Reaper's Resurgence: A System Reset

Alexia

Well that was a little more annoying than the other targets, but not that annoying. The 'boss' of that little gang – or group of gangs, rather – was tougher than the other targets. To the point that I had to actually use my scythe. What with the boss guy being the same level as me.

But other than that he wasn't much of a problem and was easily killed.

As for what the guy did that painted the target on his back? Apparently he was spreading some sort of strange infection that altered reality itself.

Which was… unique.

And the reward for killing the guy was…

It gave me another item.

An item I already have a better version of.

Some high tech storage ring that is centered more around technology than magic.

So, at the end of the day, useless to me. Although it might benefit The Retreat.

Anyways, that battle reminded me of a certain skill that I haven't been focusing on leveling up as much lately. Simply because that skill leveled up during the battle.

I go ahead and pull up the System Message as I teleport through the skies of the Block.

{Congratulations! Your Passive Skill 'Quantum Adaptation' has reached Level 17!}

Something tells me I should start putting more focus on this skill, but I'm still not quite sure how to do that. Since I can't exactly go around telling everyone to hit me.

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Or I could, but that would get me labeled as a masochist. Which isn't a label I want.

Not to mention that there's no telling if someone will even have a skill or magic that I haven't adapted to yet. So it could end up being pointless as well.

Then there's the fact that I'm already immune to all non-magical physical damage in the first place. Thereby limiting the things I can adapt to down to just magical attacks.

And not everyone even has magic.

Overall, it's a pain to level up.

Actually, on the note of Quantum Adaptation, I wonder if it works on quantum beings? Because I don't remember it doing anything when I was fighting the previous Quantum Architect. At all.

Out of nowhere, a screen appears in front of me, and I end up face-planting into it before shattering it. Quickly causing me to stop flying and narrow my eyes as I look upwards to find Zal appearing in the sky.

"Want to test it?" he asks straight up.

I open my mouth, only to close it again a second later. Because while part of me is feeling irritated at what he just did, the other part is overwhelmed by curiosity.

In the end I just nod my head, and we begin testing with his powers. Albeit with him taking it easy on me since he is still far stronger than I am. What with me just being Tier 4 right now.

One test after another, with him continuously using the same amount of power. And we eventually learn that my adaptation does seem to work on his magic.

Which is weird since it didn't work on the former Quantum Architect's magic.

Unless…

I frown as I look down and cross my arms.

Maybe that's the reason? The resistance I got from clearing the Quantum Architect's trial for the Quantum Architect's energy?

It could simply be that I have to clear a quantum being's trial for Quantum Adaptation to work on them.

"That's the most likely reason," Zal says before vanishing again without a word now that he's done helping me with that issue.

Then I proceed to continue teleporting through the Dimensional Blocks while training Energy Manipulation. But this time I also try to let any of my targets that I find hit me first. Just to see if they have anything I haven't adapted to yet.

If they do, then I go ahead and let them hit me for a little while in order to get that adaptation.

If they don't?

Well, I kill them and move on.

And just like this, entire months pass. Two to be specific.

Then I find myself teleported back to the tournament dimension that I'd honestly forgotten about during my hunt. Only to be told by the System that the first round of the tournament is now complete, and I need to be here for the start of the second round.

Which is ridiculous.

Both the mere fact that the first round is only just now fucking completing, and the fact that I have to be here for this.

Annoying.

Although, I guess it makes some sense. For the former, not the latter. Since there are billions of people in Dimensional Block #108, and they were all fighting in the tournament whether they wanted to or not.

Even if it was going 30 fights at a time.

I let out a sigh before leaning my cheek against the palm of my hand, with my elbow resting on the armrest of the little throne I'm on. But instead of paying attention to the little ceremony down there being hosted by some strange System Avatar that looks like nothing more than a silhouette made of quantum energy, I just focus on my skills list.

And more importantly, at the progress I've made for Energy Manipulation.

Which is a decent amount, seeing as I've gotten the skill to level 28 by now. Mostly thanks to the targets I've been hunting.

So just two more levels and I'll finally be able to ascend to Tier 5.

A faint smile spreads across my face as I look at the System Avatar. An avatar that is still talking in a rather grandiose way to commemorate the first round being over and the second round starting. A second round that is just another batch of duels.

It won't be long now.

Not long at all.