first quest

Ethan's eyes fluttered open, his vision swimming as the bright hospital lights greeted him. His body ached in places he didn't even know could hurt, and as his senses adjusted, the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled his ears.

He blinked a few times, processing his surroundings. White walls, the faint scent of disinfectant, and a stiff hospital bed beneath him. He lost.

Before he could fully register his thoughts, a familiar deep voice broke the silence.

"Ah! Young Ethan, you're finally awake!" All Might's signature booming voice carried through the room, though Ethan detected a note of relief in his tone.

Ethan turned his head slowly, his body still sore from the fight. He saw All Might sitting in a chair near the hospital bed, his usual heroic grin plastered across his face. Despite the grin, Ethan could tell All Might had been watching over him for some time.

With a weak chuckle, Ethan croaked, "So... am I qualified?" He gave a small smirk, trying to lighten the mood despite his current state.

All Might laughed, shaking his head. "You, young man, are something else. But..." His voice took on a serious edge. "There's a problem."

Ethan raised an eyebrow but remained silent, waiting for All Might to continue.

"Your strength is undeniable, and your abilities are beyond anything I've encountered before," All Might admitted, leaning forward slightly. "But you lack training. You rely too much on brute strength and raw power. You attack recklessly, without control or strategy. Against weaker enemies, that might be enough. But against someone like me, or worse—someone like All For One—your recklessness will be your downfall."

Ethan listened, absorbing All Might's words. He couldn't deny it. While he had grown exponentially stronger, he had never truly trained in combat. He had relied on his powers, overwhelming his enemies with sheer force. Against lesser foes, it had worked. Against All Might? It hadn't been enough.

After a moment, he nodded. "Alright, I get it. So, what are you suggesting?"

All Might's grin widened. "If you're willing, I will train you myself."

Ethan's eyes widened in surprise. Training with All Might? That wasn't something he had expected, but it was exactly what he needed. A genuine smile formed on his lips. "Yeah, I'd be stupid to say no to that."

All Might gave a firm nod, his approval evident. "Good! But before we move forward, I need to ask you something serious."

Ethan's expression shifted as All Might's usual cheerful demeanor became uncharacteristically intense. "Who exactly are you? There are no records of you. No school history, no family records. Nothing. It's as if you don't exist."

Ethan tensed for a moment, considering his answer. He couldn't exactly tell the truth, so he went with something believable. "I've lived in the forest my whole life. My parents abandoned me when I was young, and I've survived on my own ever since. I never had an official identity. I only came here because I wanted a place to belong." He kept his tone neutral, knowing All Might would be able to tell if he was outright lying.

All Might's eyes softened slightly, nodding in understanding. "That's... a tough way to grow up. No wonder you're so strong."

Just as Ethan was about to respond, a system notification rang in his head, causing his eyes to widen slightly.

[New Quest Unlocked!]

Objective: Kill All For One.

Reward: Ability – AIM(A unique targeting system that allows perfect precision when using ranged abilities. Can be toggled on or off at will.)

Ethan's mind went blank for a moment before his lips curled into a grin. His first quest... and it was to kill All For One? This was exactly what he wanted. He was already planning on getting stronger, and now, he had a solid goal.

All Might noticed the shift in his expression. "Something wrong?"

Ethan shook his head, his grin widening. "Not at all. In fact... I just figured out my reason for being here."

All Might tilted his head in curiosity. "And that is?"

Ethan leaned forward, his eyes shining with determination. "I'm here to kill All For One."

A heavy silence filled the room as All Might's grin faltered. For a moment, he stared at Ethan, processing the words. Then, he sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Young Ethan... That's no small task. Even I barely managed to defeat him in our last battle, and I nearly lost my life in the process. What makes you so certain you can do what even I struggled with?"

Ethan smirked. "Because I'm not going to just fight him—I'm going to annihilate him."

All Might stared at him for a moment before chuckling softly. "You're ambitious, I'll give you that. But if you truly wish to face him, then you need to be prepared."

Ethan nodded. "That's why I need you to train me. Not just to fight—but to win."

All Might stood up, looking deep in thought. "Very well. But before we continue..." He turned back to Ethan, his voice growing quieter. "I need to ask... how do you know about my condition?"

Ethan's smirk didn't fade. "Because I know more than I let on. I know that you're injured. That you're weaker than you were before. That your time as the Number One Hero is running out."

All Might stiffened, his posture turning rigid. "And yet, you still trust me to train you?"

Ethan nodded. "Because even at your weakest, you're still All Might. And more importantly, I'm not just looking for a trainer—I'm looking for a symbol to surpass."

All Might chuckled at that, shaking his head. "You really are something else, young man."

Ethan leaned back on the bed, stretching slightly. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

For the first time in a long while, All Might felt a spark of excitement. This boy... he was different. And maybe, just maybe, he could change everything.