(Part 7)

"The shortcut Xavier used last time to climb up and down from here, we are going to climb to the top using that path to save our time." Kenzo continued. "Ah~ so that was what it was all about." Poseidon realized. "But…" Xavier spoke. "But what?" Ryan asked. "I will lose one of my secrets if I told you about it…" he whispered narrow-mindedly. "Seriously? You should be thinking about your teammates right now rather than secrets." Heber replied speechless.

"You know, I am speechless so, rather than delaying you better tell us." Kenzo stared at Xavier. Xavier grasped his chin thinking if rather he should tell or not. "This is taking way too long. I tell you even the long way would work if he's like this." Ezekiel said. Helios smiled, "Don't worry, he is too kind to be unkind." Xavier sighed, "Alright. Follow me." He told taking a steep path. "But be very careful." He warned. "See, I told you." Helios said.

"But, I smell something fishy in that be careful." said Azazel slightly alarmed. "Of course, not everything you're going to receive will be a bed of roses." Seraph added. Soon, the thirteen boys followed him to find themselves on a steep path leading towards the top with lots of boulders in between. They stood stood with their mouth gape. "So… is this your so called shortcut?" Adam pointed shocked glancing at Ryan and Seraph from the side.

"Yes." Xavier beamed. "Okay… wait a minute! Let me get this straight! How in the hell world is this a shortcut?! Do you want us to break our legs before even reaching the top? How the hell do we walk up there?" questioned Ezekiel baffled. Poseidon smiled. "I think I prefer the long route…" Azazel walked away with Heber who was stopped by Cassiel. Kenzo hitting his forehead in utter disbelief asked, "Kindly explain… Xavier." Xavier nodded obdiently, "Alright, let me show you."

Tying his shoelaces tightly and standing up he began to hop on his toes. As soon as a swallow flew past him, he leaped into the air dashing forward over the rocks one by one right and left. Jumping over the tree branches, coming onto the boulders again. He soon cleared half of the path with his stunning acrobatic display. The boys gazed at him wide mouthed. "Hey, is that Xavier?" Gabriel blinked his eyes. "For a moment, I thought I was seeing Silas over there." Helios commented awed. "To think he would learn even this? Unbelievable…" Cassiel remarked. "I should add it in my books." He wrote down.

Looking at him write so crazily Feng gulped hiding behind Seraph, "He is a data monster." Xavier standing over a tree branch turned around to face them. "Come on. Isn't this much explanation enough?" he asked smiling mysteriously. Ryan stared at him in astonished, a smile escaping his lips he asked, "Brother Xavier, you have become really strong haven't you?" "Well, I can't let you win or can I?" he asked tying his shoelaces tight.

Adam with a mile wide smile jumped up and down eyeing Seraph, "Look! Seraph! It's jumping! My favorite hobby! Can I go? Can I go?" he asked with a puppy faced expression. Seraph exhaling smiled patting his head, "Alright, of you go." "Yippee!!" Adam beamed and as soon as Ryan jumped forth, he too jumped beside him. "Yahoo! Let's race! Ryan! The one who reaches the top is the winner!" he challenged. Ryan accepted, "Bring it on!"

"Eh~ looks like I can't lose as well." Kenzo smirked while Helios nodded rushing forth. Turning around Helios smiled at Ezekiel and Poseidon. "Don't worry both of you." he assured following Kenzo jumping up. "Huh? What does that mean?" asked Ezekiel as Poseidon too eyed him confused. Gabriel and Heber too nodded making haste upwards. Soon, Xavier came down again. "Huh? Why did you come down?" asked Cassiel. Xavier smiled, "I don't feel like making to the top first today. Moreover, are you sure you don't want to participate in the race?" Xavier asked instead.

Cassiel nodding in confusion joined the others. Feng looking at his feet traced the bumpy path before him. "I don't think I will be able to climb that…" he sulked. "Yeah, neither Vice-captain Poseidon nor Azazel are in that great condition." Ezekiel added looking at the two of them. Xavier nodded, "I know that. That's why follow me."

Taking the path on the opposite side of the hill. After a walk of five minutes the five of them stood over a plain, clean route leading towards the top of the mountain without any hurdles. Ezekiel and Azazel gazed at Xavier bewildered. "Don't tell me you had more than one shortcut to reach towards the top!?" Azazel questioned him speechless.

Xavier turned around smiling, "Seems like it. Come on. Let's go. What are you waiting for?" he asked heading up. Feng gulped, "Unbelievable, so you purposely sent them from the hard route right?" Xavier chuckled, "Who knows? Or did you think I would disclose all my secrets?" Poseidon broke a smile , "As expected. I wonder how many more shortcuts you will have of this hill in your mind." "I wonder that myself as well." replied Xavier. "So that's what Captain Helios meant." Ezekiel realized, "Sigh~ so many clever people. I wonder how I will even survive in the future." Soon, the four of them made their way towards the top.

"Haha! This is so much fun!!" Adam exclaimed jumping up and down. "No way~ I am dead tired. Why do we have to turn into monkeys just to climb a mountain?" Heber panted hard. "We got no other choice my boy. In case you want to stand once again for the whole night." pointed Cassiel jumping over the bushes. "No way! I dare not want that!" claimed Gabriel rushing up. "HAHA! That Xavier brat! This king will finally climb the top! Just you wait!" Kenzo exclaimed delighted.

"Hah! Big words coming from a small mouth. Who says you will reach the top first?" Ryan accelerating his speed left him behind. "You brat!!" Kenzo gritted his teeth following. "But… I wonder where he is. I don't see him anywhere again?" Seraph looked back and forth. "To be frank, I saw him climbing back down again." Cassiel continued to write. Helios smiled. "Leave him be. I can tell for some reason that he is going to give us yet another surprise."

"Surprises hun…? Xavi, Xavi has been giving us a lot of them lately. I wonder if he's feeling alright." asked Adam worried. "Moreover, I don't see Azazel anywhere? Is he left behind?" asked Heber nervously. "Who knows? You better focus on yourself rather than worrying about others." Ryan stated. "But still…"Heber continued however Kenzo interrupted, "Never mind them. Let's get our speed accelerated. Say, Cassiel, what is the time now?"

"Right now, it's 7:20 am. If we cancel the time half from yesterday… then we have to reach the base by 11:30 approximately." He estimated. "Alright, so we have to reach the top in less than half an hour. Come on! Let's go!!" Kenzo ordered rushing up.

"Since, after all this we have a bigger problems to handle." Helios smirked remembering the highschoolers. "Right, I wonder if Christopher, Mikael and the others must be facing them right now. I really hope they'd be alright." Seraph said. "That is why I am saying that we have to hurry." Gabriel added. As all of them made haste towards the top.