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.

went through a lot

an understatement. She watched him

what he

same was for her mind which

when scenes of her

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

but it was only after she watched what was presented in front of her that she realized that all the theories he had given her, including the magic theory

that

still understood nothing, but at the same

'Ha...ha...'

let out a hollow

make more

***

'...That's me.'

image of a young girl lying down in a pool of red blood. Emma was able to instantly recognize the figure

her on one of the battle platforms in

on the orb,

will give her

mouth, Ren's words echoed out. His eyes locked on the figure

originally intended to

while she

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

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

His words...

hurt Emma. Deeply. His words felt like sharp knives that were

much about

was more

you to make Kevin stronger. Hopefully, you'll mature and

'I...Know.'

Truth sometimes hurts.

***

[Haaaa!]

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

on the orb was the image of himself cutting his own face with what seemed to be a

was covered in blisters,

heart gripped with anxiety when she

look of desperation on his face shook her to the core. All the previous thoughts she had in her mind

fault.

moment that she

orb was the true

mind. What she saw...she didn't think that she would ever be able to truly get over, but...if there was one thing she understood while she stared at Ren who was currently screaming

was the

your life controlled, from emotions to decisions, Amanda was able to clearly understand just how much Ren went through, and she felt

really

voice

felt her heart

to watch

calls...his cries...and the way that he was suffering. Amanda couldn't bring

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

'Please sto—'

sentence, she felt her mouth open.

want to

***

do

figure asked as he moved behind

after his words was a twisted

"...What are your plans?"

his expression was dull,

"My plans?"

chained figure stared at the white orb in

surroundings as neither of the two figures in the

you going to take over

was Ren's voice that

at Ren, the chained figure merely

"Are you not angry?

than answering, he asked a different