Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”445Please respect copyright.PENANA2fUNmsBjkf
445Please respect copyright.PENANAZ57LdcSzFn
445Please respect copyright.PENANAZP1i53Uq84
What’s that?
445Please respect copyright.PENANAtLzJEmijha
445Please respect copyright.PENANA6uh9U6jR63
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAIMcJdry6TP
445Please respect copyright.PENANA8eJNiRsS2O
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAf1HuoQUrKZ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAmCLH6vWXOC
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAizhHGz6YzJ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAcV5icUnYsq
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10445Please respect copyright.PENANA1zwba6On3i
Endurance: 10445Please respect copyright.PENANACF7FScV8qP
Intelligence: 21445Please respect copyright.PENANAqedcBFIzPd
Charisma: 20445Please respect copyright.PENANA70p8Mlkm42
Agility: 14 445Please respect copyright.PENANAekEXIZpFt0
Magic: 35 445Please respect copyright.PENANAyhoWRcUb22
445Please respect copyright.PENANAfeQ3goRalH
VS
445Please respect copyright.PENANAAZxbSk7RGr
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21445Please respect copyright.PENANANIKb1soqa1
Endurance: 17.5445Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2vm8MIAQ3
Intelligence: 19.5445Please respect copyright.PENANAUvmNU8GawY
Charisma: 18.5445Please respect copyright.PENANAdMpKZET3BW
Agility: 16.5445Please respect copyright.PENANArFy03ZquDS
Magic: 24445Please respect copyright.PENANA0ww75pkDHA
445Please respect copyright.PENANAR5vdX7pjp9
445Please respect copyright.PENANAHTR5KGlpq0
Oh, that not too ba-
445Please respect copyright.PENANAJPJU9dmU5h
445Please respect copyright.PENANAD05Twfu2is
Arc: “Focus!”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAnK6TlfkrA3
*CRACK*445Please respect copyright.PENANAf32iNBLvay
445Please respect copyright.PENANAiqn05TNAkX
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAPEaJrjj8xu
445Please respect copyright.PENANALJWJRaDGoG
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.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAWwszOxXI7p
445Please respect copyright.PENANAQCVDylcceq
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAyB7mhGprcQ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAFK9OSgUdWH
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAKf8MTEOhX5
445Please respect copyright.PENANAU4bdAQLe5K
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAMkAhzORKQa
445Please respect copyright.PENANAdJGd9qLhkR
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAqFcstQB6PZ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAbJD4lX1U2a
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAzWOq8WH9eY
445Please respect copyright.PENANAkZwjVlLRDO
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAgtrXfs3613
445Please respect copyright.PENANAiffViYAfxF
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”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAnHBgz6BLsv
Nao: “!!”445Please respect copyright.PENANABQwYm9Giyv
445Please respect copyright.PENANAnUHruTr4J4
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANA0HJMxOSCxf
445Please respect copyright.PENANAmEvjQzWX5X
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA9xsN3f22np
445Please respect copyright.PENANAdrELwnvktd
Nao: “Not yet!”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAPayb1nFaN7
445Please respect copyright.PENANApvxP3pRUlb
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 445Please respect copyright.PENANA8VyBIOhASP
445Please respect copyright.PENANAsmgsH2Ryoe
Strength: 30445Please respect copyright.PENANAZY71On5lKO
445Please respect copyright.PENANADdDADaYxkr
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!445Please respect copyright.PENANAW5Ay8Y33cW
*BOOM*445Please respect copyright.PENANARh2XCUF4YN
445Please respect copyright.PENANAQMY5YxyoBJ
Nao: “GAAH!”445Please respect copyright.PENANAV9mcHZSX96
445Please respect copyright.PENANAQaZzSMLJA5
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
445Please respect copyright.PENANApgMUDj0NWu
445Please respect copyright.PENANAKvl2vkwcXx
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
445Please respect copyright.PENANA7Hn4Z9W0nr
445Please respect copyright.PENANA4jM5Dt7zWN
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAcPSfYKCRx2
445Please respect copyright.PENANA7LD4Cg4WUi
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAOGxZHyCSRu
Nao: “Gaah!”445Please respect copyright.PENANAMyJ3Z2ICJ7
445Please respect copyright.PENANA5zscKYQSJ1
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…
445Please respect copyright.PENANAeYM1kMSxXi
445Please respect copyright.PENANA6bD9fr0Apg
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAPPHeneQaIW
Nao: “!!”445Please respect copyright.PENANAI37fZQEzfU
445Please respect copyright.PENANAJJu2KTrhE6
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA0TTIUu8trt
445Please respect copyright.PENANAeNHgx44Q0F
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAxYJEE5sgHj
445Please respect copyright.PENANAxICcLgw1Qt
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAOT9puiLd6u
445Please respect copyright.PENANAmB0axcowvg
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.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANA6lfFIZeJBG
445Please respect copyright.PENANAH4Ij5ptiwx
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAhQaKCJzWjE
445Please respect copyright.PENANAgu3wc7Kkth
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAaH9SY5HFNN
Anthony: “*Sigh*”445Please respect copyright.PENANAMqbpYmlCGq
445Please respect copyright.PENANAcPZetBQAmf
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.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAxqg8ztpmjz
445Please respect copyright.PENANAdT2KsClQMZ
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAJjsEBqxLKg
445Please respect copyright.PENANAqA0XJ1g72T
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAwEjIyk97LE
445Please respect copyright.PENANAqPlMpy5QQD
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAqIhuHxqDIS
445Please respect copyright.PENANAtEemM7LAbj
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”445Please respect copyright.PENANAumlZhXcZaJ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAGg67K3ToA5
Nao: “My answer is…”
445Please respect copyright.PENANA6NYfr3w6Vi
*Smile*445Please respect copyright.PENANAqw1RBmN7q7
445Please respect copyright.PENANAz4S0Q9DwP7
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAmnShUc4vZl
445Please respect copyright.PENANAHdjiHZNdc5
Anthony: “What?”
445Please respect copyright.PENANASodXVVZpNE
445Please respect copyright.PENANA5TLBjPHbzN
Nao: “Air bullet!”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAuTTaUqOQEc
445Please respect copyright.PENANAKqgfaSB15D
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA3BokgVnJ98
445Please respect copyright.PENANAfl7LiHayLD
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!
445Please respect copyright.PENANAXRSAmE7MAF
445Please respect copyright.PENANA9QQjTITlcT
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
445Please respect copyright.PENANA1Nq627Qfr3
445Please respect copyright.PENANAY8SrAX7ifB
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-
445Please respect copyright.PENANADhaJyGjWtW
*Drip*445Please respect copyright.PENANAyrU1JUvMaQ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAECPcbEFtmj
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 445Please respect copyright.PENANAUEA3btn6Tj
445Please respect copyright.PENANA6RYHW6xFvp
445Please respect copyright.PENANAupQynQpSZu
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.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANA2bTwbR9ADe
445Please respect copyright.PENANAcuhRoq07tF
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAbxy4GLwbdB
445Please respect copyright.PENANABMyPK9lLaD
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
445Please respect copyright.PENANAGVwRToHlEu
!?445Please respect copyright.PENANAO7rvCuk1jT
445Please respect copyright.PENANAnRuHREUcLs
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…
445Please respect copyright.PENANAEhjsMRE0r9
445Please respect copyright.PENANABkLMcXt6cm
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAFIR8vZ00OL
445Please respect copyright.PENANAgqMm9a9fXg
Kid, you’ll regret that.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA8awQnpeEZe
445Please respect copyright.PENANAQeXhlVUagM
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAL14UPjS2c3
445Please respect copyright.PENANApjYHzVgBvV
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
445Please respect copyright.PENANAlK5Ya4Qi4i
445Please respect copyright.PENANAoH3evSCsQS
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAuwtAwxHabA
445Please respect copyright.PENANAeVFHgumbmE
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAH6keNpOLDE
445Please respect copyright.PENANAc8Ry1WQ4jT
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAGSbFrocEG0
!!445Please respect copyright.PENANAGqxCPOMp7K
445Please respect copyright.PENANAHyGv5oXPar
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”445Please respect copyright.PENANAMii8M9yRQw
445Please respect copyright.PENANA65ffLXREhf
445Please respect copyright.PENANAD07mPTW0ZD
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAnbeA3qhsj3
445Please respect copyright.PENANA6QCmRS1KCF
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAqbdFuqPnpP
445Please respect copyright.PENANAZCLgTPcvFw
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.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAe6V0GMgpoY
445Please respect copyright.PENANAMwacKKGc9A
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA4I5ZZ0QSZH
445Please respect copyright.PENANAt6rKbX7PgD
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAuOtbxFgmDo
445Please respect copyright.PENANAZU88FYJtfZ
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.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAwsUUDQGRaT
445Please respect copyright.PENANAIa1ck9Jr29
Arc: “Na-”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAwR6utyPsOd
445Please respect copyright.PENANAHQgrVGMDDs
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAhVTCWRjkXu
445Please respect copyright.PENANAARfn5OoNCR
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…”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAccSeScw69D
445Please respect copyright.PENANAxAdsF6CO1f
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAttOlxHg8ox
445Please respect copyright.PENANAxGL92HCtvk
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAxvlRoA3se6
445Please respect copyright.PENANAQYVlxVy3Ki
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.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAtv5aZJVkpP
445Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ae0fMeKNU
Nao: “And…after that?”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAKl6Q6AuwHO
445Please respect copyright.PENANA8jmeJllloZ
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?”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAovHIa6M7Xt
445Please respect copyright.PENANACZnEy8Ywoc
Nao: “…”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAY54C3JnWjk
445Please respect copyright.PENANAzj8DnwfsEW
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA6oM72odPdX
445Please respect copyright.PENANAeOhUjZIh8a
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANATeDBccyII1
445Please respect copyright.PENANAw3ugwkJ3Mh
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…445Please respect copyright.PENANAXtbhenjl2m
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAcoeZSBC77S
445Please respect copyright.PENANAG55P9klh5g
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAliomZmr25V
445Please respect copyright.PENANAy0z2Q3rq3i
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
445Please respect copyright.PENANADWTZuRxp0J
445Please respect copyright.PENANAr4LHoKdTye
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
445Please respect copyright.PENANAkHjR0Po69m
445Please respect copyright.PENANAmqCByj3Luo
…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…
445Please respect copyright.PENANAumUFoDElux
445Please respect copyright.PENANAm1LPqnDcxI
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA3QGuLo67pR
445Please respect copyright.PENANAWpJxvMwaca
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
445Please respect copyright.PENANAz30LD3Fo79
445Please respect copyright.PENANAeHaDflwIRg
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
445Please respect copyright.PENANAbrT5OiGeUZ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAuxYFMijOPo
T-To save…my family.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAPtElwRMlqw
445Please respect copyright.PENANAOP2yOJ7AFX
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA1rX5K5po6Z
445Please respect copyright.PENANAGzoqtrpwLu
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
445Please respect copyright.PENANAKHU6h826gp
445Please respect copyright.PENANApSpZgeAR8P
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
445Please respect copyright.PENANAeDab94ohi6
!!445Please respect copyright.PENANAGfau3LO7DS
445Please respect copyright.PENANAXD97gU9YCr
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.445Please respect copyright.PENANAu5MdevQ4O9
445Please respect copyright.PENANApYjiArMyF7
445Please respect copyright.PENANANgbHYYEvwV
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAtvKesOCmZ3
445Please respect copyright.PENANAJhCEao1jtd
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAyua2B231Fj
445Please respect copyright.PENANA4JTFshdGEj
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAT6tLlMLHxp
445Please respect copyright.PENANAjZ6EmzD6IC
…Okay, I will.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAkUbijdXFYV
445Please respect copyright.PENANAlPzZBL6CRc
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAhspC89pBLv
445Please respect copyright.PENANAFliBtcPXIo
…Why?
445Please respect copyright.PENANABSYi3z4CIm
445Please respect copyright.PENANAB5lQDmAGtI
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA610JNBxxkb
445Please respect copyright.PENANAOsjTChv7Vb
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAe9SBcZSOHr
445Please respect copyright.PENANA8B3oNm4Nvu
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…445Please respect copyright.PENANAhB5xn6TNSG
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.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAj8zw8KumJX
445Please respect copyright.PENANAisQb2zFMxN
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAk3mkzRJ7Vh
445Please respect copyright.PENANACWZoI5q2uJ
Anthony: “!!!?”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAce3YnyjOOx
445Please respect copyright.PENANAQNzatXypAi
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.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA2vEjJCw4uY
445Please respect copyright.PENANAJLOpLSA5a2
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
445Please respect copyright.PENANAP0DsPn56Tl
445Please respect copyright.PENANAo19qYO3oat
Alphon:
Strength: ???445Please respect copyright.PENANAUH0Wh8NFlm
Endurance: ???445Please respect copyright.PENANAkFHRTbPTAq
Intelligence: ???445Please respect copyright.PENANAXS2KWNISjX
Charisma: ???445Please respect copyright.PENANAkheDXflVPQ
Agility: ???445Please respect copyright.PENANAUzJtz8YyXv
Magic: ????????445Please respect copyright.PENANACfZg1wGgIF