Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”404Please respect copyright.PENANAUB8aKV6Jl8
404Please respect copyright.PENANAY605AgOOaX
404Please respect copyright.PENANA54ot50j5nX
What’s that?
404Please respect copyright.PENANAV8ctNnPOju
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5qmbzHFbqy
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANA1NLnXV7J8I
404Please respect copyright.PENANA8KO7KHCL4l
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAAorfuipRoF
404Please respect copyright.PENANAPzNHuOeLcm
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAwyIpZ4ogFG
404Please respect copyright.PENANAqRRERq97lF
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10404Please respect copyright.PENANAM4kBz5swta
Endurance: 10404Please respect copyright.PENANAMKI13eLGeQ
Intelligence: 21404Please respect copyright.PENANAlkv68Inaac
Charisma: 20404Please respect copyright.PENANA90VdC0pR9B
Agility: 14 404Please respect copyright.PENANAIbOI2PsHRj
Magic: 35 404Please respect copyright.PENANAFFTwcTcr9b
404Please respect copyright.PENANAumR5uqpbt7
VS
404Please respect copyright.PENANAEqgxxZz376
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21404Please respect copyright.PENANAIU1BPOuwtN
Endurance: 17.5404Please respect copyright.PENANAYeq78kfAAu
Intelligence: 19.5404Please respect copyright.PENANAD9KOUuxY3E
Charisma: 18.5404Please respect copyright.PENANA4uLW4Y3TjL
Agility: 16.5404Please respect copyright.PENANAlCCqFyYwd9
Magic: 24404Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZkpbPCpES
404Please respect copyright.PENANAE6TydV8vMa
404Please respect copyright.PENANAyHzigo4Xnj
Oh, that not too ba-
404Please respect copyright.PENANAKuYgtdTj3S
404Please respect copyright.PENANAOhLbKQ3bAt
Arc: “Focus!”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAWhFHUMJKhi
*CRACK*404Please respect copyright.PENANASuipzvp9LR
404Please respect copyright.PENANABqJ6wQBMw7
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAOnlfjFe6hw
404Please respect copyright.PENANA8laBPr8kDY
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.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAxmd7JrpINQ
404Please respect copyright.PENANANm2afVXAhD
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
404Please respect copyright.PENANA2TpfZdNGIf
404Please respect copyright.PENANAju71pQoyvM
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAJEmTtKj8ZZ
404Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0Chp8gXJm
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAbHzkWp9TMH
404Please respect copyright.PENANAAlufWS1ZLN
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAanTr76LnM6
404Please respect copyright.PENANA8wepQ2dpu3
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAcOIX3SiaO9
404Please respect copyright.PENANAi6K3Z4xcgj
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANA1LABCodgEB
404Please respect copyright.PENANAxfGFW0xcbF
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”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAivDYby7Fez
Nao: “!!”404Please respect copyright.PENANAVgZu3q1kl8
404Please respect copyright.PENANAPFmHFwSpqi
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAR9z5Tjyi2M
404Please respect copyright.PENANALJjim8VlVO
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAStgPM5Pjxa
404Please respect copyright.PENANArJtLoLBb8s
Nao: “Not yet!”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAwiXWECYNpJ
404Please respect copyright.PENANAcExWQHCy5c
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 404Please respect copyright.PENANAwls4OPmrJQ
404Please respect copyright.PENANAFdKGuRmGy8
Strength: 30404Please respect copyright.PENANAaby20kJvTV
404Please respect copyright.PENANAMS2fqaiQoL
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!404Please respect copyright.PENANASkAD86Zlui
*BOOM*404Please respect copyright.PENANARJY6SeYG1o
404Please respect copyright.PENANADvYj2sPq8L
Nao: “GAAH!”404Please respect copyright.PENANAtWMpnoshNY
404Please respect copyright.PENANAT4w1ok6HiD
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAMLsEBlJffK
404Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9PizmS71C
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
404Please respect copyright.PENANAVqRRZnjn0A
404Please respect copyright.PENANAGpdKFkdWHX
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAjlMORuCkeT
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5XSZZvCjrd
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAfn1hQd4hrA
Nao: “Gaah!”404Please respect copyright.PENANAYyzxKKdxK6
404Please respect copyright.PENANAyMRp3I5ATg
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…
404Please respect copyright.PENANA1JUfV8mOZG
404Please respect copyright.PENANADtsYNVi33A
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAvqW4x1Trr1
Nao: “!!”404Please respect copyright.PENANAp5yyKWIhS2
404Please respect copyright.PENANAJITkDiPLDv
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAHkzNcREG4q
404Please respect copyright.PENANAn5zhFalrjg
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAgdBrtycj9Z
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5MjJheTXP2
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAtFi3EtOb0l
404Please respect copyright.PENANABMsjoRzRT2
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.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAMgHAw9bofJ
404Please respect copyright.PENANABnsPvDbBkH
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAbL8upxJSI5
404Please respect copyright.PENANAuBc1fz1H3V
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAXKOCrPcnOt
Anthony: “*Sigh*”404Please respect copyright.PENANAqr4Jg1DN15
404Please respect copyright.PENANA4mnNdR9mul
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.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAzDneowfToy
404Please respect copyright.PENANA27AQ8cKlFu
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAqzWb3gPbwb
404Please respect copyright.PENANAVOuGU7QHny
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANATcJXR2pDXH
404Please respect copyright.PENANAhuTSPcwsh2
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANABdV1riZTtr
404Please respect copyright.PENANA3xDVjEZimI
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”404Please respect copyright.PENANArQ9VFaXUMp
404Please respect copyright.PENANAtIRNVMOUdn
Nao: “My answer is…”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAIIj3Mph7Vt
*Smile*404Please respect copyright.PENANAaUfAZ0K5ZK
404Please respect copyright.PENANAihHqPGLNcr
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAWGrApz94M3
404Please respect copyright.PENANAsDvhKp6fiE
Anthony: “What?”
404Please respect copyright.PENANASCbHLlix7e
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5WEtQeZ7Sp
Nao: “Air bullet!”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAorUGbs5g2G
404Please respect copyright.PENANAiLFCamft6i
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAHvQPxHRm60
404Please respect copyright.PENANAWxCTZGzuA1
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!
404Please respect copyright.PENANAAUS3TKpI7Z
404Please respect copyright.PENANAUu19IhZ47g
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAlqBc4GJxGc
404Please respect copyright.PENANAititBkJYB4
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-
404Please respect copyright.PENANAHXr9Xmf1Df
*Drip*404Please respect copyright.PENANAC1lIdQWUmr
404Please respect copyright.PENANAQuarAKtrsX
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 404Please respect copyright.PENANAP2jyRzmWdf
404Please respect copyright.PENANALpcKsfC2x7
404Please respect copyright.PENANAF1OGHUKHe6
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.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAHMX1muG8dB
404Please respect copyright.PENANAdjAf6x0jrr
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAmCE73Wq3T6
404Please respect copyright.PENANANaZMKdV1Sn
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5XhveIZQfo
!?404Please respect copyright.PENANAGwL4VzgvTK
404Please respect copyright.PENANA4CsNuYZNCQ
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…
404Please respect copyright.PENANAohtyak8piN
404Please respect copyright.PENANAwssnIQquQs
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAWUIjZ1e1v7
404Please respect copyright.PENANAYyG1vkZFPI
Kid, you’ll regret that.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAonRuSd8paJ
404Please respect copyright.PENANAh0Y7UnWNyb
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANALWtcLgOpPG
404Please respect copyright.PENANATJct0wnRcn
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
404Please respect copyright.PENANAeZnYOYeKhD
404Please respect copyright.PENANAIIW1POSFRz
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAw8WlgtiMKh
404Please respect copyright.PENANAEkJeDFJQaS
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
404Please respect copyright.PENANALdOzPWzKiH
404Please respect copyright.PENANAm4sHSr2dSP
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAs2R8rW7ZtO
!!404Please respect copyright.PENANAQYDzXH7C92
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5LsuJdadzQ
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”404Please respect copyright.PENANAdKGplMkKA1
404Please respect copyright.PENANA67eNVCHW3N
404Please respect copyright.PENANASVzCTxZP7l
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANA1jLLlO65an
404Please respect copyright.PENANAe3GR5WxcCu
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANASN4C5ICW3c
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5ncMqu441z
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.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAmBcKbciyJk
404Please respect copyright.PENANAYsKYJY7uKm
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAoL5zATpKtu
404Please respect copyright.PENANAXRcgssZV1k
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAT9Lt0TdACd
404Please respect copyright.PENANAdHuECRscD2
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.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAgfKbx3fhS9
404Please respect copyright.PENANAqolGs61s7N
Arc: “Na-”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAWLalIqFtYb
404Please respect copyright.PENANAVBOODht7ow
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAowNHOIXEIT
404Please respect copyright.PENANAgBtl53OI8g
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…”
404Please respect copyright.PENANA9LzOmph2Jf
404Please respect copyright.PENANATfzDMSzqUp
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAHvjUmlZ2u1
404Please respect copyright.PENANAXe1POK0l9a
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANA24JxYNBt3V
404Please respect copyright.PENANAF6qYs7uSYF
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.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAIKKA8pgj38
404Please respect copyright.PENANAXGp1YyyPUl
Nao: “And…after that?”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAd8q2kA7yKW
404Please respect copyright.PENANAGPh5KGjG51
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?”
404Please respect copyright.PENANApRo9Rgqi0B
404Please respect copyright.PENANA4XajDZwViX
Nao: “…”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAUAEvbXFPiQ
404Please respect copyright.PENANAhQ9jc4y7Wk
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAFBs5AO50Ky
404Please respect copyright.PENANAOfFpDGAPUq
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANATfPAMLLxCT
404Please respect copyright.PENANAeUtJPtYI06
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…404Please respect copyright.PENANAp3295bz0Tg
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAXk1dM6mgm7
404Please respect copyright.PENANAstkzAV5cTQ
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5u4dctZQgK
404Please respect copyright.PENANAaCEHoV2Ixf
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
404Please respect copyright.PENANAqxj6LpAEsp
404Please respect copyright.PENANA7Is4QZx4wj
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
404Please respect copyright.PENANAH0X2Xxrxzv
404Please respect copyright.PENANAIqlx5O5bgP
…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…
404Please respect copyright.PENANAVK3PcpZOUF
404Please respect copyright.PENANA4s4mll50Uu
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAUsGQBIaEvT
404Please respect copyright.PENANAGrYExnBEiA
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
404Please respect copyright.PENANAro2A9A56pn
404Please respect copyright.PENANAbhkJKaHBby
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
404Please respect copyright.PENANAqAXKSaAk2d
404Please respect copyright.PENANAkI1xoYrihv
T-To save…my family.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAFMUxvMBh2q
404Please respect copyright.PENANA6JVB3GaS8z
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAGksvQKFGyK
404Please respect copyright.PENANAqhpMlMprSf
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
404Please respect copyright.PENANAT0yLj7rxLm
404Please respect copyright.PENANA7xvCL5VOY2
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
404Please respect copyright.PENANApU0M0TyCOP
!!404Please respect copyright.PENANAW7RsBkPYH9
404Please respect copyright.PENANARZiMaZMP8T
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.404Please respect copyright.PENANAnm66DVbR6Y
404Please respect copyright.PENANAQR7O0sWz48
404Please respect copyright.PENANAoe3Q0kIorW
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAKxAZckLGnz
404Please respect copyright.PENANAVArGjucM4P
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAPW9n5OLvt0
404Please respect copyright.PENANAamuy4gK9SW
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAyFJDB01bQF
404Please respect copyright.PENANAcHfhncI1hb
…Okay, I will.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAIDDRMb2KTK
404Please respect copyright.PENANAuGzYwIyUmj
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAkHPpxjDamx
404Please respect copyright.PENANAf6K5SR18Iz
…Why?
404Please respect copyright.PENANAsAh1QrVFHe
404Please respect copyright.PENANA5Mo2PRsNUr
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAzRYqrBmgy9
404Please respect copyright.PENANA1K7Y5ya1wn
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAPNXRyGMiHc
404Please respect copyright.PENANAC2faj6yMqp
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…404Please respect copyright.PENANAmhPeMy255z
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.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAMnHbURimLd
404Please respect copyright.PENANAtue7RU5fOb
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANALodEo5DfnK
404Please respect copyright.PENANALpJHwKI97r
Anthony: “!!!?”
404Please respect copyright.PENANAEmX46WbidT
404Please respect copyright.PENANASE7QgDKI6P
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.
404Please respect copyright.PENANAoqp4XEfb2u
404Please respect copyright.PENANAPkymJKlQWa
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
404Please respect copyright.PENANA4PBN2RHI88
404Please respect copyright.PENANAskcKwzwZ1s
Alphon:
Strength: ???404Please respect copyright.PENANAhnBl5V5JnV
Endurance: ???404Please respect copyright.PENANACG7jMh03Rg
Intelligence: ???404Please respect copyright.PENANA5lTsEPdL6S
Charisma: ???404Please respect copyright.PENANARj5YQQwGw8
Agility: ???404Please respect copyright.PENANAgUIre8qPLk
Magic: ????????404Please respect copyright.PENANAojLslH60Cf