Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”355Please respect copyright.PENANACFexKH9KMg
355Please respect copyright.PENANAcqv09aTYx9
355Please respect copyright.PENANAwy1rKbcDEF
What’s that?
355Please respect copyright.PENANAtBtIrRoMH4
355Please respect copyright.PENANAXdm9RbB66D
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAWWk5qFVsG3
355Please respect copyright.PENANAdMIxHXr8Ud
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAop4pQsiUMR
355Please respect copyright.PENANAGpc539vHrn
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
355Please respect copyright.PENANApfzKvIMSjY
355Please respect copyright.PENANA7xVxcPvtOg
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10355Please respect copyright.PENANA60SHDybnM9
Endurance: 10355Please respect copyright.PENANAJSkkWPk0Yp
Intelligence: 21355Please respect copyright.PENANAcQ5yKpHvwC
Charisma: 20355Please respect copyright.PENANA3WwDEB6SHV
Agility: 14 355Please respect copyright.PENANARKfogdMfjK
Magic: 35 355Please respect copyright.PENANA1WGOTRB9p0
355Please respect copyright.PENANAXCF6auppX4
VS
355Please respect copyright.PENANAByGq8CqAMp
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21355Please respect copyright.PENANAoo3qu04v7M
Endurance: 17.5355Please respect copyright.PENANAY1nm81rgAn
Intelligence: 19.5355Please respect copyright.PENANASNyxbqO5p4
Charisma: 18.5355Please respect copyright.PENANApgfjW41VIC
Agility: 16.5355Please respect copyright.PENANA51vAsAHWhO
Magic: 24355Please respect copyright.PENANAMGOpyzda2c
355Please respect copyright.PENANAvAlNavkV1j
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmHHi1OQiUC
Oh, that not too ba-
355Please respect copyright.PENANAlOHkuzxQnD
355Please respect copyright.PENANAwa9YWFcp7J
Arc: “Focus!”
355Please respect copyright.PENANA3Th2XGgCCq
*CRACK*355Please respect copyright.PENANA8DykecLbid
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmHRO0NZuH4
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAyFVMx4B6fm
355Please respect copyright.PENANAgVTOVzwMay
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.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAneGhNqMkXN
355Please respect copyright.PENANALBL5IBMwRm
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAzvbvWd1xcR
355Please respect copyright.PENANA3BhoE4NZaj
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
355Please respect copyright.PENANA5tIKM8Cjp9
355Please respect copyright.PENANAodFcR5KYr0
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANA5NkhqZBVLo
355Please respect copyright.PENANANzhLMFHlnK
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAKyCUgtq4a3
355Please respect copyright.PENANAlbK5zszYwL
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAzDXB5ZMa7j
355Please respect copyright.PENANAz9o0Ei7phr
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAqXqwVEbk7O
355Please respect copyright.PENANADinUVP8a8g
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”
355Please respect copyright.PENANA9vDI0V5V1h
Nao: “!!”355Please respect copyright.PENANAEZEM4eguCB
355Please respect copyright.PENANARXSyS1I6nH
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAzIH9cw0fYa
355Please respect copyright.PENANA8wWJUszpCc
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAFAIQLtvrIM
355Please respect copyright.PENANAkOF7deL4uK
Nao: “Not yet!”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAxs4CNBuz8Q
355Please respect copyright.PENANAh4X1hlpvrk
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 355Please respect copyright.PENANA0UhKuaqkdR
355Please respect copyright.PENANArMjuV1o9W0
Strength: 30355Please respect copyright.PENANAVWLMpgEklH
355Please respect copyright.PENANACze8qX58Ud
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!355Please respect copyright.PENANA0j77Q2pzBA
*BOOM*355Please respect copyright.PENANAYP43lTpHbh
355Please respect copyright.PENANA06kHnXxSly
Nao: “GAAH!”355Please respect copyright.PENANA2sqroeKvlV
355Please respect copyright.PENANAYCMPtmfn3J
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAb3C0Q4n8ye
355Please respect copyright.PENANAqqRzY8B5Yh
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
355Please respect copyright.PENANAjG2ycmByez
355Please respect copyright.PENANAKx7tV2xB9z
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAzjK4t7TtDU
355Please respect copyright.PENANA9HvwC4jXb4
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAeWbTp20OFn
Nao: “Gaah!”355Please respect copyright.PENANACVejqXmxYN
355Please respect copyright.PENANAiVtd3JJPaM
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…
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmLWlm0jbFE
355Please respect copyright.PENANAfMFcwF8hBx
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANA8CGaMqtFOQ
Nao: “!!”355Please respect copyright.PENANAKwzwKQEe54
355Please respect copyright.PENANAhTU8HmgT2Z
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAQaOLS9YBSy
355Please respect copyright.PENANADXmiAOwB69
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAAmNTQqMiGL
355Please respect copyright.PENANAGjZSCELC56
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAIvHpBodPIN
355Please respect copyright.PENANAFuWsFfaP72
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.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANA9R4CVV7OCS
355Please respect copyright.PENANAkZKSPWXeWf
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAFuhZwfWGTy
355Please respect copyright.PENANAaKR29rnSm2
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAXYbmpFp18c
Anthony: “*Sigh*”355Please respect copyright.PENANAllSP5d7AQi
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmnoLDqyydV
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.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAjiVf9M4vnE
355Please respect copyright.PENANAAd6MsQbx8K
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAWxHsaf4xFI
355Please respect copyright.PENANAo4qNAs8BzO
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAq5LqrA09Np
355Please respect copyright.PENANAM5MvY1DE9O
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAi8IbDhrt8h
355Please respect copyright.PENANAS3BEdi5a9j
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”355Please respect copyright.PENANAoFvS0mNmLA
355Please respect copyright.PENANANH5eHuuKXk
Nao: “My answer is…”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAOxAujgTily
*Smile*355Please respect copyright.PENANAhXKb5tWT0j
355Please respect copyright.PENANAkQfqGcPGSw
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAk7zrx3gFEX
355Please respect copyright.PENANAaQ7JxApCA8
Anthony: “What?”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAinH0un4a5O
355Please respect copyright.PENANAI1eCplPAQn
Nao: “Air bullet!”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAj1xZQItaft
355Please respect copyright.PENANA56xcZWbmEv
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAy9N1JGI3Rr
355Please respect copyright.PENANAxu10caUp5s
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!
355Please respect copyright.PENANA9F8E1nJqJ2
355Please respect copyright.PENANAlLzi0k5UuT
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAusnMB5hsyf
355Please respect copyright.PENANAi3qcLBV2Iq
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-
355Please respect copyright.PENANAe8s9aDAVq2
*Drip*355Please respect copyright.PENANAXiphpRrwxI
355Please respect copyright.PENANAukywmeNml3
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 355Please respect copyright.PENANA09rUJp5KFL
355Please respect copyright.PENANA3gRzdVK2ic
355Please respect copyright.PENANAfgDadXfqV7
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.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAkIcHRm0kw7
355Please respect copyright.PENANAxbIo4vdDLZ
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
355Please respect copyright.PENANArvLAmx8Rso
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmL4DZZhfGl
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
355Please respect copyright.PENANAOewN9ECzei
!?355Please respect copyright.PENANAMRCsBzPJD1
355Please respect copyright.PENANAsNl2gpBJEC
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…
355Please respect copyright.PENANAa77rUrcFAa
355Please respect copyright.PENANAoZLqDevAHV
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANA1H3OsZV41W
355Please respect copyright.PENANAVjuPCokgoo
Kid, you’ll regret that.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAVFxRgGip6B
355Please respect copyright.PENANAabOmSbEKf0
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAQa13jkJE6F
355Please respect copyright.PENANAbrGGvWKnk7
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
355Please respect copyright.PENANAaxWIzEB1ba
355Please respect copyright.PENANAhei5vRuT6E
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmq0rSsb8NT
355Please respect copyright.PENANAYKNu8dtt5y
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
355Please respect copyright.PENANA6EwJ37oDkV
355Please respect copyright.PENANAz3s5wCZfEo
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAlBGe6R9KqW
!!355Please respect copyright.PENANAL5OIrBBD9b
355Please respect copyright.PENANAdj2WSJ0PG3
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”355Please respect copyright.PENANACTNEmxTRTx
355Please respect copyright.PENANAHeHyPx3YWk
355Please respect copyright.PENANAs0Le2GUKBN
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAcRBDMNxYZp
355Please respect copyright.PENANAQisMbOMs4A
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAsBAKI7firE
355Please respect copyright.PENANA4lUkhLPN40
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.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANATfR8OGHvFx
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmQXJFUxvPC
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAs0O9KIce6u
355Please respect copyright.PENANAxm6yhnVlZz
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAsGKuNo7hkr
355Please respect copyright.PENANAvxwUH1z9Cv
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.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANA5gIiUR9rxT
355Please respect copyright.PENANADaifPmOBBO
Arc: “Na-”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAGJn6b5A3HF
355Please respect copyright.PENANAI5oNWdvwIc
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANA9SNJiEsC5M
355Please respect copyright.PENANAhu1Psvmbir
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…”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAKgbBBZSjDb
355Please respect copyright.PENANA7AtKIOB9rl
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAbR3D7AGgMd
355Please respect copyright.PENANAPEQqC2iOWQ
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAeL0xGUSJaq
355Please respect copyright.PENANAnWj3EnT8XV
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.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAKpAnQAcYAz
355Please respect copyright.PENANARfoNIRkRqg
Nao: “And…after that?”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAHZNRsrvyGX
355Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ak8zM20RF
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?”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAlsNSKd0mjD
355Please respect copyright.PENANA2O8yBLLasX
Nao: “…”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAkLiABpzy8S
355Please respect copyright.PENANA06EqrDqyYa
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAma4wJefhTm
355Please respect copyright.PENANANa4Adjyl89
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAOJ0zx0D4ZA
355Please respect copyright.PENANABdRlMF2HmW
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…355Please respect copyright.PENANAdrcaYbOUs9
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmuEKYUA8Ad
355Please respect copyright.PENANASbzimHUCH8
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
355Please respect copyright.PENANA17RK51fqTr
355Please respect copyright.PENANAKJ6Il3avq0
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
355Please respect copyright.PENANAiwqOTs1gtr
355Please respect copyright.PENANAIELn89iY3w
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
355Please respect copyright.PENANAjRWJ68ntvY
355Please respect copyright.PENANA1qwkWDVYON
…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…
355Please respect copyright.PENANAC1PiFv2AL4
355Please respect copyright.PENANASgr5SDppCb
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAl4ElueQrTR
355Please respect copyright.PENANAnABJHuP3LZ
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
355Please respect copyright.PENANAWeiylj1WYw
355Please respect copyright.PENANA94oUHHEwYq
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
355Please respect copyright.PENANAu9Wsef82Gh
355Please respect copyright.PENANAE6GvobkGvg
T-To save…my family.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAorgfARnGp7
355Please respect copyright.PENANA1auWjzKAwE
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
355Please respect copyright.PENANACVPNTeYviS
355Please respect copyright.PENANAFqdegKSHjo
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
355Please respect copyright.PENANATFQxbXp0yB
355Please respect copyright.PENANAE9U6d7Bq9g
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
355Please respect copyright.PENANASiLwamu7Wy
!!355Please respect copyright.PENANA7OT23HlD78
355Please respect copyright.PENANAuaLx8sejL1
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.355Please respect copyright.PENANADxH27vomOS
355Please respect copyright.PENANAh1VE6T1kbM
355Please respect copyright.PENANAhEIWuvYiiI
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAm8La6RmQxz
355Please respect copyright.PENANAhy1zUR71ll
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAIttIOYs993
355Please respect copyright.PENANAFrWaYiteM0
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAKixFMkwm9U
355Please respect copyright.PENANAgUpay0LYWt
…Okay, I will.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAwSjPqJBvrS
355Please respect copyright.PENANAkjuUcDqckG
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAjPab1uNKqJ
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmZxelTlGcf
…Why?
355Please respect copyright.PENANAS79zibecVD
355Please respect copyright.PENANAwPr6OdLVoo
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAX6FWSITmJT
355Please respect copyright.PENANAV2EAjYzD4G
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmTsbjop3Uu
355Please respect copyright.PENANACTePb4oGCT
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…355Please respect copyright.PENANAnOChqT3wu0
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.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAmKHxKei6IX
355Please respect copyright.PENANAJRzEOP1EDJ
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANACSSpEIcB4l
355Please respect copyright.PENANAhA05AmJe8P
Anthony: “!!!?”
355Please respect copyright.PENANAxD4kCMc1Qf
355Please respect copyright.PENANArrMp498zQE
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.
355Please respect copyright.PENANAo1aCvpSCz7
355Please respect copyright.PENANA1t3MQ0WTx8
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
355Please respect copyright.PENANARra1seesBP
355Please respect copyright.PENANAxuWkGpSQsx
Alphon:
Strength: ???355Please respect copyright.PENANAjvtyioH1nY
Endurance: ???355Please respect copyright.PENANA6Cy0QUFWEa
Intelligence: ???355Please respect copyright.PENANAcfU1IBaATU
Charisma: ???355Please respect copyright.PENANAIYI72tjhYk
Agility: ???355Please respect copyright.PENANAI5wW0u9O1C
Magic: ????????355Please respect copyright.PENANArDdaR8vkV2