(Part 3)

Kenzo settling down beside the others stared at Poseidon, Azazel and Adam. "We just crossed the cavern… and this happened. They have no energy left in them and the burden of these baskets is too much. How are we supposed to reach back to the mountain top…?" he reflected jumbled.

Alan walking over to them kept his basket down. His shoulders sore he winced yet endured.

"Azazel… just sleep or a while. I'll wake you up." Heber patted his head as Azazel crouched on his thigh weakly.

"They're exhausted…" Alan thought nervously. Walking over to Poseidon, he kneeled before him as Helios smiled.  His expression worrisome yet strong at the same time, his hands trembled clutching Poseidon's wrist tightly. "He's quivering…" Alan gulped.

Shoving his hairs to a side, Alan kept the back of his hand over Poseidon's forehead. Sensing his forehead slighly cool he exhaled a breath of relief. "There's no fever and his condition is returning to normal. He'll be fine… don't worry." he assured Helios. Helios nodding smiled.

Xavier tired quivered too as Feng caught him. "Brother Xavier." he called worried. Xavier shaking his head assured in turn. The little rabbit concerned climbed over his shoulder. Xavier slightly surprised patted his fur lovingly, "Thank you for worrying…"

The fourteen of them resting waited. 

After a short while, Poseidon opened his eyes. His vision hazy, he traced the others surrounding him exhausted. Instantly realizing he sat up straight thinking, "Did I just…?"

Turning around he eyed Helios behind him puzzled. Helios's expression neither worrisome, nor happy, he stared at him cross. 

Ezekiel beside him smiled patting Poseidon's shoulder. "How are you feeling now, vice-captain?" he asked fretful.

Poseidon shaking his head assured, "I'm fine."

Kenzo standing up dusted his clothes, "That's good to hear. Let's continue now. We don't have time to waste."

Helios silently stood up beside Heber, Xavier, Ryan, Adam, Seraph, Cassiel and Gabriel. The fourteen of them alongside Alan once again carrying their baskets got ready.

Poseidon stood baffled, "Don't tell me they all stopped because of me…?"

Xavier patting his shoulder took his attention. "Are you alright? Don't force yourself if you can't carry them." he assured.

Poseidon shaking his head replied, "No… it's alright."

Tracing Helios who ignored him, he blinked soon smiling dismayed, "He's angry… really angry…"

Turning around, he was about to pick his basket up as Alan suddenly caught his wrist. Up to his surprise, Kenzo too caught his arm above Alan's hand. The two of them looking at each other for a while sighed irritated.

"Don't tell me you were thinking the same thing as I was, you multi haired rascal?" Kenzo uttered annoyed.

Alan rolling his eyes left Poseidon's wrist who on the contrary stood confused. "All of you line up!" Kenzo called.

Seraph and Cassiel glancing at each other, stood in a line before him just like others did. Tracing the ones with their basket full Kenzo pulled their rocks out shoving them in his own. Adam and Poseidon with Azazel surprised looked at him.

"Kenzo…?" Feng asked puzzled while Alan grinned.

Kenzo hearing his name glanced at Feng, his finger steadily placed on his lips. He pointed him to stay silent. Helios understanding his actions did the same beside Gabriel. 

"Don't fret it boys." Alan spoke up.

They looked at them muddled.

"That old man might have named these baskets with your names…" Alan spoke.

"But, he didn't name each and every rock carried within them…" Kenzo continued grinning.

"Which means… all those with half and a quarter baskets filled take rocks from the full and third quarter ones to share their burden. After that, we'll march on." Seraph explained taking Adam's rocks.

Helios walking over took Poseidon's and Ezekiel's rocks beside Ryan's. Xavier who felt lighter from his back turned around to see Feng sharing his burden alongside Gabriel. "Hehe… don't worry Vice-captain. We're here to help you." Feng assured. 

Heber glancing at Azazel who blinked at him smiled ruffling his hairs. "Haha! What are you looking at? Are you that surprised by my kindness?" he teased.

Azazel shaking his head on the contrary gulped nervously, "No… Um, will you be alright?"

Heber glancing back assured, "Little one who did you think your senior brother is?"

Poseidon smiled at Helios. "Sigh… making me worry all the time." Helios thought relieved.

Alan walking ahead grinned. All of a sudden even his basket started to lose weight. Startled by the sudden change Alan turned around to find Xavier waving at him beside Cassiel while Kenzo rolled his eyes.

Adam walking over also took over some of his rocks too. "Sharing is caring isn't it?" he asked tenderly.

Alan blinked his eyes casing a light beam.

Supporting each other the fourteen of them once again made their way forward.

"Are you sure you'll be alright now?" Seraph inquired Poseidon.

"Yeah… I will be. The effects of medicine lasts for 24 hours, don't worry." he spoke certain.

Crossing the dark path the boys treaded lightly. "It feels scary right, Sera, Sera? Adam gulped grasping his arm while the other one held Ryan's hand who looked around nervously.

"Yup, it does. That's why make sure to stay as silent as you all can. Because, even the slightest of mistakes can cause lives!" Gabriel threatened.

Chills went down Heber, Ezekiel's, Azazel's and Feng's spine.

"Just quit it already!" Feng freaked out in a whisper. Gabriel grinned amused in turn. 

Alan ahead of all observed out the route as the other followed beside. Looking at how they supported each other. "Well done…" he remarked out of the blue.

"Huh?" Azazel asked.

"The second mission finding… did you know why it was giving this name by that old man?" Alan questioned.

Xavier and Seraph clueless asked, "Why?"

Alan soon locating the sight of the steep hill heading up to the mountain top grinned. Eyeing Ryan and Adam beside him, he closed his distance. Suddenly tugging his arms over their shoulders supporting them.

"Wha-?" Ryan uttered jolting while Adam unconsciously supported him back. Alan headed up. "It's because… huff…" he panted. 

The rest of them in two groups of four and one of three climbed up backing each other. Sweat dripping their foreheads with strength leaving their legs they pulled each other up painstakingly. "Be careful…" Ezekiel warned Heber who shook his head tired.

"You have all succeeded… in not leaving even a single one of you behind… be it pain or gravest of circumstances… you've… Huff, huff… finally found a bond unbreakable… formed a bond invincible…" Alan claimed exhausted.

"Huff! Huff! Haha…" Kenzo laughed beside Xavier.

"Of course we did. "Leaving one of us behind? Tch! And in a place like this one? Impossible… after all, taking over the world alone isn't fun at all!" Gabriel retorted annoyed.

"Hell right!" Ryan concurred.

Alan smirked. Grabbing each other tightly they treaded up and up and up. Until their last strength of will and persistent breathes they strode endlessly. And, at last placing their final step over the hill's top Alan, Adam and Ryan instantly fell on the ground with their baskets panting breathlessly. 

Their rocks scattered, they grabbed their stomachs churning painfully on the ground. And, one by one so did Ezekiel, Poseidon, Helios, Xavier, Feng, Kenzo, Gabriel, Heber, Seraph, Cassiel and Azazel. Finally reaching the top all fell breathing listless. Some crouching and the others lightheaded with their gazes blurry, they stared at the sky wordless. Stars shimmering above, Alan smiled.

"Finally… we did it…" Kenzo declared.

Poseidon eyed the sky wide eyed. His hand clutching his chest he turned around. Tears resting on the corner of his eyes Helios looked at him stunned. He whispered painfully, "It… really hurts."

Xavier silent glimpsed at Azazel, Ryan and Adam who had already fallen fast asleep beside him. The little rabbit curving into a ball over his chest he breathed closing his eyes, "Hard work beyond belief…"

Cassiel kneading his shoulders looked aside at Seraph who gritted in pain. A worrisome sigh leaving his lips he rubbed his back staring at Heber on the other side who crouched wordless.

Kenzo glancing at Alan beside Gabriel complained, "Such a pain… that old man of yours is such a pain in the neck!"

Alan batting an eye at his amused yet exhausted expression smirked, "Of course he is. This is just the trailer of his hell your highness…" 

His vision turning blurry he ended, "Get yourselves ready for the whole movie… now do you get it? How those highschoolers turned into monsters?"

Kenzo exhaled, "Yeah… I do…"

Suddenly, Ezekiel spotted, "Guys…"

"Hm…?" the rest asked.

"We were fooled…" Ezekiel continued.

As if a bomb thrown on them, the middle schoolers turned to him stunned, "Huh?!"

"Look…" Ezekiel pointed towards one of the baskets. From the basket, after the rocks and below the hay covering it. Sight of white clothes were simultaneously spotted alongside soaps and cricket balls. As flabbergasted as they all could be, they turned towards the sky speechless.

"No…way…Adam uttered dumbstruck.

Suddenly Xavier began to chuckle, "Pft! Haha!" and after him so did Kenzo, Helios, Seraph, Gabriel, Poseidon and Cassiel. Their laughter echoing around the mountain top, the first years and sophomores looked at them stunned.

"Don't tell me they lost their senses?" Ryan assumed.

"Unbelievable…" Alan uttered disconcerted and speechless at the same time.

Their clatter casing over for a while the fourteen of them finally drowsy slept away.