Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”377Please respect copyright.PENANAeh4AHN9e3G
377Please respect copyright.PENANAWyGaLBwsZV
377Please respect copyright.PENANArisbjMr8Lo
What’s that?
377Please respect copyright.PENANAbVBMnZzybX
377Please respect copyright.PENANAkVpWz4aoSr
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANA53HqeitUzh
377Please respect copyright.PENANAe6BIANhaKN
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANA8gUpiIgcLQ
377Please respect copyright.PENANAEd7XnENDDZ
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAc6PNMtbtLT
377Please respect copyright.PENANAtNruHAVRbH
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10377Please respect copyright.PENANAYUb03CYzOa
Endurance: 10377Please respect copyright.PENANAewkd738lXA
Intelligence: 21377Please respect copyright.PENANAWI3PH60Cbz
Charisma: 20377Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2lB9Y212t
Agility: 14 377Please respect copyright.PENANAhnXgaSZu8L
Magic: 35 377Please respect copyright.PENANAgHEMCP3lr6
377Please respect copyright.PENANAFv4PeCScac
VS
377Please respect copyright.PENANAR1Sjn13aGF
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21377Please respect copyright.PENANAvxS7vmyHpK
Endurance: 17.5377Please respect copyright.PENANATRLqf5BjMV
Intelligence: 19.5377Please respect copyright.PENANACnq1queUiG
Charisma: 18.5377Please respect copyright.PENANA6dhO3NUTDJ
Agility: 16.5377Please respect copyright.PENANAHcuF4FT1Hh
Magic: 24377Please respect copyright.PENANAO65QTeS5xq
377Please respect copyright.PENANA6BDsvxvEmp
377Please respect copyright.PENANAklOss0s0kN
Oh, that not too ba-
377Please respect copyright.PENANAEt96utsk4u
377Please respect copyright.PENANAYEe6eoA0dg
Arc: “Focus!”
377Please respect copyright.PENANA36LfokoU5f
*CRACK*377Please respect copyright.PENANAy64uX6X2kF
377Please respect copyright.PENANAabYLiNAdn0
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAjbwbwdtzTa
377Please respect copyright.PENANA5p7PKcCo2P
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.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANANM3uQib5R6
377Please respect copyright.PENANAgAMr24jxvO
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
377Please respect copyright.PENANApQDf4CgMjl
377Please respect copyright.PENANArpWAqyQktR
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAKIyMsdnPUp
377Please respect copyright.PENANAtSmZ3TujpU
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAirs2fK8t53
377Please respect copyright.PENANAlPHgZ4USfB
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
377Please respect copyright.PENANA6H7iy8VqXC
377Please respect copyright.PENANAEbPy6XR7yK
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAPeuiyn0WIB
377Please respect copyright.PENANA6X455LwonL
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANASpl1WPCC5e
377Please respect copyright.PENANAL9b6h11Cgs
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”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAkdcPSCFNSn
Nao: “!!”377Please respect copyright.PENANABdw3k2kOEa
377Please respect copyright.PENANA9aICDE21NI
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAETDIeaJNQU
377Please respect copyright.PENANAZV6aLTsxiQ
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAeOh5VQIFou
377Please respect copyright.PENANA3fhlwF7h75
Nao: “Not yet!”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAM2Dtwbec6I
377Please respect copyright.PENANAHllHKfg8rS
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 377Please respect copyright.PENANAnZPmgAqARy
377Please respect copyright.PENANAY1M1vqRxI7
Strength: 30377Please respect copyright.PENANAEMpXTnD5bL
377Please respect copyright.PENANAcHgdPD7OOX
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!377Please respect copyright.PENANAqKDzFLHUdy
*BOOM*377Please respect copyright.PENANAuUvoKWvGdd
377Please respect copyright.PENANAMX5XMaGODA
Nao: “GAAH!”377Please respect copyright.PENANAomTclSx8Ct
377Please respect copyright.PENANAp9r2Y3iEpg
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
377Please respect copyright.PENANA9UtpOOWNLd
377Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ8YwGvFxK
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
377Please respect copyright.PENANANc6T6ZDSuI
377Please respect copyright.PENANAJSRy77WweK
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAeBgEhQla64
377Please respect copyright.PENANAxxawM0kM2B
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAO9FJeZOgXv
Nao: “Gaah!”377Please respect copyright.PENANAFPRW0Gixso
377Please respect copyright.PENANAUFXxaphQvc
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…
377Please respect copyright.PENANAFeY3Fx8iDl
377Please respect copyright.PENANAGpLql1bm8f
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAjPpSrx0jfo
Nao: “!!”377Please respect copyright.PENANA9heyL02eLT
377Please respect copyright.PENANA6fNO2y0Zu4
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
377Please respect copyright.PENANA9XZ9M1Z7jP
377Please respect copyright.PENANAHuUqqpIER6
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAW83Z68BPfu
377Please respect copyright.PENANAeiXV4cXb05
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAGvAeoxNX9V
377Please respect copyright.PENANADJU3tPBJlp
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.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAM8dIM3Z7M9
377Please respect copyright.PENANAnWTcoZSHEr
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAWIyUZuxPnF
377Please respect copyright.PENANAivwBGZuoMy
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAKPrrZBVAC3
Anthony: “*Sigh*”377Please respect copyright.PENANAn73qZSBgzb
377Please respect copyright.PENANAjPw4lncwpm
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.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANArmcB5AuPlR
377Please respect copyright.PENANANeFJsoGJ6u
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAuVcAXlNacr
377Please respect copyright.PENANAqRBeHxj9Fc
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAkqhWXCrVaq
377Please respect copyright.PENANApvsLuODksV
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAmCOE9OROrw
377Please respect copyright.PENANAiiJWJJrVqI
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”377Please respect copyright.PENANAgoPFr7NxvZ
377Please respect copyright.PENANAu0jfjfBarc
Nao: “My answer is…”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAJBCvgDDLkA
*Smile*377Please respect copyright.PENANAfvql6ayaJQ
377Please respect copyright.PENANAdUhN05ygLY
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAN96vxAchMb
377Please respect copyright.PENANAYkN55qbqL3
Anthony: “What?”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAvCuelj7GCS
377Please respect copyright.PENANAnyWgzxMQVv
Nao: “Air bullet!”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAbkUb2Ya6Dh
377Please respect copyright.PENANAIX0ph0gq2y
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANA4hI8R35Bs7
377Please respect copyright.PENANAEdwFPvERPW
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!
377Please respect copyright.PENANAqpn7dkCp4G
377Please respect copyright.PENANAP62t0pXsPN
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
377Please respect copyright.PENANA4bOUkyJ22f
377Please respect copyright.PENANATuGcKyiU0X
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-
377Please respect copyright.PENANAhJnRsKuvMA
*Drip*377Please respect copyright.PENANAmt4l43TPbl
377Please respect copyright.PENANAdxI2Gr4mwP
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 377Please respect copyright.PENANAasSoXyVHkX
377Please respect copyright.PENANAeErIOb3gU5
377Please respect copyright.PENANAjI8aEsO0CY
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.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAoglqoaNC2d
377Please respect copyright.PENANA89XRIXbXUK
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAB9ysFQ9g3S
377Please respect copyright.PENANAWAZ5hrS8MF
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
377Please respect copyright.PENANAz5jYtQu8TE
!?377Please respect copyright.PENANAu3fdTh4A9S
377Please respect copyright.PENANAhq2Iy9bvuu
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…
377Please respect copyright.PENANAL2gp5UcWUN
377Please respect copyright.PENANAd84ktHLe8m
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANA3Cms3YfhkN
377Please respect copyright.PENANASG93KwJaB4
Kid, you’ll regret that.
377Please respect copyright.PENANApI3zI68HGH
377Please respect copyright.PENANAFwrqV6rAjH
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAlGj1riaDHy
377Please respect copyright.PENANApkziPtSYz4
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
377Please respect copyright.PENANAGpxGYotbId
377Please respect copyright.PENANAkMO6QeAZq4
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
377Please respect copyright.PENANADGKThKrZpY
377Please respect copyright.PENANABETT2QRgiO
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAIP572mcLlm
377Please respect copyright.PENANA894T5s5kgn
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAOf1BAvf5qU
!!377Please respect copyright.PENANAEk6bkvsk68
377Please respect copyright.PENANAjcVyKfB8I6
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”377Please respect copyright.PENANApAZjJrCQcz
377Please respect copyright.PENANAWBzyc5FAAN
377Please respect copyright.PENANAxEQCVXkXx6
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAnaKyVpp7ei
377Please respect copyright.PENANAeFaJSk8q3Z
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAvt7L1ZUoyf
377Please respect copyright.PENANAaPczoqTTBP
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.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANA3OiSpWknzg
377Please respect copyright.PENANASh6zFCzcKm
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAys3sEBlKOI
377Please respect copyright.PENANAVTnkAE3C52
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAzUOElOAEQf
377Please respect copyright.PENANAcYlvti8GtN
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.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAwAYqxQEdox
377Please respect copyright.PENANApiSGCJVANA
Arc: “Na-”
377Please respect copyright.PENANA1Z8880BiL8
377Please respect copyright.PENANA4y3zCYVVPe
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANA82nBSDTE8w
377Please respect copyright.PENANAKHx3m9u2P3
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…”
377Please respect copyright.PENANA0s8ehSx2Tp
377Please respect copyright.PENANA9pcdhGOR4f
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAwberD1UiDO
377Please respect copyright.PENANA54X9SV4sI9
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAFkUq7uSULL
377Please respect copyright.PENANA2rMNKkTEz7
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.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAsikVDZJK7h
377Please respect copyright.PENANA6yyg3NCI0g
Nao: “And…after that?”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAlq5RZaGv22
377Please respect copyright.PENANAoPkGU6QspD
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?”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAHxPjWTE2I0
377Please respect copyright.PENANAytcwAs8Vot
Nao: “…”
377Please respect copyright.PENANA0NbQi7YHvt
377Please respect copyright.PENANAFmmkAyrlMg
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAZB3DLdiQlN
377Please respect copyright.PENANAbSAcbgcqBX
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAvRfVh1EoXA
377Please respect copyright.PENANAGEUQCMWiWD
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…377Please respect copyright.PENANA31bwHGHGbF
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAeOM7SXYbYR
377Please respect copyright.PENANAnZcyAtC5zX
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
377Please respect copyright.PENANA1sGSYK2qCQ
377Please respect copyright.PENANAIzKeaXrsWA
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
377Please respect copyright.PENANA9iC1GdAjvb
377Please respect copyright.PENANA7CUR5t55QT
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
377Please respect copyright.PENANAPD782RbbHi
377Please respect copyright.PENANAf2YIhJ5fj6
…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…
377Please respect copyright.PENANAYI5g0an0dq
377Please respect copyright.PENANAn76Kdmt1cN
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
377Please respect copyright.PENANASVW0rqTLtz
377Please respect copyright.PENANAPkapCMXMej
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
377Please respect copyright.PENANAWyPex1Fkh2
377Please respect copyright.PENANAsz9YXn0Em0
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
377Please respect copyright.PENANAdaHJA4RcZx
377Please respect copyright.PENANAFyHtAjEOVT
T-To save…my family.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAvKvNuCWjMP
377Please respect copyright.PENANABrSVuokZfv
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
377Please respect copyright.PENANA66oEsA14de
377Please respect copyright.PENANAVaHrEZVfQ0
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
377Please respect copyright.PENANAC1CiR4n09T
377Please respect copyright.PENANAwcX1FbwIqS
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
377Please respect copyright.PENANAx3PSlChCIX
!!377Please respect copyright.PENANAgdzGoIvoqu
377Please respect copyright.PENANAhW0Qdc1kMb
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.377Please respect copyright.PENANAz1nzdJGUnK
377Please respect copyright.PENANA6MzZG1zwEE
377Please respect copyright.PENANANZduRQIO6k
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAV14AWcnqXY
377Please respect copyright.PENANAZb0PNs1ZPZ
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANATGO42BHKfV
377Please respect copyright.PENANAdGAxGxkzbD
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAFGliSq0eAu
377Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZkBw0VaPy
…Okay, I will.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAjfMoOoTqOz
377Please respect copyright.PENANAgUjkhkGdpR
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAMlBWH2nt3L
377Please respect copyright.PENANAClVRWCIam4
…Why?
377Please respect copyright.PENANAYKCfdkF6y1
377Please respect copyright.PENANAsoOKPZe8Iy
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAywTL43AEP3
377Please respect copyright.PENANAI4LqLgbrhu
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
377Please respect copyright.PENANADp9ZtRUUth
377Please respect copyright.PENANAQDzYFhBNne
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…377Please respect copyright.PENANA6SR0XhizfM
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.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAW2FUhR76Vf
377Please respect copyright.PENANAm3lA9uRffK
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAQdq9j3GWFl
377Please respect copyright.PENANAJIaLr5Mye6
Anthony: “!!!?”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAi7nnE3785V
377Please respect copyright.PENANA0HGZDmrnBA
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.
377Please respect copyright.PENANAstgxuFtQ1S
377Please respect copyright.PENANAVP0d1bW0lf
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
377Please respect copyright.PENANAc8Ayk1NSFl
377Please respect copyright.PENANABDJNhdkKOI
Alphon:
Strength: ???377Please respect copyright.PENANANeS7ScWc8h
Endurance: ???377Please respect copyright.PENANAL3IDXk7J9D
Intelligence: ???377Please respect copyright.PENANAIIYFMsY5zh
Charisma: ???377Please respect copyright.PENANAb5XUhY57sF
Agility: ???377Please respect copyright.PENANAaNAWPOkpkY
Magic: ????????377Please respect copyright.PENANAyhBks2dnDX