Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”423Please respect copyright.PENANAhQYxM58GMX
423Please respect copyright.PENANA9RTYCcwR2R
423Please respect copyright.PENANAiEupnigmlc
What’s that?
423Please respect copyright.PENANAaJt1q2z3bo
423Please respect copyright.PENANAzMr7udUXdz
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA9o2MJPUQ0E
423Please respect copyright.PENANAgtHE0MPJBk
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAE6iQbDbhyq
423Please respect copyright.PENANAOU0nQQDuXA
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAz3cVSMOc23
423Please respect copyright.PENANAGrVFqniONk
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10423Please respect copyright.PENANAd6Dg5L2jA0
Endurance: 10423Please respect copyright.PENANAcM4I2aW6wa
Intelligence: 21423Please respect copyright.PENANALjRzkj7YgO
Charisma: 20423Please respect copyright.PENANAk0olJ4RWAd
Agility: 14 423Please respect copyright.PENANA0EtLRd28ui
Magic: 35 423Please respect copyright.PENANAiHvHXiEJAM
423Please respect copyright.PENANAngTgiuRsbv
VS
423Please respect copyright.PENANA1NHFKLfhs4
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21423Please respect copyright.PENANA8tlUypMEma
Endurance: 17.5423Please respect copyright.PENANAvGIq7Glmmb
Intelligence: 19.5423Please respect copyright.PENANADhP0YcyA2j
Charisma: 18.5423Please respect copyright.PENANAwWvUIZPs9n
Agility: 16.5423Please respect copyright.PENANABZjAceamqD
Magic: 24423Please respect copyright.PENANAuu1yKlSwRz
423Please respect copyright.PENANAoKygsP1koc
423Please respect copyright.PENANAO0MSQ5ZMib
Oh, that not too ba-
423Please respect copyright.PENANABxZFKo3MrL
423Please respect copyright.PENANAwcbRLOOYly
Arc: “Focus!”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAkbjUvyj9Zr
*CRACK*423Please respect copyright.PENANAGDXAmHfAPF
423Please respect copyright.PENANAoJNgodph9s
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAljCmyMARLj
423Please respect copyright.PENANAgx3Gt2JJfc
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.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAio0UBzHgU0
423Please respect copyright.PENANAx4hRKIgeut
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAvWjNid6zPt
423Please respect copyright.PENANAykIceL5nPK
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAbs4LDMIDZN
423Please respect copyright.PENANAjKtwNtQhXj
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAo3geQw6DSd
423Please respect copyright.PENANABgJlTKZyZP
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAMcvrvTBHFQ
423Please respect copyright.PENANARyeDXbOZ6m
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAp63rYW8oJD
423Please respect copyright.PENANAVW8ttHTQIl
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAC5Uk9dJiw4
423Please respect copyright.PENANADq7EonW9A9
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”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA4gjKLn26x0
Nao: “!!”423Please respect copyright.PENANADPRFhDyd52
423Please respect copyright.PENANA8F6TEODjzl
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAbyjrXNMQK6
423Please respect copyright.PENANALcRKNgpmkD
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAJHfmWgvzS2
423Please respect copyright.PENANAU93mZ6Cdc5
Nao: “Not yet!”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA38yQl8VSq3
423Please respect copyright.PENANAeO8BybZSzn
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 423Please respect copyright.PENANAUs9axPZNWi
423Please respect copyright.PENANAdZXoS7F4kT
Strength: 30423Please respect copyright.PENANAgpkiVYreer
423Please respect copyright.PENANAxI7qCflIg8
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!423Please respect copyright.PENANAKJYNpKAdi8
*BOOM*423Please respect copyright.PENANAtLKgDjMFKE
423Please respect copyright.PENANArA2aAh0Xkb
Nao: “GAAH!”423Please respect copyright.PENANAr9S7QbXbao
423Please respect copyright.PENANAqPNPk14cyR
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
423Please respect copyright.PENANA7olMqkazQn
423Please respect copyright.PENANAbOmaOg4P4Z
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
423Please respect copyright.PENANA8TWLjuYpS9
423Please respect copyright.PENANAaKlSGA1Cqa
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAHK8iIQVw0v
423Please respect copyright.PENANACdU6hkastl
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAvY2ffZfDcq
Nao: “Gaah!”423Please respect copyright.PENANAPnr9O9TPK4
423Please respect copyright.PENANAwYRJdKbqRY
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…
423Please respect copyright.PENANAvlv5ZAwYrC
423Please respect copyright.PENANARa6NLQ7Yrk
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAGlivdhOZyG
Nao: “!!”423Please respect copyright.PENANAkg6Ku5kFhX
423Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4oeMwFEOu
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAwhsThqvfPy
423Please respect copyright.PENANABcDNuyxYlL
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAhedRiWb6D0
423Please respect copyright.PENANAWgJbTNw8GE
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAPRtPanN2Nv
423Please respect copyright.PENANA9A8eMTyrMA
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.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAlPopuCKytn
423Please respect copyright.PENANAGzJX2ue4k0
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA9F1BKmHIfo
423Please respect copyright.PENANAz2NEiGqMum
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAEgMIDSyb3q
Anthony: “*Sigh*”423Please respect copyright.PENANADQSqZJDgX4
423Please respect copyright.PENANA3PFvEe2DnU
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.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA538b4tsU8i
423Please respect copyright.PENANAyUGwqyKkO7
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAdb5xAbDP6W
423Please respect copyright.PENANApOLVMAa5Yo
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAB5Vd5QVwRh
423Please respect copyright.PENANA9rsi58wEMk
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAXRWVLGcsIZ
423Please respect copyright.PENANAmOtvFqTBf7
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”423Please respect copyright.PENANAqKTARAX2f7
423Please respect copyright.PENANASyL6kijIUs
Nao: “My answer is…”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA3ftlQktYGe
*Smile*423Please respect copyright.PENANAhmhppiao7e
423Please respect copyright.PENANARc7yCECo8W
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAmd8LzPR68h
423Please respect copyright.PENANAv37Jd5kjUm
Anthony: “What?”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAko2N0U5ymQ
423Please respect copyright.PENANAgGuq0t8Gie
Nao: “Air bullet!”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAe5Ifi1Mkui
423Please respect copyright.PENANALIpS0ZTNrB
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAjOSwb7tEDa
423Please respect copyright.PENANAFqksQ1fzZu
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!
423Please respect copyright.PENANAclbbD5rm0i
423Please respect copyright.PENANAXsU419jcxp
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAqZTrwCIT42
423Please respect copyright.PENANA72kBvrgo7A
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-
423Please respect copyright.PENANAcve6rTDaCX
*Drip*423Please respect copyright.PENANAg0lTzpAJQp
423Please respect copyright.PENANAYKcrCTb0hC
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 423Please respect copyright.PENANAWy7uTxBUrr
423Please respect copyright.PENANAkD64DWeoq0
423Please respect copyright.PENANAHnQta9HdK9
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.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAVhuEta0Y0U
423Please respect copyright.PENANAwhAEtiJymO
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAF3j5SGraIO
423Please respect copyright.PENANAObVObJbiFd
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
423Please respect copyright.PENANAt6OG1by3xI
!?423Please respect copyright.PENANAcgRZePsezs
423Please respect copyright.PENANAbrOHZGgce7
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…
423Please respect copyright.PENANA9wll989Chu
423Please respect copyright.PENANAMa1BK12lnJ
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAue93wQ8Gmb
423Please respect copyright.PENANAxAVWbHXhwB
Kid, you’ll regret that.
423Please respect copyright.PENANA5XzjRNlwaR
423Please respect copyright.PENANAr0KrofmOUK
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANARVRbnjp1LU
423Please respect copyright.PENANAUKzT1NHAtI
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
423Please respect copyright.PENANAw7xHoBIS6w
423Please respect copyright.PENANAFHbxxayvHo
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
423Please respect copyright.PENANASRk6ByhQod
423Please respect copyright.PENANAqGCq6BkcOS
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAvhHx3msq98
423Please respect copyright.PENANAgCzQTDAVeQ
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAH8zJMyk1VR
!!423Please respect copyright.PENANArYbQL73Oky
423Please respect copyright.PENANApz5iDaUFJm
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”423Please respect copyright.PENANAAGvx12XPL3
423Please respect copyright.PENANAJbQxqeMaPO
423Please respect copyright.PENANAMmyXorPmRI
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA3Fqm9i0hkC
423Please respect copyright.PENANA3rUwFs9zVT
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAUlzFElRBPF
423Please respect copyright.PENANAzMGV59wJD1
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.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAkEPm4l4KHE
423Please respect copyright.PENANAnu1khuroxD
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
423Please respect copyright.PENANALM2vuQYucn
423Please respect copyright.PENANAfz5dZrkkVn
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAbg3AilLB9p
423Please respect copyright.PENANAMFu4nAVlIE
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.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA4GmlnukhYm
423Please respect copyright.PENANAD2e2msTVmu
Arc: “Na-”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA96TNYOYm6T
423Please respect copyright.PENANAH0dgBSQqZp
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAPDGzpqEBrg
423Please respect copyright.PENANAEzB3PekNas
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…”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAZWp6NHeicE
423Please respect copyright.PENANAJrDj3sBvR8
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAKXjyHnBg8N
423Please respect copyright.PENANAigTYeAsRzY
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAbMtqwHr9su
423Please respect copyright.PENANA0OhUxrplgu
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.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANA0aUro4yIPJ
423Please respect copyright.PENANAa9wQAqzJIr
Nao: “And…after that?”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAEAi2tfOtgF
423Please respect copyright.PENANAHWktpKdncu
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?”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAKUxClla2eY
423Please respect copyright.PENANAyNuE0tclXk
Nao: “…”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAFoAmr0ctDt
423Please respect copyright.PENANALhw2xqHKjQ
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
423Please respect copyright.PENANASbokUwonqK
423Please respect copyright.PENANAaovtxWHplu
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAmSf2XGNKVp
423Please respect copyright.PENANAdGOfMYKy11
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…423Please respect copyright.PENANAOIRh2xuSgg
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAYBhQe50QZP
423Please respect copyright.PENANAlIcDMr6vYm
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
423Please respect copyright.PENANA3z3nBXCqII
423Please respect copyright.PENANAUKI0V7aUS3
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
423Please respect copyright.PENANA7wdgWTpg3C
423Please respect copyright.PENANAVmXPcO0Foq
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
423Please respect copyright.PENANAYrBoCclvqc
423Please respect copyright.PENANABhdhfv1lkN
…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…
423Please respect copyright.PENANAV4HkacH1z5
423Please respect copyright.PENANAVx9ong8hbU
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAHzsO6GU8kQ
423Please respect copyright.PENANAuCe9cShj9F
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
423Please respect copyright.PENANAAqLRmYOSwD
423Please respect copyright.PENANADuEzQZBixg
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
423Please respect copyright.PENANAiYjAneHzxX
423Please respect copyright.PENANAJnYLQ7Y3RE
T-To save…my family.
423Please respect copyright.PENANABVLoWuxLTT
423Please respect copyright.PENANAvDq55MQhMl
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAHaFOWPrvy9
423Please respect copyright.PENANAKNVQTpG08t
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
423Please respect copyright.PENANAq01jpmVG1r
423Please respect copyright.PENANANw0MCS4vUT
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
423Please respect copyright.PENANAxgLcc51ipe
!!423Please respect copyright.PENANAcVfArSscBf
423Please respect copyright.PENANAStOV1zpOhb
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.423Please respect copyright.PENANA0VZ7eXcJ8A
423Please respect copyright.PENANAR4SYoRTKme
423Please respect copyright.PENANAdCbTk7Yx0g
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAZIhUSTIyv5
423Please respect copyright.PENANAGLMgrrpWJ4
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANATmx6aIdSPM
423Please respect copyright.PENANAiQdw1zvvIw
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAD64eCNk75n
423Please respect copyright.PENANAGvXN33UsLW
…Okay, I will.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAUvrOCJAB3U
423Please respect copyright.PENANAdnXGmIqcR1
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAg2vL7Uu1c5
423Please respect copyright.PENANAfkhyWLAMK5
…Why?
423Please respect copyright.PENANAYvcdQca2Cb
423Please respect copyright.PENANAz3VcnHECSf
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANA5Jmq5rEuRn
423Please respect copyright.PENANAq1M7hMpOLB
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
423Please respect copyright.PENANA15XWaxHdlt
423Please respect copyright.PENANAapfrLmjX7P
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…423Please respect copyright.PENANAJbVBGBRLcg
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.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAzl5d3ZpDhy
423Please respect copyright.PENANAsQBu0bF7BX
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAnxhHk117it
423Please respect copyright.PENANA43sLLJfJfC
Anthony: “!!!?”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAfAJzDOtFwL
423Please respect copyright.PENANA3F8KI3eBYM
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.
423Please respect copyright.PENANAF3zilmGHzS
423Please respect copyright.PENANAni5YCyLFu7
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
423Please respect copyright.PENANAYCzgELYJuM
423Please respect copyright.PENANADbEGz4IBfZ
Alphon:
Strength: ???423Please respect copyright.PENANAElyA9m4Ydp
Endurance: ???423Please respect copyright.PENANAv1xKmx12NC
Intelligence: ???423Please respect copyright.PENANApNyUycwL0N
Charisma: ???423Please respect copyright.PENANAjoGUeXPmFE
Agility: ???423Please respect copyright.PENANAUCdAmmQfhP
Magic: ????????423Please respect copyright.PENANAchWrfROBtM