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?

experiencing

their quality of life for them would

of it if they got rid of him. He knew

all, it was the most

do I take care of

glimpse of his mother looking at him with a friendly grin on her face as she turned her head and lightly

kneeled down slightly

why wouldn't

I not

his

mother's expression changed to one of surprise as she listened to his words, and then she smiled broadly

never been more fulfilled now that

soft and warm embrace of his mother,

was more

him out of his

such a rare occasion that I

sudden burst of excitement

such a reaction for

Humans…

were creatures far more confusing than he

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

the same scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The demons came, and his parents died trying to protect

down and stared at the lifeless body of his mother

"Why?"

mind replayed the events that had taken place in the subsequent minutes and

"Kevin, move!"

remember his mother pushing him to the side in an effort to protect him from a demon, but she ended up being the one who was

of his mother, followed by his father dragging him

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

asked, poking at the

where he stood, was completely mangled, and he was no

stared at his mother and father for an undetermined amount of time

heart felt

this, but for some strange

'Why is that?'

support arrived, he was whisked away from the area and placed in an orphanage before he even had a chance to

Kevin's progress in strength continued at a steady pace as the years went

*

Twenty five years later.

again, Kevin found himself

as it had been

when compared to his previous life, Kevin was much more powerful in

bit; it was by quite a large

in his previous life by combining the knowledge he gained

the most skilled instructors,

in just a couple of moves. He had improved

eerily

glossing over his body. With a raised

"…You couldn't possibl—"

he could finish his sentence, Kevin's hand was already raised, and a white hue began to emerge from it. It covered

his attack not long after that, and a powerful

"Akashic laws…"

for very long. Instead, he appeared to

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