Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAMyVYkccfYj
444Please respect copyright.PENANAiWV9BkRjXx
444Please respect copyright.PENANARKHh3S1tHQ
What’s that?
444Please respect copyright.PENANA99OeJYjhRh
444Please respect copyright.PENANA03uRfeplH2
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAq7MZ6LboB2
444Please respect copyright.PENANAW6Ynh2U5f6
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAcnDFawBDNn
444Please respect copyright.PENANAk1blBESpq0
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAfBcxmSdwDM
444Please respect copyright.PENANAMMmhCi1VyZ
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10444Please respect copyright.PENANAjVGMRaQx6o
Endurance: 10444Please respect copyright.PENANA6MQdRDAonT
Intelligence: 21444Please respect copyright.PENANAVe9FwXJxOl
Charisma: 20444Please respect copyright.PENANAirqv1u6ZLd
Agility: 14 444Please respect copyright.PENANAT6F6tTU071
Magic: 35 444Please respect copyright.PENANAmCk8vkyMDM
444Please respect copyright.PENANA3fw7NcroeI
VS
444Please respect copyright.PENANA3S8pVUeax5
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21444Please respect copyright.PENANAVqHk00o8YB
Endurance: 17.5444Please respect copyright.PENANAF29Sx1loDy
Intelligence: 19.5444Please respect copyright.PENANAZORKe4PX8D
Charisma: 18.5444Please respect copyright.PENANAvN7hdGscfZ
Agility: 16.5444Please respect copyright.PENANAOeFdSMnAkt
Magic: 24444Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4HuNBCyL1
444Please respect copyright.PENANAOUyCY8D8p6
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzwcW8yncbk
Oh, that not too ba-
444Please respect copyright.PENANAUkcfsvP8Ak
444Please respect copyright.PENANAEQAhoZ88pE
Arc: “Focus!”
444Please respect copyright.PENANACszJSY3l76
*CRACK*444Please respect copyright.PENANAuPX6BbCVJz
444Please respect copyright.PENANACuaWlKxFzp
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAClMHw5W6o2
444Please respect copyright.PENANAKOBLi5VQ2E
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.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAeGvpcRhZfw
444Please respect copyright.PENANAWXw6x3dnKr
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAsIJC3zEOGq
444Please respect copyright.PENANA3BCYGghIk1
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAga2BEyIBBw
444Please respect copyright.PENANAW36fPJ15k5
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANACEhg8rlzli
444Please respect copyright.PENANAENdvUsM7NV
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAlrw21rff83
444Please respect copyright.PENANAFEgJTVjQxW
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAbEf9HtjuQX
444Please respect copyright.PENANAb2DFk0RABK
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAJRJ6CeTI4m
444Please respect copyright.PENANAA58Ft2slAc
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”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAd5Ikk1uHqG
Nao: “!!”444Please respect copyright.PENANArfLFqWYa1J
444Please respect copyright.PENANAWBAlNbb4oK
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAoMh6QTwdAA
444Please respect copyright.PENANAFArpHGJx8H
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAd64RRuiy2A
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzx20Mg3pCZ
Nao: “Not yet!”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAr3kGoxVv25
444Please respect copyright.PENANAUX3GMX7drK
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 444Please respect copyright.PENANAcZym3je8Iq
444Please respect copyright.PENANAqeMiVslSMc
Strength: 30444Please respect copyright.PENANA9jlwnOyG0t
444Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6OwQpPHMN
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!444Please respect copyright.PENANAhkGcezYxpj
*BOOM*444Please respect copyright.PENANAVXdvUCszcr
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9ASKYroJg9
Nao: “GAAH!”444Please respect copyright.PENANASZO4YqYTVx
444Please respect copyright.PENANA4UOE3fg0ud
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAJpmi2AHo4y
444Please respect copyright.PENANAuIZcHT45HS
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
444Please respect copyright.PENANA1OdYwijCHi
444Please respect copyright.PENANAG0RqdM6xoh
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAKyXAVDs6Jp
444Please respect copyright.PENANA8xy6eZxyC3
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAiMUg7KZXAQ
Nao: “Gaah!”444Please respect copyright.PENANAkZjfQWR4Ag
444Please respect copyright.PENANAk85hbVy343
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…
444Please respect copyright.PENANArLboaLq9u8
444Please respect copyright.PENANASrkVdRlnj4
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxK2vgDEMAF
Nao: “!!”444Please respect copyright.PENANAPugs8HuLy1
444Please respect copyright.PENANAwQUXev8AUp
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAdWROSwnTsY
444Please respect copyright.PENANATODtfJ1eI7
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANATaYZS0i767
444Please respect copyright.PENANAYWickgtJAv
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAOukbCN0uip
444Please respect copyright.PENANAO3KUW8vhhz
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.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9XiUXvZq4C
444Please respect copyright.PENANAJKqADYhg7c
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAH3dLsGzxCg
444Please respect copyright.PENANAcwuCBHpUR4
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAkYVkv0YIRD
Anthony: “*Sigh*”444Please respect copyright.PENANAYH6dX7AhiA
444Please respect copyright.PENANAu8FmTknigM
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.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAGJQaD7upJx
444Please respect copyright.PENANAIm47x1oaTX
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANA5bnI9iQD4Y
444Please respect copyright.PENANAXUZ2r52tdA
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANASZQN3BhgM5
444Please respect copyright.PENANAYUNHB9L9Kw
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAaaijlxKL2j
444Please respect copyright.PENANAH3Tdn2Yny9
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”444Please respect copyright.PENANAZaxOvnykMm
444Please respect copyright.PENANAjhfdrlLaqW
Nao: “My answer is…”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAmLDZeXEWPF
*Smile*444Please respect copyright.PENANAslmz3Fbx7k
444Please respect copyright.PENANADbqg8PtRAW
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAiVZhqk1Zl5
444Please respect copyright.PENANAshL3gAt0Uh
Anthony: “What?”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAsDV0inadTN
444Please respect copyright.PENANAKDzPvnEfIz
Nao: “Air bullet!”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAx0SbrOLN0G
444Please respect copyright.PENANAHMFLLlyw8w
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANA5ObFxw3Pwn
444Please respect copyright.PENANAtG2oJK5iVw
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!
444Please respect copyright.PENANAhlCoS9ZxEf
444Please respect copyright.PENANACLFCFeGssx
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAsIayPFdCKm
444Please respect copyright.PENANAx4bGrzNKAg
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-
444Please respect copyright.PENANAItuQuWet5e
*Drip*444Please respect copyright.PENANABYj03K2pFI
444Please respect copyright.PENANAN6S2JueEBq
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 444Please respect copyright.PENANA7AawOKSUx4
444Please respect copyright.PENANAIxpdS2JsZS
444Please respect copyright.PENANAoKSg0bfOVV
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.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANA6Nk1UMGTo9
444Please respect copyright.PENANAK875Ingqgd
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAjqKHzYKeyP
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9UiYEfZP3o
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
444Please respect copyright.PENANAc2mQjc7gL7
!?444Please respect copyright.PENANAhT3acczgOT
444Please respect copyright.PENANALs5DDyKljQ
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…
444Please respect copyright.PENANAAX8iF2kWEz
444Please respect copyright.PENANAFBf1oz2X76
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAgaEMZcsfdR
444Please respect copyright.PENANAvER1a19quH
Kid, you’ll regret that.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzx7PijWGVU
444Please respect copyright.PENANAb5evG9hvgq
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9HfsWHoI20
444Please respect copyright.PENANAlVL9qGisOp
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
444Please respect copyright.PENANAXtZfX3Tg5C
444Please respect copyright.PENANAiFYSqJA3Y1
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAvhVYqA6P6P
444Please respect copyright.PENANAG7J1mczUB6
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
444Please respect copyright.PENANA1B4Adl9nXu
444Please respect copyright.PENANA44f0I80Cx2
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
444Please respect copyright.PENANA19EXKsKGqc
!!444Please respect copyright.PENANAU5bveIs6LA
444Please respect copyright.PENANA8qhqUHltXD
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”444Please respect copyright.PENANAPkjPGik9h0
444Please respect copyright.PENANAlauG3QgUc5
444Please respect copyright.PENANAvbVVeycbBu
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAH5VEp8YDph
444Please respect copyright.PENANAoPH27X4xMC
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAohPwzrrZ2W
444Please respect copyright.PENANAT9lpQVVvPn
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.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANA8xSHfYFAm8
444Please respect copyright.PENANAXyOg6ZB4Ya
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
444Please respect copyright.PENANADAeewDMnFy
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzY298qWosl
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAWMkXMqOzzY
444Please respect copyright.PENANAnUboAoYa3n
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.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAr8wwUtJ2v7
444Please respect copyright.PENANAjdmfj7Qvw6
Arc: “Na-”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAnOGRRkTINh
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzYunoW5gUM
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAAOlL3pO4kw
444Please respect copyright.PENANAJzqtLBRX0Y
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…”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAkVgxUoy0BB
444Please respect copyright.PENANAjUk37ChIvp
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANASTlDCrDI3e
444Please respect copyright.PENANAVtfoAVPJdc
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7O8Hh9P19
444Please respect copyright.PENANAIT33BanfWH
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.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANA0QvWv2nwfp
444Please respect copyright.PENANAndaqatRLFu
Nao: “And…after that?”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAPUfcLcPDzn
444Please respect copyright.PENANA0BH6X4eC3c
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?”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAaYJljb7J4e
444Please respect copyright.PENANANMEV7Qb22h
Nao: “…”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAVb2l1VU98U
444Please respect copyright.PENANAUm6w6VlrlG
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
444Please respect copyright.PENANANVbwzpBGJ9
444Please respect copyright.PENANAR9Jnl55iNA
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAuMg7OqNy9e
444Please respect copyright.PENANAukD49ky0qm
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…444Please respect copyright.PENANAwgtVTLEsgD
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAEXayq8kNpO
444Please respect copyright.PENANAHdiilRFYsf
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
444Please respect copyright.PENANALi5zOu1IGe
444Please respect copyright.PENANAhiYHXla8ug
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
444Please respect copyright.PENANAnloYyfPbTx
444Please respect copyright.PENANAfVUvltB1Cs
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
444Please respect copyright.PENANASYmjGGzdoy
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxf2RIGCHvo
…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…
444Please respect copyright.PENANApDWvLO0jaH
444Please respect copyright.PENANArURd0XsQQd
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAzN8qLcpajx
444Please respect copyright.PENANARVKoGENARX
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
444Please respect copyright.PENANAz3032dsnT1
444Please respect copyright.PENANArkT9UPi24R
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
444Please respect copyright.PENANAU3Xtzul9l6
444Please respect copyright.PENANAOlgoYxJW5Y
T-To save…my family.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAkclkJEua12
444Please respect copyright.PENANAdo1KfiDTNL
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAkfSoR6dkZq
444Please respect copyright.PENANAlo5fkQvD5U
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
444Please respect copyright.PENANA1RopUaqrQp
444Please respect copyright.PENANAfUXBX8pnpn
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
444Please respect copyright.PENANAjX532vGuoy
!!444Please respect copyright.PENANAEJ4WQWiHCK
444Please respect copyright.PENANAF0Xa72HG4E
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.444Please respect copyright.PENANABPZwgWIvrR
444Please respect copyright.PENANAUOzB2RjTkd
444Please respect copyright.PENANAFKMeITUUM5
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
444Please respect copyright.PENANADpQzWWbmei
444Please respect copyright.PENANAtngttuSr6b
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANA49ow2aZ3Uf
444Please respect copyright.PENANAr1HvuHUhZf
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANA7moOfq2eSp
444Please respect copyright.PENANAuQ4ziJt2MG
…Okay, I will.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAA6a8FXwgvz
444Please respect copyright.PENANAZGQQwmRIos
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
444Please respect copyright.PENANA0wMJnPaQEG
444Please respect copyright.PENANAw2zUeKE1QH
…Why?
444Please respect copyright.PENANAEVwnqKiiZt
444Please respect copyright.PENANAprw4pdiuNU
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4I60fez5K
444Please respect copyright.PENANAQbO0dUr7yn
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
444Please respect copyright.PENANANGOKFlUl8T
444Please respect copyright.PENANA83tDz37STQ
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…444Please respect copyright.PENANAiuqyVxNxNi
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.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAf1pJkagIht
444Please respect copyright.PENANATHA7VLgbXB
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANA59pheMJiU4
444Please respect copyright.PENANAVFZJjaV7Lj
Anthony: “!!!?”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAX3ueNUZnqi
444Please respect copyright.PENANAahEi4I9BQn
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.
444Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZDkYhqpqQ
444Please respect copyright.PENANAi9PycgMwAY
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
444Please respect copyright.PENANAwScpG7kie4
444Please respect copyright.PENANAxt2FAr5gol
Alphon:
Strength: ???444Please respect copyright.PENANAcV0FX9L3LD
Endurance: ???444Please respect copyright.PENANAelNgoIuS4w
Intelligence: ???444Please respect copyright.PENANAZXhaf4Lu4h
Charisma: ???444Please respect copyright.PENANA1EgZGmiknV
Agility: ???444Please respect copyright.PENANAZfWT0AHb7X
Magic: ????????444Please respect copyright.PENANAMMJDCJOb8w