FAMILY ABOVE ALL: BATTLING AGAINST GODS

Arlo stood in front of the flight of stairs heading to the basement.

His left hand was drawn into a fist, and his eyes flashed with determination.

After some time, he had recollected himself.

He had never been this scared before, however; he knew he had to complete this task unless he would face the repercussions.

He was just about to actively start his training, and he didn't want anything to interfere with it.

Arlo closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nose before they snapped open with resolve.

He took a step forward.

.....

Arlo made his way through the basement, however, this time his steps were slow and cautious.

The basement had now regained its calmness, however, Arlo wasn't deceived by the silence.

He knew that at the end of this basement were monsters that even though he hadn't gotten a clear picture of, was sure that they were terrifying.

After a short while, he arrived before the blood-soaked sled.

The gruesome sight before him and the thought of what he was about to do almost made him puke, however, he gritted his teeth and forced himself not to.

Using his remaining hand, Arlo unsteadily grabbed the dead bat-like creatures and threw them one at a time with all the force he could muster.

With a few dull thuds, the sled became empty.

However, Arlo wasn't satisfied a bit.

Silence still pervaded the basement.

Arlo was starting to get pissed. However, he still moved forward in slow steps.

His divine sense was released to the limit, and his forehead was starting to get matted in sweat.

With a slow pace, Arlo moved forward carefully, and immediately when he felt something enter the range of his divine sense, Arlo jumped back with all his might, his legs already strengthened with Ki.

*Snarl….* Snarling sounds echoed in the basement for a while before munching sounds soon followed.

"Humph," harrumphed Arlo with calm and steady eyes; however, his sweat-soaked back told otherwise.

Arlo turned around and walked back with slightly unsteady steps.

When he reached the sled once more, his stomach made growling sounds.

It had been a while since he ate.

With the fear and adrenaline gone, he finally felt the panging hunger.

Looking at the sled, Arlo made a decision.

.....

Arlo left the castle with the sled in tow.

Even though he was barely eight years old, after strengthening his body continuously with Ki, his base physical strength was already comparable to an adult if not slightly above it.

Dragging the sled behind him with only his left hand was nothing.

Even as he left the castle, nobody came to stop him.

However, he could feel the gaze of a person on him, even though he couldn't tell the direction it was coming from.

'I was not alone in the castle after all.' Arlo thought silently to himself.

But since the other party didn't stop him, he continued on his way.

Arlo didn't walk for long when he noticed someone sitting a few distance away from the east of the castle.

"Joe…" he whispered slightly.

He hurried over and asked in a slightly anxious voice:

"Hey! Are you okay?"

The indistinct purple aura that was enveloping Joe entered back into his body.

Arlo didn't notice it at all.

Joe turned around and flashed a small smile.

"I am okay!"

Arlo was a bit taken aback.

'He seems more calm than usual.'

He could tell that something about Joe had changed, however, he couldn't tell why.

"Huh?" He saw Joe gazing quietly at his missing arm.

However, even after a while, he didn't ask anything about it.

Since he didn't ask, he also didn't see any need to explain what happened.

He didn't want him to feel guilty.

The two quietly gazed at each other, their thoughts unknown.

'His lips look pale.' He hadn't noticed it before since he could only see his surroundings by using his divine sense.

Even though it felt as if he was seeing with his eyes, it still took him a bit more time to notice changes around him.

He clenched his left hand, as it didn't take him a long time to deduce that the cause was blood loss.

Even his face was slightly paler than usual.

Gazing into his white-like reptilian eyes, Arlo felt a bit conflicted.

Joe could be considered his first real friend, as he and Tina had distanced themselves as they grew.

They didn't have the best first encounter, yes!

However, after Joe saved his life when he was at the gate of death, and even stood up for him before, the dark-haired boy that was a few inches taller than him started gaining a spot in his heart.

Besides, they were alone in a dangerous territory where their life was continuously threatened.

Joe was the only companion he had.

After a while, Joe finally spoke, "Don't look at me like that! I'm starting to have goosebumps."

The corner of Arlo's mouth twitched slightly, however, he decided not to comment on it.

'I guess he hasn't changed after all.'

"What are you doing outside the castle?" Joe suddenly asked.

"Oh! So you can leave while I can't?" Arlo threw back.

Joe flashed a wry smile as he muttered, "It's not as if I could escape in the first place."

"What do you mean?" Arlo asked in confusion, however, Joe didn't reply.

Seeing that he didn't want to continue with that conversation, Arlo tactfully decided to switch the topic, "I am going to the nearby city to get some food for myself…" Turning back he briefly gazed at the sled behind him before he continued, "...Among other things."

"Oh! Let me follow you then."

"You don't have to." Arlo politely declined. He was smart enough to deduce from their brief conversation that Joe was somewhat restricted in his movement so he didn't want to cause any problem for him.

However, Joe waved his hand as he spoke, "Since I said I will follow you, then I will. Besides, it seems your vision in the dark is very limited. But I can see clearly in the dark like any other day." He patted his small chest in confidence.

"You seem to have matured a bit," muttered Arlo with a smile on his face.

However, who would have thought that would annoy Joe? He quickly drew close to Arlo and wrapped his right arm across his neck bringing it under his armpit.

"I am obviously older than you, how dare you talk to me like that?"

Since Arlo's left arm was being restricted behind Joe, He couldn't free himself from his hold.

"Stop! Stop!" He choked out.

"Hehe, call me big brother!" Joe commanded.

"Never!"

"AAAH!" Joe's hold tightened further.

*Smack!*

*Smack!*

Arlo started smacking Joe from behind as he struggled to break free.

"Humph, that won't do anything!" Joe suddenly said, however, his playful tone suddenly changed to that of panic, "What the hell are you holding? Release my butt this instant!"

"You first!" Arlo refused to concede."

"Aaaah! My butt is being ravaged!"

"...!"

"Okay! Okay! I will let you go."

"...!"

"Hey! I have already released you. Why won't you let go of my butt?"

"Stop groping me!"

Joe's voice resounded in the surroundings.

However, even while he screamed in surrender, he never loosened his hold on Arlo's neck.

The only thought that passed through Arlo's mind at that moment was, 'Bastard!'