Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”374Please respect copyright.PENANArJFplUdLeP
374Please respect copyright.PENANAqD5SQM5H1u
374Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ux4tij7Zw
What’s that?
374Please respect copyright.PENANARLHlO7ookk
374Please respect copyright.PENANAQDrYgtlstS
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANA09Hl1KyXFr
374Please respect copyright.PENANADHtIKNiaz6
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAyFF40kxo7O
374Please respect copyright.PENANAqikAel8RiP
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAD9z2pj0dkr
374Please respect copyright.PENANAx6dquR4AZs
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10374Please respect copyright.PENANAywEnj65HxP
Endurance: 10374Please respect copyright.PENANAbZuozs9cLb
Intelligence: 21374Please respect copyright.PENANA5PCqRcLaiZ
Charisma: 20374Please respect copyright.PENANAaumso7KjcY
Agility: 14 374Please respect copyright.PENANAAQsPChVPTh
Magic: 35 374Please respect copyright.PENANAMUwuRCfSH0
374Please respect copyright.PENANAl1W6vIz8kQ
VS
374Please respect copyright.PENANAnSZxLQ7eGW
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21374Please respect copyright.PENANATQBV0bef4M
Endurance: 17.5374Please respect copyright.PENANAea7PAhOXOO
Intelligence: 19.5374Please respect copyright.PENANAVRKSEMdtaT
Charisma: 18.5374Please respect copyright.PENANAGqoEF7l2V3
Agility: 16.5374Please respect copyright.PENANApjPTkRnWTR
Magic: 24374Please respect copyright.PENANAXm2ufyR46A
374Please respect copyright.PENANAAJk5QKicOp
374Please respect copyright.PENANALPdxf2ss2h
Oh, that not too ba-
374Please respect copyright.PENANAtMSbXOoQge
374Please respect copyright.PENANABSt5PFVZtG
Arc: “Focus!”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAxQid3lv8VT
*CRACK*374Please respect copyright.PENANANfaPEx0VGm
374Please respect copyright.PENANAPIwFEJ8ZgU
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAD1wow81zJl
374Please respect copyright.PENANAEPjHnnC5uV
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.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANApsX1ENFbqt
374Please respect copyright.PENANAzWQCJfklOD
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
374Please respect copyright.PENANATvYb9wAS9A
374Please respect copyright.PENANARwsonhZHWc
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAmRmaKtETKY
374Please respect copyright.PENANAPcmfcRk2BN
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANABEdAdelB5G
374Please respect copyright.PENANAHFdelwM7Rx
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAUseM5CUOMU
374Please respect copyright.PENANAnlcq1OE8JP
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJgopranbym
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4c5cUVqoX
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANACC32kx81NN
374Please respect copyright.PENANAA3b23YPY26
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”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAVCtX91048t
Nao: “!!”374Please respect copyright.PENANA8nh8nMq27l
374Please respect copyright.PENANAteFZuLkdg2
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANATXMUfyiz3k
374Please respect copyright.PENANAhgUmZIRfd6
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
374Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q96UWGHxZ
374Please respect copyright.PENANAkNu1enzlnB
Nao: “Not yet!”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAeCZVaCUsrZ
374Please respect copyright.PENANAw6b18qqVN1
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 374Please respect copyright.PENANAQuUmCZnlk3
374Please respect copyright.PENANABAdLsKVO8W
Strength: 30374Please respect copyright.PENANAOb3U0DNQw2
374Please respect copyright.PENANAs7yvufbf0J
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!374Please respect copyright.PENANA053tf6bhiW
*BOOM*374Please respect copyright.PENANA9riD8maFFf
374Please respect copyright.PENANAoKYIZXaJSt
Nao: “GAAH!”374Please respect copyright.PENANATPNiWJszGV
374Please respect copyright.PENANAR5i3uq9Kxr
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
374Please respect copyright.PENANASVWZ39D6Rz
374Please respect copyright.PENANASWz3VTSqqz
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
374Please respect copyright.PENANAj2wjnvlAG0
374Please respect copyright.PENANAXkqrHTQsnK
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAXEzttrhWie
374Please respect copyright.PENANA16QLn5bLc9
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAF1HtFjzisL
Nao: “Gaah!”374Please respect copyright.PENANAB0OZtWJnUE
374Please respect copyright.PENANALfRMBF2ygs
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…
374Please respect copyright.PENANAyX9uLIHLPy
374Please respect copyright.PENANA8LlIlbn2zn
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAnnVi7sQbQ9
Nao: “!!”374Please respect copyright.PENANAsGcnBzLrKy
374Please respect copyright.PENANA0wB7REFnFS
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAC93jAN7PAM
374Please respect copyright.PENANAGmFjxOlfdX
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAEFAVr3qsvX
374Please respect copyright.PENANA18kob4PzkT
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
374Please respect copyright.PENANATQVSCo095X
374Please respect copyright.PENANADG0C01xdoW
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.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANA0230OhuEaJ
374Please respect copyright.PENANAOabi7Mffjr
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAxG5RG1UuZo
374Please respect copyright.PENANAN8z2Q540BD
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAQrCgA01Nz8
Anthony: “*Sigh*”374Please respect copyright.PENANAnRMoOB6GfI
374Please respect copyright.PENANApvmwr7W7x0
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.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANARmMi7aGot6
374Please respect copyright.PENANAoFCxdtklec
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJnyxcTENtt
374Please respect copyright.PENANAkjoFkE4dS1
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAz46IL3lAr7
374Please respect copyright.PENANArFTtZ1t9h6
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAoQDcDjjiF1
374Please respect copyright.PENANAHqRHR6NCBk
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”374Please respect copyright.PENANArRlBih1PS8
374Please respect copyright.PENANARanT09nbYE
Nao: “My answer is…”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAZUkyBbRrjD
*Smile*374Please respect copyright.PENANAo8jfh442Fm
374Please respect copyright.PENANAdWoVcqJDqn
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANALdlq9GEuyl
374Please respect copyright.PENANAp74pXReX7R
Anthony: “What?”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAdgWmpFAXSH
374Please respect copyright.PENANAbkEUo9DE4l
Nao: “Air bullet!”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAtPxWGS2us8
374Please respect copyright.PENANAxWbXg8tcdD
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANA2oPlf4yi0B
374Please respect copyright.PENANA5qjWNLW7Yc
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!
374Please respect copyright.PENANAsqyLevoEiM
374Please respect copyright.PENANALpPT7mrmoV
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAg4Kzjnr118
374Please respect copyright.PENANAh6r4TwrNlh
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-
374Please respect copyright.PENANA29M1zOamuE
*Drip*374Please respect copyright.PENANAxobuNfEj6i
374Please respect copyright.PENANAulUbLDOnDF
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 374Please respect copyright.PENANAk4Pjn92lSM
374Please respect copyright.PENANA97Lg5joq5v
374Please respect copyright.PENANAY2zQWE8ik8
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.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANA9qYFZLZ5DA
374Please respect copyright.PENANAGxlYj7vB8l
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
374Please respect copyright.PENANADXqEKB6Dh1
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJfmvkJls8F
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
374Please respect copyright.PENANAdu5G4Z4wR0
!?374Please respect copyright.PENANAaB1S7o3SO2
374Please respect copyright.PENANAGRqeO5wxjW
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…
374Please respect copyright.PENANAxj9gRoqSSg
374Please respect copyright.PENANAXRv0Zevatu
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANA94QrRzV8WR
374Please respect copyright.PENANA08Ybn2bVFY
Kid, you’ll regret that.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAkuzekABHpE
374Please respect copyright.PENANAdcKMRjYiGE
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAZUHvLrssMx
374Please respect copyright.PENANAVcEPVAvlzh
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
374Please respect copyright.PENANA5x4tQhsNhn
374Please respect copyright.PENANAWl7gt7gTcN
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAy2htK3C6AN
374Please respect copyright.PENANAPnKjlcuDI8
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAG2c6IHu3yH
374Please respect copyright.PENANAGVwmumTskH
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAOXkT8zQCME
!!374Please respect copyright.PENANA8zdKNy1waG
374Please respect copyright.PENANAoUhYDuI7JN
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”374Please respect copyright.PENANAulzqknMDbr
374Please respect copyright.PENANAbdntEGhM6r
374Please respect copyright.PENANA4r2BD0Khhp
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAa63LVPLmHC
374Please respect copyright.PENANA8DmLc4D7I7
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANA2JfnNFnx9r
374Please respect copyright.PENANAS5P97IU6J0
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.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAPoe9ZKDheJ
374Please respect copyright.PENANAUYGfQjDI5W
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
374Please respect copyright.PENANApilPZT86Or
374Please respect copyright.PENANAsbVYdtLduS
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
374Please respect copyright.PENANA4dcE1OJ9wd
374Please respect copyright.PENANAjUKnnQUpgB
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.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAniAUkR7xrr
374Please respect copyright.PENANAdzV8WWmo6D
Arc: “Na-”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAnBp8ojidQ9
374Please respect copyright.PENANAyrI8UbIxgt
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAlRv57967gV
374Please respect copyright.PENANAKDNuXc7kdN
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…”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAgUYx1ffthh
374Please respect copyright.PENANAXgdV7krYRb
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJAPHPvKaSP
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJoxY48xhCp
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAiyjKzPhTJi
374Please respect copyright.PENANABgBe0PV9b0
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.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAMZIfkBxpfR
374Please respect copyright.PENANALGX09NkKwc
Nao: “And…after that?”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAVCdpLOMdRy
374Please respect copyright.PENANAIqrSkZhJ2z
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?”
374Please respect copyright.PENANASgIMIE9AHr
374Please respect copyright.PENANA0rbO38dtY6
Nao: “…”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAFgFp3E2ykW
374Please respect copyright.PENANAeykZ1YQgWp
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
374Please respect copyright.PENANA6D0DbNV8jD
374Please respect copyright.PENANARzLSCG5AVU
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAXAFhvbLexo
374Please respect copyright.PENANAhYdyTyz4u9
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…374Please respect copyright.PENANAauGoSrzfRx
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAD1vnOjSVCS
374Please respect copyright.PENANAoe686ACCau
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAtNz9uzbTsd
374Please respect copyright.PENANA1843peU5aX
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
374Please respect copyright.PENANA6pJWi2yv4s
374Please respect copyright.PENANAqsXXKocof8
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
374Please respect copyright.PENANAT6lkdOfZ8K
374Please respect copyright.PENANAntbCXAeuB6
…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…
374Please respect copyright.PENANAAjlu2HphMu
374Please respect copyright.PENANAhTXT4h4HhJ
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
374Please respect copyright.PENANA60EkpqoLg0
374Please respect copyright.PENANAU0wE3Rgnnt
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
374Please respect copyright.PENANAuZXTvE8gN3
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJKsY7xESFd
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
374Please respect copyright.PENANAdzMfFFVBAE
374Please respect copyright.PENANAL3zZMqcV1z
T-To save…my family.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAZd2kI7YkhX
374Please respect copyright.PENANApx43GBJw9S
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAUVcwVptyG0
374Please respect copyright.PENANABatiJuF2oI
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
374Please respect copyright.PENANA5K3gQj3IDw
374Please respect copyright.PENANA1OrEKYgMNx
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
374Please respect copyright.PENANAFlk0roOaPy
!!374Please respect copyright.PENANABUDXzi0rky
374Please respect copyright.PENANAWmAotHqkw8
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.374Please respect copyright.PENANA9LZyS6blUs
374Please respect copyright.PENANA2tar54LmAt
374Please respect copyright.PENANAvqbmRxSxBf
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAiAgTEgCbXX
374Please respect copyright.PENANA6vkuMZctFQ
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAcoQRuf7lgv
374Please respect copyright.PENANAIHrYH6fKvS
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAiGc4ZgQgK1
374Please respect copyright.PENANAbgsDJaqNZd
…Okay, I will.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAIfxyTbUWHK
374Please respect copyright.PENANAvpD8n4C8da
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAi0kjEQcirY
374Please respect copyright.PENANAdkDLRaGbrd
…Why?
374Please respect copyright.PENANAhVNBUTCyB4
374Please respect copyright.PENANAKBntWX5N0C
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAsNBFUeIsUU
374Please respect copyright.PENANAH8lJBgcZrt
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAHMAtXH3DI5
374Please respect copyright.PENANAEKXrO0GSID
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…374Please respect copyright.PENANAjP6X2UBaXK
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.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANA1CcWr4K8FS
374Please respect copyright.PENANAQXUjgEOxkz
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANARgpc7SZ9HO
374Please respect copyright.PENANAOkDttRBffo
Anthony: “!!!?”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAnKQxpV9qQz
374Please respect copyright.PENANAaio3cghCRA
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.
374Please respect copyright.PENANAmTTJmqkXoO
374Please respect copyright.PENANADkw9gN3Adn
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
374Please respect copyright.PENANAIl7RdwucRA
374Please respect copyright.PENANAd5pC4ri0yf
Alphon:
Strength: ???374Please respect copyright.PENANAvw2VOrWlvh
Endurance: ???374Please respect copyright.PENANAtVXXiisf7B
Intelligence: ???374Please respect copyright.PENANAj4fdrEM7Fm
Charisma: ???374Please respect copyright.PENANAcqSM4p5cEy
Agility: ???374Please respect copyright.PENANARuz5lwz3hS
Magic: ????????374Please respect copyright.PENANAntvuL8G01e