CHAPTER 8.
The scene shifted to Kaito and Mahi.
Both had arrived at the very place where, not long ago, Ryan had come searching for the police station. But Ryan was nowhere to be found now.
Kaito narrowed his eyes. If he came here, then he must have gone to the police station.
Suddenly, Kaito's phone rang. He answered immediately.
"—Yes, yes, I'm still in Tohoku. Okay, I'll go there right away. Yes."
He cut the call and lowered the phone.
Mahi looked at him sharply. "What happened?"
"That was the Head," Kaito replied grimly. "There's been a curse attack on one of our secret association meetings here in Tohoku. I have to go there. You head to the police station—I'll take care of this."
Mahi's eyes widened. "A curse attack now? And on our association itself? That's never happened before!"
"Yeah." Kaito's voice was firm. "I'll go there. You too—my clones are searching for Ryan. They'll help you. Whatever happens, keep me informed!"
"Fine. You do the same."
The two split up, heading in their own directions.
---
Scene Shift: Ryan
Ryan walked briskly through a narrow alley.
"According to the map, the police station should be here…" he muttered to himself.
Just as he was about to reach the station from the alleyway, his instincts screamed. He felt the air shift—someone was attacking from behind!
He dodged to the right, dropping low, and twisted his head to see.
It was Kaito—or rather, one of his clones—charging at him with a fist cocked for a brutal punch.
In a flash, Ryan used his super speed, caught the clone's arm mid-swing, and slammed him against the wall. The clone absorbed the impact, braced his feet on the wall, and launched back with a lightning-fast flying kick.
Ryan slipped aside, countered with a clean punch, and sent the clone tumbling far across the alley.
But the clone was relentless. He rushed again, fists blurring in rapid succession. Ryan blocked, his arms raised to defend against the barrage.
Then, in the middle of the assault, the clone suddenly dissolved into smoke—vanishing while frozen in the same stance.
Ryan panted. "This must be part of their magic too…"
Wasting no time, he sprinted toward the police station. But as he approached, he stopped abruptly, hiding behind a lamppost.
Two policemen stood outside. Opposite them was Mahi, phone in hand, showing them a picture of Ryan and explaining something. The officers nodded seriously.
Ryan's heart sank. Even the police are with them… These people aren't ordinary. It's impossible for me to stay here anymore—I have to get to Tokyo, no matter what.
Without hesitation, he turned around and ran.
---
Scene Shift: Mahi and Kaito
Mahi continued speaking to the officers.
"Okay, if you see him, arrest him immediately and call me!"
"Yes, ma'am!" they replied in unison.
Just then, her phone rang. She gave the policemen a nod, and they dispersed. Turning away, she answered the call.
"Yes, Kaito, tell me."
On the other side, Kaito's voice came ragged and breathless, as though he were fighting for his life. "Where are you right now?! Get here immediately—we're short on people!"
Mahi's voice tightened. "Where are you?"
"I'll send you the location—just come quickly!" In the background, strange fighting noises and curses echoed through the line.
"Okay, I'm coming!"
She hung up at once and rushed off.
---
Scene Shift: Kaito in the Attack Area
Inside the secret association building, silence lay thick—but it was a silence filled with dread. People cowered in hidden corners as terrifying cursed voices echoed. Crawling shadows slithered along the walls.
A curse spotted Kaito and shrieked, charging straight for him.
Kaito sprinted forward too, leaping into a massive tornado kick that tore the curse apart into pieces, dispersing its form. He landed, breathing heavily but steady, and pushed forward.
He dropped to one knee, pressed two fingers against his forehead, one hand on the ground, and shut his eyes. His senses expanded outward.
Immediately, he felt it—the presence of President Kim Yung and a group of survivors hiding beneath the ground floor stairs. But curses were closing in fast.
I have to reach there fast! Kaito broke into a run.
---
Scene Shift: Ryan
Ryan slipped out of another alley, continuing his escape. Suddenly, distant screams pierced the air.
"What's that sound?!"
He sprinted toward the noise, and soon, a massive mall came into view—engulfed in flames. Strange, unnatural noises echoed from inside. Below, a large crowd and media gathered in chaos.
Ryan blended into the crowd.
"What happened here?" he asked a nearby bystander.
"There was an accident," the man said nervously. "But… rumors are spreading. Some say they saw curses inside."
Curses? Ryan thought, his pulse quickening.
As he watched, he noticed a girl covering her face with cloth, slipping inside the burning building. Something about her clothes stirred his memory—but he couldn't place who she was.
---
Scene Shift: Kaito
Kaito raced down the stairs. Just as he reached, a curse smashed through the first-floor glass with a feral roar, lunging at him.
The impact sent him spinning back, but he caught himself on his hands and feet.
"Roar!" the curse bellowed.
"You're done for!" Kaito growled, charging back.
They were about to clash when the curse abruptly froze mid-air.
Why did it stop?!
In the next instant, its body split in two. Blood and shadows splattered across the floor.
Kaito turned in shock.
Mahi stood there, blade in hand, blood dripping from its edge. She had cut the curse down in one clean strike.
A faint smile tugged at Kaito's lips.
"I'm here!" Mahi declared.
"You're late."
"Ugh, can't you ever just talk nicely? Always acting grumpy!"
Kaito chuckled. "Fine, fine."
But then his senses sharpened. He felt the terrified cries of those under the stairs—but this time, he also felt something else. Something vile. Something worse than anything before.
A horrifying, soul-devouring aura.
"Kaito's heart pounded. This… this presence is stronger than both of us…
"Follow me, fast! We don't have time!"
They dashed toward the stairs. But when they arrived, both froze in horror.
A strange man stood among the curses. His hand was deep inside President Kim Yung's mouth, doing something unspeakable. Kim Yung lay unconscious, his body limp.
The curses surrounded the man—but none dared to touch him.
His body was covered in tattoos, every inch radiating malevolence. His aura was so vile that even a thousand top-ranked curses would not compare.
Kaito's voice broke the silence, trembling with disbelief. "Who are you? And what are you doing?!"
The man turned slowly.
A mask covered his face, but his eyes burned with twisted malice, glowing like those of a curse itself. His demonic smile oozed darkness, and even that smile alone drenched the place in hellish aura.
Kaito and Mahi's hearts thudded violently, fear gnawing at their chests.
The masked figure began chanting incantations, his voice clear even through the mask.
As the words filled the air, every curse in the building stirred. From every floor, hundreds gathered, converging in one terrifying tide.
The Masked Curse Human smiled.
"Finish them."
THANKS FOR READ MY NOVEL＼(^^)／
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