Echoes of the Reverse Planet

Chapter 97: Siblings VS Fate

Looking at the four participants left with only the finals, Jeong Nayeon smiled slyly.

Although her smile coincidentally matched the donation message telling them to kill each other, giving off a somewhat bizarre feeling, anyway.

Besides, when you think about it, it wasn’t exactly wrong, was it? Only two out of Team B could win in the finals.

“It would be a shame not to hear a word from the participants before the finals, right?”

– Final interviews are standard.

– ???: How do you feel about having to fight the opponent you were just cheering on in the same team?

– Thinking like the chat above, it’s hilarious lolololol

Jeong Nayeon walked up to Team B with a grin.

To be precise, towards the Beau-tiful siblings.

It was to conduct an interview with them first, as they could be considered contenders for the win.

‘Well, it’s called an interview, but I’ll just end it by hearing a brief word.’

“Yun Areum-nim, and Yun Daun-nim! Please give us a word on your resolve for the finals!”

“Huh—””Hmm—”

Yun Areum and Yun Daun briefly looked at each other unconsciously, then soon turned their heads away with faces scrunched up as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.

Viewers saw this and excitedly chattered about siblings having a gene that makes them hate each other, but Jeong Nayeon thought it wasn’t that extreme.

If it were, they wouldn’t have done a broadcast together as twin siblings in the first place.

‘Ah, or maybe not? Looking at those sibling singers in the past who didn’t get along but still worked as a group—’

“Even though I don’t like my teammate, since we’ve come this far, I really want to win!”

“Can we switch teams even now? My goal is to win.”

– The two are troublemakers but the strongest, holy—

– Their teammate chemistry is insane.

– They’ll probably end up fighting each other later?

– Seeing them secretly look out for each other despite this, they’re real siblings for sure.

“Yes! Well heard. As expected of siblings, you cherish each other greatly!”

“…What?”

Cha Seongcheol looked at Jeong Nayeon with wide eyes. His expression showed he didn’t understand where such words came from in the Beau-tiful siblings’ answers just now.

Of course, Jeong Nayeon didn’t care about his reaction. She herself knew there wasn’t an ounce of truth in what she just said.

Truth had nothing to do with it; viewers just chuckled at the comedy sketch the two were performing.

“Then, we should hear Geomsaeng Geomsa-nim and Shuria-nim’s resolve too, right? Please give us a word on your resolve!”

Realizing it was their turn, Geomsaeng Geomsa stepped forward with a determined expression, and Shuria stood behind, fidgeting with her fingers.

It was a scene where the difference in their personalities was felt at a glance.

“Certainly, the twins are contenders for the win with their great coordination, but I don’t think we fall behind either. If it’s the power of fate that exists between Shuria-nim and me, we can definitely win!”

“O-our power of fate? Is there such a— Ah, no. Yes, I also think we can win!”

– Wasn’t that ‘Is there such a thing’ but she agreed?

– Yep, correct. She was clearly asking if there was such a thing.

– Power of Fate (Nonexistent)

– Geomsaeng Geomsa’s one-sided fate lolololol

“My. An answer where I feel a power of fate as strong as the Beau-tiful Twins’!”

“…What?”

Hearing Jeong Nayeon’s summary, Cha Seongcheol looked at her with wide eyes again. It was a resolve where you couldn’t feel even a speck of ‘power of fate’.

But this time too, Jeong Nayeon shamelessly didn’t care at all about his reaction. If fabricating answers once isn’t hard, would twice be?

Now even the viewers seemed used to it, chattering things like ‘Ah lol, it’s different from official tournament interviews lol’, ‘Is this your first time with interview fabrication?’.

“Let’s hear the judges’ opinions this time. The Beau-tiful Twins and the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo! Which side do you think will win?!”

Jeong Nayeon’s next targets were Baek Woohyun and Cha Seongcheol, who were standing a step back.

Perhaps because they expected their turn would come after the participant interviews, the two showed calm reactions when pointed out.

They had also guessed who would pass first in the first individual mission. Although that time the question came via donation.

“Hmm… I think the Beau-tiful Twins will win.”

After pondering briefly, Baek Woohyun chose the Beau-tiful Twins side. It was an obvious choice, if obvious.

Because he had seen them as having exceptional talent from the moment he first saw them.

If their current skills are similar, what decides the match is ultimately a moment’s flash of insight, which is, in other words, called talent, so he thought so.

“I think the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo will win.”

On the other hand, Cha Seongcheol chose the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo.

It meant their choices diverged, just like during the first individual mission.

Back then, Baek Woohyun was the one who guessed correctly, but no one could know if that would be the case this time too. Except for Baek Woohyun, who stood alone with firm conviction.

“The two of you have different choices. Could you perhaps explain the basis for your choices?”

“Perfect breath coordination. And… talent.”

“I understand the coordination part, but talent?”

“Yes.”

When Jeong Nayeon asked again, Baek Woohyun nodded calmly.

“Geomsaeng Geomsa-nim and Shuria-nim also possess outstanding talent, but in my view, the Beau-tiful Twins have the most shining talent.”

“So you think that will decide victory or defeat.”

“That’s correct. Since their current skills are almost equal, I looked at their potential.”

– The talent that an active talent-chaser speaks of, holy—

– Hmm… Is that so?

– Twins’ coin about to blow up?

– “You have talent, do your best.”

“I see, I see. Well heard. Then, Seongcheol-nim, why did you choose the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo?”

“I chose after looking at Shuria-nim’s presence.”

At Cha Seongcheol’s shocking statement, a distant scream of “Hieek?!” could be heard.

It was Shuria’s scream, startled not only because her name was called but because she heard that she was the reason for his choice.

Of course, for someone as timid as her, it was understandable when a current commentator explicitly said he chose because of you.

“There is no ranged dealer among the Beau-tiful Twins, correct? Shuria-nim, the only ranged dealer, will be the key to victory or defeat.”

“The possibility is certainly high.”

Baek Woohyun also nodded slightly in agreement.

That was also why he didn’t choose the Beau-tiful Twins immediately without hesitation.

If Geomsaeng Geomsa could somehow hold out against the Beau-tiful Twins, the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo having a ranged dealer would be advantageous.

He didn’t even need to hold out completely; as long as he wasn’t broken through, it would be enough. Because he could get unrestricted support from behind.

But this was just an assumption, uncertain of what would happen if the Beau-tiful Twins targeted Shuria first.

Would Baek Woohyun have chosen the Beau-tiful Twins for no reason?

He believed that neither Geomsaeng Geomsa nor Shuria could withstand the fierce assault formed by the Beau-tiful Twins’ coordination.

He judged that even if they managed to hold out initially, they would eventually collapse.

“But is it really possible to hold out against the twins until the end?”

“Who knows! With the power of fate existing in the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo, anything could happen!”

– ???: Power of fate? Was there such a thing?

– Fabricationㄴ didn’t say ‘was there’.

– A power even they themselves don’t know exists.

– A one-sided power of fate is still a power, I guess;

“Great! Will it be the power of talent that Hackphysical speaks of! Or the power of fate that Seongcheol-nim speaks of! Let’s watch which side will win!”

And so, the judges’ predictions ended, and the Beau-tiful Twins and the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo, about to clash, faced each other.

The 5-second timer Jeong Nayeon started slowly decreased, and the moment the [Duel Start!] signal was given, the Beau-tiful Twins swiftly charged.

On the other hand, Geomsaeng Geomsa, meeting them, only prepared in a stance protecting Shuria with his back, not moving from his spot.

“Haaaat!””Chaaaat!”

“Kuuuh—”

As everyone expected, the Beau-tiful Twins fiercely pressed on.

The siblings showed the twins’ unique, perfect coordination they had displayed throughout the audition without fail.

Above and below, left and right, if you block one place, they force damage from another—their appearance felt like a monster with four arms.

But surprisingly, Geomsaeng Geomsa held his ground without collapsing, even if he got wounded and pushed back.

It was a clean defense, as if proving he didn’t tank alone against Etinel for nothing.

His appearance, holding out without letting any damage reach Shuria behind him, was like an iron wall.

“Ooh. He’s holding! Geomsaeng Geomsa player! No, not a player! Anyway, he’s holding!”

“Isn’t this dangerous for the twins’ side then?”

“······.”

– Is Hackphysical finally getting his first loss?

– He looks calm for someone in that situation though.

– Time for a counterattack.

– Is this… the power of fate…?

Because Geomsaeng Geomsa held out, Shuria got her chance.

Since the twins both charged in, they should have broken through Geomsaeng Geomsa quickly no matter what, but the moment they failed, the initiative fell into Shuria’s hands.

Shuria generously used [Chains of Extreme Cold], [Ice Spike], and even [Frozen Ground] to assist Geomsaeng Geomsa.

“[Ice Spike]!”

“Uwooo-!”

“You take the hit instead!””What crazy talk?!”

Empowered by Shuria’s active role, Geomsaeng Geomsa even managed to push back the Beau-tiful Twins.

It clearly demonstrated the power of the sole ranged dealer that Cha Seongcheol had foreseen when predicting the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo’s victory.

The fight, pushing and being pushed back in turn, was truly a fierce match worthy of the finals.

– It’s more intense than I thought, surprising lolololol

– To think this is a fight between Bronze, Silver, Gold plebs.

– Their skills have seriously improved.

– They learned for less than an hour and they’re this good? Holy—

The finals between the Beau-tiful Twins and the Geomsaeng Geomsa-Shuria combo even made viewers marvel.

Even though it was just a fight between low-tier Bronze/Silver/Gold participants and expectations weren’t high, a much fiercer and more interesting match was unfolding than expected.

Some among them couldn’t help but be astonished at Baek Woohyun’s ability to grow them this much with less than an hour of brief coaching.

‘Practically, he only taught for thirty minutes.’

‘What if he coached like this during the SSR Cup too?’

“Me!””No, me!”

Thud!

A match always reaches its end.

No matter how evenly matched, as time passes, a result emerges.

What became the turning point of the fierce final was a choice made by the Beau-tiful Twins, backed by sacrifice.

“What?!”

“Quickly!””Got it!”

Slice!

“Geomsaeng Geomsa-nim?!”

“This is— the end!”

Jeong Daun, the brother and younger sibling, deliberately taking Geomsaeng Geomsa’s sword strike to create an opening while simultaneously throwing his own sword to threaten Shuria.

Jeong Areum, the sister and older sibling, not missing the opportunity thus created, slashed Geomsaeng Geomsa’s neck and charged at Shuria.

Since Shuria, using a ranged build, couldn’t possibly withstand her, a close-combat build, the match ended there.

It was the result of actively accepting the mid-version Etinel—no, Baek Woohyun’s—teaching: if the gain to be obtained is great, accept a certain amount of loss.

‘As expected.’