FAMILY ABOVE ALL: BATTLING AGAINST GODS

In Arlo's room.

The golden-haired boy of about eight years old could be seen dancing around, as he carried a deep blue slime above his head.

Even though he appeared disheveled, the excitement on his face could not be concealed.

'What a powerful summon.' Arlo thought in joy.

'Now, I don't need to fear anyone. With Anita by my side, who can stand against me?' The faces of a few persons flashed in his mind as he thought coldly, 'And I can finally take my revenge.'

A brilliant plan started hatching in his mind, as the giggles of the little slime echoed within the room.

However, before the plan could even reach halfway, << Calm your bubbles! Even though what the little slime said is theoretically possible, it would be quite difficult if not impossible for her to even devour an entry-level advanced mage. Don't forget what I told you before. The majority of her powers are sealed. The same goes for all the memories of her past life. >>, the cold voice of the artifact spirit was like a bucket of water poured on his head.

He was stunned on the spot as he stopped all movement.

Anita was still enjoying the feeling of being showered with praise when she felt something wrong.

She looked down only to see Arlo appearing like a lifeless zombie.

She shivered as she asked with a quivering voice, "Ar-Arlo?"

…..

Arlo sat cross-legged in his room, with the little slime resting in front of him.

Anita was silent. She felt a bit sad.

'What do you mean by she can't even devour an advanced mage?' Arlo asked in his mind.

<<For her to devour a powerful being, her power needs to be fueled by an enormous amount of energy; energy that neither she nor you have. >>

Arlo pondered on old bro's words as he listened silently.

<< Besides, for each higher level the enemy is at, she would need more energy and equally more time to complete the devouring process. >>

After thinking about it for a while, Arlo asked, 'So the issue is the lack of energy?'

<< No! >>

Arlo was confused, but before he could voice his annoyance, old bro's voice continued in his mind, << That's not the only issue. As she is right now, just a stray attack from an initial-level advanced mage is enough to obliterate her existence. >> Old bro ended his explanation.

Arlo was suddenly enlightened.

Before Anita could even make a move, her life would be ended instantly. Moreover, from what old bro told him before, it would take some time for her body to reconstruct back, not to say the amount of Ki required for it.

As if trying to console him, old bro's voice sounded in his mind once more, << She should be able to handle any beginner mage easily. >>

Arlo released a sigh.

He felt so disappointed.

He was on cloud nine only to…

*Haa!* he let out a light breath.

Opening his eyes, what entered his sight was a dejected and downcast Anita.

All feelings of disappointment immediately vanished, as a feeling of guilt well up inside him.

'What am I doing? Is this how I treat my partner?'

With a forced smile on his face, Arlo carried Anita into his embrace and apologized.

The little slime was a bit aggrieved.

She didn't understand why Arlo's countenance suddenly changed. Wasn't he supposed to be happy that she was so powerful? Why was he disappointed instead?

With a slightly quivering voice, she asked, "Wh-what happened?"

Arlo smiled gently as he caressed the cute little slime, "Nothing."

Anita felt something was wrong, however, she didn't dwell on it as she enjoyed Arlo's caresses.

Clenching his right fist, Arlo felt the overwhelming strength that was waiting to be released from his body. He had no idea how high his strength had reached.

'I am already strong as I am.' He thought.

"Oh! Arlo," said Anita. Arlo looked down at her, as he wondered what she wanted.

"I forgot to tell you that you can use two of my powers." Arlo felt she was smiling even though that was impossible. He didn't think much about it though as he asked, "Really?"

"Yes!" Anita affirmed before she continued, "For some reason I can't use them myself, but I feel like you should be able to."

Arlo tried to suppress the excitement in his heart; he tried as much as possible to lower his expectations so he wouldn't be disappointed.

"Tell me about it," he demanded in a calm voice.

Anita however shook her body slightly. "It will be better to show you. Just send a large amount of your Ki into the seal and leave the rest to me."

Arlo immediately did as he was told and sent about ten percent of the Ki he just recovered into the slime seal.

Anita seemed to be concentrating and immediately after, the slime seal glowed brightly with a deep blue color before it started releasing all the absorbed Ki back into Arlo's body.

However, there was a difference.

Arlo could see countless blue streaks leaving the seal and converging at his right hand.

Thereafter…

*Whoosh!*

A colorless sphere of energy appeared on his outstretched palm. It was as big as his palm.

He could see a much smaller sphere lying within it. What fascinated Arlo however was the speed at which the sphere was rotating.

It was rotating so fast to the point that a zing sound resounded slightly in the room.

"I control the Orb laws." Anita's voice drifted into his ears.

"Orb laws…" he whispered as he gazed intensely at the orb on his palm.

"That is right!" Anita continued in a proud tone, "It is a compressed ball of Ki. My bloodline projects any form of energy that leaves my body into an orb. It is an innate and natural process, one I cannot overcome. You see that smaller orb lying in the center?"

"Yes!" Arlo affirmed.

"I don't know why but I feel like it's special." Anita's voice sounded unsure. It was clear that she was confused.

'It must be her sealed memory.' Arlo thought silently.

After experimenting a bit with the orb, Arlo found out that he could control the orb telepathically and send it out. He could even move it around his body.

He also found out that he could create orbs with his left hand too. However, it seemed that he could only create two orbs at a time, as no matter how much Ki he sent into the seal, he couldn't form another one.

After contemplating for a while, Arlo decided to subdue his curiosity and not launch the attack.

He didn't know how strong it was, but from the spinning force of the orb, he could tell that it would be devastating. He didn't want to draw any attention towards himself.

Therefore, he dispelled his attacks.

All this time, Anita watched in happiness as Arlo played around excitingly with the two orbs like a kid that just found a new toy.

She was very happy.

Arlo suddenly looked at her and carried her once more into his embrace.

"Anita is so awesome," he said truthfully, as he felt the excitement coursing through his veins.

"Hehe, it's good that you know." She giggled happily, as she snuggled closer to him.

After a short while, Arlo asked, this time with more excitement, "So what is your other power that I can use?"

Anita squeezed out of his embrace before she started jumping up and down excitedly on his legs.

"You will be very happy with this power of mine."

Seeing her sudden reaction, Arlo's heart started pounding wildly from excitement, "Quickly tell me," he demanded with a shaky voice.

"Hehe." Anita on the other hand didn't seem to be in a hurry.

Grabbing the jumping slime, Arlo asked once more, "Tell me now..."

The artifact spirit was speechless. Arlo at this point had lost all semblance of his maturity. He seemed no different from a normal kid.

Not wanting to keep him in further suspense, Anita finally spoke, "My other power you can use is called Ruler's Authority."

"Ruler's authority…" whispered Arlo.

*****

Thanks to all those who are following. I hope we can keep it up.