Arc: “Be careful, this is your first mage battle. Not only that, Anthony has an artifact.”361Please respect copyright.PENANArPW1LBYyAX
361Please respect copyright.PENANAgohUYcEj7P
361Please respect copyright.PENANAvKWXFJekd2
What’s that?
361Please respect copyright.PENANAEZxqAne3oY
361Please respect copyright.PENANAvXqiPso1KW
Arc: “A true magic item, among the strongest of their kind.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAK2stTn5WRl
361Please respect copyright.PENANAc9BdKZIvPd
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANATivf1K7pS2
361Please respect copyright.PENANA2zVulhh2IS
I point it at Anthony who’s waiting for me to deliver the first blow. Good thing, this gives me time.
361Please respect copyright.PENANA9i9MtexgHZ
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZNRvfQdqvg
Anthony(With Artemis):
Strength: 10361Please respect copyright.PENANArDcbMpwLHu
Endurance: 10361Please respect copyright.PENANAajH1mG7lSa
Intelligence: 21361Please respect copyright.PENANAuvnJXE3QBV
Charisma: 20361Please respect copyright.PENANAXjC92YtMds
Agility: 14 361Please respect copyright.PENANA93X8uRfm4L
Magic: 35 361Please respect copyright.PENANAHb5jDAQLNZ
361Please respect copyright.PENANAD8sv3kaS8i
VS
361Please respect copyright.PENANA2Gh9a6lmZ3
Nao(Base/No Shape Shift):
Strength: 21361Please respect copyright.PENANA6EyMHHlUUZ
Endurance: 17.5361Please respect copyright.PENANAihXctycBle
Intelligence: 19.5361Please respect copyright.PENANAK2iBFSbks4
Charisma: 18.5361Please respect copyright.PENANACqH5E8VR5j
Agility: 16.5361Please respect copyright.PENANAghBqlO8EV5
Magic: 24361Please respect copyright.PENANAJKMnT6vrvK
361Please respect copyright.PENANA0r2ofNNHp5
361Please respect copyright.PENANAyjOhSqSRoW
Oh, that not too ba-
361Please respect copyright.PENANAgQSEcwqJpb
361Please respect copyright.PENANA9uKR7lJOUv
Arc: “Focus!”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAz0R20OHoHz
*CRACK*361Please respect copyright.PENANAbE0RO6T8vW
361Please respect copyright.PENANAc8ndzFp4ts
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAHt85JUVn4K
361Please respect copyright.PENANAOl7la2cIE3
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.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAqE15B3oiid
361Please respect copyright.PENANABDEaFwxtLs
I rush forward towards Anthony while keeping the shield up. Anthony continues to blast lightning at me but it only delays me.
361Please respect copyright.PENANA80x6AidRBo
361Please respect copyright.PENANAVXwpTHvHq8
Anthony: “That shield won’t last forever!”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAcRkcULEGhN
361Please respect copyright.PENANAFFzX30SkQb
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAWTHAjhtsqD
361Please respect copyright.PENANAUc3r82aJGN
Anthony: “You’re slow compared to the King!”
361Please respect copyright.PENANA034KOxcSYP
361Please respect copyright.PENANAu0tjNTGZPM
Anthony throws a kick to my side but I catch it with ease.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAMKH9vBOSPn
361Please respect copyright.PENANAjQv5pIXB3O
Nao: “Checkmate, paralysis.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAPgOdFiPJLX
361Please respect copyright.PENANACsWZEnqwHC
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”
361Please respect copyright.PENANA0rkZHMHZZN
Nao: “!!”361Please respect copyright.PENANAfoSQR6R3xU
361Please respect copyright.PENANAYEq9hIYaCZ
Anthony: “My turn, paralysis.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAoiA6yGjqdh
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZNO1uCFY9r
I let go of Anthony’s leg before it erupts in purple lightning that would’ve knocked me clean out.
361Please respect copyright.PENANASPOPtLeBpV
361Please respect copyright.PENANA6QKy3vAx8Y
Nao: “Not yet!”
361Please respect copyright.PENANA87Lyr7gM0t
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZvekfO6Yv5
I bite my lip and transform my right arm into a gorilla’s. 361Please respect copyright.PENANA4XC5ZHsLvE
361Please respect copyright.PENANAXecv8Z74Gq
Strength: 30361Please respect copyright.PENANAW24WJzh8MK
361Please respect copyright.PENANAfHbXCquvqj
My powered fist sinks into Anthony’s face and his eyes go white. Did I…win!361Please respect copyright.PENANAcNK773rnRP
*BOOM*361Please respect copyright.PENANAi0uvnokDTK
361Please respect copyright.PENANAF79dbracZv
Nao: “GAAH!”361Please respect copyright.PENANApSFGjT9EqL
361Please respect copyright.PENANATgGTHmEZ42
Lightning engulfs both of us and Anthony’s consciousness returns. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
361Please respect copyright.PENANA9fib9qd2d0
361Please respect copyright.PENANAFqqwIcaLak
I rip myself away from the raging storm and transform the necklace into book form. I need a new spe-
361Please respect copyright.PENANAIEsLEm2RX0
361Please respect copyright.PENANA5uyl9YDy4q
Anthony: “You think I’d let you!”
361Please respect copyright.PENANATIJUSePZ9K
361Please respect copyright.PENANAMFoygXNhcX
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAcjoXlCIxqZ
Nao: “Gaah!”361Please respect copyright.PENANAeQRSkr0VZs
361Please respect copyright.PENANAMHPmvRaFxU
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…
361Please respect copyright.PENANAvb3rN84rFC
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZrSQb9SSEp
Anthony: “Get it, we’re not done. And if I see you trying to swap spells I roast the rest of the students.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANABB3n00PMVj
Nao: “!!”361Please respect copyright.PENANAWXRuJuF1Y6
361Please respect copyright.PENANAV0waJz1PpR
I transform the book into necklace form and shake off the nightmares.
361Please respect copyright.PENANArWkGIDOTfZ
361Please respect copyright.PENANAY3F0L20yMj
Anthony: “Give up Nao, you can’t be me as I am now. Why even fight me. These people don’t care about you.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANA5qk8Y4BOTA
361Please respect copyright.PENANA8rSvktsqvf
Nao: “I-I can’t…won’t kill again. I won’t make that mistake again…”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAeXkj9X1cZ3
361Please respect copyright.PENANAmhG9YSPylw
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.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANADDhvTSD6ea
361Please respect copyright.PENANAmgL5NSckma
Nao: “That’s not who I’m supposed to be. It’s…It’s wrong?”
361Please respect copyright.PENANA1u5CmGZqag
361Please respect copyright.PENANA41YG68JjtK
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANA9Zt80UqfAT
Anthony: “*Sigh*”361Please respect copyright.PENANADvWXudNUZg
361Please respect copyright.PENANA5MNyJimkEV
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.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAC99Kb7Kwuq
361Please respect copyright.PENANApJhejZSUOI
Nao: “You can’t…be serious.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANA8bqSYzixLa
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2IblpfAGv
Anthony: “Deadly, I will kill them either way. Why not free yourself from your delusion and remain among the living.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAF6xyDY5PXq
361Please respect copyright.PENANAeQHl6f2mtA
Nao: “What…happened to you.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAEwo20h342k
361Please respect copyright.PENANAjKxf2iuWW5
Anthony: “…I made the choice to fight back. So, what’s your final answer.”361Please respect copyright.PENANAl422LKGqiO
361Please respect copyright.PENANA0HSiW5zxll
Nao: “My answer is…”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAsiAdO9U8dC
*Smile*361Please respect copyright.PENANASQf73s3YOs
361Please respect copyright.PENANADec721qCqU
Nao: “Thanks for giving me time to prepare.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAeBQrD1Vlzu
361Please respect copyright.PENANAsG7WCwAJjn
Anthony: “What?”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAGV1DT75DlS
361Please respect copyright.PENANANI9UTGplPE
Nao: “Air bullet!”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAy35RJeRGbx
361Please respect copyright.PENANAFMlc3JhAhR
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAfmh4wUU1ce
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZV5goUx6bL
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!
361Please respect copyright.PENANA31ls13tEei
361Please respect copyright.PENANAC2rOZjKfd4
Nao: “Everyone run! I don’t know how long I can hold him!”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAxzpIltiNDI
361Please respect copyright.PENANAdkU0zYcU7K
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-
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZHllt2SqxF
*Drip*361Please respect copyright.PENANAdYYJO7T5nk
361Please respect copyright.PENANAhiJIjExDXl
My vision is…starting to blur and my nose is...bleeding? 361Please respect copyright.PENANASVMfvHg57r
361Please respect copyright.PENANA9qGgltyHVJ
361Please respect copyright.PENANABRnWHodD2z
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.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAWinNzxSzgw
361Please respect copyright.PENANAA4pANLRyyG
Sorry for being suspended and home locked.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAt7Rl7qcKYN
361Please respect copyright.PENANATpjohrsLcE
I fall to one knee but I keep the prison active. At all I cost I must-
361Please respect copyright.PENANACifMKtX3kM
!?361Please respect copyright.PENANAZQAiVPCEJe
361Please respect copyright.PENANAPHkKRi6TdS
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…
361Please respect copyright.PENANAxBpJz4RGu9
361Please respect copyright.PENANApk1PlJWy0f
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAxHpRLGxCGY
361Please respect copyright.PENANArrZMV2BzdO
Kid, you’ll regret that.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAqaJjU0pvn4
361Please respect copyright.PENANABC0TcJ0OKl
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAkforDXKaMP
361Please respect copyright.PENANA3nTibuKl8Q
Anthony: *Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
361Please respect copyright.PENANAj36n8tonrU
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZT9gQpqaGi
Anthony: “Damn it, Nao. Why?”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAWjGDr7i2yx
361Please respect copyright.PENANAeVhbqP6Y0w
Anthony drags himself to me and grabs my shirt by the collar.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAwUhMNpbwMG
361Please respect copyright.PENANAF2YYLnI4Qu
Anthony: “Why didn’t you kill me?! Are you retarded?!”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAKGvSKEStjq
!!361Please respect copyright.PENANAlq4eLbmXwn
361Please respect copyright.PENANA7tFlBh8Ja0
Nao: “Y-You…want to die?”361Please respect copyright.PENANA4NbiXOETfk
361Please respect copyright.PENANAgXE8lc55LR
361Please respect copyright.PENANAMDgempwRmw
Anthony: “No you idiot, I’m just bewildered that you would spare me when you know what I’ll do now.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAXH127JOBQ7
361Please respect copyright.PENANAgrs7Ir7sya
Nao: “Because…I want to see…a world where…we don’t have to kill each other.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAzF4JscYLaO
361Please respect copyright.PENANA0wDoWRAq42
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.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAtUUIZmLe3i
361Please respect copyright.PENANA0yoYZY5CD9
Anthony looks at the pen remains floating in the water. Hehe, I guess he figured it out.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAIaSjEGCKLn
361Please respect copyright.PENANAX6c9QeoBu2
Anthony: “The minor illusion pen…”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAkJbay8fHzo
361Please respect copyright.PENANAhDnBspeSCn
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.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANADXlAUZ4LsJ
361Please respect copyright.PENANA7inlQqqsLW
Arc: “Na-”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAu501v6Wt01
361Please respect copyright.PENANAXK8iJsEVsp
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAjC1B0BIkR5
361Please respect copyright.PENANAY66EiUoFMF
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…”
361Please respect copyright.PENANARjorN40Ujw
361Please respect copyright.PENANAcB1CnzmTb9
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANA8e9BPeM8IM
361Please respect copyright.PENANA87HvEEwHuk
“ArchMage system activated, 98th user registered. Hello, Anthony.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAC4tUY751qu
361Please respect copyright.PENANAEAGCCyBtR0
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.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAOEnonve2rs
361Please respect copyright.PENANADqEKxXT07X
Nao: “And…after that?”
361Please respect copyright.PENANACpS36WZLoP
361Please respect copyright.PENANAldzTr5bSq4
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?”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAN8hOFfZvFn
361Please respect copyright.PENANAVOFKCNgv9y
Nao: “…”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAoC4LnnywvX
361Please respect copyright.PENANAQFshdmES3o
I don’t know. My mind blanks and my consciousness begins to fade.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAFUzC4SeGCB
361Please respect copyright.PENANAPXdv57eQ4R
Anthony: “Goodbye Nao, I hope you survive these wounds to see the new world with me.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAlAaaCKJUEf
361Please respect copyright.PENANA1TE0h5rhya
I close my enemies and accept my failure. I’m sorry Alyson…Mom…Arc…
…
…361Please respect copyright.PENANAEMf7rlthbH
I’m back in that same darkness that consumes my being. But this time…it’s not as oppressive as before.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAO9nvIZ0UbK
361Please respect copyright.PENANApYvaMefAUm
Seems Arc’s little plan failed. I’m glad actually, I think you’re a good successor.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAppbk041kKH
361Please respect copyright.PENANAKvfdU1qy3r
W-Who are you? You look…familiar. How can I even see a human form here?
361Please respect copyright.PENANA9Oaye55LS0
361Please respect copyright.PENANAYtV84R7T75
Doesn’t matter right now. Tell me, do you want to stop Anthony?
361Please respect copyright.PENANArXNr4wFpbS
361Please respect copyright.PENANAdV1ztpWIGR
…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…
361Please respect copyright.PENANA7Bo1pf6Ke0
361Please respect copyright.PENANAPw4ptO2dC7
For Gods’ sake kid, it’s not that complicated.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAzKYrtsTqP3
361Please respect copyright.PENANARRBliaX9KM
I-It’s not? B-B-But-
361Please respect copyright.PENANAWhGNjUTe56
361Please respect copyright.PENANAXenX6YAtwc
Shut it, think. Why did you want to stop Anthony in the first place?
361Please respect copyright.PENANAV52y9aWdQY
361Please respect copyright.PENANAOMgJclK6aj
T-To save…my family.
361Please respect copyright.PENANA04UjJpi2A2
361Please respect copyright.PENANAoC47WAoFUz
Right. Everything else is just extra filling. Your core desire right now is your family.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAUkjrHF37dB
361Please respect copyright.PENANA1wYa5uK61j
But I…don’t want to kill Anthony. I don’t want to disappoint my mom. I want to-
361Please respect copyright.PENANAueo7WGOimZ
361Please respect copyright.PENANApWEitRi30m
Again, that’s all extra. Let me spell it out this way. Do you want your family to die?
361Please respect copyright.PENANAMbKqwHxkFQ
!!361Please respect copyright.PENANALk4h05HnLE
361Please respect copyright.PENANA0SzQmhK1sF
No….I…I don’t want to lose my family.361Please respect copyright.PENANAUUec9Z6Ed7
361Please respect copyright.PENANAjAxNs5zevG
361Please respect copyright.PENANAhn0Ws2ttZ4
Despite not having a face in this realm, I can feel tears streaming down my face as I confess this simple fact.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAcg4BHH1PrT
361Please respect copyright.PENANAoQFfSrLll9
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAubNnalDWyz
361Please respect copyright.PENANAJkIPEqpN2P
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAKxsV80aVgx
361Please respect copyright.PENANA0juNYosAZR
…Okay, I will.
361Please respect copyright.PENANA4nwMY0ggoP
361Please respect copyright.PENANAbGyslFy8Ks
Good, the first step in doing that is taking my hand.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAyTq2uJHhzU
361Please respect copyright.PENANAc3sLC9c0G5
…Why?
361Please respect copyright.PENANAmL5RcECik7
361Please respect copyright.PENANA7pim1cJDQn
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAeh8nq63oYv
361Please respect copyright.PENANA4VR1UzEa4g
I don’t know why but I…trust this man. I move through the darkness and take his hands.
361Please respect copyright.PENANA6wLdyi5MvO
361Please respect copyright.PENANAlHeu70eAaG
Instantly, light fills the void and I’m…enveloped by it’s brilliance.
…
…361Please respect copyright.PENANAYm4pBJlnto
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.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAROufOjG8vH
361Please respect copyright.PENANAm4yUR9ZlWr
Anthony: “…No, I’m not cheating on you with him. Good grief woman.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAKlx12fLXDr
361Please respect copyright.PENANAErSrVN8bsI
Anthony: “!!!?”
361Please respect copyright.PENANA8wGopuHKHZ
361Please respect copyright.PENANAM08PYJZDwc
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.
361Please respect copyright.PENANAUAht2ITuPb
361Please respect copyright.PENANAzFkutR0WWb
Alphon: “Hey Anthony, I would like my partner back.”
361Please respect copyright.PENANAZP49idpl7t
361Please respect copyright.PENANAnXkfMuxKS6
Alphon:
Strength: ???361Please respect copyright.PENANApGHwPyhy8d
Endurance: ???361Please respect copyright.PENANAyo5gYP6uvW
Intelligence: ???361Please respect copyright.PENANADezqbWzRvX
Charisma: ???361Please respect copyright.PENANATmSJNUmpn0
Agility: ???361Please respect copyright.PENANAdNJKyDq4TI
Magic: ????????361Please respect copyright.PENANARwyIupRuRw