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

of life for them would

and Kevin wouldn't really think anything of it if they got rid of him. He knew that he was nothing

was the

take care

friendly grin on her face as she turned her head and lightly

kneeled down slightly and caressed his

your mother; why wouldn't I

not a

asked, his

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

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

the soft and warm embrace of his

more confused than

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 even

burst of excitement

showing such a reaction

Humans…

were creatures far more confusing

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

themselves. The demons came, and his

lifeless body of

"Why?"

replayed the events that had taken place in the

"Kevin, move!"

clearly remember his mother pushing him to the side in an effort to protect him from a demon, but she ended

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

care of

at the

far away from where he stood,

at his mother and father for an undetermined amount of time while they lay dead on

his heart felt emptier than

usually felt like this, but for some strange

'Why is that?'

away from the area and placed in

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

*

Twenty five years later.

Kevin found himself standing in

the same as it had been

his previous life, Kevin was much

just by a little bit; it was by quite

life, 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

the most skilled instructors, which contributed

his former self in just a couple of moves.

eerily familiar,

rang throughout the world, his eyes glossing over his body. With a

"…You couldn't possibl—"

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

after that, and a powerful wave of energy headed in Jezebeth's

"Akashic laws…"

last for very long. Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance of a faint smile on his

the missing piece that I