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.

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

spread over the vicinity as Jezebeth extended his hand and

began to form on Ren's wrist. His face

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 set in you will automatically come to fruition, and you will pass away

wasn't someone that believed

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

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

in his nature to be

him

part. Don't forget

body floated slowly towards the direction of the portal in the distance. Throughout the entire time, the only

merely smiled when he

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

toward the

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

was only after a couple of seconds passed that the silence was

have

Jezebeth started

the glare,

was starting to doubt himself a little. I mean, how could

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

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

This feeling…

clenched his

'I don't like this.'

someone of his caliber to feel this type of emotion, it

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

"I need something else.."

murmured

he needed something else to

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

"Hmm…"

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

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

"What if…"

***

taking him

a vast room full of scars and broken equipment, an immature, borderline childish voice resounded

at the

while since he had left the planet and he had returned

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

everyone else was also

Smallsnake, and Ren were also

you say that Smallsnake was waiting at

to face Amanda who nodded in response to her query. She seemed rather uncomfortable talking to

told him to keep

"I see…"

Angelica nodded her head.

of

recalled, you were with Ren. Why

when she heard the

head a

want to hold

shooting, Amanda was able to help him get to the top level more quickly, but she soon realized that she would only be getting in the

with him, she couldn't stand to stay in

felt too suffocating to

"The portal is reacting!"

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

to focus their attention on the

was especially excited as he looked toward the

made it in