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.

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

spread over the vicinity as Jezebeth extended his hand and tapped Ren's forehead with

that, a black tattoo resembling a crown began to form on Ren's wrist. His face twisted in pain, but no sound escaped from his mouth as Jezebeth

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,

wasn't someone that believed all his plans

understood just how much of

work out, then he would always have a

was in his nature to be that

him

part. Don't forget

the portal in the distance. Throughout the

when he

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

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

that, his body completely disappeared. The last thing that Jezebeth saw was his terrifying glare that

couple of

have just killed

Jezebeth started to have

glare, Jezebeth had

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

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

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

This feeling…

his

'I don't like this.'

was anything but pleasant for Jezebeth. For someone of his caliber

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

"I need something else.."

murmured

he needed something else to completely feel in control

of the events on the off-chance that something wrong

"Hmm…"

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

certain direction. At that moment, a startling notion crossed his mind as his eyes shone a

"What if…"

***

him

room full of scars and broken equipment,

Ryan looked at the portal

been quite a while since he had left the

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

only one who was back as everyone else was also back. Everyone apart from Kevin, Emma, and Melissa who seemed to have teleported somewhere

and Ren were also

was waiting at

was pacing the room, a loud, distinct voice resounded across the space. Angelica, who was speaking, turned to face Amanda who nodded in response to her query. She seemed rather uncomfortable talking to her, but

left, I remember seeing Smallsnake. I told him to keep the portal open

"I see…"

Angelica nodded her head.

a couple of seconds,

recalled, you were with Ren. Why didn't you

lips when she heard

head a little, she softly

want to hold him

her long-range 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 way from that point on

with him, she couldn't stand to stay

felt too suffocating

"The portal is reacting!"

Ryan's yell as ripples started to develop on the portal across

to focus their attention

face was especially excited as he looked toward

like they've made it