Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”448Please respect copyright.PENANAZXmKgZIdP0
448Please respect copyright.PENANAigS4JYxwVv
448Please respect copyright.PENANA9oK5Iia2GG
What’s that?
448Please respect copyright.PENANAaQawzv0tyu
448Please respect copyright.PENANAFihv4uXBQW
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAqlMT2sbxvN
448Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ix3tEGa5o
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAk7HV2JpO26
448Please respect copyright.PENANAfYNUbgIOzd
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAF4baM3blPP
448Please respect copyright.PENANATwDcZuy6u7
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10448Please respect copyright.PENANAIzvpNJEL2I
Endurance: 10448Please respect copyright.PENANAuWTtYjCeR5
Intelligence: 21448Please respect copyright.PENANAK9sx3xaeWq
Charisma: 20448Please respect copyright.PENANAeCIRE6Xzlb
Agility: 14 448Please respect copyright.PENANA9ihZoj7UJV
Magic: 35 448Please respect copyright.PENANALSlCVGBVX7
448Please respect copyright.PENANAg9KWzk7pnr
VS
448Please respect copyright.PENANAKfjevHpUVG
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21448Please respect copyright.PENANAqoXedctrxS
Endurance: 17.5448Please respect copyright.PENANAQGbSzMu8Yb
Intelligence: 19.5448Please respect copyright.PENANA4LrQgwuiiW
Charisma: 18.5448Please respect copyright.PENANA5NJCo5GMw9
Agility: 16.5448Please respect copyright.PENANAmmJkAEMfyG
Magic: 24448Please respect copyright.PENANAHwn1urMfn7
448Please respect copyright.PENANAyzwMZEsB2o
448Please respect copyright.PENANA434fQxoqZg
Oh, that not too ba-
448Please respect copyright.PENANABkD6CNjKik
448Please respect copyright.PENANAfHCntyJuDF
Arc: “Focus!”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAVhRrBbCZHX
*CRACK*448Please respect copyright.PENANAxV0zUZr2qL
448Please respect copyright.PENANA4vNzIUH6rr
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAaz6X65svu7
448Please respect copyright.PENANASUYmLoMeZn
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.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAEEvV3WnJo0
448Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2RrUWZZFF
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAszz4WPJ5Vp
448Please respect copyright.PENANArQY5eftz1y
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA9H0t3xMGW1
448Please respect copyright.PENANApdOEO27g3m
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANABmZZK7DrGh
448Please respect copyright.PENANAvgfOBtNv9J
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
448Please respect copyright.PENANATw0ZaSzrsc
448Please respect copyright.PENANAfltcEt9niw
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAxKUYN9yZAo
448Please respect copyright.PENANAjpovAHyWxm
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA6WVx9TMfRw
448Please respect copyright.PENANAyB1slFvktP
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”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAOZVdPveokj
Nao: “!!”448Please respect copyright.PENANAHenDezu8Zc
448Please respect copyright.PENANAVTr7oA6ZWq
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA6aFRzfKspD
448Please respect copyright.PENANAisTeJc8o70
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAf9K89os4mi
448Please respect copyright.PENANA8HzedItKk2
Nao: “Not yet!”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAXDqbXIFf5z
448Please respect copyright.PENANAEUI3Gs0bDW
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 448Please respect copyright.PENANAVRmG66ev5z
448Please respect copyright.PENANA65J8N8Fxct
Strength: 30448Please respect copyright.PENANAntqhWuZ8z5
448Please respect copyright.PENANAEZ0PgNEiof
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!448Please respect copyright.PENANAew0XWUcT7u
*BOOM*448Please respect copyright.PENANAE1sNcxlXj9
448Please respect copyright.PENANAPdl49DErf5
Nao: “GAAH!”448Please respect copyright.PENANA1Wif4NE2ZT
448Please respect copyright.PENANAhC5jJ9vyQx
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAdpdz72wX9F
448Please respect copyright.PENANAmvr8V4tS2O
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
448Please respect copyright.PENANAXSqifdtcE5
448Please respect copyright.PENANAnzoZUgQBDT
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAnz04sM5sdA
448Please respect copyright.PENANAAl0NYZovM2
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANACNWirwvHkJ
Nao: “Gaah!”448Please respect copyright.PENANAXcI4H7SgIW
448Please respect copyright.PENANAVo9gwSIWDb
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…
448Please respect copyright.PENANASwtDeEu8Zw
448Please respect copyright.PENANAbyiLXucf8a
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANADsby4G9p85
Nao: “!!”448Please respect copyright.PENANAscqY0vV1A8
448Please respect copyright.PENANASjHrZ2QVdo
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAXJ7BxKyM8U
448Please respect copyright.PENANA15wGvGolBk
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAhwGJqeB3Vc
448Please respect copyright.PENANAMWQixreQCr
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAfvwfbdiqQy
448Please respect copyright.PENANADbWoZJF8EJ
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.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAn2nJ9rLGyR
448Please respect copyright.PENANAu1z7iUrz5B
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA7YR1SvFMic
448Please respect copyright.PENANAhhDnqo3C7a
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANA6hjtxCqulu
Anthony: “*Sigh*”448Please respect copyright.PENANAVZ1pqp876C
448Please respect copyright.PENANAQg4CoR0Gyw
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.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAOZBQrdSCvf
448Please respect copyright.PENANAPP7caTiXb0
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAZHurvAjxDT
448Please respect copyright.PENANAaJldEE5x2T
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAkOkpOzooxj
448Please respect copyright.PENANAp3g3rIH293
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANALDPIqcrcH4
448Please respect copyright.PENANAkawZhNsJO2
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”448Please respect copyright.PENANATfORSLI8Yy
448Please respect copyright.PENANA9yH1WNj5yp
Nao: “My answer is…”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA7oYA08DZMR
*Smile*448Please respect copyright.PENANAAraf9xgB6D
448Please respect copyright.PENANAi4bM3CKix4
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAdcN33sBCsd
448Please respect copyright.PENANAui3UvoVk8E
Anthony: “What?”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAtZBWPtVPjE
448Please respect copyright.PENANAMdmD7uMwvc
Nao: “Air bullet!”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAOTN0ZiBnzf
448Please respect copyright.PENANA2TRVueawrL
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANApcBGt1xV5t
448Please respect copyright.PENANAuMx9swmhso
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!
448Please respect copyright.PENANA8yjq5jKV9I
448Please respect copyright.PENANAxf6bUgSwzz
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAZE2BT9c14A
448Please respect copyright.PENANA1nuEXkBdCD
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-
448Please respect copyright.PENANAfQUG7cgXCh
*Drip*448Please respect copyright.PENANAz45IIz1UH1
448Please respect copyright.PENANA8jCdp7UAwr
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 448Please respect copyright.PENANA2o6Tyqekpb
448Please respect copyright.PENANAIzTVDsFvF4
448Please respect copyright.PENANAUWESqohxck
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.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAzrbrZpS6dj
448Please respect copyright.PENANAa4wiD1QFkn
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAzxJp5bzJVL
448Please respect copyright.PENANAqOkmx7kBsK
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
448Please respect copyright.PENANAuKY11zK7jo
!?448Please respect copyright.PENANAvjI0Yu7La9
448Please respect copyright.PENANAv7tuKvEOG3
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…
448Please respect copyright.PENANA5ilkUEnMur
448Please respect copyright.PENANAfVBgnpqfMA
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAq1Q0aLvkn1
448Please respect copyright.PENANABoysvD31he
Kid, you’ll regret that.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAaKrTLTitPC
448Please respect copyright.PENANAJPIAfTU9rt
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAqXWMygWSHo
448Please respect copyright.PENANArC42z1oQMm
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
448Please respect copyright.PENANAr0YmM8sR1S
448Please respect copyright.PENANAyTYOMd8UeL
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAIE3sczI0D8
448Please respect copyright.PENANAPkcN7qcBlu
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
448Please respect copyright.PENANA7dUogKFuBA
448Please respect copyright.PENANAWwB4W6DUrv
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA18L450DLEO
!!448Please respect copyright.PENANAVmQVHZZEfi
448Please respect copyright.PENANAH1rnj3fr0B
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”448Please respect copyright.PENANArBxVSR4caj
448Please respect copyright.PENANA4FhUlTTMS1
448Please respect copyright.PENANAbi3SfFrmAQ
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAcOexw15C6C
448Please respect copyright.PENANARrsZ6UE0Wp
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAaT2Vp1CnXS
448Please respect copyright.PENANAIiRXo1pCLt
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.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAqwdeiDhNrh
448Please respect copyright.PENANAsPTGocCHMk
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAQpHtScRRnf
448Please respect copyright.PENANAJXsDq8Rahs
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAKWI8XOlmsm
448Please respect copyright.PENANAGk7988kGbN
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.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAK5j0BGQ5Is
448Please respect copyright.PENANAKebSzVlQRV
Arc: “Na-”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAu0UXXRxEck
448Please respect copyright.PENANAcFs6djvOpg
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAgb7oh5qo6b
448Please respect copyright.PENANAOfefmi8JM2
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…”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA8GZz9u5MLE
448Please respect copyright.PENANARdBDPfvmNo
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANA7tPBKFNYGn
448Please respect copyright.PENANAEGCoEhpa2p
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAJc7tYXjT1k
448Please respect copyright.PENANAFBFvfduAgp
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.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAaZtNgk4Jzn
448Please respect copyright.PENANA7fu21a2j1E
Nao: “And…after that?”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA5xR5jv3pGn
448Please respect copyright.PENANAEY90Rrvw5o
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?”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAWK8q6pEWux
448Please respect copyright.PENANAu7nEUyR4YF
Nao: “…”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAPaM16ql1Pr
448Please respect copyright.PENANAE1xDUZxCp2
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAoLk2SfyWXd
448Please respect copyright.PENANAoZss78tHie
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAe2IatN58Go
448Please respect copyright.PENANAI6YVhBoNCC
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…448Please respect copyright.PENANArFMiznpVFL
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
448Please respect copyright.PENANA5sbtR1fT0a
448Please respect copyright.PENANA4wzrsrcwjn
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
448Please respect copyright.PENANA2KWJ5EnqsH
448Please respect copyright.PENANAMqIkdJF7tB
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
448Please respect copyright.PENANAyC2xEelrFo
448Please respect copyright.PENANAGBm2Fa2KKN
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
448Please respect copyright.PENANAcdikt6oICf
448Please respect copyright.PENANA68YfdTZRhP
…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…
448Please respect copyright.PENANAJCzb7IqESS
448Please respect copyright.PENANALnaIhRp6zr
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
448Please respect copyright.PENANA5p3asLqhpe
448Please respect copyright.PENANAf7zgpedGUI
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
448Please respect copyright.PENANA5zDgF0RV3w
448Please respect copyright.PENANABLKdAfmeOS
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
448Please respect copyright.PENANAX7bAuNED9E
448Please respect copyright.PENANAWxugVgt1my
T-To save…my family.
448Please respect copyright.PENANApaYIEM3ZFo
448Please respect copyright.PENANAKANb8SuO1A
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAFL5saDm9sg
448Please respect copyright.PENANAhGvlBGAwz0
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
448Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZyGhJXZDy
448Please respect copyright.PENANAZufCwRAGgd
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
448Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1PuryKhNZ
!!448Please respect copyright.PENANAtJPGZDZdQ1
448Please respect copyright.PENANAom37niliUw
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.448Please respect copyright.PENANA5FHEfPry5Z
448Please respect copyright.PENANAPoxLsLTbjH
448Please respect copyright.PENANAiNklZMGiix
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
448Please respect copyright.PENANA3it23fFD5k
448Please respect copyright.PENANAQeC5Iik99X
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAX6Z6zLJMOi
448Please respect copyright.PENANAsK68fDXiK5
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAVV40ign8mU
448Please respect copyright.PENANAzngGobCwA3
…Okay, I will.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAjp0zTgaEmC
448Please respect copyright.PENANAxdeTIyZNaz
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
448Please respect copyright.PENANACY0tNwvmYR
448Please respect copyright.PENANA4YPOvgoBG4
…Why?
448Please respect copyright.PENANAIJmUtEfeih
448Please respect copyright.PENANAV7iwrbviVp
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAdqJVFfqu00
448Please respect copyright.PENANAqgFzhsB0xL
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
448Please respect copyright.PENANAcTIe91287s
448Please respect copyright.PENANAMWWsYn4sj6
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…448Please respect copyright.PENANAjJ0zKiZdf2
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.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA93EJrcJKv9
448Please respect copyright.PENANApWEvxSxC3g
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAzG2JmDw9gU
448Please respect copyright.PENANAMbGZx8PAB4
Anthony: “!!!?”
448Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZPTcQjW4x
448Please respect copyright.PENANAKUlIoCussX
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.
448Please respect copyright.PENANABpxkAmcEcy
448Please respect copyright.PENANAXfWBYYjQvR
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
448Please respect copyright.PENANAFi2exbzrIl
448Please respect copyright.PENANA2NmupgpfmK
Alphon:
Strength: ???448Please respect copyright.PENANAqb35mEuiHp
Endurance: ???448Please respect copyright.PENANAq1V2ZAdKsH
Intelligence: ???448Please respect copyright.PENANApVNtYa3Ucd
Charisma: ???448Please respect copyright.PENANAs8xKGLxJ4h
Agility: ???448Please respect copyright.PENANAO2ATdtQkd6
Magic: ????????448Please respect copyright.PENANAhNutQqWdyb