The Author's POV

"...How pathetic."

Two words that deeply resonated inside Jin's mind.

Staring at his figure which was currently being held by the throat, Jin had mixed feelings about the situation.

'I was supposed to die this day.'

Having seen through Ren's memories, Jin was confused.

Really confused.

He didn't understand a single thing that he was shown. His mind had grown numb at one point, but he was helpless.

He was forced to stare at the memories in spite of the fact that he didn't want to see them.

It wasn't something that he could control.

...To make matters worse. He didn't want to relieve this one scene which he tried his best to remove from his memories.

Jin thought of this day as the most humiliating day of his life.

Who would've thought that on this day, he was supposed to die? Jin had relieved all the different scenarios, and so he knew.

He knew that he was supposed to have died.

'...I didn't know that on that day, Ren saved my life.'

He had mixed feelings about the whole situation.

Slowly, Jin felt his eyes close, and before he knew it, he was back in the black space.

In front of him was a white orb.

With the palm of his hand pressing against it, JIn felt his body slowly move away from it.

Opening his mouth, Jin heard Ren's voice coming out.

"This should settle the matter. Whether he matures through this ordeal, or not, is up to him. Since his death will inevitably result in Kevin possibly regressing, it is best to keep him alive. At least this way, he will have a higher chance of surviving."

Listening to those words, Jin remained silent.

These last words were enough for him to understand everything. A bitter feeling arose within his heart.

'I..was just a pawn wasn't I?'

***

Melissa was a smart child.

She knew this, and everyone around her knew this. It wasn't something that needed to be told to others.

Her comprehensive abilities were something one would be envious of.

With just a glance, she would be able to analyze and deduce a situation.

It seemed as though nothing was out of her mind's grasp.

...At least that was how things were supposed to be.

'I don't get it.'

'I don't understand.'

'What's going on?'

Nothing made sense to her at the moment.

It wasn't too long ago that she was exposed to her life's memories. Being reminded of her failures sent Melissa into a numb state.

By the time she had recovered a bit, she found herself inside of another space, and it was then that she caught a glimpse of Ren's memories.

In that moment, Melissa's mind blanked as all sorts of memories started replaying in her head.

through a

a lot of would be an understatement. She watched him go through what seemed to

what he experienced, her

for her mind which numbed

scenes of her

previous theories that Ren gave to me...were things that I

strange that Ren knew so many different theories, but it was only after she watched what was presented in front of her that she realized that all the

all things that

that was what she figured out from what she was being shown. She still understood nothing, but at the same time, had an inkling of what was going

'Ha...ha...'

out a hollow

make

***

'...That's me.'

down in a pool of red blood. Emma was able to

was her on one of the battle platforms in

on the orb, and thin black threads revolved

will give her a wake-up

Ren's words echoed out. His eyes locked on the figure that was in the middle of the platform, bleeding

intended to kill

anything while she listened to

on him. If you die, then maybe Kevin will get his act together, but at the same time, I know that

the words that Ren spoke deeply resonated inside Emma's heart as she just

His words...

hurt Emma. Deeply. His words felt like sharp knives that were stabbing straight through her

about the words

more about

to make Kevin stronger. Hopefully, you'll mature

'I...Know.'

Truth sometimes hurts.

***

[Haaaa!]

want to die...I want to die...I want to

words echoed throughout the dark space. Reflected on the orb was the image of himself cutting his own face with what seemed

whole body was covered in blisters, and

anxiety when she saw

to the core. All

fault. He's the true

at that moment that

Ren in the orb

that she would ever be able to truly get over, but...if

he was

emotions to decisions, Amanda was able to clearly understand just

live...b..but...I really want to go

weak voice

her heart

to watch this

way that he was suffering. Amanda couldn't bring herself

she didn't have much of a choice. Regardless of what she did, she

'Please sto—'

through her sentence, she felt her mouth open. Ren's lonely voice echoed

want

***

do you

figure asked as

his words

"...What are your plans?"

asked him a question. Currently, his expression was dull, making it hard to see what

"My plans?"

chained figure stared at the white orb in

surroundings as neither of the two figures in the

to

was Ren's voice

stare at Ren, the chained figure merely tilted

"Are you not angry?

he asked a