The Author's POV

Bang—!

A figure crashed against a series of buildings, sending them crumbling to the ground.

With another muffled blast, the figure crashed against the ground, and a crater formed around the area around him.

Following the dispersal of the debris and subsequent clearing of the area, Kevin's haggard figure appeared to be seen standing in the midst of the debris.

His clothing was ripped, and he appeared to have a gaping wound in his chest.

His red eyes gleamed under the red, apocalyptic sun that hung in the sky, matching its intensity.

"How pitifully weak..."

A figure with white hair descended from the sky above him in a slow and collected manner. His presence loomed over the world, and his towering figure oppressed anything within its sights.

He looked no different than a god that had descended upon the mortal world, as his every movement caused the world to shake.

"I'm rather disappointed."

Jezebeth spoke while maintaining eye contact with Kevin, who was standing below him.

His icy stare was filled with what could only be described as disappointment, and he raised his hand.

Palm facing Kevin, he mumbled.

"…If you're really all the records have planned in order to stop me, then I really am disappointed."

Booom—!

The world tore apart, and Kevin's vision grew black.

***

"Come, eat your soup, Kevin."

Kevin's ears rang with the sound of a familiar voice as he looked down and took a quick glance at the meal that was in front of him.

It was a straightforward yellow clear soup mixed with a few different vegetables ranging from carrots, broccoli, and the like.

'It's bland, and the nutritional value is low…'

Kevin thought as he brought the soup to his mouth.

The taste of the soup was extremely bland, and it never seemed to fill him, even though he was once again five years old.

The only reason he never grumbled was because he understood that this was the best his caretakers had to offer.

A simple vegetable soup.

Kevin, in all candor, did not comprehend why the records would assign him to such inept caretakers; however, he was not programmed to question the system's decision-making.

The only thing he needed to do was follow orders.

But…

"Why do you take care of me?"

There was still a lingering sense of curiosity in his heart, and he just couldn't help but bring himself to ask his caretaker the one question that had been in his mind ever since his first life.

Why would such a creature risk so much in taking care of him when they couldn't even take care of themselves?

Wouldn't it be more appropriate for them if they just abandoned him and lived for themselves?

be experiencing nearly

quality of life for them would

it if they got rid of

in all, it was

do I take

him with a friendly grin on her

kneeled

wouldn't I take care

not

asked, his

his words,

be a burden. My life has never been more fulfilled now that you're with me. I'm sure your father thinks

warm embrace of his mother, Kevin didn't say

more confused than

voice was what broke him out of his reverie as she suddenly

rare occasion

of excitement once again made Kevin

is she showing such a reaction for such a

Humans…

were creatures far more

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The

lifeless body of his mother while he prodded her flesh with

"Why?"

the events that had taken place in the subsequent minutes and seconds, he

"Kevin, move!"

pushing him to the side in an effort to protect him

of his mother, followed by his father dragging him away and hiding him in the same

said that you didn't have to take care of me. Why did

asked, poking at the

he

mother and father for an undetermined amount of time while they

felt emptier

this, but for some strange

'Why is that?'

away from the area and placed in an orphanage before he even had a chance to realize a day had

that point, life returned to how it had been before, and Kevin's progress in strength continued at a steady pace

*

Twenty five years later.

himself

same as it had been in the

Kevin was

bit; it was by

he was able to become even more powerful than he had been in his previous life by combining the knowledge he gained from his previous life with the system given to him by the

the most skilled instructors,

self in just a

look eerily familiar, don't

rang throughout the world, his eyes glossing over

"…You couldn't possibl—"

hue began to emerge from it. It covered

that, and a powerful wave of energy

"Akashic laws…"

of shock on Jezebeth's face didn't last for very long. Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance of a

see...so you're the missing piece that I need