Arlo sent both orbs out.
*Baang!*
*Baang!*
Two massive holes a meter long and a few inches deep were formed on the ground.
Arlo smiled in satisfaction when he saw the result.
The orbs didn't disappoint at all. They were enough to blast a huge boulder into pieces.
After finding out the power of the orbs, Arlo decided to train how to use them in combat.
He created two new orbs and allowed them to revolve around him.
After practicing for a while, he felt at ease controlling them.
He was just about to start fighting in tandem with the revolving orbs when an idea struck him.
Arlo tried controlling the orbs with his divine sense and to his surprise, it worked.
His control was much more fluid and fast compared to before. It was almost as if the orbs were an extension of him.
Nodding in satisfaction, he assumed a fighting stance, before he started his main training.
As he swept out his legs and punched with his fists, Arlo controlled the two orbs using his divine sense to cover his blind spots.
The training continued for more than an hour, and what Arlo didn't know was that Joe had been observing him for a while now.
A conflicted glint flashed in his eyes, as he seemed undecided on what to do.
.....
[Joe's POV]
As I looked at the impact of the orbs summoned by Arlo on the ground, I couldn't help but mutter:
"So strong!"
He is younger than me, yet he is so strong.
I wish I was as strong as him.
As memories of what happened to my family resurfaced in my mind, I suddenly had the urge to cry.
If only I was as strong as him, I could have helped them.
If only I was as strong as him, my big sister wouldn't have left me.
I am a coward.
A weakling!
I always assured myself that it was because I was still a young ten-year-old.
Yet, what about him?
Isn't he younger?
I must stop deceiving myself!
I need to change!
Summoning a bit of courage, I walked up to him and asked, "Can we spar together? I want to see how strong I have become from my training?".
He stopped fighting as he looked at me with his silver eyes, "Sure."
Looking at his slightly fatigued eyes, I could tell that he was drained.
After all, he has been fighting for almost two hours now.
However, when I saw the two fist-sized orbs revolving around him like two little guardians, I wasn't so sure whether to continue with this plan of mine.
I have always been scared of fights.
The boy in front of me might not seem much, but the pressure he was exerting felt like a mountain.
With a slightly shaky voice, I raised my hand and subconsciously asked, "How about I make the first move?"
I did it again.
How can I tell my opponent to stay still while I attack first?
It seems I am deemed to remain the same.
I felt something within me cracking, however, before it could crack completely, a voice resounded in my ears:
"Sure."
Huh?
Did he accept?
I was pulled out of my thoughts, my face colored surprised.
Is he that confident of himself or he doesn't even deem me worthy?
At the thought of that, I became slightly angry.
I closed the distance between us, as I reminded him, "Don't forget, I have to attack first."
He nodded silently in response.
This will hurt a lot, but I have to do it.
No, I must do it.
If not now, then never.
With my eyes filled with resolve, I willed the beast core within me to awaken.
My body suddenly grew bigger as I started transforming.
"AAAAAAAH!" I screamed out in pain.
My running feet stopped as my body continued its transformation.
Ah!
It hurts!
I can't take it anymore.
It is too painful.
Memories of my dying parents flashed before me, and the shaky shoulders of my elder sister, as she abandoned me, appeared in my vision.
NO!
I must not give up!
Not this time!
"AAAAH!" A scream of pain escaped from my mouth, however, this time it was filled with my resolve.
My resolve to change!
My body turned into a seven-meter-long snake with purple scales.
*Huff! Huff!*
As I panted heavily, my now massive eyes snapped open.
I did it!
I finally transformed!
A stunned Arlo entered my vision.
He was just a short distance from me, and I could tell that he was stupidly shocked as even the revolving orbs had now stopped by his side.
Hehe!
How great I must look before him.
Wait.
Isn't this my chance?
I need to attack.
With that thought, I opened my mouth and quickly fired a pillar of poison mist, half a meter thick toward him.
"AAAH!" He shouted in surprise as he jumped recklessly to his side, barely evading my attack.
I didn't give him a chance to breathe as I continued sending out pillars of poison mist.
He could only dodge my barrage of attacks.
Hehehehe! This isn't so bad.
As I basked in my awesomeness, my eyes caught sight of two flashes heading my way.
Not even taking an instant to think, I hurled my body down, my massive head kissing the ground.
*Whoosh!* Whoosh!*
Two whooshing sounds flashed beside me before impacting the ground.
*Baang! Baang!*
"Hey! Hey! Are you trying to kill me?" I shouted in horror.
What greeted my eyes was a small fist.
A fist which when compared to my head, was like a fly launching towards a normal snake.
However, the result was totally different.
With a bang, my head was thrown to the side, and I saw stars.
Within the flashing stars, a small fist appeared once more, hurling at me like a meteor.
In horror, I wailed, "I quit! I quit! Please let me go!"
If I wasn't in my beast form, I'm sure my face would be filled with tears and snot by now.
This guy is trying to kill me.
He is a bully.
Receiving no attacks, I opened my eyes once more.
He pointed at me as he glared with slightly red eyes.
He seemed to want to say something, but I beat him to it.
"What do you think you are doing? Are you trying to kill me?" I bellowed as I lifted my body.
"You you…" he said, his body trembling.
After a while, he turned around wanting to leave.
However, would I let him do that?
With a slightly crazed face, I activated my innate talent and shouted…
"Size manipulation x 2" My body instantly grew two times bigger, before I launched my entire body at him.
As my body fell under my will and the influence of gravity, I screamed out in glee, "Crumble under the weight of this daddy! Hahahaha!"
*Bang!* My body impacted the ground, and a cloud of dust rose around me.
'Oops! He didn't die, did he?' That thought didn't last long.
'Huh, something is wrong.'
I felt the midsection of my massive body slowly rise.
Lowering my head to see under me, I saw Arlo raising my massive body ever so slightly with just his physical strength.
There was that white smoke surrounding his hands again.
Wait.
His hands!
How come he has both hands?
In the process of voicing my confusion, I saw him support the entire weight of my body with just one hand as light groans escaped his mouth.
With his right hand still raised upward, a light lit up on it before it expanded and turned into a colorless spinning orb.
'Huh?' I blanked out, the question swallowed down my throat.
Does he really want to kill me?
Sure enough, he raised his head with a bit of difficulty to face mine and spoke with a craze-filled gaze...
"Die!"
Fuck.