Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”373Please respect copyright.PENANAOCsNEDWirR
373Please respect copyright.PENANADH7ej7BEEw
373Please respect copyright.PENANAPE1cd325RV
What’s that?
373Please respect copyright.PENANAiPndDMbhaB
373Please respect copyright.PENANAGE6ZRORLIR
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAGSECU4taNL
373Please respect copyright.PENANA9R0G4h5W9J
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAJidEJUT0l3
373Please respect copyright.PENANABdt2aJjITo
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
373Please respect copyright.PENANA9OvCbHODZB
373Please respect copyright.PENANAa6uvAXhiyE
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10373Please respect copyright.PENANAI1d8NCLwa0
Endurance: 10373Please respect copyright.PENANASRcDtFfmDn
Intelligence: 21373Please respect copyright.PENANAIecQK31Aat
Charisma: 20373Please respect copyright.PENANAVkJ94fwWuR
Agility: 14 373Please respect copyright.PENANAL8UGLHIxzz
Magic: 35 373Please respect copyright.PENANAYLvvb00mqH
373Please respect copyright.PENANAbwCdtj3ffB
VS
373Please respect copyright.PENANANwL9fzw4Fe
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21373Please respect copyright.PENANAPxk45im3xb
Endurance: 17.5373Please respect copyright.PENANAUWvGJDZBIP
Intelligence: 19.5373Please respect copyright.PENANAC6c7Q04oCv
Charisma: 18.5373Please respect copyright.PENANA1Nodp9fbv1
Agility: 16.5373Please respect copyright.PENANA0wOm4hdWzD
Magic: 24373Please respect copyright.PENANAzLtq2YAIWG
373Please respect copyright.PENANAZFsT7W0T4M
373Please respect copyright.PENANAsfoqA0Edvb
Oh, that not too ba-
373Please respect copyright.PENANA8q4TNd1ar3
373Please respect copyright.PENANARF7Ujj5DQe
Arc: “Focus!”
373Please respect copyright.PENANA8XtgAuudLS
*CRACK*373Please respect copyright.PENANAxGsOvBfDaZ
373Please respect copyright.PENANAd4bKqybQOq
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANACR3udaoLbL
373Please respect copyright.PENANAk7RJIQD4sL
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.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAVJoefE69Wn
373Please respect copyright.PENANAlcphozp1l7
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
373Please respect copyright.PENANASugJmT0Pg2
373Please respect copyright.PENANAyj9FrybObm
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
373Please respect copyright.PENANA7fRvoOTnxM
373Please respect copyright.PENANAOw43aHLKRE
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAlEz1YAwYiH
373Please respect copyright.PENANAqeOKHegBa8
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAB0Y5Tqo0TH
373Please respect copyright.PENANAhMMjRTgjar
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
373Please respect copyright.PENANA4AN3iAbWcc
373Please respect copyright.PENANAOhEHDteZGk
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAaVE522L7YY
373Please respect copyright.PENANABSfYX1yrb9
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”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAWHry4hdwL6
Nao: “!!”373Please respect copyright.PENANAve6qgGmDkk
373Please respect copyright.PENANAgGvOZ43xvj
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAbN0k09tZtZ
373Please respect copyright.PENANAGNXjRqFean
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
373Please respect copyright.PENANATumOUnFPb1
373Please respect copyright.PENANApDLKtSp2NL
Nao: “Not yet!”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAYssMCULC3z
373Please respect copyright.PENANAVvsIu5cLzi
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 373Please respect copyright.PENANAsygl0DQGHZ
373Please respect copyright.PENANAV78hY4fIwi
Strength: 30373Please respect copyright.PENANAamy4nDb1ZS
373Please respect copyright.PENANAgdtZruzXg2
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!373Please respect copyright.PENANAkDjqcgiWjL
*BOOM*373Please respect copyright.PENANALMbkVuGFyZ
373Please respect copyright.PENANAFrFEKfj9OU
Nao: “GAAH!”373Please respect copyright.PENANAjhvfq5hYdz
373Please respect copyright.PENANAD5bdnyqMMC
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAccMmIMvprk
373Please respect copyright.PENANAvL3JbF2qoI
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
373Please respect copyright.PENANAa5zTq1NXIY
373Please respect copyright.PENANArIEXUxHf3F
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
373Please respect copyright.PENANA043dyYWBYe
373Please respect copyright.PENANAZwBPGdn7C3
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAOGN1ig3Hqz
Nao: “Gaah!”373Please respect copyright.PENANAqu7SzRbc13
373Please respect copyright.PENANAuGoPOCR264
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…
373Please respect copyright.PENANAejmHwi5ObG
373Please respect copyright.PENANA8KjIlJa4pB
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAMteRtlxe1R
Nao: “!!”373Please respect copyright.PENANAmULNfFs9Ym
373Please respect copyright.PENANAepyvzHgK3i
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAiovv0zWg57
373Please respect copyright.PENANAHZ3OYIVz6N
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAYDpMbsyxbk
373Please respect copyright.PENANABBKN7A4bbx
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAkL1wmwC1gt
373Please respect copyright.PENANAAIZyewmvYp
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.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAz0ZMVGOZQy
373Please respect copyright.PENANAjgyZVJRZK5
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAhu27mYuaIF
373Please respect copyright.PENANAFx1kfA5w3q
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANALG9ERZbWhD
Anthony: “*Sigh*”373Please respect copyright.PENANA08kIbcxHDr
373Please respect copyright.PENANAzehQn5yxzE
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.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAmnlLNsWCmZ
373Please respect copyright.PENANABRj08LLnnQ
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAuNLsVTghk2
373Please respect copyright.PENANAdWFTN4ZieD
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAcBA7gv9ha3
373Please respect copyright.PENANAB2wIlcvBps
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAmDWKynsH7C
373Please respect copyright.PENANAGKZo7s3OgA
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”373Please respect copyright.PENANAluMsx0eo2h
373Please respect copyright.PENANAwT1As97xaQ
Nao: “My answer is…”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAzLNEj6URzp
*Smile*373Please respect copyright.PENANAQqTfg3nk9Y
373Please respect copyright.PENANAYqNTQHUyZQ
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAX5EZQKfRWG
373Please respect copyright.PENANAuPqkgAOcV6
Anthony: “What?”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAhkzdyEbst8
373Please respect copyright.PENANAvo7THRSW9Z
Nao: “Air bullet!”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAagEGJEXo3T
373Please respect copyright.PENANADWJYSV5wEX
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAVIptXJwjFb
373Please respect copyright.PENANAEXhQxJTHBU
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!
373Please respect copyright.PENANAyQPszaQCEP
373Please respect copyright.PENANA1spQV1ncnl
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAWGtc04q9Q7
373Please respect copyright.PENANALtYeTaQdAP
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-
373Please respect copyright.PENANAWMH9WrBO4u
*Drip*373Please respect copyright.PENANABmERDE9pVx
373Please respect copyright.PENANALBuZMblXuv
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 373Please respect copyright.PENANAnwu3PPjm8u
373Please respect copyright.PENANAQYVgr5XigM
373Please respect copyright.PENANAycxx9RSLet
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.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAJzpUctqc01
373Please respect copyright.PENANAMTNeDCJNG7
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAuGsTNGNTRM
373Please respect copyright.PENANAgTb2L8REXH
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
373Please respect copyright.PENANAX8KIBOxXbO
!?373Please respect copyright.PENANA0M3CfQO3jN
373Please respect copyright.PENANANZ3GyhX6P4
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…
373Please respect copyright.PENANAU1XViCd54Z
373Please respect copyright.PENANANu1xd8d4KO
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAh2Dn8ArfCI
373Please respect copyright.PENANAOcJfo5vWnL
Kid, you’ll regret that.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAixfU6kwcbU
373Please respect copyright.PENANAKMdgnYvpFh
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAPxvAR6Fq4J
373Please respect copyright.PENANAKyfhm31ZbP
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
373Please respect copyright.PENANAR4Vuh6vHrw
373Please respect copyright.PENANAkGyflnlyDv
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAZy5XnxSdsq
373Please respect copyright.PENANAwkdscDnXMX
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAPbgQBJEXFR
373Please respect copyright.PENANAHyNN0kZkGT
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
373Please respect copyright.PENANA8Vx26NnwBL
!!373Please respect copyright.PENANA7cdMkNOfL7
373Please respect copyright.PENANAIRkjh2EVsz
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”373Please respect copyright.PENANA8r5VBtvbyM
373Please respect copyright.PENANAvtxhz0TEzE
373Please respect copyright.PENANApybDyWYvye
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAw9xvUDAIlu
373Please respect copyright.PENANAAkf0zCTQht
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAAsqh8oM7R4
373Please respect copyright.PENANAmpQi8Wp0gn
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.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAAa2ws2YxGs
373Please respect copyright.PENANASNQjnrcZbg
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAbaBKdYswFi
373Please respect copyright.PENANAbq2IrjKJFR
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
373Please respect copyright.PENANApptlrfPs3q
373Please respect copyright.PENANAhZgtaLgXmp
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.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANA9DShOH2EFN
373Please respect copyright.PENANAMZEi84oYk7
Arc: “Na-”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAKwUx75Zp2q
373Please respect copyright.PENANApsbncNWIiL
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAUqt2kI0648
373Please respect copyright.PENANALsJVDikhfU
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…”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAOU2FqSuD2J
373Please respect copyright.PENANAjd1ipmdvhU
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAuqKRHC5rpj
373Please respect copyright.PENANACHoUgkai0s
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAPO0pKxI4TB
373Please respect copyright.PENANAvlbFygWZcC
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.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAyrzpNq5fW9
373Please respect copyright.PENANA5ddTHLJchn
Nao: “And…after that?”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAC4CYW9o4Lm
373Please respect copyright.PENANAKB7jggNiK0
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?”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAspP7ilOYL1
373Please respect copyright.PENANAiwnOv1IVEg
Nao: “…”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAdGXsoysGr3
373Please respect copyright.PENANAQu8wYJjUlx
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAUCLwxMGMiW
373Please respect copyright.PENANASNYX9lWbbA
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANA249Ozquy9J
373Please respect copyright.PENANArDiOvMmX21
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…373Please respect copyright.PENANAcHn1VuoNMs
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAQBq9tGdjey
373Please respect copyright.PENANAd1npHzyiEm
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAOzYE6IjguW
373Please respect copyright.PENANA1PxfrRrXgK
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
373Please respect copyright.PENANA4TMhpy0Zry
373Please respect copyright.PENANAA8UrwUwpp3
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
373Please respect copyright.PENANAr5WiGbFi3z
373Please respect copyright.PENANAMTkqFHOkyW
…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…
373Please respect copyright.PENANAkLkAQE5LVO
373Please respect copyright.PENANAGhUFTZmOJv
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAkDyQ7JI2mu
373Please respect copyright.PENANAb7enupnHEl
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
373Please respect copyright.PENANArcxqm4eNYZ
373Please respect copyright.PENANANgEMcoWlcU
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
373Please respect copyright.PENANA0WdUfSz1UE
373Please respect copyright.PENANAozRQ8UCEPI
T-To save…my family.
373Please respect copyright.PENANADJobSU2ZaR
373Please respect copyright.PENANAmMWdcEZ10j
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAVzn8rAMCxo
373Please respect copyright.PENANAByHibKgKvH
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
373Please respect copyright.PENANADNVcOCOz83
373Please respect copyright.PENANAOs18noRpFI
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
373Please respect copyright.PENANAIrjHVZz0GY
!!373Please respect copyright.PENANAwNQNxqum9C
373Please respect copyright.PENANACUanJ2gdkD
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.373Please respect copyright.PENANAoxC9CNue1G
373Please respect copyright.PENANASRgfMnWF5o
373Please respect copyright.PENANAf8PGJ1Las6
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAk3YVdx8DDe
373Please respect copyright.PENANABAOdfvwKe1
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANA5lL76Q0YTi
373Please respect copyright.PENANAZrWGJwuSqU
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAW6OGdLUpL4
373Please respect copyright.PENANAjKNAyDSub1
…Okay, I will.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAepBB9xO7cq
373Please respect copyright.PENANAsTydzIPLgW
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAwIdadI9ofF
373Please respect copyright.PENANAALhcmnSsYG
…Why?
373Please respect copyright.PENANAPELipVLN8P
373Please respect copyright.PENANASgcXmt0B5b
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAdGvvDrJO5p
373Please respect copyright.PENANAXvLHJJsHkz
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAceIWnxX5dA
373Please respect copyright.PENANA9NAqIjtiRE
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…373Please respect copyright.PENANAk78qJVvulf
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.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAk5Quyfx59j
373Please respect copyright.PENANAmqJEv7C7Yo
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAawOfKYwFge
373Please respect copyright.PENANAsZW29aVNJQ
Anthony: “!!!?”
373Please respect copyright.PENANAV7Qjgx3S2v
373Please respect copyright.PENANAWPk0DT5CHd
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.
373Please respect copyright.PENANAqGzQbYgLuy
373Please respect copyright.PENANAorYzQWT53y
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
373Please respect copyright.PENANA5EwuXnEJn2
373Please respect copyright.PENANAxDdHi5SdhU
Alphon:
Strength: ???373Please respect copyright.PENANArJPZKDEv24
Endurance: ???373Please respect copyright.PENANA6Co4ullMGx
Intelligence: ???373Please respect copyright.PENANAOGaNvi6rL0
Charisma: ???373Please respect copyright.PENANALYUYl0RzqQ
Agility: ???373Please respect copyright.PENANAmLJmqZqYYi
Magic: ????????373Please respect copyright.PENANAGbRvKD8zQX