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

Jezebeth extended his hand and tapped

wrist. His face twisted in

blood into your bloodstream just in case, in four years, something does occur and 'he' refuses to take control of your body or you two come to an agreement. When

wasn't someone that believed all his

much of

then he would always have a couple of backup

in his nature to

him from achieving

us to part. Don't forget about what we've talked

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

merely smiled when he

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

shot toward the portal

that Jezebeth saw was his terrifying glare that was

a couple of seconds passed that the silence

have just

started

at the glare, Jezebeth had

mean, how could he not? He knew just how powerful

There was no way he would

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

This feeling…

his

'I don't like this.'

for Jezebeth. For someone of his caliber to feel this type of emotion, it felt

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

"I need something else.."

murmured to

needed something else

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

"Hmm…"

contemplating the matter, Jezebeth scanned the room

startling notion crossed his mind as his eyes shone a bright red hue. After a while, wearing a thin smile on his face,

"What if…"

***

taking him so

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

at the portal with

while since he had left the planet and he

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

was also back. Everyone apart from Kevin, Emma, and Melissa who seemed to have teleported

and Ren were

say that Smallsnake was waiting at the portal when you

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

I told him to keep the portal open for when

"I see…"

Angelica nodded her head.

a couple of seconds, she frowned and

were with Ren.

lips when she

her head a

because I didn't want

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

the conversation she had with him, she couldn't stand

felt too suffocating

"The portal is reacting!"

startled out of her thoughts by Ryan's yell as

room instantly turned to focus their

face was especially excited as

they've made