Throwing the ball towards the middle schoolers bat it aimed towards his face. Alan shaking his head uttered, "Sorry to break the fun old man. But, these children don't even have the energy to hit a shot that would even reach me."
And, just like he predicted the power of the ball was such drastically reduced that it halted over the cliff treading back down.
"See?" Alan said obvious.
Night taking over them in a short while, he sat over the tree restless.
"One thousand… eight hundred and twenty two…" Gabriel counting gasped.
"One thousand seven hundred… and seventy three…" Helios continued swinging his right arm.
"One thousand five hundred and… four…" Azazel whispered .
"One thousand and five hundred and twenty…" Ezekiel mumbled half asleep.
"One thousand… eight hundred and forty seven…" Kenzo added.
"One thousand five hundred and sixty five… sixty four…" uttered Adam and Ryan one after another.
"One thousand seven hundred and seventy seven…" gasped Xavier breathless.
Their speed accelerating after Alan's advice. Alan eyed them stern. His gaze shifting towards Nidou who stared at the boys, he remembered…
(FLASHBACK) (Last Night)
"Such a bunch of trouble makers…" Nidou commented.
"Yeah~ trouble makers indeed…" Alan repeated dazed.
Nidou grasping his figure from the corner of his eye smirked, "Heh~ so you're still awake?" "Of course, I am… what did you assume?" Alan asked sitting up.
His vision hazy with his body heavy, he hissed grabbing his shoulders. "What is it?" Nidou questioned ignoring him, "Cut to the chase already. You won't even keep your eyelashes open because of me for even a second, while here you are dying to sleep. Tell me, what is it?"
Alan narrowed his gaze, "Old man… you really can read me like the back of your hand hun? Well getting straight to the point…" "There are three conditions I want you to fulfill before we start this training."
"Three conditions? What conditions?" Nidou raised his brow.
"I'll tell them to you… don't worry. But, they must be accepted at all costs. Be it you ask anything from me in return." Alan stated drowsily.
Nidou grasping his tattered and painful figure sighed, "Alright, speak up."
"Firstly… I want you to contact the base and provide me with Poseidon's medicine for this entire month. Secondly, I want you to find me a safe place for all of them to reside here for the nights till the day they leave, be it a cave or a cavern or anything. As for the last one… I want you to take responsibility of their security no matter what. If in any way they were to face a perilous situation, you would protect them over your life. This counts each and every single one of them…" Alan negotiated.
Nidou pondering for a while sneered, "Brat, who do you think I am?"
Alan raising his brow snickered whispering, "Someone who doesn't even leave his own son."
"I have taken responsibility of all of them. Everything that happens is within my sight. You don't need to remind me who to take care of at all costs. Just look after yourself first. I don't need you dying before me in any way." Nidou responded grave.
Alan closed his eyes, "That's your problem old man… I just want the medicine and a place for them to accommodate safely. Tell me, will you do it?"
Nidou smirked, "Seeing your sight I might just do it. In turn, what will I get?"
"Anything you want, except for seeing me dead. Everything would be possible." Alan replied ironically.
"Practice after the boys practice at night. An over time. How about it?" Nidou suggested.
Alan shook his head, laying down once again, "Alright…"
Standing up Nidou uncapped his bottle, "Then listen up carefully brat. After the cavern ends, begins the oasis of a lush forest. You saw that right? Beside the waterfall is a big cave and behind it is a hot spring too. Tell them to hang out there at night. As for his medicine…" Glancing at Poseidon he continued, "Take a look inside your pocket once you wake up."
Alan's vision hazy he closed his eyes replying, "Okay…"
Hooting of owls heard around. Alan took deep breaths in and out fading into a slumber. Nidou glancing at him gulped his sports drinks. His ever taunting gaze turning warm for a moment. "His medicine huh… What about yours rascal?" he murmured in disbelief.
(END OF FLASHBACK)
Peeking at the rabbit on his shoulder, Alan untied the ropes from his hands and ankles. Stepping down from the tree he dusted his clothes. The middleschoolers before him tired and drowsy swung their arms nonstop. Touching his pockets, he could hear crinkling of wrapper. "He really gave me …" Alan glanced at Nidou.
Walking over towards the middleschoolers he stood silent. "One thousand nine hundred… and ninety three…" Helios counted beside the others who were also about to reach two thousand.
Suddenly Ezekiel's bat fell. His arms hanging limp, he panted hard.
"Ezekiel…?" Poseidon questioned blinking his eyes as sweat went inside them.
"Hey, Ezekiel… don't give up. We are about to make it." Feng encouraged.
However, Ezekiel who was too tired to even move an inch of his body dangled silent.
Two… thousand…" Kenzo and Helios counted together.
And, the moment they did. Nidou tossed two balls in midair. Aiming towards their ankles, from where the rope was tied, he fired. The moment the balls hit the ropes, they instantly loosened, tossing the two of them on the ground with a thud!
"Huff! Huff! Huff!" they panted hard, dizzy and worn-out.
"Augh…!" Heber and Adam cried in pain.
Alan looking at Kenzo and Helios next pushed them up making them sit straight. "Close your eyes and don't open them immediately. Or else, you'll feel dizzy and faint. Take deep breaths and calm down. Once you feel your body isn't numb anymore. Only then open them." he advised.
Hearing him Kenzo clicked his tongue frustrated while Helios whispered worried, "Ezekiel… Poseidon…"
"Two thousand…" Xavier and Seraph whispered together, they too were thrown down directly in the exact same manner.
Alan turned at Nidou vexed, "Have some conscience will you?!"
Nidou rolled his eyes unconcerned, "Not that I care."
Grasping Xavier by his arm, Alan stood anxious. "Don't open your eyes, okay…" he advised.
Xavier nodding pushed his hairs back, "Hm, thank you… I won't…"
And, one by one Cassiel, Gabriel, Ryan, Adam, Azazel and Heber came down breathless. Soon, Poseidon too finished his share. Nidou smirking threw the ball however, the moment Poseidon was about to fall Alan immediately supported his back, preventing him from receiving one. Breathing harshly Poseidon clutched his chest.
"Nggnh…!" he gritted in pain.
Hearing his groan Helios gasped walking over to him. Anxiously, he patted his back. In the end only Ezekiel and Feng were left. Desperately swinging their bats which were dropped and picked up again and again. They mumbled, "One thousand… nine hundred and seventy nine… One thousand… nine hundred and eighty…"
Alan gulped. Soon Xavier and Seraph stood up beside Gabriel and Kenzo. Their legs numb and shaky.
"Hmph! So you all barely did it?" Nidou uttered ironically.
Ryan glared at him gritting, "You damn old hag…!"
Lastly, Ezekiel and Feng too completed as they fainted the moment they came down. "Feng? Feng?" Xavier shook him nervously left and right.
"Ezekiel are you alright? Wake up." Heber did the same.
"It's no use. They are too tired to even wake up." Alan informed.
Nidou standing up cleared his throat, "That's it for today. You passed your third trial as well. Enduring which was. Now, for training come to the top tomorrow early at 6. Penalty for being late will be given, I am telling you all beforehand. As for your materials, collect them from the tree behind my pallet."
Alan seeing him leave from the corner of his eye stood cross. "Let's carry them shall we?" Xavier asked weary.
"We will. But, where should we go?" Seraph questioned.
Alan hearing them debate interrupted, "Follow me."
The thirteen of them looking at each other nodded silently. Kenzo massaging his shoulder, which ached as painfully as if just crushed, he looked at Ezekiel. Tugging him on his shoulder beside Helios who picked Poseidon and Gabriel who pulled Feng. The thirteen of them followed Alan. Adam with his expression blackened too leaned over Ryan as the rest picked the materials from behind the tree beside Alan. Xavier exhaling heavily pulled his hairs up once again leaving them down.
"Don't worry, I'll give you a hair tie once we arrive somewhere safe." Seraph assuring him smiled. Xavier showed a heartfelt beam. The fourteen of them crossed the cavern to face the oasis once again. Crossing the waterfall, Alan located the cave and the hot spring before them.
"This is the safest place I have in mind. Take a rest all of you and get freshened up. I'll see you all again tomorrow morning." he turned around.
"Where are you going?" Seraph instantly questioned.
Alan smiled, "Don't worry. I am going to that old hag. Ah, right, I remember…"