Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”380Please respect copyright.PENANARJN1tM8a7p
380Please respect copyright.PENANAVvSvJVZl7X
380Please respect copyright.PENANA1XzrvRQQDe
What’s that?
380Please respect copyright.PENANAd4kD9Gq1QJ
380Please respect copyright.PENANAULngc8TBDd
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAncF4k3uzRX
380Please respect copyright.PENANAFF3IqksIXR
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAPo8nx3CZCN
380Please respect copyright.PENANAkxUnovA1zt
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
380Please respect copyright.PENANATU6BGb7DTY
380Please respect copyright.PENANAY3ZqmBYPVS
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10380Please respect copyright.PENANAzxUCmKHzk3
Endurance: 10380Please respect copyright.PENANAt89bgBhA3b
Intelligence: 21380Please respect copyright.PENANAVWXyl7ENZh
Charisma: 20380Please respect copyright.PENANAU7XIECwmdg
Agility: 14 380Please respect copyright.PENANA297xoayJrb
Magic: 35 380Please respect copyright.PENANA1e6vzbYZWH
380Please respect copyright.PENANAcZd88535yq
VS
380Please respect copyright.PENANArUmHz4taiF
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21380Please respect copyright.PENANAYhImZqaWLt
Endurance: 17.5380Please respect copyright.PENANAWHfK7oh8H6
Intelligence: 19.5380Please respect copyright.PENANAkif4KKMAEb
Charisma: 18.5380Please respect copyright.PENANAJpDIJARsld
Agility: 16.5380Please respect copyright.PENANAHIaDhLoiAw
Magic: 24380Please respect copyright.PENANAm3ome522PY
380Please respect copyright.PENANAOlzebKtPjW
380Please respect copyright.PENANABG2ELDLj6z
Oh, that not too ba-
380Please respect copyright.PENANAm3I64o90IG
380Please respect copyright.PENANA1PvrzAG8sV
Arc: “Focus!”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAzFRHTSFATY
*CRACK*380Please respect copyright.PENANApwGbZbY7uM
380Please respect copyright.PENANAbaGZz3cZAh
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANArM0Y7cBTXr
380Please respect copyright.PENANAUZccfAXVpq
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.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA7kWAKiJyoD
380Please respect copyright.PENANALYEwmrXciG
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAMOCK7vaCgR
380Please respect copyright.PENANAEGfjXUEkOL
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA8fEpGUeFb4
380Please respect copyright.PENANA8zSfxMVte9
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAx37qWdnkxz
380Please respect copyright.PENANAe9dvQ28zis
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAqfbGJk0Kiz
380Please respect copyright.PENANAR2TEKRjunb
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAVEhzcskEnl
380Please respect copyright.PENANA8sAnFPrwsE
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA25yQ29E83p
380Please respect copyright.PENANA9A7a8iy8Aw
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”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA3gC91R0egV
Nao: “!!”380Please respect copyright.PENANAEPDsFZTPWI
380Please respect copyright.PENANAR8w1cgi8Jn
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAZwnKZ5QHBz
380Please respect copyright.PENANAnbLXM3k4ia
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAFsJGM0z3mR
380Please respect copyright.PENANAoNQr3FqfSN
Nao: “Not yet!”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAnfDcOi69Eo
380Please respect copyright.PENANAqZOUvw7Y5O
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 380Please respect copyright.PENANAmXIhSIaJYt
380Please respect copyright.PENANAwPgYYNx30q
Strength: 30380Please respect copyright.PENANAezmUVn0fyB
380Please respect copyright.PENANA5gyoFdolSJ
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!380Please respect copyright.PENANATrJAyzAKet
*BOOM*380Please respect copyright.PENANAtaLceKH1Ln
380Please respect copyright.PENANAsoAM7OvUWd
Nao: “GAAH!”380Please respect copyright.PENANAgRf0lxQ9W1
380Please respect copyright.PENANA3aIeEereU2
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAa31akS6Z7S
380Please respect copyright.PENANA5E2utbbSRg
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
380Please respect copyright.PENANAHU6wZAzPAC
380Please respect copyright.PENANAECf7NlR3ZY
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
380Please respect copyright.PENANArw8OSiNXYQ
380Please respect copyright.PENANAX3QdJyhpnl
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANA1ySkrQtomx
Nao: “Gaah!”380Please respect copyright.PENANAI7psOMvuxu
380Please respect copyright.PENANAQjh5ZHmNAC
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…
380Please respect copyright.PENANAZPWxlC750v
380Please respect copyright.PENANAJUuxVBRHgk
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA0uNGKtrScJ
Nao: “!!”380Please respect copyright.PENANAC6NchPaOk9
380Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1NuundmKW
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
380Please respect copyright.PENANA4xxvDJoPkx
380Please respect copyright.PENANAQVZkcuEsdo
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA6FVmHHKHxQ
380Please respect copyright.PENANAwu6JP3jgk3
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAXkc7SA7eaP
380Please respect copyright.PENANAAjUEcHdDNh
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.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAFgLpsxjSek
380Please respect copyright.PENANAPElvjumbmc
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAytMd3OMzro
380Please respect copyright.PENANA9D171wX0EB
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANApyjVOjqJUa
Anthony: “*Sigh*”380Please respect copyright.PENANA4ggcMDKCeD
380Please respect copyright.PENANABVxtEVVN9T
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.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAQCbV7bUtDZ
380Please respect copyright.PENANAcgu3mh5Grg
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAn7rioNHnrE
380Please respect copyright.PENANADIUvjGxgaD
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAqPGECXRqTk
380Please respect copyright.PENANAVJELZkarz2
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANALhEKJLseRI
380Please respect copyright.PENANAzIKEyHmrfh
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”380Please respect copyright.PENANAcDu3a5aAmm
380Please respect copyright.PENANAViNGBhOkLS
Nao: “My answer is…”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAYsxy5JgaBy
*Smile*380Please respect copyright.PENANAMNCvmSp7Mb
380Please respect copyright.PENANA4NkmNDkb9u
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAX797ENHvzs
380Please respect copyright.PENANA87kIrHqfFI
Anthony: “What?”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAVyCV1dq7Re
380Please respect copyright.PENANAkELl9QRCYG
Nao: “Air bullet!”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA4OH8i2FG7C
380Please respect copyright.PENANArF7RECDasg
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAXQcwIOItP9
380Please respect copyright.PENANAoykUqpwxEy
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!
380Please respect copyright.PENANAtVe6pH1vkN
380Please respect copyright.PENANA81BYb18kIe
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAc0QzE2owik
380Please respect copyright.PENANAWM1dirxj7D
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-
380Please respect copyright.PENANAfszzaYQtOy
*Drip*380Please respect copyright.PENANAKaz45LQjHB
380Please respect copyright.PENANAPuNn2RHWNE
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 380Please respect copyright.PENANA2vouX3r2wY
380Please respect copyright.PENANA0PCYruEGlz
380Please respect copyright.PENANAdF1W83GjSs
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.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA4eysFkFbXu
380Please respect copyright.PENANAi0yt9r00sC
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
380Please respect copyright.PENANARaZpG8fdYE
380Please respect copyright.PENANALGMUHQWcak
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
380Please respect copyright.PENANASDECw8KrgJ
!?380Please respect copyright.PENANAiR1E0DBGyN
380Please respect copyright.PENANAguk28M5JiS
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…
380Please respect copyright.PENANAyxrPuKPyCA
380Please respect copyright.PENANALgnWbyVeB5
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAqUwnZoCjDJ
380Please respect copyright.PENANAtXNleDdv3b
Kid, you’ll regret that.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAdZSP5vnzv6
380Please respect copyright.PENANAjMLHjBnVE2
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAfdHaLmGWuz
380Please respect copyright.PENANALYQkFA7ck7
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
380Please respect copyright.PENANAEFwxYhek2z
380Please respect copyright.PENANAxofC7qKkV2
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAXT5lMnNZhz
380Please respect copyright.PENANAYrlMY4TErQ
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAYrBQXVZW4n
380Please respect copyright.PENANAs0eaQLmz6M
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAykys9XpXj1
!!380Please respect copyright.PENANALJMAnNpKtv
380Please respect copyright.PENANAis1h7yYCCB
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”380Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3GJNIMziQ
380Please respect copyright.PENANAkCb98BNAPt
380Please respect copyright.PENANARByyOtJqGV
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAVgDUr0UOLb
380Please respect copyright.PENANA3UggTw5aAk
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAAmhiN9DHmR
380Please respect copyright.PENANA0AN6bWVDhk
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.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA1sSPsUrAzW
380Please respect copyright.PENANAOXckNMK8Fb
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAcOtujmFpQ0
380Please respect copyright.PENANA26yKYx0way
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAIElfKbRdDv
380Please respect copyright.PENANAo5VoVfmYf6
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.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAz9JZTBJohn
380Please respect copyright.PENANAonNHnpWfsO
Arc: “Na-”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA2EcTZrPn96
380Please respect copyright.PENANA9Em4lTtZgw
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANADghZDNhtax
380Please respect copyright.PENANAQMPvI6u8ST
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…”
380Please respect copyright.PENANASBBXBRTPwH
380Please respect copyright.PENANAvuY2lAPW3M
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAqlO7ueZoC6
380Please respect copyright.PENANACCRaEKF20A
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAHGRLO6L0aQ
380Please respect copyright.PENANAbClyZdDhNV
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.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAJhDxHdO3Uz
380Please respect copyright.PENANAJnvAJYRJ4V
Nao: “And…after that?”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAoaMRrOlGMK
380Please respect copyright.PENANAjFSmsur1Ui
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?”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA5vJ7xt2OUn
380Please respect copyright.PENANA9e7w5nxAQc
Nao: “…”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAADX4kX2S40
380Please respect copyright.PENANAXjL4htsJCq
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
380Please respect copyright.PENANApF7vv8sBX9
380Please respect copyright.PENANA5gO7ojSgmL
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANASX1INnxAkR
380Please respect copyright.PENANAX6OXvaE3ym
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…380Please respect copyright.PENANAEXZk7qIhhc
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
380Please respect copyright.PENANA3K3IRjUyWx
380Please respect copyright.PENANAfmOedMeNVr
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAhDRDPtow5e
380Please respect copyright.PENANAERuS6mCqUy
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
380Please respect copyright.PENANA0HWFDiJ61Q
380Please respect copyright.PENANA41XA2mrZVw
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
380Please respect copyright.PENANAiuJYZVdZFo
380Please respect copyright.PENANAxC3lFpJLcf
…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…
380Please respect copyright.PENANA3JVBspOO8t
380Please respect copyright.PENANAp49YM1ht5k
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAz271r0yhKF
380Please respect copyright.PENANACeSesALl5y
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
380Please respect copyright.PENANACzqIrNPEg0
380Please respect copyright.PENANAj20B07P0Gn
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
380Please respect copyright.PENANAaglXKTtFU6
380Please respect copyright.PENANA7iOs6I42Qe
T-To save…my family.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAxGy2zEgC57
380Please respect copyright.PENANALKZgD8qWpP
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
380Please respect copyright.PENANA0GmSQ84e09
380Please respect copyright.PENANAmhdelsjI0w
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
380Please respect copyright.PENANAMucMwW1lCq
380Please respect copyright.PENANA3N9C3dIHPj
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
380Please respect copyright.PENANACFRt8gbHUU
!!380Please respect copyright.PENANAQmy27LuPT4
380Please respect copyright.PENANAJxh0fi7B0n
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.380Please respect copyright.PENANAQeeZdb8xbm
380Please respect copyright.PENANAQn5OGPjMaI
380Please respect copyright.PENANASoxouZJ9N7
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
380Please respect copyright.PENANA7NWRwO0gF3
380Please respect copyright.PENANAcrFQejhQmm
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAlSdS2BrtXB
380Please respect copyright.PENANA47hYyPtog2
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAqmv4ctRowP
380Please respect copyright.PENANAeplLTQuUML
…Okay, I will.
380Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q6bljlcdo
380Please respect copyright.PENANAsIArk6gykP
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
380Please respect copyright.PENANA83S8BGPpBc
380Please respect copyright.PENANAxqmKaZzCNo
…Why?
380Please respect copyright.PENANAYvvEOZkBuT
380Please respect copyright.PENANAUu22ILQcb3
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANAPzp1iKITxZ
380Please respect copyright.PENANA2nEtBZYseo
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
380Please respect copyright.PENANACfqQp1skDj
380Please respect copyright.PENANARfy2z3tMdK
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…380Please respect copyright.PENANAqcke0LAwWH
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.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANACy1hITJPBS
380Please respect copyright.PENANARFSdDFFA5Y
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAqXOTjvGFJ3
380Please respect copyright.PENANAcdjQCM8a5R
Anthony: “!!!?”
380Please respect copyright.PENANAYrZPdFmR8X
380Please respect copyright.PENANA3JIwsTW9vi
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.
380Please respect copyright.PENANATcRB6pQpJz
380Please respect copyright.PENANAFKqaQivbEK
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
380Please respect copyright.PENANA8VMfxUgasi
380Please respect copyright.PENANAwU9hhD7kEs
Alphon:
Strength: ???380Please respect copyright.PENANAFGxFrv9bjP
Endurance: ???380Please respect copyright.PENANA1UCeyhmCYx
Intelligence: ???380Please respect copyright.PENANANddHtUG81l
Charisma: ???380Please respect copyright.PENANA2ICbZo5qWH
Agility: ???380Please respect copyright.PENANAmAtyBW7qHV
Magic: ????????380Please respect copyright.PENANAmor6N803BE