Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. 

Certain abilities could contaminate people’s minds. Beyond the feelings of exaltation, hopelessness, or depression, they destroyed the very essence of a human being.

Behind the man’s head, illusionary gears were spinning like a halo. Unknown numbers appeared and disappeared between the gears, and some of the gears were spinning at different speeds. With this bizarre illusion behind him, one that would make anyone dizzy just by looking at it, the young man stepped forward.

Step.

A stream of blood was flowing underneath his expensive shoes. Hundreds of corpses were scattered around him, and the surroundings looked like an abandoned factory.

Click.

He was holding a jackknife the size of the palm of his hand, its blade shining against the gloomy background. The blade was so small that it was embarrassing to even call it a self-defense weapon. He put the weapon back in his pocket and picked up his glasses that fell on the floor. The lenses were stained with blood, but he simply wiped it clean in one motion. He put on his glasses and canceled his ability.

The bizarrely wriggling gears disappeared in an instant.

Step.

He walked as...