**Chapter 18: Reality's Thin Line**

As Dabi's words hung in the air, the swirling vortex of light began to take shape, its edges growing more defined. Bakugo's grip on my shoulders tightened, his eyes fixed on Dabi with a fierce intensity. I could feel his tension, his muscles coiled and ready to spring into action. The vortex started to emit a low hum, a sound that vibrated through my entire body. The air around us began to distort, reality bending and warping in ways that made my head spin. I felt a sense of disorientation wash over me, as if the very fabric of reality was unraveling. Dabi's laughter grew louder, more maniacal, as he reveled in the chaos he was creating. "You see, explosion boy, reality is a fragile thing," he said, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure. "And with the right manipulation, it can be twisted and distorted to create something entirely new." The vortex grew larger, its effects spreading to encompass the entire alleyway. The walls began to blur and shift, like a painting smeared by a wet brush. I stumbled, my sense of balance wavering as the ground beneath my feet seemed to tilt. Bakugo's arm wrapped tighter around my waist, holding me steady as we struggled to maintain our footing. His eyes never left Dabi's face, his gaze burning with a fierce determination. The vortex reached its peak, and suddenly the alleyway was transformed. The walls were now a deep, bloody red, and the air was thick with an otherworldly energy. I felt like I was trapped in a dream, a dream that was rapidly spiraling out of control. Dabi's laughter reached a fever pitch, his eyes gleaming with a mad, unholy light. "Welcome to my world," he said, his voice dripping with triumph. "A world where reality is flexible, and the rules are made to be broken." As he spoke, the vortex began to dissipate, leaving us standing in a twisted, nightmarish landscape. The walls seemed to loom over us, their red surfaces pulsing with a malevolent energy. Bakugo's grip on my waist tightened, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a fierce intensity. "We need to get out of here," he growled, his voice low and urgent. But as we turned to make our escape, I realized that we were no longer alone. A figure emerged from the shadows, its eyes fixed on us with a cold, calculating gaze. "Ah, welcome to the game," Dabi said, his voice dripping with excitement. "You're going to play with me, and you're going to lose." The figure took a step closer, its features becoming clearer in the dim light. And as I saw its face, my heart sank. It was a face I recognized, a face that filled me with a sense of dread. It was my own face, staring back at me with a cold, mirthless smile.