The Author's POV

Fear.

An unpleasant and inescapable emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.

It begins with your hair standing up. Next, your palms begin to sweat, and your body experiences a wave of nausea, making it difficult for you to comprehend what lies before you.

The world feels foggy. Everything that seemed so clear the previous moment becomes blurry, and in an instant, your entire body begins to tremble, and your heart beats so loudly inside of your head that it feels suffocating.

Fear starts off as an instinctive and primitive response designed to help us avoid dangerous situations.

…But what would happen when you're in a situation where you can't avoid this so called danger?

Helplessness.

That was what they would feel.

A wave of helplessness would wash over the individual as they find themselves in a situation where they could do nothing.

"Don't tell me you're planning on leaving right as I arrived?"

Jezebeth's words echoed inside of my ears, while the hair at the back of my neck stood up.

Fear was slowly starting to permeate my body.

"Haaa…haa…"

Unknowingly, my breathing became heavier.

As I slowly lifted my head up, my eyes met Jezebeth's, and my heart stopped for a moment.

'S..shit.'

I was overcome with a wave of helplessness as his presence completely enveloped my body, stopping me from moving at all.

"Hm?"

In the midst of my struggle, Jezebeth frowned.

Coming a little closer to me, he tilted his head a little.

"You…"

He pointed his slender finger in my direction, as his glaring red eyes scrutinized my body up and down.

My body felt completely naked as his eyes scanned it. It was as if he knew every secret inside my body.

Gradually, as he continued to stare at me, his eyes dropped and his head shook.

"…You're not him, again."

There were hints of disappointment in his voice as he turned his head to look away from me.

Right as he turned, I was able to hear his soft whisper.

"He would never make such an expression…"

Taking a step away from me, he looked around the room and continued to whisper to himself.

"This is strange…I'm sure I detected his presence before coming here. I don't think I'm wrong."

For the next couple of seconds, he didn't say anything and just quietly walked around the room with a pensive look on his face.

Coming to a sudden stop, he turned around to look at me.

Once again scanning my body, his brows jumped and a thin smile formed on his face.

"I see…"

Tap.

Taking a step closer to me, it didn't take long for him to arrive before me.

Extending his hand, my vision darkened as his plan covered my face.

I tried with all my might, staring at the hand that was snatching at my face, but it was all in vain; he stopped me without any effort on his part.

"Don't move. I'm trying to check something."

His voice loudly echoed inside of my ears.

As soon as his words vanished, I experienced an electric shock throughout my body. My body began to tense up in response to what he did, and my eyes rolled to the back of my head.

I wanted to scream, but it was all futile effort on my end as my mouth was sealed shut. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't say anything.

"Mhh! Mhhhhh!"

The only thing that came out of my mouth were low muffled shouts.

"Ah, it makes sense now."

Taking his hand away from my head, Jezebeth once again turned away from me.

He had a satisfied look on his face.

"It's just like I predicted. You were the ones that resulted in Magnus's death, and it doesn't look like an accident either. As expected of you…"

Turning his body around, our eyes met. This time, his smile faded a little.

must be his

he said these words,

began to calm

"Oh?"

raised at the

that different from him. You can say that you bear striking resemblances to this demeanor at times.

lifted his head. His face slowly

you disappear and let the real you take over? I have no

spoke in a gentle manner, every word he spoke

a result. Even though it pained me to be reminded that I was a fraud, I was

with a slow head

"I'm good."

"You're good?"

me with

"Ha."

he let out one

long, as his complexion crumbled

actually think you

color that totally enveloped the room as he snapped his head to gaze at me, and a dreadful pressure descended

"Khurk!"

instantly dropped on both knees

throat with both hands, I slowly raised my head to

Tap. Tap. Tap.

slow and rhythmical footsteps echoed throughout the room

moment that the pressure bearing

"Khuak!"

reflexively gagged and a wave of vertigo

I began to heavily gasp for air while a single string of saliva

"…My bad."

heard Jezebeth's voice echo

about how pathetically weak you are at the moment. For a moment,

legged on the ground, Jezebeth placed both

are lots of things I want to say, and even though you might not be him, he should still be

his finger, my

"How should we start?"

a bit, Jezebeth tapped his head

hard time remembering certain things. Don't mind me if I remember some things

his head, Jezebeth looked at

doesn't seem like you have much time till he takes over. I'll

with one hand while extending the other toward me until his palm was directly in

caught a whiff of death

I do? Should I just kill you before he takes over? There have been several

thoughts like many whispers,

a lot of my problems

stronger the hissing sound in my head became, sending me into this weird phase that made it hard for me to keep

think I've got

sound stopped

did he spare

Although his looks were similar to that of a human, and the way he acted was also similar to how

complete enigma in my

that was what made him

must be wondering why I did not

read my thoughts, I

same thin smile on his face, he slowly stood up from his

me in circles. The sound of his soft footsteps echoed through my

records are weakening. No, the Akashic records

words, I swallowed a

started to tremble

you don't have the power of the Akashic laws, but with every

meddling with time doesn't come cheaply. Whatever the case, unlike me and you, the records don't use that much energy to reset the universe. Every reset is

Jezebeth turned his head to look

powers like a fighter running out of stamina, and what if

I could feel my heart beating loudly as he

His words…

of dread as I

within my mind with each

enveloped

"This power…it's so addicting."

his words reverberated so powerfully inside the room that it felt as if the

the glow on

you've already guessed it. This is the last loop. Once 'he' dies, the loop will no

with each word he said,

to why

head, and my view of

my best to keep

wanted to hear what he wanted to say. I wanted to know why he wasn't killing me. I wanted to know what was going inside

because I don't need

eyes blinked several

two glaring red eyes stared at me. No, he

aware of your desires. You want to stop the loops. You want the suffering you've experienced to end, right? Then carry it out. Kill yourself right now.

Jezebeth halted himself mid-sentence.

placing his hand over his

doesn't look like you can kill yourself just yet. Not unless you

was pondering, it didn't take long for his brows to relax. The smile also returned to his

direction, his smile

this might be even more

was looking at me, not

want to live

asked while he looked straight into my eyes. Before

to die, while another wants