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.

will take for your other self 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 take over and end both of your

Jezebeth extended

face twisted in pain, but no sound escaped from his

you two come to an agreement. When four years have gone and you haven't passed away, the curse I set in you will automatically come to fruition, and you will

wasn't someone that believed all

he understood just how much of a potential problem he could pose to

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

nature to be

could stop him from achieving

part. Don't forget about what

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

merely smiled when

have much time left. Whether you

forward, Ren's body shot toward the portal that was already

saw was his terrifying glare that was filled with bloodlust. After that, a deep silence

a couple of seconds

I have

again, Jezebeth started to

glare, Jezebeth had

starting to doubt himself a little. I mean, how

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

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

This feeling…

his

'I don't like this.'

his caliber to feel this type of emotion, it felt

of something going unnoticed was unsettling, and right now even his backup plan didn't

"I need something else.."

quietly murmured to

then that he realized that he needed something

the tides of the events

"Hmm…"

while deeply contemplating the matter,

as his eyes shone a bright red

"What if…"

***

him

equipment, an immature, borderline childish voice

room, Ryan looked at the portal with

quite a while since he had left the planet and he had returned to

damaged, and Ryan believed that the entire warehouse would have been lost

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

and Ren were also still not

say that Smallsnake was waiting at the

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

told him to keep the portal open

"I see…"

Angelica nodded her head.

after a couple of seconds, she frowned

you were with Ren. Why didn't you

pursed her lips when she heard

head a little, she

I didn't want

she soon realized that she would only be getting in the way

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

too

"The portal is reacting!"

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

to focus their

excited as he looked toward

they've made