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?

wouldn't be experiencing nearly as much suffering as they were

their quality of life for them would significantly

really think anything of it if they got rid

it was

take care

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

where he was, she kneeled down slightly and caressed his

mother; why wouldn't I

not

asked, his face

changed to one of surprise as she listened to his words, and then she smiled broadly and

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

the soft and warm embrace of

was more

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

a rare occasion that I didn't

sudden burst of excitement once

she showing such a

Humans…

far more

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

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

stared at the lifeless body of his mother while he prodded her flesh with his

"Why?"

had taken place in the subsequent minutes and seconds, he became

"Kevin, move!"

in an effort to protect him from a

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

you didn't have to take care

poking at the

was not too far away from where he stood, was completely mangled, and he

mother and father for

his heart felt

usually felt like this, but for some strange reason, he felt even

'Why is that?'

the area and placed in an orphanage before he even had a chance to

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

*

Twenty five years later.

himself standing

expressionless face was the same as it

previous life, Kevin was much

little bit; it was by quite a large

he was able to become even more powerful than he had been in his previous life by combining the knowledge he

from the most skilled instructors, which contributed to his

could swat his former self in just

eerily familiar, don't

his eyes glossing over his body. With a raised

"…You couldn't possibl—"

was already raised, and a white hue began to

launched his attack not long after that, and a powerful wave of

"Akashic laws…"

very long. Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as

piece that I need in order to get