Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA3320t6Y3tM
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsmJDuLf5eY
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHbfEpEFVw9
What’s that?
331Please respect copyright.PENANAtB3SEQOpoq
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOBYDloSC9E
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAtUzlxU27rD
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmN8tivhty2
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKFDxkhrZHC
331Please respect copyright.PENANAYS3J7XeCTW
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2KA2fxgtgc
331Please respect copyright.PENANAW8eXy2FI2x
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10331Please respect copyright.PENANAacsZzx3RNs
Endurance: 10331Please respect copyright.PENANAxKcm8yKo4l
Intelligence: 21331Please respect copyright.PENANAZhEa9v4E4m
Charisma: 20331Please respect copyright.PENANAJd2U7bNePG
Agility: 14 331Please respect copyright.PENANAPdkxCXxB50
Magic: 35 331Please respect copyright.PENANAn96RLbKxX2
331Please respect copyright.PENANABfkPbzRMJh
VS
331Please respect copyright.PENANA0SoGrTd16p
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21331Please respect copyright.PENANArYSsAl4yXw
Endurance: 17.5331Please respect copyright.PENANAVCaRr5GvOm
Intelligence: 19.5331Please respect copyright.PENANA96TSzRy2K2
Charisma: 18.5331Please respect copyright.PENANAxv20NktRvq
Agility: 16.5331Please respect copyright.PENANAJ50iPgU8nh
Magic: 24331Please respect copyright.PENANARhWPwH8VZ8
331Please respect copyright.PENANAczxkJ9Tklb
331Please respect copyright.PENANAB8PAZxTEA0
Oh, that not too ba-
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6HQr7oMLAc
331Please respect copyright.PENANAkslLYLvsal
Arc: “Focus!”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAY6Yt0d1Q4b
*CRACK*331Please respect copyright.PENANAfdeEg1LFJP
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOH6VxNLnix
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAGPvoGcHZEQ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAqzfNBEBnFY
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.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAM7KbCWNJ21
331Please respect copyright.PENANAvQ2Ncd4yGc
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbwhCPCm2yT
331Please respect copyright.PENANAhYYWoX14Rk
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAjxMJwDG2wE
331Please respect copyright.PENANAl6T232atn4
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaYkUa7Vr2c
331Please respect copyright.PENANAvfvo51MFpw
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAy4s2RcFy54
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMsjyAcBz3V
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgoxIwFrG1n
331Please respect copyright.PENANASBFsx3ddph
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAo6gOAQkvVO
331Please respect copyright.PENANALz5jOoQsWC
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”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA7gvHLppkbQ
Nao: “!!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAEJw2LUVH5Y
331Please respect copyright.PENANALaPsa78Bqn
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANATDeO1GPEWZ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAecjbSCL5MP
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAGEffKOtd7P
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJtVyp98ivT
Nao: “Not yet!”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAFJujqPXfgj
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaSJf2xWg1Q
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 331Please respect copyright.PENANA4IihMfPoW9
331Please respect copyright.PENANAqoLId5qsIw
Strength: 30331Please respect copyright.PENANA6lbLkgVg4K
331Please respect copyright.PENANAvmgRN27hI5
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!331Please respect copyright.PENANAg7D3Ex2jxm
*BOOM*331Please respect copyright.PENANA76alMnDVZ9
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEv0PqRLmtN
Nao: “GAAH!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAUIlzuiGhuF
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHKZPH6MYM5
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlaQX1ogvzo
331Please respect copyright.PENANAq2eYGcny4V
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKoFoqvQRTR
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaMXfnBQbkI
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEXRh7yxlMF
331Please respect copyright.PENANARLc58Z2Sxu
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAvO4wVanGRJ
Nao: “Gaah!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAxLAnem7vOJ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAU6mSuvatHv
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…
331Please respect copyright.PENANACYYXrhWbg5
331Please respect copyright.PENANA30YUu8gd6K
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA16wYaLw1hz
Nao: “!!”331Please respect copyright.PENANA73rFQwm4vi
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKjbkxDsmuW
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlyQjicX0FH
331Please respect copyright.PENANAb7dvbXJl8Z
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEd288KStQL
331Please respect copyright.PENANATZ4ppHWRCu
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdsvaGZKHlm
331Please respect copyright.PENANAPjrUzg1eV7
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.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUt33qFh6kZ
331Please respect copyright.PENANA4S7YAHD0cq
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJZd4JjzPxq
331Please respect copyright.PENANArvNI34wHsm
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmQKmc5WoP6
Anthony: “*Sigh*”331Please respect copyright.PENANAEqH3GFMjwn
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsgQY67gjt8
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.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2gslGur9hJ
331Please respect copyright.PENANA5FrRoAW3Up
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAoRFOFoNEZN
331Please respect copyright.PENANAeL5z6W9cwq
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA1ug7qRWjga
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6hKkKfZZE7
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANABqPlkjWU9m
331Please respect copyright.PENANAD0yOWnbJIX
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ye14t8OLM
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKctQjIKFfn
Nao: “My answer is…”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAstc37Cz36K
*Smile*331Please respect copyright.PENANABeQiQ0TjJD
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmwSiyXv5aO
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAtGuiNumljp
331Please respect copyright.PENANAcz8IWxlPUN
Anthony: “What?”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA3VTHnKLcWP
331Please respect copyright.PENANA8dA5hZycFV
Nao: “Air bullet!”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAML4uHL3wJA
331Please respect copyright.PENANA14QntR0lfa
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAzMEBWpAtWc
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOr12HLV5Sw
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!
331Please respect copyright.PENANAoEC8JNpHvZ
331Please respect copyright.PENANA3VwlrRSF2I
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsvkxk4Iecz
331Please respect copyright.PENANApCrF9KK9nD
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-
331Please respect copyright.PENANAoRRO8rzqox
*Drip*331Please respect copyright.PENANAVHuq5bcwnA
331Please respect copyright.PENANAncwvo1aOSY
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 331Please respect copyright.PENANAI6oMwD1Kng
331Please respect copyright.PENANAn2VwHH5Gsq
331Please respect copyright.PENANAk4syEiNxvj
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.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAWq8df5FlY7
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgNXgHz5Y1l
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAAXQdTTWtYA
331Please respect copyright.PENANAn6QIpk6qPX
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
331Please respect copyright.PENANAAGOTwdEcDB
!?331Please respect copyright.PENANAtAW8rurVPQ
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6O90YdiByA
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…
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQpT126CzuD
331Please respect copyright.PENANA9qb1r3SCYo
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAZP6CYQpf1V
331Please respect copyright.PENANA9kIjdz3Hpl
Kid, you’ll regret that.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJXBxEIHQJM
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlqFJxWjf6q
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsShsRgznIn
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgvAKppd8TA
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
331Please respect copyright.PENANAde3yH5XkFd
331Please respect copyright.PENANA4l5Rp6eLT8
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAfZNgccAsyc
331Please respect copyright.PENANAcPZUqnbb8Z
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAce3jEGmcnj
331Please respect copyright.PENANAhvBgLcj0lM
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA02R98RsQ5h
!!331Please respect copyright.PENANAdnBaYrLViH
331Please respect copyright.PENANADledMqfLP3
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAHnSXUufvvr
331Please respect copyright.PENANAZOXJgwA5GQ
331Please respect copyright.PENANABmOe6i5pOq
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANASW7a3fMC92
331Please respect copyright.PENANApvcMEb4NJw
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdNi22mamJq
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMhvmYrDctf
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.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXrtXRUYM4j
331Please respect copyright.PENANABa7FAYM2Sc
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAnjWbWFvhVC
331Please respect copyright.PENANAynbYGT6oDQ
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
331Please respect copyright.PENANArfN7iULqMr
331Please respect copyright.PENANACJ6viciJgR
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.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAWu0hx2h7TT
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEcos9L2lME
Arc: “Na-”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA3qdaFsKAo4
331Please respect copyright.PENANAvSnMoHIYgT
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdbjlJAGT6e
331Please respect copyright.PENANALm7zeKx9zD
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…”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJWFFrUbOBi
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJtIBtPKSvh
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaxwFVpUxYi
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHpOD4ecT3B
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6nrVMNw9kB
331Please respect copyright.PENANArF1U7jZW1d
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.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAnzbJBuLN8D
331Please respect copyright.PENANAimMGQGV3Lu
Nao: “And…after that?”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA0pQGSX3V2L
331Please respect copyright.PENANANqFxb7q3Cw
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?”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2S3PUti7x0
331Please respect copyright.PENANArkc6G6Tzku
Nao: “…”
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6T2AcUD4A4
331Please respect copyright.PENANA1OzQnlbPCR
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMaV2vDo6zR
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaaGjtSQaHC
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKhJgWx876m
331Please respect copyright.PENANAk3zGgJQyN9
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…331Please respect copyright.PENANA0nxSFHSC7G
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAIfYlyXox0q
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKjWI1JhF1Y
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
331Please respect copyright.PENANANh0JK9jXLQ
331Please respect copyright.PENANANlCYAl9jZA
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlKlTJpyA7Z
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2sKwf9Z2O7
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
331Please respect copyright.PENANAuv1BtPE6qJ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAm4t4j7JVlO
…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…
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOtAST0CpFD
331Please respect copyright.PENANAldKI0djzNg
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmep6pYy9Tn
331Please respect copyright.PENANAtiN72wyx3z
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaDSYNgWbXG
331Please respect copyright.PENANAhSJj9357kN
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaX9kXTwCkN
331Please respect copyright.PENANAU1RRf24fIM
T-To save…my family.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQPJLPRdP0H
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHrooDIEMzg
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAWDWnaBUPXR
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUKS9hcaL3a
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
331Please respect copyright.PENANAqkNCk09Ini
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaoi2MnpQLl
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVOji9Uo2y3
!!331Please respect copyright.PENANAAdNns1H7T0
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOwYjhAvrpT
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.331Please respect copyright.PENANA5cYoKId5Fs
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQPFm71PsBS
331Please respect copyright.PENANAzu9vfJcjO9
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmPp1CcA9j7
331Please respect copyright.PENANAZaQTNhKHxW
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAA7fS9QP16Z
331Please respect copyright.PENANAqzx33pIPmV
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHQIuLDg05R
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUUi7M0qM25
…Okay, I will.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsq9QVOKGA8
331Please respect copyright.PENANAagyfVVYXt5
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKaApLF7ARS
331Please respect copyright.PENANACWlPGiZhJF
…Why?
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMdzMKwPRqH
331Please respect copyright.PENANAX8LiOC4ro5
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANArsLOSl0KAx
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEAou1lf86n
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAjxGYuxIT5d
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKiTlmgyobY
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…331Please respect copyright.PENANA1O03iCTibZ
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.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJNmohAlVFB
331Please respect copyright.PENANAo2cLD6AYGv
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANADRvlCD2jJI
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbMVpy8jDya
Anthony: “!!!?”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAK4AGhLWi16
331Please respect copyright.PENANAabN8rFDfX7
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.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEW38nvg36z
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVzukJ2d1gR
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
331Please respect copyright.PENANAuBzmr2weX0
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMlZ7Hhq11i
Alphon:
Strength: ???331Please respect copyright.PENANAAmfFffEpsp
Endurance: ???331Please respect copyright.PENANAobov4mAdo6
Intelligence: ???331Please respect copyright.PENANA6qw6TqPAOr
Charisma: ???331Please respect copyright.PENANAP7zgZpPMP5
Agility: ???331Please respect copyright.PENANAbO3XEKpHnt
Magic: ????????331Please respect copyright.PENANAX4e6n1ceEF