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?

the case, then they wouldn't be experiencing nearly as much suffering as they were right

quality of life for

burden, and Kevin wouldn't really think anything of it if they

it was the

take

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

he was, she kneeled down slightly and caressed

your mother; why wouldn't

I not a

his face

she listened to his words, and then she smiled broadly and pulled him closer

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

and warm embrace of his mother, Kevin

was more confused than

his mother's voice was what broke him out of his reverie as she suddenly squeezed him

It's such a rare occasion that I didn't

burst of excitement once again made Kevin

she showing such a reaction for

Humans…

were creatures far more confusing

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

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

body of his mother while he prodded her flesh

"Why?"

had taken place in the subsequent minutes and

"Kevin, move!"

side in an effort to protect him from a demon, but she ended up being the one

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

to take care of me.

asked, poking at the

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

the ground and stared at his mother and father for an undetermined amount of time while they lay dead

heart felt emptier

like this, but for some strange

'Why is that?'

area and placed in an

point, life returned to how it had been before, and Kevin's progress in strength

*

Twenty five years later.

himself

same as it had been in the

to his previous life, Kevin was much more

bit; it was

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

received instruction from the most skilled

in just a couple of moves. He had

look eerily familiar,

voice rang throughout the world, his eyes glossing over

"…You couldn't possibl—"

could finish his sentence, Kevin's hand was already raised, and a white hue began to emerge

and a powerful wave of

"Akashic laws…"

face didn't last for very long. Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced

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