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?

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

quality of life for them would

they got rid of him.

was the most logical

take

with a friendly grin on

he was, she kneeled down slightly and

your mother; why wouldn't I take care of

not

his face

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

you ever be a burden. My life has never been more fulfilled now that you're with me.

and warm embrace of his

more confused

of his mother's voice was what broke him out of

rare occasion that I didn't even

sudden burst of excitement once

a reaction

Humans…

more confusing than he

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

passed, and the same scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The demons

lifeless body of his mother while

"Why?"

taken place in the subsequent

"Kevin, move!"

to protect

followed by his father dragging him away and hiding him in the same place as his

you didn't have to take care of me.

asked, poking at the dead

away from where he stood, was completely mangled, and

his mother and father for an undetermined amount of time while

felt emptier

this, but for some strange reason, he felt even

'Why is that?'

arrived, he was whisked away from the area and placed in an orphanage before he

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

*

Twenty five years later.

found himself standing in

same as

to his previous life, Kevin was much more powerful in

by a little bit;

previous life by combining the knowledge he gained from his previous life with the system given to him by

most skilled instructors, which contributed to his increased

just a couple of moves.

look eerily familiar,

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

"…You couldn't possibl—"

hand was already raised, and a white hue began

launched his attack not long after that, and a powerful wave of energy headed in Jezebeth's

"Akashic laws…"

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

the missing piece that I need