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.

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

extended his hand and tapped

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

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 set

that believed all his plans would

free, he understood just how much of

work out, then he would always have a couple of backup

nature

could stop him from achieving his

part. Don't forget about what we've

patted Ren on the cheek as Ren's body floated slowly towards the direction of the portal in the distance.

when he

ticking and you don't have much time left. Whether you live or die, all will

forward, Ren's body shot toward

completely disappeared. The last thing that Jezebeth saw was his terrifying glare that was filled with

couple of seconds passed

have

again, Jezebeth started to have

at the glare,

a little. I mean, how could he not?

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

think about it, my strategy ought to be foolproof." If he rejects my offer, "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 harming me in any way after he kills the Akashic holder. The truth is that I have won. Everything should be within my grasp, yet... why, do I still feel so

This feeling…

clenched his

'I don't like this.'

caliber to feel this type of emotion, it felt nothing short of

now even his backup plan didn't seem as

"I need something else.."

murmured

he realized that he needed something else to completely

turn the tides of the events on the off-chance that something wrong happened, and his

"Hmm…"

while deeply contemplating the

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

"What if…"

***

him

broken equipment, an immature, borderline childish voice resounded

Ryan looked at

had been quite a while since he had left

discovered his mercenary headquarters in a deplorable state. Nearly everything was damaged, and Ryan believed that the entire warehouse would have been lost

also back. Everyone apart from Kevin, Emma, and

that, Smallsnake, and Ren were also still not

waiting at

who was speaking, turned to face Amanda who nodded in response to her query. She seemed rather uncomfortable talking to

seeing Smallsnake. I told him to keep the portal open

"I see…"

Angelica nodded her head.

couple of seconds, she frowned

were with Ren.

when she heard

head a little, she softly

want to hold him

him get to the top level more quickly, but she soon realized that she would only be getting in the way from that point on and chose to

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

felt too

"The portal is reacting!"

abruptly startled out of her thoughts by Ryan's yell as ripples started

turned to focus

was especially excited as he looked toward

like they've made it