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 of you will take over

Jezebeth extended his hand and tapped Ren's

began to form on Ren's wrist. His face

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 in

that believed all his

just how much of a potential

didn't work out, then he would always have a couple

his nature to be that

him

time for us to part. Don't

of the portal in the distance.

smiled when

Whether you live or die, all will depend on your next course

forward, Ren's body shot toward the

thing that Jezebeth saw was his terrifying glare that

couple of seconds passed that

I have just

started to have second

glare, Jezebeth had

how could

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

to 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,

This feeling…

clenched his fists

'I don't like this.'

anything but pleasant for Jezebeth. For someone of his caliber to feel this type of emotion,

going unnoticed was unsettling, and right now even his backup plan didn't seem as secure as he

"I need something else.."

quietly murmured to

he realized that he needed something else to completely feel in control of

of the events

"Hmm…"

the room, while deeply contemplating the matter, Jezebeth scanned

as his eyes shone a bright red hue. After a while, wearing a thin smile on

"What if…"

***

him

of scars and broken equipment, an immature, borderline childish voice

looked at the portal with worry

a while since he had

everything was damaged, and Ryan believed that the entire warehouse would have been lost in the annals of

one who was back as everyone else was also back. Everyone

Ren were also still

was waiting at the portal when

space. Angelica, who was speaking, turned to face Amanda who nodded in response to her query. She seemed rather uncomfortable talking to her, but she still remained quite

Smallsnake. I told him to

"I see…"

Angelica nodded her head.

after a couple of seconds, she frowned and

were with Ren. Why didn't you

when she heard the

a

I didn't want to

quickly, but she soon realized that she would only be getting in the way from

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

felt too

"The portal is reacting!"

yell as ripples started to develop on the portal

turned to focus their attention

excited as

like they've made