Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”385Please respect copyright.PENANAMIjwTpO9gj
385Please respect copyright.PENANAnEthhQqp4j
385Please respect copyright.PENANAZC5jrydPWe
What’s that?
385Please respect copyright.PENANAsFQumNY28e
385Please respect copyright.PENANATAH8fRmzQr
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANArqggBEHyMz
385Please respect copyright.PENANAsLRfxlVAfa
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAAcjC1qZ4N7
385Please respect copyright.PENANAhXOQWzoThU
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
385Please respect copyright.PENANA5HAZeSWsdj
385Please respect copyright.PENANAJNrRrUQfZc
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10385Please respect copyright.PENANAj9tcvikfXK
Endurance: 10385Please respect copyright.PENANAwOmJF95jfG
Intelligence: 21385Please respect copyright.PENANAk9uyOeX1tx
Charisma: 20385Please respect copyright.PENANAycPBTuoGDf
Agility: 14 385Please respect copyright.PENANAftnGkEE52D
Magic: 35 385Please respect copyright.PENANAaVnSMRV1jL
385Please respect copyright.PENANAs83OOSgtgh
VS
385Please respect copyright.PENANAheGSzE7bbV
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21385Please respect copyright.PENANAiXhQTwoPMl
Endurance: 17.5385Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3nkFL3Cgt
Intelligence: 19.5385Please respect copyright.PENANArh54f5ysZe
Charisma: 18.5385Please respect copyright.PENANAMqJELbcsJ3
Agility: 16.5385Please respect copyright.PENANA0fmAKiQ0qs
Magic: 24385Please respect copyright.PENANA0TvhEv9SL1
385Please respect copyright.PENANAdbmQlsRqdV
385Please respect copyright.PENANA4BgcXot4lI
Oh, that not too ba-
385Please respect copyright.PENANAvfaPbgFTPd
385Please respect copyright.PENANA2EBxb9rwoV
Arc: “Focus!”
385Please respect copyright.PENANASEabgLcvVW
*CRACK*385Please respect copyright.PENANAfFadk4tVlN
385Please respect copyright.PENANAVOUp1XgZHO
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANA3yNc9uxryt
385Please respect copyright.PENANASsba7tC3kv
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.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANASJpnpO1zU8
385Please respect copyright.PENANAbfWySlh2O5
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAB90C3QUy1m
385Please respect copyright.PENANABp2RB3WcTO
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAB38KKkBBEd
385Please respect copyright.PENANA8NNunq52FK
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAAk0bZuOTYI
385Please respect copyright.PENANAqV4uOME9vq
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAPF4RmdearA
385Please respect copyright.PENANAaWZIN7vTjK
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
385Please respect copyright.PENANARh0Z69L1Qt
385Please respect copyright.PENANAZCxeksyxJU
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAJtNlbPacOQ
385Please respect copyright.PENANAWPdlMVxmvN
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”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAOW838oL24P
Nao: “!!”385Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0W8td5Pbo
385Please respect copyright.PENANAYXREnatbpg
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAqa5qvIRB8j
385Please respect copyright.PENANA0UOKtdqZaP
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
385Please respect copyright.PENANA56idb8GVTP
385Please respect copyright.PENANAvNUVbqIF8b
Nao: “Not yet!”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAsJFZV1Nv0L
385Please respect copyright.PENANAjxC3fvTqHV
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 385Please respect copyright.PENANATacbuaHX9F
385Please respect copyright.PENANA8EoJY8aCXh
Strength: 30385Please respect copyright.PENANA1XRHSZu3L9
385Please respect copyright.PENANAnyko1LzAIR
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!385Please respect copyright.PENANANVVGfRoCsF
*BOOM*385Please respect copyright.PENANACvtlbLhrxX
385Please respect copyright.PENANADSzyUNvX8D
Nao: “GAAH!”385Please respect copyright.PENANAe8tnleNlv4
385Please respect copyright.PENANA3Kp9NvCNgq
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAqs0n6pQwua
385Please respect copyright.PENANAdzUWcoLcwm
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
385Please respect copyright.PENANACElHWHs1FT
385Please respect copyright.PENANAH5SIejRc8p
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAG8MNdWuV6t
385Please respect copyright.PENANADha1VSFCDJ
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAYyPnoa1JRv
Nao: “Gaah!”385Please respect copyright.PENANAIhGOC1h8Cx
385Please respect copyright.PENANAUhYJ2FE3ay
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…
385Please respect copyright.PENANAi3U6uPAl27
385Please respect copyright.PENANAF1fCZU5VlZ
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANA2q27GaWJ2p
Nao: “!!”385Please respect copyright.PENANAdzobU1kusO
385Please respect copyright.PENANAvrRTU05QwL
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAwoHsI2vxIf
385Please respect copyright.PENANAsmo59XkZdm
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ou5ad5F8i
385Please respect copyright.PENANAasaY9SfLbG
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAoZR4WNApor
385Please respect copyright.PENANAK44dXZJxeP
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.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAN3Ev9mvqwi
385Please respect copyright.PENANA1LVBpCYN9M
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
385Please respect copyright.PENANA2TdhPK0MKM
385Please respect copyright.PENANAjs91sokGyI
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAegJNGfFPsm
Anthony: “*Sigh*”385Please respect copyright.PENANAnj56WK2s7c
385Please respect copyright.PENANA636RwI5UXX
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.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAITzSBH3O7x
385Please respect copyright.PENANAwTUwEqfZWp
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAmoBg1PtfSA
385Please respect copyright.PENANAc0QtZX2HR6
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAFXMUmmw82i
385Please respect copyright.PENANA1gcH1IUBMJ
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAMiXbRBKN3o
385Please respect copyright.PENANAKLhxGO27FF
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”385Please respect copyright.PENANAVSHeHFeiTS
385Please respect copyright.PENANANm5VrhG6dh
Nao: “My answer is…”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAaEtfKcRbh5
*Smile*385Please respect copyright.PENANAIftcBxpocd
385Please respect copyright.PENANAKfgDP87BjU
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAfExl5ocdJu
385Please respect copyright.PENANAugeSIyafgh
Anthony: “What?”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAF9ZSPYWMxH
385Please respect copyright.PENANAlzlYddy99K
Nao: “Air bullet!”
385Please respect copyright.PENANASYDk01i6K2
385Please respect copyright.PENANAiN0DBERLk1
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAFjNpw9Hwyi
385Please respect copyright.PENANACYUkbYSVdP
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!
385Please respect copyright.PENANArWrhoLRXom
385Please respect copyright.PENANAMLouml2mWN
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAE0mkAHYawM
385Please respect copyright.PENANAXkueWgFXhK
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-
385Please respect copyright.PENANAlLOAZPW6R3
*Drip*385Please respect copyright.PENANA3DgUcalAUh
385Please respect copyright.PENANAtPFFoOB7CR
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 385Please respect copyright.PENANAaBaK1RfqPA
385Please respect copyright.PENANAxKSM7Z7qm6
385Please respect copyright.PENANAH1Cvnwmglb
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.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAeeFoMeynzY
385Please respect copyright.PENANAKVS0702fS2
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
385Please respect copyright.PENANATVf13oGjle
385Please respect copyright.PENANAE2HapXPxCd
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
385Please respect copyright.PENANAwChhBjj7qY
!?385Please respect copyright.PENANAxDPL8YmoFt
385Please respect copyright.PENANAMD0ZfsTyKb
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…
385Please respect copyright.PENANAbdkdRiZu1X
385Please respect copyright.PENANAcGAOwTDhDD
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANA8dx1PZHaqr
385Please respect copyright.PENANAu7YGZpk6l9
Kid, you’ll regret that.
385Please respect copyright.PENANArVAGEvMmOd
385Please respect copyright.PENANAtnlvsubeuO
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAKEIfNPCGXu
385Please respect copyright.PENANAdROh4G7BBa
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
385Please respect copyright.PENANAJQY3gTEkFO
385Please respect copyright.PENANACh11inVBRO
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAEYb0Vuaymb
385Please respect copyright.PENANAXkseEwJ9sM
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
385Please respect copyright.PENANADdisTx6Vt3
385Please respect copyright.PENANANU6Mvz4qDE
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAhOUFi7WhJ7
!!385Please respect copyright.PENANAMlifmhrJmo
385Please respect copyright.PENANAMJfws8TJwW
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”385Please respect copyright.PENANAN50eoXLTy8
385Please respect copyright.PENANAy1WxXuP0BQ
385Please respect copyright.PENANA6mfXnRDZXE
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAIrEMmFF0UQ
385Please respect copyright.PENANADv4Dfs7SC6
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAburw6tc01G
385Please respect copyright.PENANAsZpF68Iei5
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.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAiUFdA3HixP
385Please respect copyright.PENANABA4SrQ0AeR
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAo8DuzFLtkx
385Please respect copyright.PENANAYs0clMlLWB
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
385Please respect copyright.PENANA5AIkdkyh7D
385Please respect copyright.PENANABSCv2mGbg3
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.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAdEtgsBQ7zA
385Please respect copyright.PENANANI8VNCJBsE
Arc: “Na-”
385Please respect copyright.PENANA9L201kSJTo
385Please respect copyright.PENANA4l2Svq2Vje
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAGhtKS3gwSn
385Please respect copyright.PENANAiQOvj9qqCS
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…”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAgkEMZ4X8m8
385Please respect copyright.PENANA5T4XxeiSnB
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAe4vp1itEj5
385Please respect copyright.PENANA4VTgUzELty
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAEsCfa71rkb
385Please respect copyright.PENANAvm0ldOOK1j
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.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAvywW6dChg3
385Please respect copyright.PENANA41obNV3tfJ
Nao: “And…after that?”
385Please respect copyright.PENANA7sF5XyvlYV
385Please respect copyright.PENANAPSqU7fo4RQ
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?”
385Please respect copyright.PENANA80Dq7UWMl3
385Please respect copyright.PENANAIFtanaeS1f
Nao: “…”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAjYtByg3tXE
385Please respect copyright.PENANA2KtnEg1NVK
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
385Please respect copyright.PENANASXHlLnVZns
385Please respect copyright.PENANAz2kzo5ZAK4
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANACpKePXHE3g
385Please respect copyright.PENANAB9pXc84J4J
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…385Please respect copyright.PENANASzwLFQMQD9
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2ck9WXdlu
385Please respect copyright.PENANAke3Otq2MdQ
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAVmiUIRZun1
385Please respect copyright.PENANAX8fUXuFBT7
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
385Please respect copyright.PENANA5WCdTuYKIB
385Please respect copyright.PENANA8qarXeBiFH
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
385Please respect copyright.PENANAIK8Ne7gE4l
385Please respect copyright.PENANA8QkXMBefpC
…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…
385Please respect copyright.PENANATNUXeNXLRi
385Please respect copyright.PENANARbyawmQ7Gt
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAbsVaxLSv3Y
385Please respect copyright.PENANAdFeAzzSgd3
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
385Please respect copyright.PENANABizuTF8BOT
385Please respect copyright.PENANAFHbyr7yfiq
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
385Please respect copyright.PENANAoFZTe8K62w
385Please respect copyright.PENANALK4HqFTw8m
T-To save…my family.
385Please respect copyright.PENANA1iARUGVLK1
385Please respect copyright.PENANAggkPs04SMw
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAd3BUkwVRLP
385Please respect copyright.PENANAMmdMfMV2FO
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
385Please respect copyright.PENANAm8Oq0W7myo
385Please respect copyright.PENANAZGLfXiUtaR
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
385Please respect copyright.PENANAXNbUbUiuhs
!!385Please respect copyright.PENANAH8iO07Hs2N
385Please respect copyright.PENANA5dqg1GwTp9
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.385Please respect copyright.PENANA9bghOJohiA
385Please respect copyright.PENANAu4aaQbTFK8
385Please respect copyright.PENANAopjdC4fr0y
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAtj3Zhvq5IA
385Please respect copyright.PENANA17hChPN3rY
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANA8K0GVmIsZS
385Please respect copyright.PENANAMIyPMLEyrH
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAVJSnXsB6xV
385Please respect copyright.PENANA55781Lq02k
…Okay, I will.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAiXJbW3y7cv
385Please respect copyright.PENANAGHeRKeOW7S
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAc2YdDvnUEv
385Please respect copyright.PENANAMNQyvLm979
…Why?
385Please respect copyright.PENANAdlImkhL2nL
385Please respect copyright.PENANA074AYil3Br
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAHkCWMSAxr7
385Please respect copyright.PENANAFl7Ur775fU
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
385Please respect copyright.PENANAR0j4rTbqOK
385Please respect copyright.PENANAVsdRsoDftC
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…385Please respect copyright.PENANAgoia8DhMy3
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.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANARQZUOwv6M5
385Please respect copyright.PENANAL6iAgF3bS2
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANAEPcJRpWA9n
385Please respect copyright.PENANAl46DnRlAaz
Anthony: “!!!?”
385Please respect copyright.PENANA7eFT0nF49q
385Please respect copyright.PENANAWH8perSl2T
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.
385Please respect copyright.PENANALUYfvg6n2W
385Please respect copyright.PENANAeBpFcn5lXR
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
385Please respect copyright.PENANALOpOw91VE6
385Please respect copyright.PENANA0NxHfjD0sE
Alphon:
Strength: ???385Please respect copyright.PENANAl8AmvHQ3eq
Endurance: ???385Please respect copyright.PENANA1o1UMfIAZV
Intelligence: ???385Please respect copyright.PENANAkqVWh4QOpW
Charisma: ???385Please respect copyright.PENANA21KsUxs6W4
Agility: ???385Please respect copyright.PENANAxocMzbMJkn
Magic: ????????385Please respect copyright.PENANA3IynCPQt01