What You Should Know

Ethan suddenly appeared in his room, his heart still pounding from the encounter he had just escaped. He collapsed onto his bed, breathing a sigh of relief. If he had been slower to react, he would've died instantly from that other guy's quirk.

"Fights are a lot easier when you're watching them from the outside," he muttered, smiling wryly.

It had been the most intense confrontation of his life. What had he been thinking? And why hadn't his quirk worked as expected? The backlash had been severe.

Ethan was tired of not understanding his quirk. On one hand, it seemed incredibly powerful, but on the other, it was a double-edged sword. He needed to know its limitations to avoid future danger.

"I imagine… knowledge."

A display materialized in front of him, glowing softly in the dim room. On it appeared a digitized woman's face, her features calm and welcoming.

"Hello, Ethan," she said in a soothing voice. "What do you wish to know?"

Ethan shifted on the bed, leaning forward. "What happened with my quirk back there? I wanted him to disappear, but he didn't. Instead, I got a terrible headache. Why?"

The woman's digital eyes seemed to focus on him intently. "Your quirk, 'I Imagine!', lets you bring your imagination to life by manipulating matter with your brain waves. While it works smoothly with inanimate objects, it's trickier with targets who have brain waves too."

"So, Soul's brain waves countered mine?" Ethan asked, frowning.

"It's more complicated than that," she replied. "Some humans have stronger minds than others. Your quirk affects them differently. Your last target was only knocked out, and you felt the brunt of an incomplete command."

Ethan's frown deepened. "And the targets before him?"

The woman's expression softened. "You felt some resistance, didn't you?"

Ethan's eyes widened in realization. He had felt a pushback, but he hadn't understood it until now.

"Don't use your quirk on humans so easily. The backlash could range from a headache to your brain imploding," she warned, her tone serious.

Ethan laughed lightly, trying to mask his unease. "Well, that's understandable. I regret not doing this sooner."

"Anything else I should know?" he asked, leaning back against the headboard.

"Unfortunately, I can only address problems you've already experienced since I'm just your imagination. Your experiences are crucial limitations to keep in mind," she responded.

"I understand. Any other advice?" Ethan questioned, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Using your quirk to alter your quirk is impossible and leads to severe backlashes. Body modifications affecting your quirk will have similar consequences," she explained, her digital eyes conveying empathy.

Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Noted. Thank you."

"Anytime," she smiled, and the display vanished, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts.

Armed with this information, Ethan felt more confident using his quirk. He needed to be careful to avoid unnecessary backlash, especially in battle.

With that resolved, Ethan pondered his place in this world. Hero or villain?

Considering he had killed people, it would be pretty easy to lump him in the latter category. But Ethan knew there was no benefit to being a villian and he didn't have any reason to be one anyway.

He also had no intention of going out of his way to save people. The last thing he wanted was expectations from people he had no idea who they were.

He really didn't have a choice when it came to either of the options.

"I guess I'll just wait and see which side finds me first," he concluded, lying back on his bed. He would let the world unfold around him.

***

Unknown location…

Doors hissed open, and a man entered a laboratory. If Ethan were here, he'd recognize him as the one he almost fought, now in a simple shirt and trousers.

The lab, vast and dark, was illuminated by a sinister purple glow from numerous large tubes. Inside each floated naked humans in thick, unnatural liquid, their lifeless bodies casting eerie shadows. The air was thick with a sterile, chemical smell, tinged with blood.

Beeping and humming echoed through the space, adding to the menacing atmosphere. Cold, smooth metal walls swallowed the light, amplifying the oppressive mood. Bubbles occasionally rose in the tubes, breaking the surface with unsettling pops. The humans inside, stripped of dignity, were at the mercy of the twisted mind behind this lab. Each tube pulsed with dark energy, feeding on their despair and fear.

The man walked calmly towards another figure standing before a tube, features obscured by the interplay of light and shadow.

"Lord Victor," the man greeted upon reaching him.

"Well, if it isn't one of my most trusted disciples. I hope you handled your mission effectively," Victor's deep voice sent chills down the man's spine.

"I'm sure you're aware of our failure, my lord," he replied, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of fear.

Victor sighed. "So it's true."

"I apologize. It will not happen again," the man bowed deeply, his posture rigid.

"Do you know why you are both called Blood and Soul?" Victor asked, his tone contemplative.

"Because we embody your will, which you have faithfully given your blood and soul to see fulfilled," Blood answered, still bowing.

"Hmm," Victor nodded slowly. "I hear a child did this."

"I'm unsure, but he seemed capable of bringing down Soul without a single blow," Blood responded, rising slightly from his bow.

"I see. And Soul has yet to awaken?" Victor inquired, turning to face Blood fully.

"The doctors say his vitals are fine. He should be up in a few days. He seemed to suffer some form of brain trauma," Blood explained, meeting Victor's gaze.

"This child is more powerful than you've let on. Bring him to me when Soul has recovered… his quirk sounds like an interesting addition to my collection," a terrifying smile crept onto Victor's face.