KINGS OF CRICKET: The Golden Era

"Oye, oye…" Aaron and Noah swallowed while Haruf blinked surprised, "Oh boy."

"In the field at cover and extra cover, Captain…" Ezekiel pointed, "That's Venus and Wasif."

Helios looked seriously.

"And their UNSEAL…" Elias added while Rauf looked at the two silent. 

"Was it still not enough…?" Heber asked in disbelief.

Aigou stepping outside from the dressing room, uttered, "The Final phase where his abilities are passed down on the bowler who still has his bowling over left. This can only be achievable with paired ability. Since, he can easily pair up with any one due to his flexibility, he took Venus under his wing. So, until Venus bowls his complete bowling spell. Kazuna wouldn't be able to activate his abilities."

Kenzo's expression grim, he hid his mouth with his hand.

"Kenzo…" Seraph thought concerned.

Suddenly, the sound of the ball meeting the bat reverberated through the stadium as Isa launched a massive six between long stop and third man. The crowd erupted in cheers.

"A six! Finally, Isa Sikandar has broken free!" Wasim exclaimed, "He's edging closer to his fifty. Can he reach this milestone and lead Karachi to victory?"

"He will," Alan murmured confidently, his eyes sharp with belief. 

...

"Well, well, enjoying the spectacle, are we?" Nidou's voice cut through the moment, leaning casually against the door of the VIP box. His arms were crossed, and a suave smile played on his lips.

Azher glanced back at him briefly, along with Haris, Ahmed, and Hoor, but while the others exchanged clueless looks, Azher turned back toward the field, ignoring him with a huff.

"You haven't changed at all, have you, Nidou Rex Lorenzo?" Azher remarked, his tone cold and unamused.

Nidou strolled inside and sat beside him, a narrow lane separated their seats despite being on the same row. "Yep, the same old Nidou. If I changed, you wouldn't believe it's me, so why bother?" Nidou replied, his eyes shifting to the pitch as Isa and Kazuna ran for a single. He soon glanced sideways at Azher, his voice becoming more suggestive, "So... who's your pick?" he asked, slyly hinting at the game's outcome. 

"Doesn't matter. I couldn't care less," Azher responded with icy detachment.

"Hm~ that's a bit of a problem," Nidou mused, a glint of mischief in his mahogany eyes."If we win, you can't take your grandson back. But if they win, he'll be forcibly taken by you. So..." he leaned in slightly, his tone both teasing and challenging.

Azher's gaze darkened, but Nidou continued with a smirk, "It seems we're on opposite ends of this outcome, aren't we?"

Pausing for effect, Nidou's expression turned sharp, "If that's how it's going to be, how about we strike a deal, General?" he proposed.

A brief silence settled between them.

Azher finally spoke, his voice laced with disdain, "You're a crafty businessman, Nidou. Always making threats and only concerned about your own interests. So, how are you going to stop me this time?" 

Nidou's grin widened. "Those are some harsh words, but I need Azazel. And even if he's your grandson, I won't give him back. He signed up for this, and you, as his guardian, agreed. The PSL contract stands. And once we clear this stage, he'll play in the World Cup. He deserves that.

"And what if I don't want him wasting his time on this?" Azher asked, his voice hard.

"Wasting time?" Nidou's expression turned grim as he looked upward, his tone shifting to something cold and distant, "I've given my life to this profession, and you call it a waste of time. Not exactly the nicest thing to say. Not to mention, your deceased close friend was in my position before he chose me to be his successor."

Azher's brow twitched as he didn't respond, but his irritation was clear. "He's my grandson, Nidou. You have no right to dictate what I should do. If I want to take him back, I will. No one can stop me."

In the background, Hoor shot a concerned glance at Haris.

"But Grandpa, Azazel still wants to play…" Ahmed's voice was small, but before he could continue, Azher silenced him with a cold glare. 

Nidou exhaled rubbing the back of his head, "So the deal's off, is it?"

"It's over," Azher replied firmly.

Nidou's grin grew wider, "Don't forget you still owe my late master."

Azher blinked, caught off guard, "You…!"

Nidou cut him off, his tone firm, "And as his successor, you have to settle his debt with me."

"Devil..." Azher muttered under his breath as Nidou laughed, standing up, "Just joking now, haha. He'd kill me in the afterlife if he knew I was teasing you this much. You can take Azazel back if you insist, but I dare you, if you meet him now and still don't change your mind, I'll cancel the debt you owed my old man."

"Who...?" Azher asked, puzzled.

Nidou walked toward the exit, leaving a final remark, "My child... Alan. Alan Rex Lorenzo. He won't let you take Azazel away, mark my words." He waved casually before leaving, but stopped at the door to throw a teasing glance over his shoulder, "So, good luck."

Azher's glare followed him, but the name left Ahmed in thought. "Alan...? Why does that sound familiar?"

As Nidou wove through the lively crowd, his gaze fell to the ground, his voice soft and distant. "You can't win, Azher, not against this new generation. I've already lost to my own child… my foolish daughter who struck a deal. If she collects every jewel I desire and wins the World Cup... I swore I'd send her back. Back to her real parents." His words carried a hint of sadness, mixed with a quiet frustration.

Nidou let out a small, bitter laugh. "Hmph, a crafty businessman,' huh?" A wry smile tugged at his lips. "She's her father's daughter, after all."

Venus wiped the sweat from under his chin, his grin unwavering as the second-last over went under play.

"With Unseal, his reflexes are up 50%, and both his speed and strength have increased by 40%. His bowling is dead-on, no room for mistakes. And with Asim cutting off boundaries with his fielding tactics, my only chance is to aim high... But I'm reaching my limit. I don't know if I can clear the ground again," Isa thought, shaking his head, drenched in sweat. Putting on his helmet, he took his stance once more.

The crowd roared, "KARACHI! ISLAMABAD! KARACHI! ISLAMABAD!" as the tension mounted.

Romeo smiled, and Basid, Leif, Hamit, along with the others who watched intently.

"Come on, you can do it!" Adam shouted.

"Yeah! Give it everything! We're behind you!" Feng added.

Heber murmured, "Come on, come on..." while Xavier, Cassiel, Seraph, and Poseidon shared hopeful glances.

Hearing their cheers, the high schoolers grinned, while Elias clenched his fists, his gaze intense. "You've got this, Isa, Kazuna," he thought.

With the next ball, Isa sprinted for a single, and the crowd erupted.

"There it is! A brilliant fifty for Isa Sikandar! He acknowledges the crowd, raising his bat, and what a crucial innings this has been for Karachi. Isa's played with patience and flair, keeping his team in the game under immense pressure. This fifty isn't just runs; it's a proof of his spirit and willpower in this high-stakes encounter. Now, can he take Karachi over the finish line?" Maaz applauded.

Kazuna, gasping for breath, gripped Isa's fist, pulling him into an embrace as they both laughed.

Back in the pavilion, the middle schoolers leapt to their feet, and Alan smiled. Even Zachariah, usually stoic, clapped with a rare, joyful expression.

"Proud, boss?" Haruf nudged Rauf's shoulder while Evan waited for his reaction.

Rauf, his eyes on the beaming Isa, allowed a proud grin to break through. "Hmph, who wouldn't be?" he replied.

"Haha!" Orion, Aaron and Noah joined the applause as the middle schoolers exchanged surprised looks at Rauf's uncharacteristic warmth. 

Another run added. Karachi Kings stood at 165/5, with the final over looming. They needed 18 runs off the last 6 balls to seize victory and claim the crown.

"And here we go! Final over—18 runs to win. Will Karachi Kings pull off a miracle, or can Islamabad United hold their nerve?" Wasim's voice charged with excitement as the crowd buzzed with anticipation.

"This is it—the moment of truth! Six balls stand between Karachi and their destiny!" Maaz added, his tone equally tense.

Juhan Fahim, the bowler chosen for this critical moment, already had three wickets under his belt.

As he prepared, Isa tapped his bat, his Pinnacle glowing with intensity, waiting as Juhan rushed to the popping crease.

"Zephyr's Curl," Juhan whispered, releasing the ball. A delicate breeze nudged the delivery, subtly altering its path mid-pitch, swinging sharply towards Isa at the last moment.

"Head straight," Isa whispered in command.

The ball, obeying him rather than nature, straightened out for a perfect drive down the ground. Rovan and Wasim sprinted to cut it off, but the ball bounced once and sped to the boundary.

"WOOHOO!" The crowd erupted as Isa took control.

"Yes!" The boys in the pavilion cheered, clapping their hands proudly.

"What a shot! Straight as an arrow, one bounce over the rope for four off the very first ball!" Jones shouted.

"Superb timing! Karachi now needs 14 from 5 balls—pressure is sky-high on both sides!" Maaz added, sensing the escalating tension.

Juhan, grabbing the ball, took a moment as Rovan patted his back before getting ready again.