shrieked, "OH MY GOD!" 

Startled upon his call, Zhangli, Senri and Mael along with Ishaq all fielders present within the 30 inched circle turned to him.

"I should've wished for something else!!" Kenzo uttered regretfully.

"Huh?" Senri blinked speechless.

Mael hearing him coughed as Iosif, Zhangli, Omar and Abaan began to chuckle out of nowhere.

"He seriously got out when I said he should, GOSH! I should've wished for something else. Like winning the world cup or PSL or even winning this month's lottery! To think it worked for him, what a waste of prayers!!" Kenzo crouched low, not disappointed because Elias got out however, dejected just because he lost a fine chance for a worthwhile prayer to get accepted.

"Well everything's fine." Senri ignored him heading back to the batting crease as Zhangli dabbed his back teasing, "Haha, lovely juniors. You must be proud."

"Yeah, proud. Very proud..." Senri replied sarcastically.