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.

your current self. If by that time the current you has still not killed the Akashic holder, the other part

ripple spread over the vicinity as Jezebeth extended his hand and tapped

on Ren's wrist. His face

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 set

believed all his plans

free, he understood just how much of a potential problem

work out, then he would always have a

was in his nature

stop him from achieving his

part. Don't forget about what we've

face, Jezebeth patted Ren on the cheek as Ren's body floated slowly towards the direction of the portal in the distance. Throughout the entire time, the only thing he could do was glare

when

you don't have much time left. Whether you live or

toward the

last thing that Jezebeth saw was his terrifying glare that was filled with

couple of seconds passed that the silence was

I have

started to

back at the glare, Jezebeth had an

himself a little. I mean, how could he not? He knew just how powerful

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

for me. Additionally, as the akashic holder is the only person capable of killing me, there is no need to worry about him harming me in any way after he kills the Akashic holder. The truth is that I have

This feeling…

his fists

'I don't like this.'

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 as he had

"I need something else.."

quietly murmured to

realized that he needed something else to completely feel in control

would truly be able to turn the tides of the events on the off-chance that something wrong happened, and

"Hmm…"

in the middle of the room, while deeply contemplating the matter, Jezebeth scanned

crossed his mind as his eyes shone a bright red hue.

"What if…"

***

taking him

broken equipment, an

looked at the portal with

been quite a while since he had left the planet and he

discovered his mercenary headquarters in a deplorable state. Nearly everything was damaged, and Ryan believed that the entire warehouse would have been lost in the annals of history if it weren't for the training

only one who was back as everyone else was also back. Everyone apart from

Ren were also still

that Smallsnake was waiting at the portal

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

remember seeing Smallsnake. I told him to keep

"I see…"

Angelica nodded her head.

couple of

recalled, you were with Ren. Why didn't you

her lips when

her head a little, she

want to hold

Amanda was able to help him get to the top level more quickly, but she soon realized

thinking back at the conversation she had with him, she couldn't stand to

too suffocating to

"The portal is reacting!"

her thoughts by Ryan's yell as ripples started to develop on

turned to focus their attention on the

face was especially excited as

like they've made