Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”157Please respect copyright.PENANAA1E8kB5HzC
157Please respect copyright.PENANA5ff0kbN2Dk
157Please respect copyright.PENANAaccbc8cvij
What’s that?
157Please respect copyright.PENANAVWOodV1rO2
157Please respect copyright.PENANA5LlGjehgOd
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAivKMDa6eCo
157Please respect copyright.PENANANTIygwtRCB
A magic item huh? I search through my pockets and hope I still have them. Inside I feel two pens and take out the scan one. I need to know what I’m dealing with.
157Please respect copyright.PENANA9Kg5gtvjTn
157Please respect copyright.PENANA61WZKwZ5QP
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAG52Uag2aXW
157Please respect copyright.PENANAQs99pgarWx
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10157Please respect copyright.PENANAZmFoFzx6x1
Endurance: 10157Please respect copyright.PENANArxlPcd0Kx8
Intelligence: 21157Please respect copyright.PENANAOCjb5a9ASr
Charisma: 20157Please respect copyright.PENANAuFf13B8kFA
Agility: 14 157Please respect copyright.PENANAR2YvRqxPGH
Magic: 35 157Please respect copyright.PENANA8HL39ZzJHq
157Please respect copyright.PENANApy3RdQNuiP
VS
157Please respect copyright.PENANA5Gor56AljM
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21157Please respect copyright.PENANAmFwLSx3VL6
Endurance: 17.5157Please respect copyright.PENANAVD5VT3O57s
Intelligence: 19.5157Please respect copyright.PENANAmFPs222R1m
Charisma: 18.5157Please respect copyright.PENANAs2tbdwGYeR
Agility: 16.5157Please respect copyright.PENANAQTWZVADO2x
Magic: 24157Please respect copyright.PENANA09hWuu6PWZ
157Please respect copyright.PENANAd2mwT8LQ20
157Please respect copyright.PENANAcTMUt7a3JQ
Oh, that not too ba-
157Please respect copyright.PENANASNTlFsQvEZ
157Please respect copyright.PENANApHiy5OSC4l
Arc: “Focus!”
157Please respect copyright.PENANARyJ3TnenXp
*CRACK*157Please respect copyright.PENANAUicdDIEWAi
157Please respect copyright.PENANAtAWJmmgx84
Purple lightning snakes forwards threatening to cook me but I place a shield up just in time. In spite of the warning, I barely could catch it on the shield. It even pushed me back.
157Please respect copyright.PENANA8ksMZPX9DG
157Please respect copyright.PENANAHpiiOaMBlD
Arc: “Idiot, it’s the magic stat you have to be careful of. Even mages who neglect their body can level cities. Close the gap, you can’t win like this.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAyzYMFiSY3L
157Please respect copyright.PENANAqTuZMsz97L
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAwfldszIUmw
157Please respect copyright.PENANAOezDSOEDq0
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAHqshyxADqt
157Please respect copyright.PENANAamFCeyY5CE
Ignore it and push forward! I get close enough to lunge at Anthony with my free hand. I reach out for his shoulder, just one touch is enough.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAl4dY3oxI5L
157Please respect copyright.PENANA6YpQGR6caG
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAMp5bZeXjA6
157Please respect copyright.PENANAx4grLO7Lu6
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAM8iyIF3TI2
157Please respect copyright.PENANADqa1IvDeI3
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAkYjCIaQHD1
157Please respect copyright.PENANAzX4pLsHiia
An orange burst of lightning erupts from Anthony’s body.
…
…
Anthony: “What do you know, Artemis was right. I’m immune to shock-based spells now”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAmHcAE0ObR0
Nao: “!!”157Please respect copyright.PENANAYp4vTr3rsP
157Please respect copyright.PENANArXuDvJqrNy
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAeAanz0HebE
157Please respect copyright.PENANANnWy1RO9GK
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAxokrZv4KCB
157Please respect copyright.PENANAaINaTWuBGF
Nao: “Not yet!”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAUIJaxpZyyo
157Please respect copyright.PENANApD1Fnqr8S7
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 157Please respect copyright.PENANAXNbxRmwVjw
157Please respect copyright.PENANAAKyjDDXjjt
Strength: 30157Please respect copyright.PENANAnTF4s4112D
157Please respect copyright.PENANANL9eLwgHQ5
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!157Please respect copyright.PENANADGljG48lkK
*BOOM*157Please respect copyright.PENANAFynLvU5aQq
157Please respect copyright.PENANAeFqdRpqURT
Nao: “GAAH!”157Please respect copyright.PENANAy7hgrLniB2
157Please respect copyright.PENANA9Eggvvc8C5
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
157Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZuK693kyG
157Please respect copyright.PENANA5L901wgcqg
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
157Please respect copyright.PENANAWAdCUyEhZF
157Please respect copyright.PENANA55nKcM5D7N
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAWY2yX8NuPd
157Please respect copyright.PENANAGjl6TXodjb
A kick comes rocketing towards my face. At first, I felt little but then a burst of lightning explodes between his leg and my face.
157Please respect copyright.PENANA9BF3AH7mVT
Nao: “Gaah!”157Please respect copyright.PENANAo1Fc0yRlLO
157Please respect copyright.PENANAZvJTUNDrTp
I grip the book for dear life as I tumble across the ground. Smoke sizzles off my skin and the nightmares begin seeping into my mind. The boiling skin, the darkness and…death…
157Please respect copyright.PENANA7sN03Qz7na
157Please respect copyright.PENANA4z53IMX7Yr
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAp6G4hykGq7
Nao: “!!”157Please respect copyright.PENANAMjX5HeTLoG
157Please respect copyright.PENANAqKUBxj9I4C
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAOis0RTAnbV
157Please respect copyright.PENANAnYzxOagAQn
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAsax1wgVdF0
157Please respect copyright.PENANAtaJHv237P7
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAR7ke0ZzlNl
157Please respect copyright.PENANAA1wmYq20Sy
Anthony: “Tch, don’t play like you regret killing Anton. You don’t feel regret because you didn’t want to kill those bullies! You’re just scared of killing, of your mom’s disappointment, and of doing the right thing! I saw you! You liked it, you relished in dishing out judgment. Just like me.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAMLidudQbbD
157Please respect copyright.PENANANFlqvx4k1Z
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAKCUeFjAJlr
157Please respect copyright.PENANAYrt8feEjrH
I feel a fist sink into my gut. I can hear the crackling of lightning but Anthony holds back from shocking me. But still, my knees buckle from the building pain.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAGQE9kfmYaR
Anthony: “*Sigh*”157Please respect copyright.PENANAwn8R9RQbxi
157Please respect copyright.PENANAvXaWoFKdsp
Anthony: “I don’t want to kill you Nao, you’re the one who inspired me. Seeing you destroy those bullies before and even fighting the King. You proved that the oppressed can fight back. Be that way again, help me kill the rest off.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAmfpJt93Ue9
157Please respect copyright.PENANAviKwTk3PTB
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANA4gvaHTmOR5
157Please respect copyright.PENANAWmZLUKM5RM
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANANozqIJCD4R
157Please respect copyright.PENANAG27wCxPbD3
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANANSTqFAfvGx
157Please respect copyright.PENANAMsFFqyk8zx
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”157Please respect copyright.PENANAwnsxn6ADe2
157Please respect copyright.PENANAQm2ccSD0Md
Nao: “My answer is…”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAH5C4vpGxMF
*Smile*157Please respect copyright.PENANAB4E3ce0GdV
157Please respect copyright.PENANAp1JeJaguDI
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAjHpnSu9ErD
157Please respect copyright.PENANAk9FMJBgomG
Anthony: “What?”
157Please respect copyright.PENANA9CpIS5QE22
157Please respect copyright.PENANA3JLjxzB0W8
Nao: “Air bullet!”
157Please respect copyright.PENANA6BF3eQpf0x
157Please respect copyright.PENANACTb4pnqVlV
A powerful blast of air blasts out of my hands and into Anthony’s gut. He barely blocks with the lightning but the force was too much to hold. He’s sent flying back and that’s only the beginning.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAfMpuP7gvhu
157Please respect copyright.PENANAk51IvqSUKU
I sense all the water in the sprinklers above and bring them all out. The hallway becomes a maelstrom of water and I drop it all on Anthony. Let’s see if can survive his own shocks!
157Please respect copyright.PENANAW4E9C6gEeW
157Please respect copyright.PENANA2WgcJ4UsB8
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
157Please respect copyright.PENANATmIGhvUFNl
157Please respect copyright.PENANAN12z83QLDZ
Instantly, everyone gets up and runs away to various locations around the school. I can see lightning flashing within the water prison I’ve built around him. I have to-
157Please respect copyright.PENANAvkZmOpfspw
*Drip*157Please respect copyright.PENANAqRHJEWhN62
157Please respect copyright.PENANAbhzaPRtGof
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 157Please respect copyright.PENANAcRH1StHk3r
157Please respect copyright.PENANA7rBd2o0oPT
157Please respect copyright.PENANA0nTPLDRppY
Arc: “Of course, you never used these many different spells at once. Your magic stat is only 24 after all. Should have practiced your offensive more.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANACVYJYnGZNJ
157Please respect copyright.PENANA3y3VyF64jR
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
157Please respect copyright.PENANApRjKE3Ox6R
157Please respect copyright.PENANAhZmRg3sVmo
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
157Please respect copyright.PENANAHHPmU9Yp2x
!?157Please respect copyright.PENANAWF2HZ04RwC
157Please respect copyright.PENANAUU4M7dYUun
I start to notice the bursts of lightning within the bubble less over time. Like a dying light, I’m about to snuff it out…
157Please respect copyright.PENANAo4Jy0vX7Tn
157Please respect copyright.PENANATYMDuCxd2u
Anthony…is going to die if I keep him in there.
…
…
I…hope everyone found somewhere safe. I pray that Anthony’s powers are weakened enough by the water.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAFPjrfZspk0
157Please respect copyright.PENANAjo1h6Byrs2
Kid, you’ll regret that.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAYEc42yR79i
157Please respect copyright.PENANAocMm7AeRNr
I release the water prison and the hallway floods. I collapse onto my knee in the puddle and watch as my blood drips on its surface.
157Please respect copyright.PENANA2zTcV1FaBQ
157Please respect copyright.PENANAoYXU0g15bF
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
157Please respect copyright.PENANAzxw7aMMZZT
157Please respect copyright.PENANA8rEDxavp0f
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
157Please respect copyright.PENANALqtcygajic
157Please respect copyright.PENANA4tSpc9keGd
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
157Please respect copyright.PENANARDjvV8adxv
157Please respect copyright.PENANAZs96rwO7VD
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAIyQHETByJF
!!157Please respect copyright.PENANAWRMbXuaIS1
157Please respect copyright.PENANAEyj3vsWtHN
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”157Please respect copyright.PENANAMzgyIgSW7k
157Please respect copyright.PENANAbGP1VyBYi7
157Please respect copyright.PENANADxdm6dD498
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAUwQTTvCHnx
157Please respect copyright.PENANAL27njSn2Qs
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAuOQChxIKyu
157Please respect copyright.PENANAFnKBbddHJr
Anthony: “…I wish that could happen. But that’s not the world we live in. Change must be bought with the bodies of the corrupt. Otherwise, this will never end.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAdtJXtsZULk
157Please respect copyright.PENANAZkewVAYBeg
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAerqFHos3dc
157Please respect copyright.PENANAgGZCyMqmtx
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
157Please respect copyright.PENANApBOZ4DyLtK
157Please respect copyright.PENANA7UTV9Cgtpw
Anthony: “You made me think you transformed the book back into a necklace so you could safely swap spells. Clever, but meaningless because of your naivety.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANA4F61ENWyY9
157Please respect copyright.PENANAaSQdhNnk81
Arc: “Na-”
157Please respect copyright.PENANA9DtcoPZ3MA
157Please respect copyright.PENANA3OOpErMIdo
Anthony rips Arc off of me and lets me fall into the water with a heavy splash. It’s…really over. Was I…wrong, mom? The game screen that’s been with me since the start fades away. I’m sure my blue eyes also darken to brown.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAn0h0yQYTVK
157Please respect copyright.PENANApwStxQtmrk
Anthony: “I’m sorry it had to end like this, but I won’t stop here. I’ll have my vengeance and more. With Artemis and…”
157Please respect copyright.PENANA976YywGwpS
157Please respect copyright.PENANAGij8gRBU9k
Anthony puts on the necklace and at first, horror paints his face. But he quickly passes that trail and fully accepts Arc. Even I can hear the sound of my defeat.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAuxL1R1XQpr
157Please respect copyright.PENANADxbxnKnTev
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANApgkSkdqZfT
157Please respect copyright.PENANAzzSibVwGZ2
Anthony: “….with Arc. Once again you inspire me Nao. I’ll still have our vengeance but I won’t stop there. There are more people like Anton out there and I’ll be sure to kill them all.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4uGCiYZ93
157Please respect copyright.PENANAF5pcxW9Bqd
Nao: “And…after that?”
157Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZB0IZ4iAw
157Please respect copyright.PENANAFDLI9nAfzJ
Anthony: “….Depends on Artemis but I hope to build a world where people like me will never have to suffer again. Is that so wrong Nao? If you’re allowed to change the world for the better, why can’t I?”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAtMrwfvFTe4
157Please respect copyright.PENANA5YnGXKLIXg
Nao: “…”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAWqSDpuF8KP
157Please respect copyright.PENANA2eKbDrkrJ6
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAyzvxemmnfI
157Please respect copyright.PENANAE7mO0X5Xgf
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAtKNcPw4sCH
157Please respect copyright.PENANAs5XLlIsgTW
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…157Please respect copyright.PENANAJCQIrA7CRc
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAlzNcEG75G6
157Please respect copyright.PENANATvFPrqJwrZ
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAdc00MMqKO4
157Please respect copyright.PENANAIbAZ8kkQah
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
157Please respect copyright.PENANAUCMfaeeLoI
157Please respect copyright.PENANA07pTY9iGuk
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
157Please respect copyright.PENANAhfQZGr8TuW
157Please respect copyright.PENANAgA4hJ0LN2p
…I don’t know. Do I even have the right? Do I have to kill him? Won’t mom be disappointed? Won’t I betray the path I’ve chosen? I’m…so confused…
157Please respect copyright.PENANA1lQqWYSBrd
157Please respect copyright.PENANAoAgvlY85OD
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAle6FPiDNCb
157Please respect copyright.PENANADb30ti2JEI
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
157Please respect copyright.PENANAeBtyMg0Fkz
157Please respect copyright.PENANAg8nIOiQ0kO
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
157Please respect copyright.PENANA3HJoaI6dSz
157Please respect copyright.PENANA1kUUT8q9Y6
T-To save…my family.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAJLiO0TiBAG
157Please respect copyright.PENANAFxfhJ0Wahc
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAKsq9dG6iLu
157Please respect copyright.PENANAW2k2chVQGU
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
157Please respect copyright.PENANAJNNQ4mRO4U
157Please respect copyright.PENANAuYIWScIwGD
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
157Please respect copyright.PENANAToHCEk0bUs
!!157Please respect copyright.PENANA5Mgg5fpVj8
157Please respect copyright.PENANASBEgF4ercx
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.157Please respect copyright.PENANA0V6K107ah6
157Please respect copyright.PENANA3qyFrtyeS4
157Please respect copyright.PENANAvcU1T4yBx4
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAuTM935VXMO
157Please respect copyright.PENANA33lmBst8QS
Then focus on that. Fuck all those philosophy weirdos that need some grand reason to save someone. You want them to live? Then save them. Simple as that.
157Please respect copyright.PENANATMgHNeXpeG
157Please respect copyright.PENANA19UNpbHIbz
No need to save the world or debate your enemy’s reasoning. Focus and save those you love and care about. Everything else comes after that.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAVpSYqpPb24
157Please respect copyright.PENANAUicb8pDiqa
…Okay, I will.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAylMK2J0bcF
157Please respect copyright.PENANAdGDH0lD7ZL
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAthmtJ3fsYJ
157Please respect copyright.PENANANzywXK6Atl
…Why?
157Please respect copyright.PENANA6jBIm4bBk2
157Please respect copyright.PENANATEmH2hFqBE
Because your mind and body is a mess right now. Let me take over a bit, I’ll tag you in when you’re healed.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAzmzhTCVCRT
157Please respect copyright.PENANAd1JvWgOXeR
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
157Please respect copyright.PENANAQRPg9nGs3R
157Please respect copyright.PENANAUuMfZmcNVP
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…157Please respect copyright.PENANAgGDi81HAS0
Anthony: “Come on Artemis, I know I said I’ll give you Arc as a wedding gift but I need that power for a bit.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAA9qITb5J2w
157Please respect copyright.PENANAVN1cOevz6q
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANApihC34jZxd
157Please respect copyright.PENANAnEIBu7aPPV
Anthony: “!!!?”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAxp5gXyM9DZ
157Please respect copyright.PENANAUfSt5BJ4Ze
My body isn’t my own anymore. It shifts and grows into a similar form. It raises from the water reborn, brimming with power beyond reason. My eyes open to reveal a pure white instead of brown or blue.
157Please respect copyright.PENANA9U2XQIqFnR
157Please respect copyright.PENANAOQNw3AMDDi
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
157Please respect copyright.PENANAWDoNW5RwI0
157Please respect copyright.PENANA1q7KdX2hTa
Alphon:
Strength: ???157Please respect copyright.PENANANBG287GPIO
Endurance: ???157Please respect copyright.PENANAPulmyOfhhr
Intelligence: ???157Please respect copyright.PENANAYgkiEOzXSO
Charisma: ???157Please respect copyright.PENANAojomrCeon9
Agility: ???157Please respect copyright.PENANAXXH6xh0bBu
Magic: ????????157Please respect copyright.PENANAGABCzj4LCx