first kill

Two days had passed since Ethan had awakened his newfound abilities, and in that short time, he had done everything he could to understand and control them. The Light Fruit powers were incredible, unlike anything he had ever felt before. But he was far from mastering them.

Sitting in his dimly lit cell, Ethan performed slow, deliberate push-ups. His body, once frail from the experiments and torture, was now far more muscular, his strength increasing at an inhuman rate. The 'Perfect Body' granted by the system allowed him to push his limits beyond what should be possible for a normal fifteen-year-old. And yet, he was only just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.

He exhaled, finishing his last set before sitting against the wall, contemplating his next move. Over the past few days, he had come to understand his situation better. This was a fusion world—Marvel and DC combined into one. Heroes, villains, cosmic threats—everything he had once known as fiction was now his reality. And worse, he was currently imprisoned in a mutant research facility, a place where experiments were carried out on children ranging from eight to fifteen years old. His new body was among the oldest in the group.

It made him sick just thinking about it.

The guards had been brutal. The scientists even worse. The experiments were nothing short of torture, and Ethan had barely been able to endure them, despite his growing strength. But now… now he was different. He had something none of these people knew about. He had power. And he wasn't planning to stay here any longer.

Ethan flexed his fingers, feeling the faint hum of light energy coursing through them. He had been training in secret, refining his newfound abilities while making sure no one noticed. He wasn't anywhere near Admiral Kizaru's level yet—not even close—but he could move fast in short bursts, generate light-based attacks, and most importantly, he was now strong enough to tear this facility apart.

But he wouldn't be leaving alone.

He had never thought of himself as a hero, but he wasn't heartless enough to leave these kids behind. They had suffered just as he had, maybe even worse. If he had the power to change that, then he would.

The sound of heavy boots echoed down the corridor, pulling him from his thoughts. It was time.

The guards always came for him at the same time every day, dragging him out for more "tests." They thought he was still weak. Still helpless.

They were wrong.

The metal door swung open with a loud creak, and three guards stepped inside, their expressions unreadable beneath their helmets. One of them, a particularly large and gruff-looking man, sneered at him.

"Time for your daily check-up, freak," the guard mocked.

Ethan grinned, stretching his arms as he stood up. "Aw, you guys missed me? I'm touched."

The guard scowled. "Shut up and move."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What if I don't feel like it? You gonna carry me? Because I don't mind getting a lift, big guy."

The guard's face twisted in anger, and without hesitation, he swung his baton at Ethan's face. The moment the weapon moved, time seemed to slow down.

Ethan sidestepped effortlessly, light flickering around his body as he moved with unnatural speed. Before the guard could react, Ethan's hand flashed forward like a beam of light—clean and precise.

A scream tore through the air.

The guard stumbled back, clutching his wrist—where his hand used to be.

Blood dripped onto the cold metal floor, and the severed hand lay motionless beside Ethan's foot. He bent down, picked up the fallen baton, and inspected it with a smirk. "Huh. Pretty decent quality."

The other two guards stood frozen in shock, unable to process what had just happened. Ethan turned to them, twirling the baton casually before tossing it aside. "Now, gentlemen, I'd suggest you run."

The first guard, still clutching his bleeding wrist, collapsed to the ground in pain. The other two hesitated before reaching for their weapons, but Ethan was faster.

In an instant, he was on them, moving like a flash of light. Two swift slashes—one to the throat, the other to the gut—and both guards crumpled to the floor before they could even scream.

Silence filled the cell, save for the ragged breathing of the wounded guard.

Ethan crouched down, grabbing the twin knives from the fallen men. He tested their weight, nodding in approval before standing back up. Light energy flickered around him, his power responding to his emotions. He turned his gaze toward the adjacent cells, where the other kids were staring at him in stunned silence.

He met their wide eyes with a warm smile.

"Don't worry," he said, his voice calm but reassuring. "I'm getting you all out of here."

Some of the kids looked hopeful, others doubtful, but none of them spoke. They had been prisoners for so long that the idea of freedom felt foreign.

Ethan turned toward the hallway as the alarm finally blared, signaling the base's security forces. Heavy footsteps pounded against the floor as reinforcements rushed in.

Ethan rolled his shoulders, gripping his new weapons tightly as the corridor was flooded with armed guards.

A slow, confident smirk spread across his face.

"Alright," he muttered to himself, feeling the light energy crackle around him. "Let's have some fun."

With twin blades in hand and light radiating off his body, Ethan stood ready as the battle for freedom began.