Reaper's Resurgence: A System Reset

Alexia

Unlike what I had planned, I end up spending hours upon hours just talking with Astrid. Catching up and spending twin time – as we used to call it – together for the first time in ages.

For the first time since before the Reset.

In fact, since before we entered that royal academy whose name I can't remember.

All while Luna sleeps in my arms, of course. Until she finally wakes up and leaves to go hunting.

Something about searching for Cataclysm Class monsters to hunt.

Which makes me briefly pity said monsters, but she can hunt whatever she wants.

Astrid and I continue talking all the way till the tournament finally begins to reach its final rounds. With the exception of when she goes into the arena to fight. But she always keeps the battles rather short so as to return as quickly as possible.

An act that I rather appreciate, since I'm enjoying this chat.

The people she absolutely annihilates in the arena, however, probably don't appreciate it.

But that's their problem, not ours.

Eventually, though, we reach the final round of the tournament. Which is exactly what most people expected it would be.

Astrid versus Ethan.

A Class S species that was artificially created and – according to the hyping of the fight I see on the internet – the twin sister of the most powerful user in the System, the Quantum Reaper. A rather nice description of us both, if I do say so myself. Or think so, that is.

And a Class S species that was born to two of the most powerful beings in the entire System before the Reset.

Even I'm feeling a little excited to watch this bout. And it's more than just me wanting to watch my twin go in an all-out battle. Although that's a large part of it too.

I just really want to see which one of them is stronger.

Up until now I've just kind of assumed Ethan was stronger. Since he was a Class S species a lot longer than she was, and artificially created things are often weaker than the genuinely born ones.

But there's no actual proof any of those assumptions are correct.

And, personally, I just want Astrid to be stronger.

So now I can see it one way or another.

Of course, my personal opinion is most definitely not swayed by the fact that I'll be fighting whoever wins this battle.

Not in the slightest.

Nope.

Not at all.

To my surprise though, the two draconic Class S beings – hydras are draconic enough – actually don't start fighting right away after appearing in the arena down below. Appearing without any of those expandable mini arenas at that. Just in the arena proper.

Instead the two of them begin to talk, with their conversation echoing across the entire stadium for everyone to hear.

And the stadium is filled to the brim. With every visible seat taken, every booth filled, and I'm sure even more places filled with spectators that I can't even see from here.

"I would've been disappointed if you didn't make it this far, Asty," Ethan says, making my mind blank out for a second at his sudden use of a nickname for Astrid.

What the what?

Astrid actually faintly smiles back at him as several hydra heads appear snaking out of her still-humanoid body and she says, "You as well, Ethan."

Then a brief and comfortable silence passes between them that confuses me even further. Following which Ethan asks, "You remember our promise?"

"Which one?" Astrid asks with a smile on her face as she crosses her arms under her chest. Looking very different from how she usually acts for some reason. "Our promise not to be a sore loser if you lose and aren't able to fight Lexi?"

Ethan narrows his eyes and states, "You know which promise I mean."

I blink.

That implies that what Astrid said was a promise they had. Meaning both of them apparently really want to-

"Oh, the promise that I'll consider going out with you if you win?" Astrid asks, sounding and looking smug as I almost stumble out of my seat in surprise mid-thought.

"What the fuckity fuck?!" I exclaim before gaping at the two in the stadium. All while the audience can be heard whispering all around about their very public conversation.

Ethan unabashedly answers, "Yes, that promise."

To my absolute shock, Astrid moves one hand to her hip and cocks it out as she looks at him with an amused smile and shrugs, saying, "Sure. Why not?"

I continue gaping at the two, glancing back and forth with my head bobbing like one of those figurines I've seen at stores before the Reset. The figurines whose heads bobble back and forth with some sort of spring attaching the head to the body.

Don't remember their names, but that's not really a priority right now.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

What is a priority right now is my sister's apparent dating life which I had thought was absolutely zero.

When did they get this close? I knew Ethan possibly had started developing feelings for Astrid, and that Astrid at least didn't see him in a negative light, but this?

Since when was she even interested in dating?

I feel my head spinning as I try to wrap my mind around this. But the two in the arena just continue chatting for a few minutes, seemingly riling up the crowd in the process.

Then they end it off with a simple, "Time to finally see which one of us is stronger." Following which both of them transform into their True Forms. With Astrid turning into her enormous shadow hydra form, and Ethan turning into an equally enormous hellfrost dragon. Albeit one that is a bit smaller than his father, the Ancient Wyrm.

And while I'm still trying to wrap my head around what the fuck just happened, the two both begin charging up breath attacks to hit each other with. Or, Astrid charges up nine breath attacks, to be specific. One from each head.

And the moment the breath attacks all clash, I finally get my head on straight again.

Focusing on the battle between the two Class S species.

While still wondering what the hell is going on between them, of course.