The night wind was calm, yet every gust carried whispers of the recent battle with Calantha, the Eclipse General.
Ethan had barely slept. His body still ached, his mind was racing, and the words Calantha spoke lingered like a haunting echo.
"You are an anomaly. An error in the system."
"What the hell does that even mean…" he mumbled, staring up at the stars from the edge of the camp.
From behind, Xiao Yao draped a blanket over him.
"You're gonna get sick sitting like that."
Ethan blinked. "Oh. Thanks."
She hesitated, ears twitching. "…You looked troubled. I thought… maybe I could cheer you up."
He smiled weakly. "You already have. Just by being here."
Xiao Yao turned away, blushing, her tail swaying behind her like a metronome of fluster.
But Ethan didn't notice.
Because right then, the ground beneath them rumbled again.
Another tremor.
And this time, the sky above them glowed faintly—two stars, falling fast toward the earth in twin arcs of fire.
"Again?" Selene muttered. "Another descent?"
"No… this one's different," Sylvia said, narrowing her eyes. "It doesn't feel… hostile."
Everyone gathered, watching as the comets descended in synchronized spirals, crashing into the nearby forest with a soundless flash.
Ethan stood. "Well… guess we're going to check it out."
In the Heart of the Crater
The group arrived at the crash site. The trees had been singed into black husks, but there was no fire, no heat—only a soft white glow lingering in the air.
In the center of the crater, two figures lay unconscious.
Both were women.
Twins.
One had fiery red hair tied into twin tails, her expression still intense even in sleep. She wore light armor, clearly designed for speed and close combat.
The other had pale lavender hair that glowed softly in the moonlight, cascading down her back. She looked gentle, almost ghostly, and wore a long robe etched with mysterious runes.
"…Who the hell?" Ethan muttered.
As if on cue, both girls stirred.
The red-haired one groaned first, sitting up quickly. "Vivian! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine, Lilian," the softer one replied, rubbing her eyes.
Their eyes locked onto Ethan—and they immediately jumped to their feet, weapons and runes ready.
"Who are you?! Did you summon us?! Where is the enemy?!" Lilian barked.
"Whoa—whoa—easy!" Ethan raised both hands. "I didn't summon anyone! You guys fell from the sky!"
Vivian tilted her head. "...He's not lying."
Lilian narrowed her eyes. "Then why were you hovering over us like a creep?!"
"I wasn't hovering! I was checking if you were alive!" Ethan argued.
Sylvia sighed, stepping forward. "We're not enemies. We thought you needed help."
The twins lowered their weapons, albeit reluctantly.
"…Sorry," Vivian said softly. "It's just… our arrival was… sudden."
"We're used to ambushes," Lilian added, still watching Ethan suspiciously.
Karen stepped forward. "What's your name?"
"I'm Lilian Ashmore," the redhead said. "This is my twin sister, Vivian Ashmore."
"They… feel powerful," Selene muttered. "I can sense a strange resonance between them."
"It's our ability," Vivian explained. "Our powers only reach their full potential when we fight together."
"Let me guess," Ethan said. "One's the hot-blooded extrovert, and the other's the quiet introvert?"
Vivian turned red. Lilian scoffed. "You got a problem with that?"
"No," Ethan said with a shrug. "Actually, I think it's kinda cool."
The girls stared at him.
Vivian blinked. "…You're not… weirded out?"
"Why would I be? You're just… different. Strong in your own way. Kinda like Xiao Yao."
Xiao Yao immediately perked up beside him, her cat ears twitching.
Lilian folded her arms, watching Ethan. "...You're weird."
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
Back at Camp
Later that night, the twins sat near the fire with the rest of the group, munching on skewers and grilled meat.
Lilian devoured her food like a warrior after battle, while Vivian delicately nibbled hers.
Ethan sat nearby, trying to sketch something in the dirt. It was terrible.
"What… is that?" Sylvia asked, peeking over his shoulder.
"…A chicken," Ethan replied, deadpan.
"That's a rock."
"...It's abstract."
Vivian giggled softly. Lilian smirked.
"They really… follow you, huh?" Lilian asked Selene, gesturing toward Ethan.
"He has a way of making people believe in him," Selene said, her tone softening.
Lilian's eyes locked onto Ethan again. "…He's not bad. Kind of dumb. But not bad."
Vivian nodded. "He's… warm."
"You two falling for him too?" Karen muttered under her breath.
The twins blushed simultaneously.
"W-We just met him!" Lilian barked.
"I-I didn't say that!" Vivian stammered.
Selene rolled her eyes. "It's only a matter of time."
Ethan, meanwhile, was still trying to draw a chicken. Oblivious.
Midnight Ambush
That night, the forest grew restless.
The group was ambushed by shadow creatures—remnants of Calantha's corruption.
They surged in from every direction.
Ethan charged into the fray first, fists blazing.
"Let's go!"
[Titan's Might: Active]
With a roar, he smashed through several monsters, his body glowing faintly from his system's reinforcement.
Selene and Sylvia cast spells, while Karen protected the backline.
But the tide was turning.
"Vivian! Let's go!" Lilian shouted.
Vivian nodded, her eyes glowing.
The two sisters raised their hands, and a strange light enveloped them.
Twin Sync Activated: Ashmore Soulfire
Their bodies moved as one—Lilian dashing into the fray with enhanced speed, Vivian's runes glowing along her twin's blades.
Each strike Lilian landed exploded with mystical energy, amplified by Vivian's magic.
Ethan paused mid-punch. "Holy crap."
The two danced through the battlefield, beautiful and deadly. Monsters fell in droves.
Vivian stood still in the center, her runes casting protective barriers while Lilian was a whirling inferno around her.
The synergy was perfect.
The battle ended quickly.
Lilian wiped blood off her cheek, turning to Ethan. "Not bad, huh?"
Ethan blinked. "That was awesome!"
Vivian smiled, cheeks red.
For a moment, Lilian just… stared at him. At his stupid smile, his bruised fists, his complete lack of understanding of what he meant to people.
"…Dumbass," she muttered.
At Sunrise
The group continued their journey.
Ethan led at the front, talking to Selene about some ancient ruins ahead.
Vivian walked beside Lilian, quietly glancing at Ethan every few minutes.
"He's… really kind," she whispered.
Lilian nodded. "He is. Too kind for this world."
Vivian blushed. "I… I think I might already…"
"…Yeah. Me too."
They looked at each other.
Sisters. Fighters. And now… quietly falling for the same man.
And the dumb idiot didn't even realize it.