Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”433Please respect copyright.PENANADxdnqQyuA3
433Please respect copyright.PENANAaWz7maDtmE
433Please respect copyright.PENANAnkilTzGyf5
What’s that?
433Please respect copyright.PENANApwd9hPGdBK
433Please respect copyright.PENANAVza3pyYuj8
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAU5NeMwUxRg
433Please respect copyright.PENANARMG05biv3X
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANA4ESKDi1gNp
433Please respect copyright.PENANAnjocjZ89yI
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAqgVw14NZyC
433Please respect copyright.PENANAXcvLJqNCIO
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10433Please respect copyright.PENANA5Cpp5iRFoF
Endurance: 10433Please respect copyright.PENANAVCLd9he8GD
Intelligence: 21433Please respect copyright.PENANAxtL9G6nzuk
Charisma: 20433Please respect copyright.PENANAlknEKUL9wN
Agility: 14 433Please respect copyright.PENANA6IBDwBQC8R
Magic: 35 433Please respect copyright.PENANAx5Bksvd7Wq
433Please respect copyright.PENANA31n2UksUHh
VS
433Please respect copyright.PENANAlFycaZH5Zj
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21433Please respect copyright.PENANAv3TfyYFwNn
Endurance: 17.5433Please respect copyright.PENANAHWdGpyej2G
Intelligence: 19.5433Please respect copyright.PENANA35SZCMTRjf
Charisma: 18.5433Please respect copyright.PENANAynwRKQ3ynG
Agility: 16.5433Please respect copyright.PENANAjPGuvSeNuP
Magic: 24433Please respect copyright.PENANAB2lZ3ximM7
433Please respect copyright.PENANAqLbzRJrHtq
433Please respect copyright.PENANAPhpCSTj9NB
Oh, that not too ba-
433Please respect copyright.PENANA3okxyHWGKK
433Please respect copyright.PENANAvVolnEC1kU
Arc: “Focus!”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAXLS9zLxMBm
*CRACK*433Please respect copyright.PENANAuszzRqIwMz
433Please respect copyright.PENANAX1Uj1wR8tk
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANA6MvkPdGjkP
433Please respect copyright.PENANAcisofXy0pu
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.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAmWQncruRht
433Please respect copyright.PENANAuzJuIChw8o
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAlvQWMooFXk
433Please respect copyright.PENANA8cVyeiFwmQ
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAwDSkaVlZrF
433Please respect copyright.PENANAFWoN8BABaQ
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAYUUohczOvU
433Please respect copyright.PENANAlcY9eFcBnq
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAxSJBfLJ1Z5
433Please respect copyright.PENANAUVvoHs7pWq
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAyO6zukS8Yn
433Please respect copyright.PENANANKkuHxKUBg
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAA9uGy9cOwp
433Please respect copyright.PENANAltb7zdW20y
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”
433Please respect copyright.PENANA1pSV1RsqtL
Nao: “!!”433Please respect copyright.PENANAitftKrOuwd
433Please respect copyright.PENANAm8cjFZTHGB
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAffl18dWnt6
433Please respect copyright.PENANAR7hSRsVTPy
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAWL4puqQReA
433Please respect copyright.PENANA5OOiWsdzZ5
Nao: “Not yet!”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAVaIDlKivkK
433Please respect copyright.PENANAkSl5nLHGbh
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 433Please respect copyright.PENANA3MhD1YCSCd
433Please respect copyright.PENANApDUtdgTn2E
Strength: 30433Please respect copyright.PENANAPaXqDZQ4jL
433Please respect copyright.PENANA0hGfBBg7AU
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!433Please respect copyright.PENANAY0LPNQa9il
*BOOM*433Please respect copyright.PENANARKHh3ddNAL
433Please respect copyright.PENANA75Z0jI7Qwc
Nao: “GAAH!”433Please respect copyright.PENANAPAQqbQIh2V
433Please respect copyright.PENANALzQvzDFhj7
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
433Please respect copyright.PENANASX0ucx2yen
433Please respect copyright.PENANAREVlMVWmm6
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
433Please respect copyright.PENANA2AQPMAq7M8
433Please respect copyright.PENANAS2LOtw9K7A
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAHMTfwTzEn5
433Please respect copyright.PENANAIx0pP84jc9
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAKJzEKl3wOb
Nao: “Gaah!”433Please respect copyright.PENANAYIdiLA6yp4
433Please respect copyright.PENANANo4AiBEEvJ
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…
433Please respect copyright.PENANAJuBp194Myt
433Please respect copyright.PENANA37OMA1lmIE
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAUKQpoOSJW0
Nao: “!!”433Please respect copyright.PENANAX00v1qZ4Al
433Please respect copyright.PENANA5idccJyN3t
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAq5TBsyohT5
433Please respect copyright.PENANAbAKK6dCoMj
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANA2mdjz6OCHO
433Please respect copyright.PENANA5FZAALtXSl
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAj9v6oiuxE4
433Please respect copyright.PENANAarZamP7545
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.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANA3BJX3ZkjzP
433Please respect copyright.PENANAHB8cIJy5Qn
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAoX0INMHkjt
433Please respect copyright.PENANArzmhTiQaa4
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAnzS6HDIKZd
Anthony: “*Sigh*”433Please respect copyright.PENANAR5UsPFYJh0
433Please respect copyright.PENANAOtndKF1QOy
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.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAL5iUeCR1ny
433Please respect copyright.PENANAGPIKcIbBg8
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAtdlw7sTVyf
433Please respect copyright.PENANAZBqPjAKV1k
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAPQGjCaIbQz
433Please respect copyright.PENANAKZNdAS85AK
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANA0MCJmoUSCE
433Please respect copyright.PENANAhxOvEM1UjC
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”433Please respect copyright.PENANAbkW6UXVdx0
433Please respect copyright.PENANA29KVrwgy2k
Nao: “My answer is…”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAs3h5fGx28N
*Smile*433Please respect copyright.PENANA0KIsQCy9XG
433Please respect copyright.PENANAdRBFzlGUWV
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAySpy3IKXEJ
433Please respect copyright.PENANAiifGNijGBV
Anthony: “What?”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAE84bYwtTyk
433Please respect copyright.PENANATP4ZLiE7Xi
Nao: “Air bullet!”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAurD7mN7vU0
433Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6yl3dCOec
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANA2wz9KREaHu
433Please respect copyright.PENANAMRV5j76HVD
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!
433Please respect copyright.PENANAnoqGFNxxjp
433Please respect copyright.PENANAo0LxxfyYAj
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
433Please respect copyright.PENANArYrtL5UfOu
433Please respect copyright.PENANAozYHEzvVpu
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-
433Please respect copyright.PENANAUDg7a6z8J3
*Drip*433Please respect copyright.PENANANuWRP0vM9w
433Please respect copyright.PENANAMBQJAkeagR
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 433Please respect copyright.PENANAeLKo6Sk4q4
433Please respect copyright.PENANAXcTD2xIvmy
433Please respect copyright.PENANApg9eDYSepa
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.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAxod2CJ01TQ
433Please respect copyright.PENANAqSJtpnXxh5
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAhTf7fH63ur
433Please respect copyright.PENANA1RKja6j8JI
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
433Please respect copyright.PENANAWIBcYcAfH5
!?433Please respect copyright.PENANArPjfgaryjY
433Please respect copyright.PENANAtQjYIooceu
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…
433Please respect copyright.PENANAdJflIAdOxb
433Please respect copyright.PENANA3ykCybpEiP
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANA1uNCNrC6e0
433Please respect copyright.PENANA2gO3eMuNyQ
Kid, you’ll regret that.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAbWgnwXMlr8
433Please respect copyright.PENANAPhprYbhZzV
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANASdZP2IfsKW
433Please respect copyright.PENANAVAbSLuQ8e8
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
433Please respect copyright.PENANA1kDmRFxAHQ
433Please respect copyright.PENANAXl0aa2GmT7
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAQXKncFGdcE
433Please respect copyright.PENANAVi1XIvrHO1
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAlP1DfWwakv
433Please respect copyright.PENANAMopS8Oo6ik
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAJlohF7RgQk
!!433Please respect copyright.PENANAjAAGZNIF97
433Please respect copyright.PENANAUoM4IYoTUs
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”433Please respect copyright.PENANApfNnJ4lViZ
433Please respect copyright.PENANA0Yo5NnJnsu
433Please respect copyright.PENANAkKBq3JowXG
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAWwpvruT4PM
433Please respect copyright.PENANAB2hsQdBoF2
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAgdEWDukupr
433Please respect copyright.PENANAMnPQIWokEt
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.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANALYjC31H9o8
433Please respect copyright.PENANAVDfibsPPez
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAu1HSOEm1rn
433Please respect copyright.PENANAOE3wvTiGhN
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAMXyWTgAbC8
433Please respect copyright.PENANAPa3yUtrDYJ
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.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAHdr3AE6q6O
433Please respect copyright.PENANABstqJGOP2H
Arc: “Na-”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAd3uCrDE8b7
433Please respect copyright.PENANAgUo9iOpUqQ
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAR8olTgUq2z
433Please respect copyright.PENANAs5EN34zYsf
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…”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAVRC5M43jeB
433Please respect copyright.PENANAOfoy64P7v2
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANA2dOIYZNXLj
433Please respect copyright.PENANAHz9B8hegHb
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAqyJ9w4raaF
433Please respect copyright.PENANADykpZy4hy2
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.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANALHl28J14KL
433Please respect copyright.PENANAkvDC79cgP6
Nao: “And…after that?”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAuPur9VhUVJ
433Please respect copyright.PENANAilce1M1JQC
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?”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAMFbwGnxS1H
433Please respect copyright.PENANAz8ko4zeTTv
Nao: “…”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAG0qEboVB2D
433Please respect copyright.PENANArpkMPpEHjh
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
433Please respect copyright.PENANARJKLrTZwqB
433Please respect copyright.PENANAF6cUKZj99D
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANA1zVjxEdKUf
433Please respect copyright.PENANAzxrekvmwqz
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…433Please respect copyright.PENANAlOp0qQQDwc
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAHYlXNMyVjW
433Please respect copyright.PENANAi1BCpBR98B
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAwPye7RmExT
433Please respect copyright.PENANAfpeBTaIHx9
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
433Please respect copyright.PENANAgCPFZ7lnCl
433Please respect copyright.PENANAtrGy1iT8oC
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
433Please respect copyright.PENANAo8PF1Qka8O
433Please respect copyright.PENANANLfk5ZCllq
…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…
433Please respect copyright.PENANAfyrkjzH7Lr
433Please respect copyright.PENANAjXdDLVpCnk
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
433Please respect copyright.PENANA2N4lpxtLtz
433Please respect copyright.PENANALzmyzXr6Ud
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
433Please respect copyright.PENANAFselu7EXaQ
433Please respect copyright.PENANAeM7rg5MPb8
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
433Please respect copyright.PENANAWY9cIcD05c
433Please respect copyright.PENANAXwriKlkuCB
T-To save…my family.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAozTwzqw1CJ
433Please respect copyright.PENANAh6RZ0uJaHn
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAlNzYIHZddT
433Please respect copyright.PENANAXjRCnamulp
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
433Please respect copyright.PENANAeFhQNsxzaA
433Please respect copyright.PENANAY1RwIL8dtq
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
433Please respect copyright.PENANADFrWCguiah
!!433Please respect copyright.PENANAsMprvFkiWJ
433Please respect copyright.PENANAnqocZAXqTj
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.433Please respect copyright.PENANARH0Ze5uqQm
433Please respect copyright.PENANAChaa17rIcl
433Please respect copyright.PENANAWkeXwLuQkX
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
433Please respect copyright.PENANA2S9KYXa7RZ
433Please respect copyright.PENANAbDWDLeROOV
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAPtVCyy5zti
433Please respect copyright.PENANAKGSgo6hHIb
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAgYOn8VVZyo
433Please respect copyright.PENANAxkkvfCelsu
…Okay, I will.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAWHnHRyTNR0
433Please respect copyright.PENANAH27XxSWgZo
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAbeXw2wLLTm
433Please respect copyright.PENANA7SDCm6WIrx
…Why?
433Please respect copyright.PENANAnarESMPjy0
433Please respect copyright.PENANAY6st16tdkD
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAsJpmzn4jni
433Please respect copyright.PENANAv6qqASJj7C
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAmKYwEmJZr3
433Please respect copyright.PENANAyk7mG2o4VJ
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…433Please respect copyright.PENANAbR3pujo66V
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.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANA84rdA5XfbM
433Please respect copyright.PENANA94J4LBbQ5F
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAxI0mb8zlMq
433Please respect copyright.PENANArLUR79Q1qm
Anthony: “!!!?”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAONvyDemODr
433Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9fMuQ3fJz
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.
433Please respect copyright.PENANAzFG5yqkdNE
433Please respect copyright.PENANApilXisFpOT
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
433Please respect copyright.PENANAY6lXOFzBLX
433Please respect copyright.PENANAhM4HZsVxyI
Alphon:
Strength: ???433Please respect copyright.PENANAacYwTk7JeH
Endurance: ???433Please respect copyright.PENANALe41sRhxD6
Intelligence: ???433Please respect copyright.PENANAODJLrloQ2P
Charisma: ???433Please respect copyright.PENANA9nnaqCS9tA
Agility: ???433Please respect copyright.PENANACR1IupLNbJ
Magic: ????????433Please respect copyright.PENANAuYUIr3EBJo