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So, context. One of the main antagonists of my story is an anarchist with the motto “Live fast, die young”. He belongs to a clan of incredibly talented warriors, but from birth he had nothing special. At first, he endured humiliation due to non-compliance with the clan's standards, but soon he learns that he is ill with an mysterious disease (it is blood cancer, but in the realities of the setting they do not yet know about it). This motivates him to start fighting, since he does not intend to continue to endure the rest of his short life.

Originally, he was supposed to be one of the strongest warriors only with the help of "hard work and determination" which is the opposite of one of the main characters who barely trains thanks to ridiculous natural talent. During the final battle, he is already one foot in the grave, which gives the main characters a chance to win and it is the illness that kills him when he is defeated.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. His ideals, his personality stem from his lived experience and I have no problems with that. But then I tried to think about it from a "practical" point of view and found the problem. The problem is that cancer, like almost any other “dramatic disease”, seriously limits physical endurance. And endurance is a very important thing for a character whose only advantage is perseverance in daily training.

So how can I justify his high skill level despite his limitation? If I just make him a naturally born battle genius, it will completely break his character and his philosophy of hard work and determination.

P.S. Sorry if the text looks somehow illiterate. English is not my native language.

I'm writing about a group of people I'm calling "Sellsouls", who are mages who make bargains with powerful beings for power. I've already got three of the five decided in terms of benefactors, what their new powers are, and what their relationship to their benefactor is like, but I'm having trouble deciding what the other two's benefactors should be.

For reference, so far I have:

-The diplomat/face of the group, whose benefactor is a fey princess. They have several charming and illusion powers, with some nature magic sprinkled in.

-The combat-centric member, whose benefactor is the soul of an ancient hero haunting their legendary sword. They can summon magic swords out of shadow, and shroud themselves in shadowy plate armor and the visage of the hero

-The "smart guy" of the group, whose benefactor is a mystical librarian caretaking a vast interdimensional library. They have many divination powers, being able to see into the past and future, and reading most any language.

I'd like for the remaining two's benefactors to contrast in some way, but I'm worried that "demon" and "angel" will put them in too much conflict to ever work together. I briefly considered one of them to have their benefactor to be the ruler of an undersea kingdom, but I don't know what role that would help to serve within the group besides simply undersea travel, which might not ending up being that important.

If you have any ideas for possible benefactors and powers, I would greatly appreciate it.

Subject-6292 was born in a lab, grown for human cells spliced with the DNA of a dangerous biological weapon, one that causes rapid and random mutations (usually malignant tumors) in DNA of the infected. Essentially, exactly the Blacklight Virus from the Prototype games.

Powers of Subject-6292: By shifting excess biomass she is able alter her flesh and skin into an extremely durable armor, with increased muscle mass, and attachment points for more advanced mutations, such as wings, at the cost of mobility. She can also transform her arms into a variety of weapons or tools. Small claws, used primarily for climbing, digging, or cutting through obstacles. Tendrils used for anything a grappling hook can be used for, this power is her main tool for hunting in her favored urban environment, she can also use modified tendrils to eat. Blades, a heavy sword-like weapon that cleaves moreso because of the immense force which it's swung rather than the sharpness of the blade, which can only be used when armored. She is able to sense her virus in other people, and indeed her weapons and blood carry her strand of the bioweapon, which isn't as lethal.

She prefers stalking the city streets at night, searching for criminals to consume. Criminals specifically, because the powers that be seen to care a bit less about what happens to them. Encounters with Subject-6292 don't necessarily end in death, but significant life altering injuries like loss of limbs are commonplace. The whole city fears her and views her as a monster.

Her moniker would given to her by the media, to make the headlines catchier.

I really enjoy the base level concept, but I want others thoughts on how exactly he uses the rabbit. I’m thinking that he could potentially be drawing on the rabbit’s (speed? Lifeforce? Time?) to make him go faster. That would be fun role play as he could have a slower voice and a faster voice depending on if the rabbit is active or not. My group plays 5e so this could add flavor for casting certain spells such as haste too.

This lends itself to more of an evil character though, so I’m looking for options that are less vampiric. But if you have evil ideas, I’d love to hear them too!