Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”384Please respect copyright.PENANArNn1Yb2619
384Please respect copyright.PENANAv5fvnwitc8
384Please respect copyright.PENANA44y4GmK2q6
What’s that?
384Please respect copyright.PENANAPY1IsT93UY
384Please respect copyright.PENANAzMEItsdlPX
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANALiDrIfxpuu
384Please respect copyright.PENANAiRKkr8s15u
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAT4Fq3rW2Nd
384Please respect copyright.PENANAJSTR5IUw5W
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAApUFxc23oU
384Please respect copyright.PENANA0tqM7Yhe4L
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10384Please respect copyright.PENANA05rQBoDp9x
Endurance: 10384Please respect copyright.PENANAmDRIn5WgEn
Intelligence: 21384Please respect copyright.PENANA9jJ29qPqin
Charisma: 20384Please respect copyright.PENANAtMjaU29lZY
Agility: 14 384Please respect copyright.PENANAobaOnJ9vwD
Magic: 35 384Please respect copyright.PENANAmpL51aYrTd
384Please respect copyright.PENANARGljnlQQ18
VS
384Please respect copyright.PENANANfJbshdLmr
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21384Please respect copyright.PENANA6ClxmBxRFp
Endurance: 17.5384Please respect copyright.PENANAP5l8pJXx8x
Intelligence: 19.5384Please respect copyright.PENANAHsj4AMxirA
Charisma: 18.5384Please respect copyright.PENANAipc17mRVX7
Agility: 16.5384Please respect copyright.PENANAoOHxSuVzhh
Magic: 24384Please respect copyright.PENANA3hbBzQPfiU
384Please respect copyright.PENANAWvMOqjz4yr
384Please respect copyright.PENANAX9mysNVQjs
Oh, that not too ba-
384Please respect copyright.PENANAmlUTgcF6gC
384Please respect copyright.PENANAiW3hnzQEyj
Arc: “Focus!”
384Please respect copyright.PENANADcCAKR7439
*CRACK*384Please respect copyright.PENANA6PzNGNK4Yg
384Please respect copyright.PENANAsO2XUNWFxP
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAGBhCAK92JB
384Please respect copyright.PENANAf6ksx3OuNI
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.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAe6MyvYGAqu
384Please respect copyright.PENANASi4wjBn3gh
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
384Please respect copyright.PENANATt1SvTcOcW
384Please respect copyright.PENANANlezAHuDSE
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
384Please respect copyright.PENANA74hdNlzQJ0
384Please respect copyright.PENANA7kLWvfIamA
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAeNPQ6bqjJZ
384Please respect copyright.PENANAo7T0qQbpeb
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
384Please respect copyright.PENANArHnulYKTZr
384Please respect copyright.PENANAra78Z3tID0
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
384Please respect copyright.PENANA0tzZ5I9oTw
384Please respect copyright.PENANAlisQbJ9Zi5
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAyGVOhcTPEZ
384Please respect copyright.PENANAdgvAA6V8b9
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”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAzPBwSerHqY
Nao: “!!”384Please respect copyright.PENANA0arG1ocvKr
384Please respect copyright.PENANAvcefVpKhGN
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAFGYLL1hg3U
384Please respect copyright.PENANAAdBiLXOeIf
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAuNDPwQyECD
384Please respect copyright.PENANAh6FmOStZqH
Nao: “Not yet!”
384Please respect copyright.PENANA7qmwOTPYZs
384Please respect copyright.PENANAVQAel7OYHv
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 384Please respect copyright.PENANAk7vGDV81hP
384Please respect copyright.PENANAZvTkDPb7Pn
Strength: 30384Please respect copyright.PENANAgUwJkTx6gm
384Please respect copyright.PENANAb9p3EQNIG1
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!384Please respect copyright.PENANAHiJn5DqHlx
*BOOM*384Please respect copyright.PENANAOcduUeVSRC
384Please respect copyright.PENANAj8j2aLarXQ
Nao: “GAAH!”384Please respect copyright.PENANADCqCHWpqhH
384Please respect copyright.PENANAmyJfTFyvNa
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAd9BPFZdXhX
384Please respect copyright.PENANAnf1TrDKScF
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
384Please respect copyright.PENANA12HhNKwZsv
384Please respect copyright.PENANA78DncX6jVW
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAOtsIlnCbFh
384Please respect copyright.PENANAK9HoMad5hB
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANA2Iqvrkok5A
Nao: “Gaah!”384Please respect copyright.PENANAICaWmX2Sed
384Please respect copyright.PENANAROilEpQbln
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…
384Please respect copyright.PENANAhLAjoKzK1C
384Please respect copyright.PENANANKIPAZSjl2
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANArAlQrouXyD
Nao: “!!”384Please respect copyright.PENANAeTr1XYbPMo
384Please respect copyright.PENANAphww92tmgG
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAxGaqf4w2xL
384Please respect copyright.PENANAnQ4UUyurE9
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAxS298bFlPl
384Please respect copyright.PENANAu5DEvSlmR4
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAzzTrPME5bf
384Please respect copyright.PENANA8XCgqcKYWT
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.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAO6RIVNXgQq
384Please respect copyright.PENANAOPvCPcLngk
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAQxkHv78WYC
384Please respect copyright.PENANA4xt646feEB
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAEcvqvAyv6q
Anthony: “*Sigh*”384Please respect copyright.PENANAA2aw9oxPBC
384Please respect copyright.PENANAadwNkZ01n3
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.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAuC5FEiDVW0
384Please respect copyright.PENANAHbo09f3SRR
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAEIdEq4fGgH
384Please respect copyright.PENANAJA0f8OlDQ8
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAa9Z2Q5sOxZ
384Please respect copyright.PENANAwaGbgBxhLK
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAr0WvFd4fgg
384Please respect copyright.PENANAORs8G0JXVt
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”384Please respect copyright.PENANAcbMtosKKJB
384Please respect copyright.PENANAMgR84qKQX4
Nao: “My answer is…”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAXOuvu4EAbi
*Smile*384Please respect copyright.PENANAhcmONzVzmH
384Please respect copyright.PENANAnjpZMSWbeG
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAPnHP6ojWvT
384Please respect copyright.PENANAazVquyErR6
Anthony: “What?”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAwKLJbcT0K1
384Please respect copyright.PENANARHW7XHCLiP
Nao: “Air bullet!”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAu0fSFyImBC
384Please respect copyright.PENANA1PyEO7Uzvc
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANA63FBeiIdP7
384Please respect copyright.PENANAfvAKXgV7Sy
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!
384Please respect copyright.PENANAemlOfBEWXV
384Please respect copyright.PENANA5f4gJtRQW7
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAJgnNDigeQi
384Please respect copyright.PENANA9kTTgalY8x
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-
384Please respect copyright.PENANAKmkvrrVxmE
*Drip*384Please respect copyright.PENANA7DDnXBwiqC
384Please respect copyright.PENANACp4gJXPNWa
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 384Please respect copyright.PENANAIovCroDZKf
384Please respect copyright.PENANAVrFG3iGih0
384Please respect copyright.PENANA51ThYwveFS
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.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAig8pR5sGCf
384Please respect copyright.PENANAol1KTe6JEg
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
384Please respect copyright.PENANA30sIZwLxlV
384Please respect copyright.PENANA0C5VGK6DZX
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
384Please respect copyright.PENANAiTtgM25azh
!?384Please respect copyright.PENANAoO3iCwvT3E
384Please respect copyright.PENANARqg5zeJYXs
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…
384Please respect copyright.PENANAlHvfrMX3Kc
384Please respect copyright.PENANAQZ4bNMVp3t
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAD1VAx06CEf
384Please respect copyright.PENANAFmqPfZ35dn
Kid, you’ll regret that.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAO099EYMTDV
384Please respect copyright.PENANAxvzgYxLRyT
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAoji30Uc2EL
384Please respect copyright.PENANA4u4pSMxN9g
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
384Please respect copyright.PENANA5vcLY9tM0J
384Please respect copyright.PENANAgrgw3d0jqw
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAuZ06SHZsiG
384Please respect copyright.PENANAFsRaVtOC82
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAyOmxtNpsRY
384Please respect copyright.PENANAjMwfxvxzcs
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAANIEYn7DZq
!!384Please respect copyright.PENANALZSbmI9uO3
384Please respect copyright.PENANAN1c5VBXI3c
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”384Please respect copyright.PENANA4AqnJoBIC1
384Please respect copyright.PENANAO51TgtABWH
384Please respect copyright.PENANA5cji0gBTyj
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAbgmXlEJus5
384Please respect copyright.PENANAFdiXA5mT0Z
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANARQ2eM1Ok6R
384Please respect copyright.PENANAMSBxkSJpuA
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.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAwY916RcmUw
384Please respect copyright.PENANAeZfiRnuz0w
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAPNX5CsNLvE
384Please respect copyright.PENANA5RyuIZNCB2
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAmugtenS7eI
384Please respect copyright.PENANAdpXbnpWjGl
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.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAbwa0ECGjHA
384Please respect copyright.PENANAhfvb66B3O9
Arc: “Na-”
384Please respect copyright.PENANALsPGdN9rq8
384Please respect copyright.PENANAJoM459R9i2
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAoC8h90ni05
384Please respect copyright.PENANAAukbVz5uJ9
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…”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAM2fzqmhPZa
384Please respect copyright.PENANA7F5SG99h5W
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAGltpbWVuJg
384Please respect copyright.PENANAq3eHaLtlHs
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAYKieP4zGW1
384Please respect copyright.PENANA69PEAubzzA
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.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAoEY6Xbvbex
384Please respect copyright.PENANATAnSxeX5Qn
Nao: “And…after that?”
384Please respect copyright.PENANA3jvsuZbuvK
384Please respect copyright.PENANAwpUWz8GZPP
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?”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAt2uFvur3lu
384Please respect copyright.PENANAvStQADwTlg
Nao: “…”
384Please respect copyright.PENANABv7Hur8Vik
384Please respect copyright.PENANAcLYJEmg82E
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
384Please respect copyright.PENANA1M7KWCMcM9
384Please respect copyright.PENANAZZw6xnDvHS
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAw9mVMBaZkG
384Please respect copyright.PENANAq00Ul0rCFm
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…384Please respect copyright.PENANA4tlVk4a3qx
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAvyEydp09LZ
384Please respect copyright.PENANANxr8Tf8CXQ
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
384Please respect copyright.PENANANXDMG7nVqD
384Please respect copyright.PENANA6705ncOjLD
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
384Please respect copyright.PENANAlfKv8ms30f
384Please respect copyright.PENANAij6IFfPlXd
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
384Please respect copyright.PENANAlt564v4xfc
384Please respect copyright.PENANAXA1YO9IpGu
…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…
384Please respect copyright.PENANAKvnzhKuhgR
384Please respect copyright.PENANAtmPIhDuYbh
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAiAjekXXOU2
384Please respect copyright.PENANAdwEElPzswy
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
384Please respect copyright.PENANATN7Mf2ekbx
384Please respect copyright.PENANAumc9emSH0U
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
384Please respect copyright.PENANAgROzmvRfzy
384Please respect copyright.PENANAcDeTknB58c
T-To save…my family.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAEJPbSW7zws
384Please respect copyright.PENANABjby8GnSs8
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAButD7h04je
384Please respect copyright.PENANA8aAPO5lwD0
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
384Please respect copyright.PENANAEo48WOEL6Z
384Please respect copyright.PENANABkZlNS2YYB
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
384Please respect copyright.PENANAo5urgRCXQE
!!384Please respect copyright.PENANAGmIOBM565q
384Please respect copyright.PENANAS3vHkFpsHt
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.384Please respect copyright.PENANARmddi3tW18
384Please respect copyright.PENANAticJrna3yf
384Please respect copyright.PENANA11Wly1UL1K
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAeJl4kPQT4b
384Please respect copyright.PENANAaEC4x4k6ar
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAPJQLR6eguc
384Please respect copyright.PENANADvCafGMey8
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAFcUPjT2pMS
384Please respect copyright.PENANArZsLpYYdxc
…Okay, I will.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAYI1jLAWxZZ
384Please respect copyright.PENANAayqHryJFAB
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
384Please respect copyright.PENANAbmPI8chETk
384Please respect copyright.PENANALqCDIqO59r
…Why?
384Please respect copyright.PENANAG8KE8BK0Qv
384Please respect copyright.PENANABK9JckPiJF
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANACkbmaI3fxR
384Please respect copyright.PENANA8UL6ZtXApr
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
384Please respect copyright.PENANARIjJdJYMQC
384Please respect copyright.PENANA90hJtEcSzR
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…384Please respect copyright.PENANAYVfH7CxT8N
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.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAQnwSGKUFjq
384Please respect copyright.PENANA7MM0D9aw4Z
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANA7DvXt4wbrq
384Please respect copyright.PENANAO7dQ5HPDQQ
Anthony: “!!!?”
384Please respect copyright.PENANAxeOHBQ2myJ
384Please respect copyright.PENANAc7JzURz42L
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.
384Please respect copyright.PENANANnLRoMh67q
384Please respect copyright.PENANA45OBoBU4Kc
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
384Please respect copyright.PENANARKuszTjh3y
384Please respect copyright.PENANA8AmGvDkG9o
Alphon:
Strength: ???384Please respect copyright.PENANAvQtWMBnvKn
Endurance: ???384Please respect copyright.PENANAoTPlvDQDNd
Intelligence: ???384Please respect copyright.PENANAV2ZwYnQiYT
Charisma: ???384Please respect copyright.PENANAnyuHIFH3sI
Agility: ???384Please respect copyright.PENANAho44zZURfY
Magic: ????????384Please respect copyright.PENANA5hdMaigpy8