KINGS OF CRICKET: The Golden Era

"Come on, let's head outside," Aigou said as he stood up, only to freeze mid-step when a cold, threatening voice cut through the air.

"And who gave you permission to do that?" Seles' murderous glare was fixed on Aigou, sending chills down his spine as he gulped and stopped in his tracks.

"Looks like you're staying put after all," Ryan commented dryly.

"No..." Aigou groaned, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

Suddenly, the commentators' voices filled the room, "It's a quick single... wait—there's hesitation between the wickets! The fielders are scrambling, but the ball's been fumbled! Oh no, this is chaos!"

Aigou and Ryan quickly turned their attention to the screen, eyes wide in alarm.

"Go for another, Isa, quick!" Kazuna shouted, spotting the confusion on the field as Isa sprinted back for a second run.

"Hurry, Mikael!" Emaad urged, but the throw was high, sailing past the wicket and toward third man.

"What?!" Venus grabbed his head in frustration.

"One more, Kazuna!" Isa called, and to everyone's surprise, the pair went for a third run.

"Miscommunication all over the field! What should've been a simple single has turned into a second... and wait, they're going for a third?!" the commentator exclaimed.

"Yes, they are! Unbelievable! The fielders are still trying to recover, but the batsmen have already grabbed a third run. They've taken full advantage of that mix-up!" Maaz continued, his voice incredulous, "You can't afford such sloppy fielding at this stage—what should've been just one run has turned into three. A huge let-off for Karachi!"

Hamza clicked his tongue in frustration, while Isa smiled and gave Kazuna a thumbs up.

The over ended with three more runs added to the tally. Karachi now needed 34 runs from 24 balls.

As the seventeenth over began, Wasif received the ball from the umpire to bowl his final over.

Kazuna, focused and ready at the crease, watched him carefully. Before Wasif could start, Isa called from the non-striker's end, "Are you sure you want to bowl this over?"

Wasif turned, raising an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I?" he asked.

"Because once your spell is done, the effect of your Realm will disappear. Kazuna will be free," Isa explained calmly.

Wasif smirked. "Ah, as expected from Karachi's Pillar of Victory. You figured it out faster than I thought you would."

"Just experience," Isa replied, "But from your reaction, even after knowing what I said, you don't seem worried. What are you still hiding?"

Wasif blinked, then let out a soft chuckle. "Heh, what's the rush? You'll find out soon enough." Without another word, he turned and headed back to his mark.

Wasif's Realm activated, he delivered the first ball of the over with all his strength focused into his arm sending down a sharp bouncer that Kazuna swiftly ducked under, and Emaad caught just in time behind the stumps.

"That's the first phase," Kazuna thought, recognizing the immense power in that delivery.

The second delivery, a Yorker aimed at his feet, Kazuna, once again, played it defensively.

"OH!" The crowd erupted with excitement.

Wasif retrieved the ball, breathing heavily as he made his way back to his mark.

"This is fantastic bowling from Wasif," Jones commented, "He's keeping Kazuna pinned down, not letting him find any freedom. Every delivery is spot on, probing that off-stump line with immaculate precision."

"Oh, and that's a single now," Maaz added as Isa took the crease.

Isa glanced around, tapping his bat on the ground as he waited. 

Wasif, charging through the 30-yard circle, delivered the ball right on the popping crease.

Isa whispered, "Slow down." The ball obeyed, losing speed instantly, as Isa took the opportunity to play a reverse sweep. Confident it would go for four, he thought, "That's got to be a boundary," but his smile vanished when Seon Yul suddenly gathered the ball cleanly and aimed for a direct hit.

"Huh? I didn't aim it there..." Isa thought, quickly running back to his crease. His bat stretched out fully as he dove back, just before the ball struck the bails.

"Isa…!" Kazuna whispered restlessly.

"OUT!" Wasif and the Islamabad players roared, joined by the crowd.

"Isa!" "Senior Isa!" Aaron, Feng, and Elias called out as Zachariah and Evan looked on, frowning.

"There's a chance for a run out! It's a direct hit at the striker's end! Islamabad are celebrating, but the umpires have gone upstairs for a review. This is going to be incredibly close!" Wasim exclaimed.

Lying flat on the ground, Isa gripped his bat tightly, whispering, "Please... not now… please..." He slowly sat up, waiting anxiously for the review.

Kazuna came to his side and helped him to his feet.

On the big screen, the replay showed Seon Yul's swift movement, gathering the ball in one fluid motion and firing it straight back to the stumps. The footage slowed down frame by frame as Isa's dive was scrutinized.

The tension was palpable in Karachi's pavilion; the middle schoolers and high schoolers, along with the coaches all held their breath, hearts pounding. Alan clenched his fists nervously.

"Here we go... Isa's bat is just inches away from the crease... and... yes, he's safe! The bat crosses the line before the bails come off. Not out!" Jones declared.

Isa's face lit up with relief, and Kazuna gave him a reassuring pat on the back.

"Isa breathes a sigh of relief, but that was way too close for comfort!" Maaz added, "Islamabad gave it everything, but Isa survives by the slimmest of margins. Brilliant effort in the field nonetheless!"

"Oh my God!" Noah exhaled in relief, surrounded by Aaron, Elias, Orion, Nagi, and the middle schoolers.

Cassiel, still confused, muttered, "That ball was clearly heading for the boundary. How did it end up in Seon Yul's hands?"

Orion gritted his teeth, annoyed. "It's Asim. That punk...! He's got this fielding ability where he can command any ball traveling along the ground to go to a fielder he names. He stops boundaries like that."

Adam asked, "But Senior Isa can control the speed of the ball, right?"

"Yes, Isa can manipulate the speed, but Asim controls its direction. Once Asim names the fielder, no matter how fast or slow the ball is, it will end up in that fielder's hands." Nagi explained.

Helios and Kenzo narrowed their eyes in contemplation. 

"Do those two know about this?" Gabriel asked, gesturing at Isa and Kazuna.

"Yeah," Elias responded, "But even if you're aware of an ability like that, facing it suddenly on the field is bound to throw you off."

Poseidon, impressed, commented, "A Door, Lowest Point Manipulation, and now this fielding skill. Those two are facing all three abilities at once."

"All while only Isa's Pinnacle of Monarchy is activated," Ren pointed out, "Kazuna's abilities are still sealed."

"Sealed?" Cassiel and Heber echoed, puzzled.

"Yeah, if Kazuna wasn't restrained, do you think he'd be playing defensively? He'd have finished the game by now. The Door's second phase has sealed Kazuna's ability permanently." Aaron told.

Xavier, intrigued, asked, "Since when has Senior Kazuna's ability been locked?"

"Ever since he stepped on the field," Alan replied, his eyes fixed on the game as the over ended.

The middle schoolers, awed and surprised, fell into a thoughtful silence.

Senri, grinning boldly, asked, "See the level of your high schoolers?"

Azazel and Adam, trying not to appear too impressed, puffed their cheeks, muttering, "Even their high schoolers dealt with all our abilities at once in the innings before..."

Senri laughed, "You're right!"

Nidou, downing his sports drink, stood up, groaning as he stretched. "Ugh, my back..." he complained.

"Where are you off to?" Musa asked.

Scratching his head and glancing at the pitch with disinterest, Nidou capped his bottle and replied, "I'm going for a breather. This is tiresome."

Musa raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Tiresome? You're the head coach, you lazy mutt."

Ignoring the comment, Nidou twirled his drink bottle and walked off. "I'll leave the rest to you, Pedro, Mir," he yawned.

Mir sighed in annoyance, while Pedro replied, "Yes, head coach."

Rauf closed his eyes, while Alan stared after Nidou contemplatively. 

Only a single run accumulated in the seventeenth over, Karachi needed 33 runs in only 18 legal deliveries remaining.

Wasif gesturing Venus to come closer smiled.

Kazuna once again taking the batting crease exhaled. "His overs have finally ended. I can finally aide Isa." he whispered.

Rovan, taking the third last over of the innings, went back twirling the ball in his hands. The final hour approaching, both teams braced themselves, going all out.

Delivering the first ball of the over, Rovan aimed for the stumps with a Yorker. The ball swinging inside the wickets. Kazuna whispered, "Realm of Enlightened consciousness…?"

However, still not activating, Kazuna narrowed his gaze, Stopping the ball with defensive front foot soon uttering, "Black hole." The ball rather than going into Rovan's hands went behind the non-striker's wicket rolling away, while Rovan searched, Kazuna took the opportunity for a quick single. 

"It still isn't activated?" Isa wondered looking at Kazuna who stood at the non-striker's crease looking around.

Kazuna, tracing Wasif who grinned at him, a silvery glow emitted him and not just him but Venus as well.

Wasif whispered, "Door of Absolute Control: Final Phase: The Never Ending Door."

"Tch…" slightly infuriated now, Kazuna clicked his tongue.