The Author's POV

"hmmm…"

Jezebeth scowled as he fixed his gaze on Ren, who appeared to have lost his soul.

'…Is this really how he used to be?'

Overlapping his image with the image of the man he knew, Jezebeth only felt disgust.

"To think that the death of someone so insignificant was all it took to reduce you into this state…"

In reality, it most likely wasn't just that. He was currently in this mental condition as a result of discovering the genuine facts about his existence and the death of one his comrades.

The man he knew was someone that closely resembled him. Someone that would do anything to achieve his goals.

It was exactly because he was like this that Jezebeth liked him.

Unfortunately, this version of him that was before him was a far cry from the figure he remembered.

In any case, this didn't concern Jezebeth.

'Should I just kill him?'

In that split moment, he had the sudden urge to end him right here and there. In the first place, the only reason he was keeping him alive was to save himself some trouble as well as time, but it wasn't really necessary.

He had already won. All he needed to do was just wait six years and the Akashic records would be his.

...Just six years.

'No, now is not a good idea.'

It took quite a bit of willpower to stop himself from killing him.

Calming himself down, Jezebeth suddenly noticed that Ren was now glaring in his direction. A powerful and chilling pressure started to expand from out of his body. One that even made Jezebeth's spine tingle.

"Oh?"

His head tilted a little as the edges of his lips curled a little.

"Someone looks a little displeased."

A little would be an exaggeration. Currently, it looked as though wanted to eat him alive. That look…it was not bad.

'Too bad now is not the right time.'

Jezebeth thought while he shook his head.

Focusing his attention toward the portal in the distance, he motioned in the air with his fingers and Ren's figure slowly floated in the air. The previous pressure that was coming out from his body disappeared just like that.

The current Ren was nothing but a bug in his eyes.

"Regrettably, I don't have time to entertain your rage."

Motioning with his finger, Ren's body slowly headed in his direction. Coming to a stop in front of him, Jezebeth scratched his neck a little before his eyes squinted.

"Don't forget the advice I gave you earlier. Everything will vanish if you kill "him." You will have the option of either dying or living, depending on which of you chooses."

He spoke with a hushed voice and an icy tone. One that sounded like a thousands snakes were hissing at the same time in Ren's ears.

Extending his hand, he pressed it against Ren's forehead. A gentle glow enveloped the room.

Feeling Ren's soul, he mumbled.

"Four years."

Removing the palm of his hand away from Ren, Jezebeth took a step back.

Then, staring straight into Ren's eyes, he began to mutter.

completely fuse with your current self. If by that time the current you has still not killed the Akashic holder, the

vicinity as Jezebeth extended his hand and

black tattoo resembling a crown began to form on Ren's wrist. His face twisted in pain, but

into your bloodstream just in case, in four years, something does occur and 'he' refuses to take control of your body or you two come to an agreement. When four years have gone and you haven't passed away, the curse I

wasn't someone that believed all his plans would

because he was setting Ren free, he understood just how much of a potential problem he could pose to him in

he would always have a couple of backup

was in his nature to be that

could stop him from achieving

us to part. Don't forget about

direction of the portal in the distance. Throughout the entire time, the only thing he could do was glare in his direction

when

much time left. Whether you live or die, all

his palm forward, Ren's body shot toward the

his body completely disappeared. The last thing that Jezebeth saw was his terrifying

couple of seconds passed that the

I have

Jezebeth started to have

the glare, Jezebeth had an

I mean, how could he not? He knew just how powerful

on an equal level with him. There was no way he would treat him the same

"he" will seize control and commit suicide in four years. If, however, he does not commit suicide, the curse I cast upon him should finish the job for me. Additionally, as the akashic holder is the only person capable of killing me, there is no need to worry about him

This feeling…

his

'I don't like this.'

pleasant for Jezebeth. For someone of his caliber to feel this type of emotion, it felt nothing short

unsettling, and right now even his backup plan didn't seem as secure

"I need something else.."

murmured

realized that he needed something

the tides of the

"Hmm…"

contemplating the matter, Jezebeth scanned the room

that moment, a startling notion crossed his mind as his eyes shone a bright

"What if…"

***

taking him

equipment, an immature, borderline childish voice resounded throughout the

the room, Ryan looked at

had

that the entire warehouse would have been lost in

he wasn't the only one who was back as everyone else was also back. Everyone apart from Kevin, Emma, and Melissa who seemed

that, Smallsnake, and Ren were

was waiting

the room, a loud, distinct voice resounded across the space. Angelica, who was speaking, turned to face Amanda who nodded in response to her

I left, I remember seeing Smallsnake. I told

"I see…"

Angelica nodded her head.

after a couple of seconds, she

I recalled, you were with Ren. Why

when she heard

head a little, she softly

because I didn't want

help him get to the top level more quickly, but she

conversation she had with him, she couldn't stand to stay

too suffocating to

"The portal is reacting!"

of her thoughts by Ryan's yell as ripples started to develop on the portal across

turned to focus their attention

especially excited as

they've made it in