Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”412Please respect copyright.PENANAxtgkIENKNP
412Please respect copyright.PENANAAONWHV8iLc
412Please respect copyright.PENANAIsOAvYQjz3
What’s that?
412Please respect copyright.PENANAVBpsSqtTt1
412Please respect copyright.PENANAkvyg0z2ADt
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANA1yoJM1Rdfq
412Please respect copyright.PENANA4fFjDNQGzh
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAosgVnXzEdO
412Please respect copyright.PENANAVo6tFR2Nst
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAn8RLNT52eb
412Please respect copyright.PENANACjeKVSg48b
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10412Please respect copyright.PENANADOEfMcbShR
Endurance: 10412Please respect copyright.PENANAP0AhU30dfo
Intelligence: 21412Please respect copyright.PENANAHscvhnJ5Z6
Charisma: 20412Please respect copyright.PENANAoNshb5VTgV
Agility: 14 412Please respect copyright.PENANAexrK4sbXII
Magic: 35 412Please respect copyright.PENANAs45IFLL7sH
412Please respect copyright.PENANAFDc6PnrcDW
VS
412Please respect copyright.PENANA64pLdHn2Ea
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21412Please respect copyright.PENANAQn1rBbrA5o
Endurance: 17.5412Please respect copyright.PENANAXYmYfZ5jhK
Intelligence: 19.5412Please respect copyright.PENANAk3M29JPFCK
Charisma: 18.5412Please respect copyright.PENANAKAFnvXpT3p
Agility: 16.5412Please respect copyright.PENANACn3WWNIVG4
Magic: 24412Please respect copyright.PENANAXMDRxyDIzN
412Please respect copyright.PENANAidWFJc7I32
412Please respect copyright.PENANA1IVLedjhND
Oh, that not too ba-
412Please respect copyright.PENANAJVZBC9LeWO
412Please respect copyright.PENANAkqFPwERDo5
Arc: “Focus!”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAQa1eqXl8yk
*CRACK*412Please respect copyright.PENANANJ1ENHeJCc
412Please respect copyright.PENANA1puP9lMs4I
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAa7lutNRdZO
412Please respect copyright.PENANAvyLFsswhKg
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.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAUVMXFy0ewk
412Please respect copyright.PENANAQYvNa160Zs
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAwoz4TQ03Jb
412Please respect copyright.PENANAfyi6k1cgub
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAoFziAyfu44
412Please respect copyright.PENANAMROu9xjqjo
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAjTywk8aPft
412Please respect copyright.PENANANUZ0sem4A8
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAQB83B5DOCr
412Please respect copyright.PENANA8J8rWdHmpF
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAcfrKPpIrz9
412Please respect copyright.PENANAUAjDLupMr3
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAvEXcoSr4a4
412Please respect copyright.PENANAQNYBWN5K2l
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”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAWRaKOSvUdG
Nao: “!!”412Please respect copyright.PENANALsXUN75KFe
412Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8gKfvt1EU
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANA8V3L0HRRWc
412Please respect copyright.PENANAC8rboB9av6
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAS1NejGznE7
412Please respect copyright.PENANAR0Ehkojbmw
Nao: “Not yet!”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAOBTHNQ91Xl
412Please respect copyright.PENANAaZPDwnnCPG
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 412Please respect copyright.PENANArRv8XV35FP
412Please respect copyright.PENANAn0Bf35wN9a
Strength: 30412Please respect copyright.PENANAzyR43bmETx
412Please respect copyright.PENANAmjPfdBSr7z
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!412Please respect copyright.PENANAXrtPly844s
*BOOM*412Please respect copyright.PENANAumWh3WH0Nj
412Please respect copyright.PENANAVdm6AMcJNE
Nao: “GAAH!”412Please respect copyright.PENANAsuponsnsiQ
412Please respect copyright.PENANAqjgHnoffvC
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAAcB6lYa0A8
412Please respect copyright.PENANAh7RilAxLez
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
412Please respect copyright.PENANAPQY89JVX6V
412Please respect copyright.PENANAN6E985Jmsj
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
412Please respect copyright.PENANASALciOBbvA
412Please respect copyright.PENANABxWnaeTp8d
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANApBvOqb1txe
Nao: “Gaah!”412Please respect copyright.PENANAZDDpeMdbWg
412Please respect copyright.PENANAg8KSEWQWfp
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…
412Please respect copyright.PENANAmVW9ZJzqTR
412Please respect copyright.PENANArsud2Utv8d
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAS2lvqDZ56Q
Nao: “!!”412Please respect copyright.PENANAS3PB4o2PtW
412Please respect copyright.PENANAEZltY8UcjR
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
412Please respect copyright.PENANACa8hZpBm30
412Please respect copyright.PENANAqXecV9fIi6
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANACJFYseANo5
412Please respect copyright.PENANAxewVFV6XIM
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAtnOJYDL7Wu
412Please respect copyright.PENANAm4amD0IkHB
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.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANA4ELrrLAdcv
412Please respect copyright.PENANAhd7jiGX4cQ
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
412Please respect copyright.PENANA6mOeVouaor
412Please respect copyright.PENANAvX9Y94JqFv
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAt22VL4phRy
Anthony: “*Sigh*”412Please respect copyright.PENANAM8pvX6aeWD
412Please respect copyright.PENANAZjYyiDVe4W
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.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAJxxF3kBVDu
412Please respect copyright.PENANAmnLRgq8ycf
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAXzA2VFFNbH
412Please respect copyright.PENANAuq9emfIjG7
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAFpbPpQoeOk
412Please respect copyright.PENANALRzgXpTNuc
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAcBy2ShJhLr
412Please respect copyright.PENANAxVV6tcISmP
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”412Please respect copyright.PENANAUB4zv8PLMD
412Please respect copyright.PENANAwOfFyMwJyz
Nao: “My answer is…”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAqIL6I4ggCW
*Smile*412Please respect copyright.PENANAh6rPpc2UZ2
412Please respect copyright.PENANA9H1KE6NcPU
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAOJtPxlrJS3
412Please respect copyright.PENANAyJ1i89BQxQ
Anthony: “What?”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAISkf2YZs0x
412Please respect copyright.PENANADzjUD8Kosw
Nao: “Air bullet!”
412Please respect copyright.PENANATddy9NniQU
412Please respect copyright.PENANAcgep4Xs6u1
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAKR8jsgcTnl
412Please respect copyright.PENANA0GDroXfYDa
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!
412Please respect copyright.PENANAMhc3yqoohG
412Please respect copyright.PENANA8ofaelFpg2
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
412Please respect copyright.PENANA9HmRYYd2SO
412Please respect copyright.PENANAaXHOeWVQ1J
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-
412Please respect copyright.PENANAguQ3kwRtTi
*Drip*412Please respect copyright.PENANACRtRfJIuD8
412Please respect copyright.PENANAa3uBiCO6iV
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 412Please respect copyright.PENANA4PfJWIJeOL
412Please respect copyright.PENANAxVozeWJKpv
412Please respect copyright.PENANAtdZUKQNU0V
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.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANA5h1X7vgqjO
412Please respect copyright.PENANA3xRfYTtZCa
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAvHKs3TJIhy
412Please respect copyright.PENANAfRJnJzMCHw
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
412Please respect copyright.PENANAa7OTiyRz2O
!?412Please respect copyright.PENANAgEDHKoGCkI
412Please respect copyright.PENANAAuDIDpyfgL
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…
412Please respect copyright.PENANAYa6MzBsrpx
412Please respect copyright.PENANAagPtEQhkes
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAk923iPlzE7
412Please respect copyright.PENANAAvp41UmCxA
Kid, you’ll regret that.
412Please respect copyright.PENANA3LZsV6jIbh
412Please respect copyright.PENANAIApgPt1TWW
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANADqrCk8tzkV
412Please respect copyright.PENANA99PFZ4ugPb
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
412Please respect copyright.PENANAiK5c0T6oAq
412Please respect copyright.PENANAyAviB5BbzF
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAWT8UmclUNy
412Please respect copyright.PENANAMFz962dFUi
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
412Please respect copyright.PENANA5nCDuVFgnS
412Please respect copyright.PENANAfJyEfUMrR6
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAe97nIq3Uur
!!412Please respect copyright.PENANASkIIaGV4Ug
412Please respect copyright.PENANAFjK6u8BaXD
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”412Please respect copyright.PENANAZXYXpB8fAG
412Please respect copyright.PENANA6cAxJXzQ0H
412Please respect copyright.PENANAMtmZCxcwR6
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAOe81qDeCxw
412Please respect copyright.PENANAaV2AaCHX2w
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANASQD5hpugNa
412Please respect copyright.PENANA29BClaRoKL
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.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAPNBdLmUQ6G
412Please respect copyright.PENANAtRL6eDNXNu
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
412Please respect copyright.PENANA3SeUTYifpX
412Please respect copyright.PENANAwc4d3BKAHH
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAJwkGfY52SV
412Please respect copyright.PENANAfi4OuvNX3g
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.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANASEI3ITOlMt
412Please respect copyright.PENANAqdVC3sZVMg
Arc: “Na-”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAaDmMBVtahZ
412Please respect copyright.PENANAKfrb4Dp7u8
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAH0XzpNkHkn
412Please respect copyright.PENANAWeUFZqDR5e
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…”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAQP4VSKmq2B
412Please respect copyright.PENANAD8BwxO3M22
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAK39oPSrsiq
412Please respect copyright.PENANAkodr9xajIO
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAs5YI3nHHee
412Please respect copyright.PENANAptH9kWIMVH
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.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAltJmIwhSmu
412Please respect copyright.PENANAB6bQTsw1Dv
Nao: “And…after that?”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAA2Ir8Mwxny
412Please respect copyright.PENANAsU4ybkY7YL
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?”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAIFOhxb4sW1
412Please respect copyright.PENANATGGJDi6xus
Nao: “…”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAFzvDUv6bkG
412Please respect copyright.PENANAU9RHfXCR9k
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAwqbCoAhZUc
412Please respect copyright.PENANAVgBn5OPNRR
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANA3mqE2Jaqyb
412Please respect copyright.PENANAdwdF6JYCnX
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…412Please respect copyright.PENANAVQNHOCJhKm
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAN6FljtpqWR
412Please respect copyright.PENANAlQ93qcKJno
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
412Please respect copyright.PENANABo8DBwM7RL
412Please respect copyright.PENANAAKMIzAH3lT
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
412Please respect copyright.PENANACT2SiaB44o
412Please respect copyright.PENANAigV7vrNY6n
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
412Please respect copyright.PENANAlauDjXlkPW
412Please respect copyright.PENANAGU9iqIhvGm
…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…
412Please respect copyright.PENANA7ycEyFlxBQ
412Please respect copyright.PENANAWeJ2jO9x41
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
412Please respect copyright.PENANA0Hz5n9s2wN
412Please respect copyright.PENANAatkYUXt6dw
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
412Please respect copyright.PENANAk8d3UpcQK2
412Please respect copyright.PENANAL4bzTlNUA1
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
412Please respect copyright.PENANAcfbHwwly6v
412Please respect copyright.PENANA0c6sBvYpgl
T-To save…my family.
412Please respect copyright.PENANA4Wjbmquw0B
412Please respect copyright.PENANAFrleyY0TE2
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAr5GB8ORHoc
412Please respect copyright.PENANAW9TfNOncgt
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
412Please respect copyright.PENANAEfE2zfS9PE
412Please respect copyright.PENANAEEw6Ih9VVX
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
412Please respect copyright.PENANAzqk9UXVvjM
!!412Please respect copyright.PENANAAntfnOWadx
412Please respect copyright.PENANAD7Hd7aZfNL
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.412Please respect copyright.PENANAAFbVeIJhdZ
412Please respect copyright.PENANA4A2o0KMagg
412Please respect copyright.PENANA8NjUNbLy8T
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
412Please respect copyright.PENANABmr6L7kRQh
412Please respect copyright.PENANA2dwJxLYm7b
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAAa3sMuhUoA
412Please respect copyright.PENANApB1aE4pMMk
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANA1a1zyN8SgV
412Please respect copyright.PENANAtJLCc5DG9s
…Okay, I will.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAWL6E0h1Ql1
412Please respect copyright.PENANAXXMRfwHNwR
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAzKhC9md7VK
412Please respect copyright.PENANA4KKZuFTpjD
…Why?
412Please respect copyright.PENANAr2xFPZa8ba
412Please respect copyright.PENANAWjmK1ERHwD
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANA1qu1uWvRX1
412Please respect copyright.PENANAQr2rtIXLyz
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
412Please respect copyright.PENANAmhPdcxyUSE
412Please respect copyright.PENANAHBaJOyPzBT
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…412Please respect copyright.PENANACFzeyrxUsa
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.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAZFJL5fCpM9
412Please respect copyright.PENANAeM2Pz1ZSCw
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAT6ihWDX2Qc
412Please respect copyright.PENANASi496nSACp
Anthony: “!!!?”
412Please respect copyright.PENANA5gcWaEcvGs
412Please respect copyright.PENANA38aPyiPIza
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.
412Please respect copyright.PENANACNNsWgWB7W
412Please respect copyright.PENANABEmghxnGSL
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
412Please respect copyright.PENANAq9mdAbuVfV
412Please respect copyright.PENANAMr1obuXVaQ
Alphon:
Strength: ???412Please respect copyright.PENANA98uCGYZ11M
Endurance: ???412Please respect copyright.PENANAsVGKtKWyxU
Intelligence: ???412Please respect copyright.PENANAdFrN4NjCZy
Charisma: ???412Please respect copyright.PENANApQJWEsRFjH
Agility: ???412Please respect copyright.PENANApKFTyimGVN
Magic: ????????412Please respect copyright.PENANAmg5XKvYP1F