CHAPTER 44: ""THE SILENT FIRE""

The sun was higher now, casting a harsh glare across Ghostline Pitch Zone 3.

Raj adjusted his helmet strap slowly, feeling the tug against his chin.In front of him, Gravex players laughed, shouted instructions, clapped unnecessarily hard.

It wasn’t real encouragement,it was only noise.It was planned to throw him off before he even took strike.

As Raj walked toward the crease, a voice from point called out loudly:

"Hope that fancy glove doesn’t rip when you swing, kid!"

Another player snickered near the boundary:

"Must be nice stitching dreams. Too bad they won’t help you hit the ball!"

Raj didn’t react.He didn’t even look at them.

Because inside, his system pulsed softly.

[System Alert: Psychological Disruption Detected]

Rival Tactic Active: Verbal Sledging

Passive Engaged: Play the Game, Not Their Noise

Bonus Activated:

– +8% Focus

– -10% Emotional Reaction to External Provocation

Objective: Respond Only Through Play

Innings started,The bowler stepped up.

He is a Medium pace bowler with short run-up.

A grin stretched across his face as he locked eyes with Raj.

Raj tapped the bat once against the ground.

Took his stance and waited.

The first ball zipped in — short and outside off.

Raj didn’t chase the ball.He left it calmly, letting it swing past into the keeper’s gloves.

The slip fielder immediately barked:

"Doesn’t even trust his own glove!"

Raj exhaled slowly through his nose.

Second ball.

Tighter line.

Raj defended it with a soft, easy tap back to the bowler.

No risk.

No drama.

Just a thunk and a reset.

[System Whisper – Patience Registered]

Your silence cuts deeper than arguments.

Player Confidence Reduction: +3% Gravex Side

Third ball.Same bowler, trying to rush him.

Raj stepped slightly across and clipped it toward midwicket.A simple single.

He didn’t sprint.He didn’t punch the air.

He just jogged calmly to the other end.

When Raj reached the non-striker’s crease, he heard it again.Soft this time.

From Naman himself, near short cover:

"Nice glove. Shame it’s wasted on safe shots."

Raj finally looked at him.Just for a second.

Not a glare.Not a smile.

Just calm, electric blue eyes meeting mirrored sunglasses.

Then Raj turned back to face the bowler.

Saying everything he needed without a word.

[System Impact: Silent Fire Recognition]

Audience Emotional Interest: +12%

New Passive Unlock: The Calm Before the Roar

– Each ignored taunt strengthens player focus and sharpens shot timing

The next over began.New bowler.

Faster.Sharper wrist action.

First ball: a searing yorker attempt.

Raj shifted weight effortlessly.Defended down, steering the ball toward third man.

Picked up another easy single.No panic.No risk.No noise.

By the end of four overs, Raj had 7 runs off 9 balls.

No big hits.No mistakes.Just presence.

And strangely, the field around him,got quieter.

Gravex players started talking to each other instead of shouting at him.

Their sledging lost its teeth.

Their jokes faded.

Because nothing frustrates arrogance more than calm that refuses to break.

Inside the scout tent, one observer made a quiet note:

"Under fire, he shrinks distractions. Impressive field control."

Another scout nodded:

"You can teach technique. You can’t teach this."

Fifth over.

The sun beat down harder, pressing the heat into the players’ skin like an iron.

Raj adjusted his gloves, exhaled once, and tapped the bat lightly on the crease and cross from him, Gravex shuffled their fielders subtly.

Not tactical but calculated.

As the bowler ran up for the next delivery, Raj caught something strange.A small glint.

At short midwicket, one of the fielders held his palm open, flashing a silver object toward Raj’s peripheral vision.

A small pocket mirror.Deliberate.Well-timed.

Dirty.

The ball zipped toward off stump.Raj moved late, momentarily distracted by the flash.

The ball thudded into his pads, half an appeal from the fielders.

Not out.But close enough.

The Gravex side smirked, whispered loudly.

"Can’t even watch the ball now?"

"Maybe that glove covers your eyes too!"

A system window popped up:

[System Alert: Illegal Distraction Detected]

Rival Field Disruption Active

System Advice:

Emotional Response: Withhold

Tactical Response: Observe, Adapt

Passive Quest Unlocked: Test of Temper

Objective: Pass without protest.

Reward: Reputation Bonus + "The Player Coaches Respect"

Raj stood frozen for a moment.

The old Raj, the one from his past life,would’ve snapped.Would’ve thrown the bat down, argued, demanded penalties.

But this Raj,

This Raj had stitched different fire into himself.He turned slowly toward the umpire.

Made no scene.Simply pointed once,softly at his eyes and then toward the field.The umpire understood immediately.

No words.No complaints.Just quiet action.

The umpire walked toward the fielder.Took the mirror.Gave a firm warning and the match resumed.

A system notification popped up:

[System Reward – Temper Test Passed]

Emotional Stability Buff +10%

Gravex Team Psychological Stability -8%

Bonus Passive Gained: Silent Authority

Priya, standing beyond the boundary line, clenched her fists in silent pride.

Spandana, sketchbook tucked under her arm, smiled for the first time that morning.

Because they knew.

The real game wasn’t about runs.

It was about spirit.

Next ball.

Same bowler.

But this time, the energy had shifted.Raj stepped down the pitch boldly and cracked a clean cover drive.

Boundary.

No roar.No punching the air.Just a calm jog back to his crease as Gravex players stared at each other, frowning.

"What happened?"

"He was supposed to crack."

"Why is he still, steady?"

Because silent fire burns slowest and longest.

In the spectator tent, a scout whispered into his mic:

"Player shows elite-level mental composure. Not just field control ,field atmosphere control."

Another nodded:

"First we saw it with his glove.

Now we’re seeing it with his mind."

A system notification popped up:

[System Echo: Field Atmosphere Authority Gained]

Future field captains will remember you not by your volume, but your presence.

Raj settled back into his stance.The bowler ran in again, pushing the ball short of a length.

Raj rocked onto the back foot, timed it perfectly, and punched the ball through point for another easy two runs.

Simple. Clean. Unbothered.

A system window popped up:

[System Feedback: Rhythmic Flow Achieved]

Shot Timing Boost: +5%

Decision Clarity: High

Gravex’s frustration grew louder.

"Come on!"

"Hit him harder!"

"He’s getting lucky!"

But it wasn’t luck.It was discipline.

And the louder Gravex shouted, the quieter Raj became inside and outside.Each run was like another stitch in the wall he was building between himself and their noise.

By the eighth over, Raj had moved to 27 runs off 31 balls.

Solid.Not explosive.But steady enough that Gravex’s plan, whatever it was to had already started collapsing.

Until it happened.A signal from Gravex’s dugout and suddenly, the bowler changed.

Not a regular Gravex player.Not a bench-warmer.But Naman himself.

Helmet strapped. Gloves tightened.

Walking onto the pitch like he wasn’t just a designer, but a reminder.

Raj stood tall at the crease, tightening his own gloves.

Naman took the ball from the bowler with a curt nod.

No smile.No stare-down.Just pure focus.

A system window popped up:

[System Alert: Rival Creator Entered Field]

Event Triggered: Clash of Creators

Objective: Defend your creation — with your gameplay.

Bonus Unlock: Title - Proof in Action

The umpire adjusted his hat.The scorers leaned forward.Even the scouts sat up straighter.Because this wasn’t just a match now.

It was two creators facing each other.With no shields left.Only skill.

Naman marked his run-up with careful steps.

First ball --A full delivery on middle and off.

Raj stepped forward, met it cleanly, but dead-batted it back to the bowler.

Testing each other.Feeling each other’s pace.

Second ball --A cutter, angled into off stump.

Raj read it late but pushed it safely toward point for a quick single.Rotated the strike.

Made Naman chase rhythm instead of establishing it.

A system notification popped up:

[System Whisper – Creator’s Calm Activated]

Rival Aggression Level: Rising

Emotional Disturbance on Opponent: +8%

Third ball.

Naman returned faster.Short-pitched, head-height.

Raj ducked smoothly.No panic.No complaint.Just effortless evasion.

The ball smacked into the keeper’s gloves loudly.

But Raj didn’t even glance back.He simply tapped his bat once.

Reset.Ready.

On the boundary, Priya murmured under her breath:

"Stay your course, Raj.

Don’t let his story invade yours."

Spandana, standing next to her, sketched silently capturing the silent storm between them on paper.

Fourth ball--Another sharp delivery.

Raj leaned into it, guiding the ball along the ground past third man for another single.

No flourish.No celebration.Just presence.

A system window popped up:

[System Emotional Shift Registered]

Audience Engagement Surge: +18%

Gravex Support Base Confidence: -12%

Naman wiped sweat from his forehead.He wasn’t used to this.He wasn’t used to someone refusing to fight on his terms.

Because Raj wasn’t fighting.

Raj was proving.One ball at a time.One stitch at a time.One breath at a time.

Fifth ball--Yorker attempt.

Raj anticipated it and opened the bat face late.

Guided it past midwicket for two runs.

Smooth,precise and inevitable.

As Raj reset for the final ball of the over, the system whispered softly:

Not every storm roars.

Some simply change the air around them.

The field tightened.

Everyone on Gravex’s side sensed it ,the tension, the pressure, the burning need to reclaim something they had lost.

Naman stood at the top of his run-up.

Eyes sharp.Ball gripped tight.He wasn’t bowling for wickets anymore.He was bowling for pride.

Raj crouched slightly lower in his stance.

Hands relaxed.Heart steady.

The system pulsed softly in his mind.

[System Alert – Final Clash Detected]

Incoming Delivery: High Tension Spike

Objective: Prove your path through action

Bonus: Glove Echo Achievement

Naman charged in.His steps were clean.

His release smooth of the ball.

The ball exploded out of his hand, short and high , a desperate bouncer aimed at Raj’s helmet.A last attempt to rattle the calm.

Raj didn’t flinch.Didn’t duck blindly.

Didn’t back away.

Instead...

He shifted weight back, picked up the line early, and rocked onto his toes.

The bat lifted sharp, precise.

And crack!

The ball flew.Not a risky top edge.

Not a defensive tap.But a full-blooded, clean uppercut.

Over point.Over third man.Sailing beyond the ropes.

A six.

The silence was immediate.No celebration from Raj.No fist pump.

He simply walked forward a few steps, tapped his bat gently on the turf, and turned his back on Naman without even glancing.

A system notification popped up:

[System Response: Dominance Confirmed]

Gravex Confidence Crash: -22%

Audience Emotional Spike: +35%

Bonus Title Earned: Proof Without Words

Passive Buff: Respect Field (Presence lingers even after play ends)

On the boundary line, Priya covered her mouth with both hands, not from shock, but from the sheer beauty of the moment.

Spandana lowered her sketchbook, eyes shining softly.Not proud.Not boastful.Just,full.

Because they both knew.Raj didn’t just win the match.He won himself.

Naman lowered his head, walking back toward his team.No tantrum.No argument.

Just the slow, heavy realization:

Some battles aren’t fought with noise.

Some are lost the moment you meet someone who doesn’t need to shout to win.

The umpire lifted his hand.Signaled the six.

The innings ended there.Ghostline officials called time.

Players drifted off the field.And for once for a long, long moment no one chased Raj.

No reporters.No coaches.No angry rivals.

Just silence and respect.

Raj removed his helmet, letting the slight breeze cool his forehead.RC-V3 still wrapped his hand like a second skin.

A reminder of every stitch,

Every fall,

Every quiet decision not to answer noise with noise.

Back in the locker room, as Raj sat quietly, a volunteer slipped a small envelope onto his gear bag.No label.Just a soft seal.He opened it slowly.

Inside: a small piece of rough cloth familiar texture.And a handwritten line:

"The real gloves are the ones no one sees until it’s too late."

– F#0

[System Update: Flame Thread #0 Interaction Logged]

New Questline Branch Unlocked: Silent Builders

Status: Optional Ally Available (Identity Hidden)

Trust Rating: Pending

Raj smiled faintly and folded the cloth.Placed it carefully inside his duffel.

Because he knew now:This journey wasn’t just about matches.

Or gloves,

Or even trophies.

It was about becoming someone impossible to silence.

TO BE CONTINUED....