Daydreamers

Ethan's head throbbed violently as he opened his eyes, his vision hazy and unfocused. A dull ringing filled his ears, drowning out his thoughts.

"What’s happening…?" he thought, his mind sluggish, struggling to catch up with reality. One moment, he was asleep—or at least, he thought he was—and the next, searing pain forced him awake.

His vision swam, shapes blurring together in a disorienting mess. But then, muffled noises filtered through the haze—frantic, panicked sounds. Someone was trying to scream, their voice smothered, choked by something.

A cold shiver ran down his spine.

As his sight gradually sharpened, Ethan's breath hitched.

He was on all fours, looming over someone. A girl.

Her body twisted and writhed beneath him, ropes biting into her wrists and ankles. Her mouth was gagged, muffling her cries. Her wide brown eyes, brimming with fear and fury, glared up at him.

Ethan's body locked in place, his blood running cold.

"What the…?" His mind reeled, thoughts slamming into each other in chaotic disarray. "What kind of bizarre dream is this?"

Panic clawed at his chest. His breath came in ragged, uneven gasps as he scrambled backward, only to realize his limbs felt sluggish, uncooperative, like they didn’t belong to him.

"Is this… is this some kind of twisted fantasy I never knew I had?" A sickening thought slithered through his mind, making his stomach churn.

The girl's frantic squirming slowed for a moment, her gaze flickering with confusion as she took in his expression—his trembling hands, his wide, horrified eyes. But the fear returned just as quickly. She struggled harder, her body arching, her muffled screams rising in pitch.

Ethan wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but before he could force out a word, a glowing blue window materialized before his eyes.

His breath caught.

A translucent, hovering screen?

"What…?"

Lines of glowing text scrolled across its surface.


---

[System Activated…]
[Host Confirmed.]
[Simulating Previous Data…]


Ethan awakens in a mysterious world, shackled by a curse that clouds his judgment and drives him toward choices he never wished to make. Burdened by guilt and responsibility, he must navigate the fallout of his actions while unraveling the truth behind the curse—and his place in this enigmatic new reality.

Blessed to be the Villain

Arthur watched as Ethan's expression twisted into something between confusion and disbelief before he finally spoke.

"Well... I think I already learned it."

Ethan nodded, confirming his own words. "Yeah, turns out I'm a genius."

Arthur gave him a skeptical look, his emerald eyes narrowing slightly. "You really learned it?"

Ethan pushed himself up from the ground, dusting off the dirt clinging to his clothes. "Yeah, I did. I think."

Arthur folded his arms. "Okay then, show me."

Ethan took a breath, adjusting his stance. He focused, mentally commanding Flash Steps to activate, just like he did when using OmniMark. Almost instantly, his mind sharpened, his thoughts crystal clear. But this time, something felt different. Unlike before, his perception of time didn't slow down; instead, his body and mind seemed to be in sync.

Training 5