Nao: “Buy me some time Velo.” 230Please respect copyright.PENANAw9FTxEPTYW
230Please respect copyright.PENANA2c50yvuk9K
230Please respect copyright.PENANAU0ImHohJEw
Velo: “Got it.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAIIgWHGsrf2
230Please respect copyright.PENANAs0Sue3CD18
Transform, book form!
230Please respect copyright.PENANA4jNUoZfJmR
230Please respect copyright.PENANAna3JI8tuKC
Anthony: “No you don’t!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA1uVvH9AZDZ
230Please respect copyright.PENANAEoKsjZbfZv
Velo activates his shield ring and blocks the bolts of lightning ripping through the ground towards us.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAaRY4AutoqX
230Please respect copyright.PENANABTFJkVAClz
Velo: “Ugh…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAQikFLGZRV5
230Please respect copyright.PENANAjicbYVph26
Swap control water for minor illusion.
230Please respect copyright.PENANA7QeQ54buej
*Break*230Please respect copyright.PENANAJZPK2HIWQI
230Please respect copyright.PENANAmXsHgnWcXl
Velo: “The shield is down!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA9IqxL29RyK
230Please respect copyright.PENANAXSeqRKDUMQ
That’s fine I get between the next bolt and block it with my shield. I shoot 4 air bullets behind the shield that chases the fleeing Anthony.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAYv2bZ3MOMb
230Please respect copyright.PENANAuwpzllt7v1
Anthony: “You’re not the only one with magic items.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAnrYBWmiTpR
230Please respect copyright.PENANA2ADl4YaBai
Anthony takes out that paralysis water gun and fires the 3 shots at the black listers.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAjIvvGl3tNT
230Please respect copyright.PENANAkldR6kuf4J
Tallow: “Nice try!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAegQQWjiMNX
230Please respect copyright.PENANA1bwTN6m3Ub
Before Anthony even pulled the trigger, Tallow got everyone out of the way of the attack.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAYAUkZcRyhd
230Please respect copyright.PENANAonhcp7Azod
Anthony: “What?”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAsD8KP2JbJG
230Please respect copyright.PENANAkI4T3tn4VN
Tallow: “Nao, watch out take a step back.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAWBGO7X0Xin
230Please respect copyright.PENANAPGv31Or5Qa
I do as he says and narrowly dodge a strike of lightning.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAgKHsrMGdgL
230Please respect copyright.PENANAoInzVuBB3J
Anthony: “Mind reading huh?”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAi18QiuwXGh
230Please respect copyright.PENANAKZuR0kVdHD
Tallow: “You won’t be able to catch anyone off guard now.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAcvzeMT8XsK
230Please respect copyright.PENANALByIEQ28V8
Anthony: “That won’t last forever.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAHhUsJuwqT6
230Please respect copyright.PENANAi414eOtc7c
I take the chance and blast more air bullets at Anthony while closing the distance. But right before my eyes, Anthony disappears. Invisibility…
230Please respect copyright.PENANAaYOJfupjKM
230Please respect copyright.PENANAgMM1zFtoTx
I quickly go back to Black Listers and place a shield over everyone. Everyone fades into silence as we keep our senses sharp for the next blow.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAlcq4XJoOFe
230Please respect copyright.PENANA6QrfrQt7kA
But it never comes. Tensions build and I start to lose my strength. I can’t keep this shield up forever. But that’s not all, the thought that Anthony ran crosses my mind.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAJYZDXbeMzp
230Please respect copyright.PENANADaTG0VA23i
Is this shield even necessary? My arms buckle and that’s when I hear a crack in the shield.
230Please respect copyright.PENANA3VXhclVWeg
230Please respect copyright.PENANAOyV6sIeyf9
Tallow: “To our left!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAsH5SEiHwzR
230Please respect copyright.PENANAiiUdArNZYk
I redirect my strength to the left in time for-
230Please respect copyright.PENANANZPqPCNMhY
*Crackle*230Please respect copyright.PENANAuSSMKXitAA
230Please respect copyright.PENANA9fQp5isUXA
Purple light slams against where Tallow is. The shield buckles under the lightning barrage.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAf6mkvVtE86
*Blast*230Please respect copyright.PENANAOa6GcshTPQ
230Please respect copyright.PENANA6B8ToZaZGc
Tallow: “Watch out!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAmtPUZBSD96
230Please respect copyright.PENANAh2tfYcpxWz
I feel Tallow push me out of the way and when I turn to see what happened…
230Please respect copyright.PENANAEEeGhHeFjY
230Please respect copyright.PENANAwnD4NSEB3n
Tallow: “GAAH!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAToXqtvVEva
230Please respect copyright.PENANAfTOyhDmFmv
Tallow is on the ground bleeding heavily from his bloody torn apart arms. The pain is too much and he soon falls unconscious.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAPRX3s6S1FJ
230Please respect copyright.PENANAKsIOIuKxWH
Mat & Velo: “Tallow!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAosz2N8ctBL
230Please respect copyright.PENANAC29D5HZdMi
Anthony: “Now stay down Tallow.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAmgyk8N2d06
230Please respect copyright.PENANAVRKCncwUdU
The invisibility wears to reveal Anthony standing over me with a shotgun pointed at me.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAPDGZoqWtd4
230Please respect copyright.PENANA3T5YVnnX4d
Anthony: “Checkmate.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAsStUDWqyAW
230Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1dz2ezYYH
I hurry to place my hand on the muzzle and counter his attack.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAIoGXltbLH4
230Please respect copyright.PENANAuno4OpcvhY
Nao: “Air bullet!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAJaUQcK6tHa
230Please respect copyright.PENANAHV1cSbEu1j
Instantly, an explosion of destructive wind destroys the shotgun while pushing us away.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAf1ACoGFncb
230Please respect copyright.PENANA9T9Qe5PENj
Nao: “Ugh…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAwLcRhlcr4l
230Please respect copyright.PENANA2VJf8hoho7
Anthony: “Damn, I had one shot left. Still worth taking the time to get it from my bag.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANASizTVXBNFz
230Please respect copyright.PENANAkDHlKTGtGX
I look back to Tallow’s broken body and everyone at stake. Maybe I should…
230Please respect copyright.PENANAtbr2s1kRBz
230Please respect copyright.PENANAUbwFSW5rZe
Anthony: “You’re out of options, give up now!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAsAjydWoez1
230Please respect copyright.PENANA8ylJH50PrR
Nao: “Not yet.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANATCpqdvGHC5
230Please respect copyright.PENANA6Mj8E89QpO
I summon fireballs and delayed air bullets. Some are illusions and others are real. I ignore my nose bleed and fire them at Anthony.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAkYzY3yWyEp
230Please respect copyright.PENANALh8Uv483O2
Anthony: “I know the fireballs are illusions, try again.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA7moNXvDHfA
230Please respect copyright.PENANAX1oZZgfuVM
The fireballs phase through while the air bullets are blasted out of the sky by lightning.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAFEv1pjeoqg
230Please respect copyright.PENANAD0RDIkU76h
I continue firing while running towards Anthony with an illusion gorilla fist.
230Please respect copyright.PENANA1mdG7yirQp
230Please respect copyright.PENANAqT4ICHU69P
Anthony: “Seriously?”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAiGtNaSWFoM
230Please respect copyright.PENANAAGJ5hXcJxV
Anthony contorts his body to dodge the strike and smiles.
230Please respect copyright.PENANA3mp8pnROV4
230Please respect copyright.PENANAK8C9ez5R6w
Anthony: “You can only use 3 spells, I counted what you can do.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAXPU5Ifa0nR
230Please respect copyright.PENANAHXGh3m0zMr
I charge an air bullet in my free and aim it at Anthony’s chest. All the while, I summon 2 more air bullets aiming at his head.230Please respect copyright.PENANA9t2rFX9yQr
230Please respect copyright.PENANA9glXAwHbg1
230Please respect copyright.PENANAiu8kvGdUB0
Nao: “Which of these are real!?”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAwQ1npYWxxr
230Please respect copyright.PENANAuJ46YSnkLq
Anthony: “Child’s play, you wouldn’t do headshots.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA3iNlhdql0q
230Please respect copyright.PENANAspGbGyHbKb
Anthony meets my charged air bullet with a lightning fist.
230Please respect copyright.PENANArgrSGGAZAR
230Please respect copyright.PENANAolybivBL5v
Nao: “GAAAH!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAytlAh9oW8Y
230Please respect copyright.PENANA0OqGw3HYcS
My entire body begins to burn from the inside out. But-
230Please respect copyright.PENANAzdcjaC0pa5
*Strike*230Please respect copyright.PENANAG4VOOmufZJ
230Please respect copyright.PENANAtqUtE8xfVI
Anthony: “Ugh!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAKJoChQJ6Md
230Please respect copyright.PENANAGrbGMUlOR0
The two air bullets graze his head but that was enough to knock him out for just a moment. But that’s all I need. I rip away from his hand and form a magic shield bubble around Anthony’s exploding body.
230Please respect copyright.PENANA2WkSMUHLcw
230Please respect copyright.PENANALr2vxSrCxw
He shocks himself to wake up but it’s much worse than usual. The shield cracks but remains strong enough to contain him. I collapse on my knee while blood streaming from my nose. But I’m not the only one.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAJdoRggVimu
230Please respect copyright.PENANALWnwbYLS1X
Anthony: *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*
230Please respect copyright.PENANASZWu4cCIus
230Please respect copyright.PENANA9jy1oRu4yb
Nao: *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*
230Please respect copyright.PENANAnTyAT6gudO
230Please respect copyright.PENANAqWigJxsWLN
Anthony: “I can…break out of this…eventually.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAusqvSfhmxA
230Please respect copyright.PENANAXji4mUD6c1
Nao: “Fast enough before the police come.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAoyYX2Ou5Oy
230Please respect copyright.PENANAwKBOf4UsDe
Anthony: “I’ll defeat them too.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA7tYd1nB5cg
230Please respect copyright.PENANAyle9bLnIKR
Nao: “There’s too many and you’re too weak. They just need one or two bullets and you’re dead.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAI9tbAAtN1a
230Please respect copyright.PENANA4JvNmO2uoA
Anthony: “…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAwW9UuHQPSr
230Please respect copyright.PENANAnUe4UvBdad
Nao: “Give up Anthony, you’ve lost.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAwrIypOm5ny
230Please respect copyright.PENANAqLxbqK7CXD
Anthony: “Why are you so hellbent on sparing me! Didn’t I say your goal is just as valid as mine? Don’t force yourself to try and make an impossible world!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA0Kd14sPMS6
230Please respect copyright.PENANArU0Fo1X0RZ
Nao: “I just want to save you!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANACqiYMYVe4q
230Please respect copyright.PENANAkPUSb4D04s
Anthony: “!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANANdqUqEjR8W
230Please respect copyright.PENANA1ajj12VOlY
Nao: “That’s it. I don’t care about all of that stuff right now. You are one of the first friends I ever had. And I don’t lose that.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAqnjLBqqi24
230Please respect copyright.PENANA43Y1EolmqN
Anthony: “Nao…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAjYo9QpcF6E
230Please respect copyright.PENANA1xLtBcBfZ6
His body loosens and that once solid determination shakes a bit.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAU0kLuJEnwH
230Please respect copyright.PENANApfEaHEHMZV
Anthony: “Mayb-”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAnb6cOesvJ3
230Please respect copyright.PENANAyQlBquioRX
Anthony: “!!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA2FvDapcS4p
230Please respect copyright.PENANAUzkoAbmOOa
Anthony: “Artemis wai-”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAkVQ963eVXf
230Please respect copyright.PENANAZBXE6N1O4r
Anthony’s eye glaze over but soon returns as a savage purple.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA4WYwS0coM4
230Please respect copyright.PENANAcCnAN9x6BE
Artemis: “No! I won’t let it end this, even if I have to break our body!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAlrk2rlycG8
230Please respect copyright.PENANAmCHUZUpNk3
Lightning explodes out of my shield and scorches the air. I’m blown away and Artemis falls to the ground. Both of our bodies are ruined but mine more so. Artemis gets up and drags her body to mine while gathering power.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAbbfyfv60J1
230Please respect copyright.PENANAepUGt1Hwzz
Artemis: “Don’t worry…love I’ll…take this nuisance out and then we’ll…finally get back to the bloodbath. We will have our vengeance…right?”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAlsRBDlbipC
230Please respect copyright.PENANASGVg2yifIN
I…can’t move. I watch as Artemis gathers enough energy to end my struggle.
230Please respect copyright.PENANA6edq2CYDzi
230Please respect copyright.PENANAB8p552nHkk
Artemis: “Finally, this fight is over!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAROQBaxZCE9
*Explode* 230Please respect copyright.PENANAPAnyn86oW6
230Please respect copyright.PENANAlg45t31yuS
Alyson: “!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAm4kAdg9vfp
230Please respect copyright.PENANAXaDrevWfH6
Am I…dead…
230Please respect copyright.PENANAD4v2aQ9LKl
230Please respect copyright.PENANAoPkSVwG2oD
Alyson: “Mom!!!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAm2VT18ey31
!!?230Please respect copyright.PENANAGZHXhisDBd
230Please respect copyright.PENANA7FdoSKTSd2
I open my eyes to see a person protecting me from the blast. That wall and sanctuary that’s always been there, begins to fall.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAKMQr9mwlXU
230Please respect copyright.PENANAK6c635dMRz
With a thud, my mother falls next to me…this can’t be happening.
230Please respect copyright.PENANACuOGa59l9u
230Please respect copyright.PENANAjmQuezKJqL
Artemis: “Mom? That’s your…mother…I didn’t mean…not again…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAk0Bh8Wmyp8
230Please respect copyright.PENANAVfdM8LGYe3
I ignore Artemis’ words of apparent confusion and drag myself to her. Alyson rushes over and cups mom’s head in her hands.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAK5BGm9MNiB
230Please respect copyright.PENANAPKIdyfczPR
Nao: “Mom…why…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAjuYeEM4DLm
230Please respect copyright.PENANAMd7DRO1Cwa
Nell: “You’re my…children…of course I’d protect you.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAybtGMMUsnv
230Please respect copyright.PENANAL7FdSxAQg1
Alyson: “Not like this! Not like this…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAIRDI3LHpNo
230Please respect copyright.PENANAxRWj74LuWA
Nell: “You…finally…called me mom.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAKHBOGOSstc
230Please respect copyright.PENANA34GuJBlfof
Alyson: “Mom…Mom, I’m so sorry I was stubborn. I should have….done so much more for you.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANANFxDpBDUIu
230Please respect copyright.PENANAg7fALaUjO2
Nell: “Nonsense…you’ve done…more than enough. I’m just glad…I could hear it…at least once.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAFEfPNl66Cn
230Please respect copyright.PENANAiGQZyWQ9j4
Nao: “Don’t talk like that! I can heal you!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANABTh2I8vZta
230Please respect copyright.PENANAVOBeIHhNJR
I swap out illusion for healing and begin trying to save her. But…I’m too weak…
230Please respect copyright.PENANAWI4uqiXAp6
230Please respect copyright.PENANA72QWkOfeVC
Nell: “It’s…fine…Nao…listen to me.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAwogSVBAC1u
230Please respect copyright.PENANAFaZANWdl1q
My mom looks deep into my eyes and pleads.
230Please respect copyright.PENANA2deeEtOnve
230Please respect copyright.PENANAIMh780KTAM
Nell: “You have…the power to change the world…and with it a responsibility…to heal it. Don’t be a villain…be…a hero. Protect your friends…family….and the innocent….promise me…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA5VP3U8IlfY
230Please respect copyright.PENANAk80xzmoh4h
I look to everyone here and internalize what I must do. Her final wish.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAC5IZa8QPqT
230Please respect copyright.PENANADDX12Q9ELx
Nao: “I promise mom.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAVXwzJmG2Dd
230Please respect copyright.PENANASa3Cr1b1jq
Nell: “Then…I know you two…will be…just…fine.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAuJXhmfTvdW
230Please respect copyright.PENANAAA9GF51bgk
And just like that…my world grows darker.
230Please respect copyright.PENANACHTWDhtTDl
230Please respect copyright.PENANACsiJYo7Evo
Alyson: “Mom? Mom!”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAEc7p1xp8e8
230Please respect copyright.PENANApVlbpQiMjX
Alyson cries harder than she ever has. She holds mom’s lifeless body and wishes for this to be a dream. But this…is reality.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAm2gn6KM6dj
230Please respect copyright.PENANAHSZgMMgCkL
Artemis: “…Why did a mother…have to jump in front of that? It’s…not fair…”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAUkadUEIyMo
230Please respect copyright.PENANAnUgL2D5YW0
I hear Artemis and I remember who punched this hold in my chest.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAhyf11XHOnh
230Please respect copyright.PENANAlrWHjJb7x7
Nao: “Put all 10 points into endurance. I will survive to kill Artemis.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAbv4Ecp2M0w
230Please respect copyright.PENANA4scHOAs5AE
Arc: “But you’re bod-”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAKDtTFMyigw
230Please respect copyright.PENANAPfLSscwZfR
Do it! She won’t get away with this…
230Please respect copyright.PENANA4m7hVMaSMO
230Please respect copyright.PENANAehQ6ynRLVz
Arc: “Okay.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ2347l88G
Endurance: 27.5230Please respect copyright.PENANATCBoPje9Sf
230Please respect copyright.PENANAlt0qqCF5WR
Instantly, I can feel my body break apart and convulse wildly. No! I won’t pass out over this! But as I think that, the breaking sensation stops abruptly and hear that familiar sound.
*Ding*
230Please respect copyright.PENANAP3926Tl4GW
Arc: “Congrats, you just leveled up.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAG92JrJuh31
Level: 2230Please respect copyright.PENANAESFktdxYvr
Strength: 27230Please respect copyright.PENANAPp7NsGd3JV
Endurance: 31.5230Please respect copyright.PENANAK9Yzi5N36h
Intelligence: 23.5230Please respect copyright.PENANAfHOYB6Rmss
Charisma: 21.5230Please respect copyright.PENANAbtqhIm3JYo
Agility: 20.5230Please respect copyright.PENANAZG7xjGL11A
Magic: 29230Please respect copyright.PENANAkpk3XlEUxM
230Please respect copyright.PENANAcDwgSJgKxt
All of my wounds heal and new strength flows through me.230Please respect copyright.PENANAUiENLDxoIM
230Please respect copyright.PENANAAdEEzkMFMA
Artemis: “…No way…I didn’t want this!”230Please respect copyright.PENANAOQo5bFhTCo
230Please respect copyright.PENANAFMKabuOrxs
230Please respect copyright.PENANAkxomCjNmt4
She shoots out several bolts of lightning but they bounce off of my renewed shield.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAesAp16z45D
230Please respect copyright.PENANAZqBNbU0Gch
Arc: “You have a free spell slot, what do you want?”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAyvlWQNo1cQ
230Please respect copyright.PENANAw41Tj8NhMb
Nao: “…Magic Missile.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANADv6gOszJ4E
230Please respect copyright.PENANA1w33A52pLq
I transform Arc into book form and make the change while the storm still rages. I transform Arc back, get up and walk towards Artemis.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAz19ger7sa5
230Please respect copyright.PENANAx6eBLo3N39
I walk through lightning bolts, balls, and whatever else she can throw at me. It doesn’t matter, my shield blocks it all.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAizEA7l52mc
230Please respect copyright.PENANAVQl5xrKtya
Artemis: “Damn it all! Not again, not like this! Am I still this weak?”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAy7KKcPCA0U
230Please respect copyright.PENANApe8wBN4y1I
I break through the lightning storm and grab Artemis’ throat. I slowly squeeze and enjoy her gasps of air.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAjPIJSh5Ngg
Artemis: “You…kill me…you kill….Anthony…”230Please respect copyright.PENANAQEP6wVhISC
230Please respect copyright.PENANAx0kTxNUO7j
230Please respect copyright.PENANACkITEfErB1
Nao: “I know.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAoOdP8b0RGz
230Please respect copyright.PENANABbtB1DjwAD
I raise my hand and gather magic energy into my palm. She fights back by screaming and shocking us both with lightning. But I feel nothing…
230Please respect copyright.PENANAa9WIcg4Hhv
230Please respect copyright.PENANAso8XiIRnx1
I aim at my target…and fire.
230Please respect copyright.PENANA23F0Gef1rR
*BLAST*
…
…
The screaming stops and the body goes limp. I let Anthony fall to the ground and walk away from it all.
230Please respect copyright.PENANArv5X3CvOd5
230Please respect copyright.PENANAbX81TJEjUt
Anthony: “…Why?”
230Please respect copyright.PENANASZh5VQBogB
230Please respect copyright.PENANAdtxThSnF7r
I look back at Anthony’s missing hand and the still intact ring smoking from the blast nearby.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAtnmLlHIpTG
230Please respect copyright.PENANAIbQ5yz9oSR
Nao: “You didn’t do it.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANA5INF7gsccY
230Please respect copyright.PENANAdUIeunWqKK
I grab the ring and can feel it lightly shocking me. I clearly can’t destroy it yet…but one day, I will. I pocket it and return to my mom’s body with Alyson still crying.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAZaBPksk8NE
230Please respect copyright.PENANAQS9DnDzggJ
I stare down at her and find her strangely…at peace. But why? I failed her and my sister. I look up at Alyson who’s still crying. So I hold back my tears, for her.
230Please respect copyright.PENANAEt9psHpQCN
230Please respect copyright.PENANA7GXQHsWoRO
Anthony: “…I’m…so sorry.”
230Please respect copyright.PENANAKNNQFcwrM3
230Please respect copyright.PENANALPiWYP7s3y
I ignore it. I’m sure the police will deal with him, I don’t care. Right now…I just want to bury my mother.
ns 172.70.127.119da2