Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”328Please respect copyright.PENANArBDrRRNwQN
328Please respect copyright.PENANAgevjutWZZm
328Please respect copyright.PENANA1cjIpdTdcn
What’s that?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAKaMWV0buXp
328Please respect copyright.PENANAysR4tscH4S
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMovAmhyHqU
328Please respect copyright.PENANAluO0wNdi3E
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAU27IqjkBvE
328Please respect copyright.PENANAGItodeou7W
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHHqpDWSUuJ
328Please respect copyright.PENANAbSObUF9sfm
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10328Please respect copyright.PENANAS8tdJVRz6Z
Endurance: 10328Please respect copyright.PENANAgv1QzdVILC
Intelligence: 21328Please respect copyright.PENANAQLOzOF2pc5
Charisma: 20328Please respect copyright.PENANAFSqvB1o9Jl
Agility: 14 328Please respect copyright.PENANAEnbCS49kvD
Magic: 35 328Please respect copyright.PENANAzsLhCBC1Zg
328Please respect copyright.PENANAV0mTA9yNjK
VS
328Please respect copyright.PENANAghLOobgf2Q
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21328Please respect copyright.PENANAn0pUaNOfA9
Endurance: 17.5328Please respect copyright.PENANAL6PW6iU0tR
Intelligence: 19.5328Please respect copyright.PENANAhaKA15P8GQ
Charisma: 18.5328Please respect copyright.PENANAcgq059zhzS
Agility: 16.5328Please respect copyright.PENANAOxpmJ3xvMl
Magic: 24328Please respect copyright.PENANAEyd8FcrLRx
328Please respect copyright.PENANAkVlvpyMYCX
328Please respect copyright.PENANADAFL4yZtPl
Oh, that not too ba-
328Please respect copyright.PENANADVYI6K0zwn
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYv4M2vLpGs
Arc: “Focus!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAiceb1POEhR
*CRACK*328Please respect copyright.PENANAFZz9rvNQ06
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5PFvUKZxSQ
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAnYIi1mOzUR
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMPhXLgbLfy
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAJT1tTJroOb
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQspLFVH8j7
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAJDx3prHL17
328Please respect copyright.PENANAbgRpdx03rK
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANANvf52NSIzC
328Please respect copyright.PENANAnAbHb8ia8Q
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYh3BZt0CG5
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHb4BALuIJT
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAWz65lS3JA9
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxAappmNC7q
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAztIOYjrifk
328Please respect copyright.PENANAgjvdwZtOwF
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxnqnqQmsMD
328Please respect copyright.PENANA6OieGF5uNU
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”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA4q4dwYTO49
Nao: “!!”328Please respect copyright.PENANAYmzaHE0lKH
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQqLr2lJRME
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA2Nc1uoflC6
328Please respect copyright.PENANAoUIvHpB4l7
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
328Please respect copyright.PENANARD8kplyqvW
328Please respect copyright.PENANAoWACKnenUA
Nao: “Not yet!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPDwDxtwvAU
328Please respect copyright.PENANAjST8lvfm9N
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 328Please respect copyright.PENANAuuOyc0pAqk
328Please respect copyright.PENANAlOe6xHH66o
Strength: 30328Please respect copyright.PENANApfJG5nw0me
328Please respect copyright.PENANAhD3PVhv4YB
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!328Please respect copyright.PENANARXDnR4OV09
*BOOM*328Please respect copyright.PENANAktXhyt1Qz5
328Please respect copyright.PENANA759614F383
Nao: “GAAH!”328Please respect copyright.PENANAnzxTfzL20r
328Please respect copyright.PENANA3oryPHLP46
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
328Please respect copyright.PENANArBgt1xOusT
328Please respect copyright.PENANAS3Jxoa5zGd
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUdF8FrKOlz
328Please respect copyright.PENANAwkr6ozyezY
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQKlfNsBKE5
328Please respect copyright.PENANAzRqbTEad0s
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAv2ITZCHr1h
Nao: “Gaah!”328Please respect copyright.PENANAkhCtxmm1cF
328Please respect copyright.PENANAVCl0JUziRe
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…
328Please respect copyright.PENANAWAD0d2QGUG
328Please respect copyright.PENANAz0Y7P9N66t
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAaH0dSUvwBW
Nao: “!!”328Please respect copyright.PENANAofFlEO2nk0
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUDaibLLdCv
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA3O47kV9CiW
328Please respect copyright.PENANA2zXSe4eC3H
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAFZBFlKUlNh
328Please respect copyright.PENANA7WTYhNlfik
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAqhGPGurCvU
328Please respect copyright.PENANADKO8tbFopW
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAF2pWezbFR3
328Please respect copyright.PENANA273l5nV0I3
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA1089t6f5gr
328Please respect copyright.PENANAVSsFrlMUny
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxi5cj1TxAY
Anthony: “*Sigh*”328Please respect copyright.PENANAwETER3yRYY
328Please respect copyright.PENANA18WIQnnS7I
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQlOmk2WsUm
328Please respect copyright.PENANAENWB6X8H3Z
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA2gfj6Wp1o4
328Please respect copyright.PENANA9zUgsqsB3P
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPMFIiNmJjP
328Please respect copyright.PENANAJrPjiyZXoV
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAdC7Cln1LTp
328Please respect copyright.PENANAy9Do1oowFx
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”328Please respect copyright.PENANAbcDauSynjf
328Please respect copyright.PENANAEghJLELngy
Nao: “My answer is…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA9jMebbniMQ
*Smile*328Please respect copyright.PENANA9jvEhAUppx
328Please respect copyright.PENANAdQ40sDadAG
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAL7QK9jbs5r
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxOnNqlwmJc
Anthony: “What?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANATp5fk6UYt1
328Please respect copyright.PENANAqxk8S4uNTu
Nao: “Air bullet!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAeoe861XzhW
328Please respect copyright.PENANAr2M5DE6kZc
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAexcdYFSQWA
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxOmQ5xzGEj
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!
328Please respect copyright.PENANApjqbysozRs
328Please respect copyright.PENANAkkkfT0ZCxD
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAgVabZJ4VN4
328Please respect copyright.PENANA66hXNtt3Sd
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-
328Please respect copyright.PENANAGhQDQi9G1k
*Drip*328Please respect copyright.PENANACnasCaexwc
328Please respect copyright.PENANAIzgo4RTkYk
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 328Please respect copyright.PENANAFJEq1X18kV
328Please respect copyright.PENANANvHwHm5Rnz
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHvlHFlSkRU
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAVVKHl8MMDO
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPYEsLvNCDK
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAlXgg7bjFFz
328Please respect copyright.PENANAhw15eVAiLJ
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
328Please respect copyright.PENANABT6GAq58Kj
!?328Please respect copyright.PENANAdKAoqWrS21
328Please respect copyright.PENANA6b191BOaFo
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…
328Please respect copyright.PENANADIJFpmWKFM
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5qE3STC3WS
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANANANKFMYn5x
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUzluvMmvEe
Kid, you’ll regret that.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfMv4sahPG2
328Please respect copyright.PENANAGbpUkLZuLS
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQf994DpLN6
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPHkIUbp9zW
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYJzzn9fa39
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5wBDsF7rY7
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAoWThFylZtT
328Please respect copyright.PENANAp68vV7hFnd
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA1Zw6ZJAttp
328Please respect copyright.PENANA4DPOKmuTlR
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
328Please respect copyright.PENANApQqNsOM58K
!!328Please respect copyright.PENANAiH6K1VtptD
328Please respect copyright.PENANAiFTsTNMI4Z
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”328Please respect copyright.PENANAg4yNHmdqeM
328Please respect copyright.PENANAYNnxmjtlZV
328Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4BJe32eUw
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMVurqmY5kL
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuuOK20O6ht
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA6LalGULLsB
328Please respect copyright.PENANAqgLfjzHgcO
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANArsigIQAlft
328Please respect copyright.PENANAwpT37CRVoF
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfNM9BjSNTs
328Please respect copyright.PENANAsjTcvlCUs1
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6yKb2OtXH
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPIjphARqU8
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAGBFJExHBxx
328Please respect copyright.PENANAv3nMQg9ltg
Arc: “Na-”
328Please respect copyright.PENANA0F52oFf5KC
328Please respect copyright.PENANAV1d0BQaZyL
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAaPIebKuH1t
328Please respect copyright.PENANAdUdlVPlsyN
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…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPe1tzgrTI5
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuaEoAb42l7
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANASHTYtleQhn
328Please respect copyright.PENANAVqPHawW5yb
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfrsLjqVr1N
328Please respect copyright.PENANAwYmxfL5uPY
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAP3el7f8fIq
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfHvBejQPip
Nao: “And…after that?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANATwKNRjJUcK
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5kNGxCCz07
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?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAbbxFAKNubM
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuyPqroAQiF
Nao: “…”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxxX5lw1qEH
328Please respect copyright.PENANAj2jHLq2URe
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAfdjeQ20Ppp
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUsTmSvuAez
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAam2OX8qx3G
328Please respect copyright.PENANAVLutY4PF3g
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…328Please respect copyright.PENANAGxT2b6coF5
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAOXNIhYJjTN
328Please respect copyright.PENANAUznl5t6yfR
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAhdOOBOcWlO
328Please respect copyright.PENANAbwK3VBJV9k
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAsoIy0RxOpj
328Please respect copyright.PENANAQFD6DVoMgj
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
328Please respect copyright.PENANA1dEdEhqN9V
328Please respect copyright.PENANAz2oKsI7ZvT
…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…
328Please respect copyright.PENANAqb4k2NKln8
328Please respect copyright.PENANAtpukRZO8Qh
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA2n4s4YurxL
328Please respect copyright.PENANAyRxDaEmEZ6
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
328Please respect copyright.PENANAc40qxmECbE
328Please respect copyright.PENANA4YP2QSur2w
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAMdLuKQkhdn
328Please respect copyright.PENANAl8uu20PAZx
T-To save…my family.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAdKxcPbCcnX
328Please respect copyright.PENANAngYZgfvdWn
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAcHNsbNVa4t
328Please respect copyright.PENANA5SaEe5r01j
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
328Please respect copyright.PENANAowZ1JmpQfh
328Please respect copyright.PENANAvMuNxY3wK5
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAcOSNdkjVbF
!!328Please respect copyright.PENANAC0b27NxZ7l
328Please respect copyright.PENANAU8kt5Yzgl8
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.328Please respect copyright.PENANAwap70EjW2k
328Please respect copyright.PENANAttBonSjeCy
328Please respect copyright.PENANAlC7pOG8CR1
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
328Please respect copyright.PENANA9rWLmikfix
328Please respect copyright.PENANAAcPuWxM2Py
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANACSJIbuz8BF
328Please respect copyright.PENANAwAFGK97jar
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAxk1oB9p8OL
328Please respect copyright.PENANAZHInbU1Lv6
…Okay, I will.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAjOY9soBEwq
328Please respect copyright.PENANASHFbZiGQ65
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAnnE5TROK2g
328Please respect copyright.PENANAPohS3Ul7wx
…Why?
328Please respect copyright.PENANAuZZncbqkCw
328Please respect copyright.PENANAACNcAGph8s
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAg8MnaAbGjX
328Please respect copyright.PENANAd6S2uEE6l8
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAnIu3FC3o9H
328Please respect copyright.PENANAC9OYy6Iwn1
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…328Please respect copyright.PENANAjCaoalcTmm
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.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANABO6FP6axL8
328Please respect copyright.PENANA15WJXcVJNp
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAi80pVoI4s3
328Please respect copyright.PENANAu5Rd3lXWTL
Anthony: “!!!?”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAGtzV9sRzWk
328Please respect copyright.PENANAbB1yVddpC7
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.
328Please respect copyright.PENANAWrdbMp4HU2
328Please respect copyright.PENANA8DvtUo3ysT
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
328Please respect copyright.PENANAcZFe6hGrEu
328Please respect copyright.PENANAHHP84d9NUd
Alphon:
Strength: ???328Please respect copyright.PENANAQxuS05Z6mg
Endurance: ???328Please respect copyright.PENANAWFvGrHeA35
Intelligence: ???328Please respect copyright.PENANA3CwuOBc7EZ
Charisma: ???328Please respect copyright.PENANAcjrenjugUQ
Agility: ???328Please respect copyright.PENANAK0yKnxPiSf
Magic: ????????328Please respect copyright.PENANAlefv5DjNkr