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?

that were the case, then they wouldn't be experiencing

contrary, their quality of life for them would

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

in all, it was

take care of

caught a fleeting glimpse of his mother looking at him with a friendly grin on her face as

she kneeled down slightly and caressed his

why wouldn't I take care of

not

asked, his face

to one of surprise as she listened to his

been more fulfilled now that you're with me. I'm sure your father thinks the

the soft and warm embrace of his mother, Kevin didn't say anything

more confused

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

such a rare occasion that I didn't even notice

sudden burst of excitement once

she showing such a reaction for such a trivial

Humans…

far more confusing than he

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

the same scenes from the first life repeated themselves.

crouched down and stared at the lifeless body of his

"Why?"

taken place in the subsequent minutes

"Kevin, move!"

still clearly remember his mother pushing him to the side in an effort to protect him from

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

have to take care of me. Why did you do

asked, poking at the dead

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

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

his heart felt

this, but for

'Why is that?'

in an orphanage before he even had a chance to realize a

and Kevin's progress in

*

Twenty five years later.

Kevin found himself standing in front of

was the same as it

life, Kevin was much

just by a little bit; it was by quite a large

powerful than he had been in his previous life by combining the knowledge he gained from his previous life with the

also received instruction from the most skilled

he could swat his former self in just a couple of moves. He had improved

look eerily familiar, don't

his eyes glossing over his body. With

"…You couldn't possibl—"

Kevin's hand was already raised, and a white hue began to emerge from it. It covered the entire world

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

"Akashic laws…"

to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance of a faint

the missing piece that I need in order to get to