Reaper's Resurgence: A System Reset

Alexia

I almost immediately find myself feeling rather surprised by their battle. And not just because of their talks about dating. Although I was surprised about that too and still can't exactly wrap my head around it.

No.

What I'm surprised about is the fact that the two are even in their first clash.

And I'm very surprised by that.

Astrid's nine breath attacks and Ethan's one larger one clash in the center of the two and cause an enormous explosion. One mixed with dust and smoke that I can easily see through yet is blocked by a force field barrier before reaching the audience. And I can clearly tell that neither of them gave an inch.

Both attacks were completely equal.

Neither Astrid nor Ethan look very surprised about it though. Unlike me. Which probably implies that they've sparred more times than I realized.

Meanwhile the crowd goes wild. At least, the crowd that I can hear. So the ones not in booths.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

I quickly mute them though, because they're annoying. And I want to focus on Astrid's big battle.

Down in the arena, Astrid quickly prepares several more breath attacks while the smoke and dust is still in the arena. But this time she fires all of the attacks in arcs towards Ethan instead of in a single direct strike. Even while Ethan sends a single beam at her that she manages to dodge by sinking into her shadow and moving elsewhere.

Then all of the nine breath attacks she sent at Ethan are blocked by different parts of his body freezing solid and just tanking the hits without taking any damage or even cracking the ice. Following which the ice returns to normal scales again, and both of the two combatants begin to spread their own elements around the arena.

I narrow my eyes a little as shadows and ice begin to coat the entire arena.

This is a very even fight. So even that neither of them have landed a clear hit on the other without perfectly defending it or dodging it.

But that can't last forever…

And just as I have that thought, one of Ethan's bolts of ice finally strikes one of Astrid's necks. Freezing a patch of her neck in the process. After which she manages to sneak a hit past his own defenses and injure his tail with a spike of shadows that shoots out of the ground.

I feel my fingers twitch slightly at the sight of Astrid getting hurt, but I quickly calm down and take a deep breath. Then I just continue watching the fight as they occasionally trade one blow after another. With Astrid taking more hits than Ethan.

Which makes some sense. Seeing as she's dodging while he is blocking them.

And she's not strong enough to defend against them herself.

Her magic is focused on stealth, agility, and sneak attacks after all. Unlike Ethan's which is focused more on defensive measures.

And – at least in my opinion – it's easier to block an attack than it is to dodge it.

So long as you can block it. As long as you're strong enough to do so.

If you're not strong enough to block then it's not exactly easier after all.

The two continue sharing one blow after another, showing off one attack after another and slowly exhausting each other as their wounds heal. More so than I've ever seen these two exhausted.

Enough that both of their True Form transformations come to an end, bringing them back to their regular forms again.

And unsurprisingly, that actually helps Astrid catch back up a bit. Since they're both a lot smaller now, and it's easier for her to move faster, and harder for Ethan to defend.

So now they go back to trading blows again, except with Astrid managing to make more hits on him than vice versa.

Eventually their wounds stop healing despite both of them being draconic creatures. With draconic creatures having higher on average regeneration capabilities.

I actually stand up from my seat and walk over to the edge of my viewing area as I stare at the battle, watching it with more interest than anything I can remember from the time since the Reset. As Ethan and Astrid both draw their own blades – with Ethan drawing some sort of axe and Astrid using one small blade and one slightly larger blade – before clashing. Sending shockwaves through the already-damaged arena.

Then everything ends all at once as Astrid goes in to send spikes of shadow at Ethan's back.

And Ethan just takes the blows and pushes forwards using their own momentum while dropping his blade to slash his claws across Astrid's throat.

Killing her in the process before I find her reappearing inside of my booth.

Astrid immediately wryly smiles at me, only for her to steal my seat and sit down. With Luna walking over to her and patting her on the head as she says, "Good job, Aunty."

And with that, Astrid smiles at her before looking at me and nodding as she says, "Teach him what defeat tastes like, sis."

A wry smile of my own emerges on my face and I give her a single finger salute while responding, "Roger that."

Then I find a notification appearing in my vision.

And as I'm still reading the notification, I find myself being teleported high above the air in the middle of the arena. After which I narrow my eyes and turn my gaze to look down at Ethan, who is still standing in the arena. Albeit seemingly having been fully restored by the System for another round.

"Are you ready?" Ethan asks with a smile on his face and some of that affection I remember him having for me still there. Meaning he does still have some feelings for me, even if his feelings for Astrid look clearer. "Because I am."

I raise a brow at that.

"Oh, really?" I ask in return while spreading both of my arms outwards a bit as my cloak billows in the wind up here. "Let's see if you can back that up."

The crowd immediately roars its approval.