Eyes of the Cursed

We were on the ground floor near the exit. As my ability was still active, I touched the ground and controlled it to a degree that only spread for ten meters.

The ground became blocks and I began to dig straight down for eight blocks. Afterward, I mined the surrounding area to make a space.

Just in case, I make pillars in the middle so when I disabled my ability, the underground prison won't cave in.

I placed pixelated ladders as I went my way up. Each ladder for each block. After I reach the top, I make sure to destroy two ladders on the top so he can't escape.

I threw Hanazaki into the hole and rested the youth against the wall of the building.

Hanazaki landed with a loud thud. Next, I covered the hole with a dirt block and left the building for food. I returned with a bag full of bread along with a few big water bottles.

I broke the dirt block and threw the bread and water into the hole. I covered the hole again with a trapdoor.

On my way out, I found a heavy sheet next to the building. I dragged it and covered the trap door. I also covered it with cement debris of cement.

After everything was over, I ate three piece of bread. The hunger icon recovered and my health bar slowly recovered.

I turned off the ability with a thought and the ground returned to normal. I supported the young man by carrying him on my back. If someone asked, I could reply that he fainted.

I left the building and called for Uber. Soon, it arrived. I put him in the car first before I sat on the shotgun seat.

"What happened to him? He's not dead, is he?" The driver asked, concerned. He then observed me.

From his view, the young man looked kind hearted and friendly.

"He's alright. We are on our way home when he fainted suddenly. He has overworked himself since exam is getting closer." I cooked up a lie on the spot. I put the seatbelt on

"Poor guy, I wish him the best." Hearing my words, he didn't probe further and said in pity.

He then stepped on the gas as the car advanced forward. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived in front of a clinic.

"Thanks." I said to the driver. I left the car and piggy back the young man. I got strange looks from passersby, some even chuckle and mock me. I feel not an ounce of embarrassment as I ignored them.

I entered the clinic. It made a noise as soon as I stepped into it. The administration staff looked up from the computer to me. She got up and walked in my way.

"Ryuta, how have you been?" She asked and shifted her eyes to the youth I carried, "Who is this? Your boyfriend? I never knew you were interested in the same gender," she said as if learning something new and exciting. Her eyes also gleamed. My heart was stifled.

"It's not like that, Ms. Hana. I found him collapsed on the street. He didn't have any identity on him so your clinic comes to mind." I explained. Hospital needs documents to get treatment, unless you have a fatal injury that must be treated immediately.

The youth had no injuries whatsoever. He was only exhausted.

Anyway, about Ms. Hana, she is Ma's close friend. They had known each other since college. Every time we got sick, we would come to her clinic. I viewed her like a close aunt.

"He doesn't have any identity on him? Is he an illegal immigrant?" She inquired with a troubled look.

"I don't think so, maybe he got robbed after being drunk. We can ask him directly after he woke up. He doesn't have any injuries, just extremely exhausted. Can you help me by lending him a room?" I requested.

"I can't say no to her son's request." She replied with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, Ms. Hana." I bowed deeply.

"No problem. Come on, follow me." She led me to the second floor. Along the way, I found pictures of her with her family. I stopped at a certain family picture with my family in it. My eyes landed on a boy wearing a yellow hat. He was older than me and he wore the brightest smile on the picture.

When she noticed that I stopped, she turned her eyes to me. She saw me looking at the picture and her expression changed.

She approached me and touched my right shoulder.

"Is everything okay?" She asked gently.

"Yeah, everything is okay." I retracted my gaze away from it. I know how Ms. Hana felt about the boy, so I chose not to stay further.

She lead me to a room on the second floor. I rested the man on the bed.

"About payment." I turned my eyes towards her.

"There's no need to be stiff. It's just a bed." She shook her hands.

"Is there something I can help you with? I don't want to take advantage of you." It was only right to repay kindness with kindness.

"I don't need it. You're like my son to me. How is your mom?" She rested her back against the wall.

"She's alright."

After that, we had a light chat and I said goodbye when I remembered I had to meet him.

I ordered an Uber and stopped by at the train station. I took the train and fifteen minutes later, I arrived at Shibuya station. The clock showed 5 P.M on my phone, just on time.

As I was waiting at the entrance, someone touched my shoulder a few times. I turned around and saw a man with a black top hat that had a closed eye insignia.

He wore a black vest with white shirt underneath it, a bow tie and long black pants. His face concealed under the thick veil of darkness.

I observed him from top to bottom. He didn't have any presence or aura, reminds me of a ghost.

"You must be looking for me." He said.

"Yes." I nodded, "I'm Ryuta, Airi's... boyfriend. I'm thankful for what you did." I bowed deeply in front of him. Passerbys looked at me weirdly and I heard whispers from them.

In their eyes, the man with hat had an ordinary face but as soon as they looked away, they forgot him immediately.

It must be a rare thing for someone to suddenly bowed before someone in public.

"It's my future self that did it. It has nothing to do with me." He turned around, "Raise your head and follow me, this isn't the place to talk."

"Okay." I followed him from behind. We walked in silence. After five minutes, I opened my mouth, "So what are you? You can send someone back to the past."

"I'm just nothing but a miserable wretch." He responded without answering my question. There must be a reason so I didn't probe further.

"I heard you're the one that killed my killer. What does he looks like?" I pondered curiously. If he were to appear before me, I could prepare myself.

"You already met him this morning," He responded casually, but I frowned, noticing something wrong with his words.

"What do you mean?" I asked despite knowing his meaning. However, deep inside my heart, I wished it wasn't the case.

"You already know who it is."

The terrifying man with an Arabic symbol on his forehead flashed over my eyes, but it can't be, right?

It was hard to believe someone as terrifying and powerful as him turned out to be my killer. His presence alone killed dozens of ordinary civilians! What makes me so damn attractive that he became interested in me? My ability? Maybe.

"Is there a way to kill him?"

"He's the very concept of 'chaos' and 'destruction'. A concept is an abstract thing. Unless you comprehend the concept of 'annihilation', you might have a shot killing him."

A concept that took form into a sentient being, is the true identity of my killer.

"You killed him once, you should be able to help." I mentioned, hoping he would help.

"It's my future self that did it, not me. He grasped the 'thing' that allows him to end his enemy's life."

"What do you mean by that?" My frown deepened. The conversation entered an uncharted territory my brain could comprehend.

"It's classified information to tell what the 'thing' is, but I think it would be fine to tell you the general idea without touching the core.

"It is a mixed concept of four principles of reality. Life, time, space, and death. These four are different concepts, yet the 'thing' explores a concept where they become one, not in between." When he explained, I suddenly felt millions of eyes from deep within the abyss staring at me. I felt chills to the bone and stopped my steps.

"It seems I spoke too much." He then tip his hat. "It's rude to peek, gentleman," he spoke to no one in particular. His tone contained a bit of amusement, however.

As I was behind him, I didn't know what he was doing. What I know, after he tipped his hat, the sensation of being watched disappeared. My body relaxed considerably.

"It's not that I do not want to help you. I cannot help as I haven't grasped the 'thing'. I am sorry."

"So I can only watch my dead getting closer?" Hopelessness surged forth from within my heart, yet tiny sparks of hope still remain.

"Your ability is the clue."

I can craft everything and anything. Maybe he's saying that I can make a weapon that is imbued with the 'thing', I contemplated and didn't shake the possibility. That said, considering its power, it'd take some time to gather the materials. Could I make it in time?

I'm not certain, but I remain hopeful. At least I don't have to wander around aimlessly.

With a goal in mind, I went to the Guide and asked if there is a weapon with 'thing' in it. Two weapons appeared.