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 during that

She

he

her mind which numbed considerably. Everything felt

scenes of her and

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

after she watched what was presented in front of her that she realized that all

all things that I

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

'Ha...ha...'

out a

guess things make

***

'...That's me.'

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

was her on one of the battle platforms in

pressed on the orb, and thin black threads revolved around

give her a wake-up

echoed out. His eyes locked on the figure

originally intended to

while she listened

and you rely too much on him. If you die, then maybe Kevin

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

His words...

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

about the

was more about

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

'I...Know.'

Truth sometimes hurts.

***

[Haaaa!]

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

the image of himself cutting his own face with what seemed

body was covered in blisters, and his body was shaking

with anxiety when she

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

not his fault. He's

at that moment

in the orb was

currently messed up, and so was her 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

that he was the true

to decisions, Amanda was able to clearly understand just how much Ren went through,

live...b..but...I really

weak voice

felt her heart tighten

don't want to watch this

way that he was

of a choice. Regardless of what

'Please sto—'

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

also want

***

...What do you

chained figure asked as he

words

"...What are your plans?"

Currently, his expression was dull, making it hard to see what he was

"My plans?"

his mouth, the chained figure stared at the white orb

surroundings as neither of the two figures in the dark

you going to

the silence was Ren's voice that echoed out

head to stare at Ren, the chained figure merely tilted his

"Are you not angry?

answering, he asked