The turning point

Ethan's eyes locked onto the source of his power, a glowing orb of light that pulsed with energy. He felt a surge of confidence and determination as he reached out to claim it.

"I've got this," he said, his voice firm.

Mirror-Ethan's grin faltered for a moment, before it regained its usual arrogance. "You think you can harness that power?" it sneered. "You're no match for it."

But Ethan was undeterred. He focused all his energy on the orb, feeling its power coursing through him.

As he did, the mirror began to distort and ripple, as if reality itself was bending to his will. Mirror-Ethan stumbled back, its eyes widening in surprise.

Aria's voice whispered in his ear. "Ethan, be careful. You're playing with fire."

Ethan ignored her warning, too caught up in the rush of power. He reached out to grab the orb, feeling its energy coursing through him like liquid fire.

The mirror shattered, releasing a blast of energy that sent Ethan stumbling back. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Mirror-Ethan was gone, replaced by a figure that looked uncannily like himself.

"Welcome to your new reality," the figure said, its voice identical to Ethan's own. "You've taken control of your mind, but at what cost?"

Ethan felt a creeping sense of unease as he realized that the figure was speaking the truth. His mind was now attuned to the power of the orb, but at what cost?