FAMILY ABOVE ALL: BATTLING AGAINST GODS

The trio didn’t dare to move.

They just looked up at the figure above, their eyes full of hatred and a trace of unwillingness.

A greater demon would explode when facing an enemy he couldn’t defeat.

But in the face of absolute power, all struggles are meaningless.

It didn’t take Scarlett a second to investigate the entire city.

There were still countless lesser demons running amok within the city.

Feeling no other sign of life, she blinked beside the collapsed Arianne.

Pressing a finger on her granddaughter’s forehead, every trace of pain on Arianne’s face vanished and her breathing became even.

She redrew her finger, removing a thick strand of compressed evil energy with it.

She opened her pink luscious lips and blew softly.

The evil energy vanished without a trace.

She carried Arianne on her left shoulder and approached Arlo.

Looking down, she looked into Arlo’s eyes, and her own eyes flashed with pain.

‘Are we doing the right thing?’

Raising her right hand, she patted Arlo softly on the head.

When Arlo saw that gentle gaze, when he felt the familial love, he felt something within him break.

Two lines of tears fell down his face. His face still looked calm albeit a bit tired. Yet the lines of tears that continued to run down like water from a broken dam showed his inner emotions were in turmoil.

She bent down and whispered into Arlo’s ear.

“Didn’t your father tell you that big men don’t cry?”

Arlo’s eyes widened in surprise and before he could react, she lifted him off the ground.

Using her free hand, Scarlett also carried him in her embrace.

“Wha-what are you doing? Put m…” he stammered but before he could continue he was stopped with a “shh” sound.

Turning her head toward Joe, she smiled slightly, “You are coming with us.”

Before Joe could react, he was lifted off the ground with spiritual energy.

As Scarlett rose into the sky, Arlo commanded in his mind, ‘Anita, come back!’

“Hmm.”

As the trio streaked across the sky, Arlo couldn’t help but turn back.

He wondered what happened to those previous three.

What he didn’t know was that immediately when they looked up to face Scarlett, they had already died.

From the beginning to the end, she didn’t spare them a glance.

When they were a kilometer away from the city, a thunderous explosion suddenly filled the sky.

*Booooom*

The entire city was eradicated from the world.

Even though she had investigated the city, she didn’t dare to take any chances.

“Hold on to me tightly.”

A sweet and alluring voice drifted into Arlo’s ears.

His arms tightened around her neck, while his tears soaked her dress.

With a crimson flash, they all disappeared from the sky.

Arlo could feel himself moving at an extreme speed, and when he opened his eyes, all he saw was a blur.

Before long, he felt stinging pains, so he quickly closed his eyes.

Scarlett flashed above several cities that were attacked, and not even sparing a second, all the enemies were killed.

In those cities where she didn’t feel any life, they would erupt completely in flames after she left.

In just barely three minutes, she felt Arlo’s breathing become even.

She could tell that he had fallen asleep.

A gentle smile lit her face.

*****

High atop a tall mountain that seemed to pierce the sky.

Within a massive cave.

Arlo lay gently atop a big bed.

He was deep asleep as he enjoyed the comfort of sleeping on a soft mattress.

He didn’t have such treatments at Tibu’s place.

While he was unconscious, he didn’t know a deep argument was ongoing in the cave.

<< What the hell are you doing? >>

Scarlett stood beside the bed as she looked at Arlo’s face.

<< You old witch! Don’t forget that we had an agreement! >>

“Is this truly necessary?”

“He is just a kid.”

<< He is no ordinary kid! >> Old bro argued.

“But a kid nonetheless.”

“I understand why you do all this but…”

<< You understand nothing! >> Old bro fumed.

Scarlett kept silent.

After a while, Old bro continued.

<< Since I got my consciousness, countless years have passed. Yet I have never been wielded by any being except…by one person.>>

<< You know what he turned into. I could only watch as trillions died by his hands. >>

<< Humans, monsters, beasts, gods, fiends, and many more. >>

<< When I finally escaped that fate, I made an oath not to allow any other person to wield me. >>

<< Yet a few years back I broke it. In return, you all agreed to leave his growth to me, don’t break your promise. >>

“I am sorry.” Scarlett apologized before she continued, “Can you at least let him spend a day or two with me? After that I will never get involved, you have my word.”

No reply came even after a minute but she waited patiently.

It wasn’t until after thirty minutes that she received one.

<< Do as you wish! >>

Scarlett smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

*****

Leaving the cave, Scarlett gazed at the sky.

The scarlet moon had now turned blood red. It was almost as if it was dripping blood.

“So this is her heavenly manifestation?”

“Let’s leave it, after all, new changes are coming into this continent.” She looked back toward Arlo’s cave.

‘Mother, we request your presence!’

Her daughter’s voice echoed in her mind.

“Humph,” she disappeared from the spot.

Meanwhile, in Arlo’s consciousness.

<< Boy, do you really want to know the truth? >>

“Yes!” A little child’s voice affirmed.

<< Even though you survived that ordeal, you didn’t impress me. If not for that girl, you would have died. >>

“Are you going to break your word?” an angry voice echoed out.

<< No but I won’t show you all the truth. The others will be revealed to you in time. >>

With a wave of his hand, a large screen appeared before Arlo.

<< It is better to show you. For you to truly understand what happened, we must continue from where your father stopped telling his story. >>

“Huh?” Arlo was speechless. What does a story have to do with all these?

But Old bro didn’t bother explaining. A series of images started flashing on the screen.