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

their quality of life for them would

nothing but a burden, and Kevin wouldn't really think anything of it if they got rid of him. He knew that

all, it was

take

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

kneeled down slightly and

your mother; why wouldn't I take

I not a

his face

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

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

the soft and warm embrace of his

more

of his reverie as she suddenly squeezed him more tightly in

such a rare occasion that I didn't even

of excitement once again made Kevin

is she showing such a reaction

Humans…

far more confusing than

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

same scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The demons came, and his parents

stared at the lifeless body of

"Why?"

in the subsequent minutes and

"Kevin, move!"

to protect him from a demon, but she ended up being the one who was

he witnessed the dismemberment of his mother, followed by his father

take care of me. Why did you do something

poking at the dead carcass of

he stood, was completely mangled, and he was no

and father for an undetermined

his heart felt

usually felt like this, but for

'Why is that?'

the area and placed in

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

*

Twenty five years later.

again, Kevin found himself standing in

face was the same as it had

life, Kevin was much more powerful in this

bit; it was by quite

his previous life by combining

most skilled instructors, which contributed to his increased

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

eerily familiar, don't

glossing over his body. With a raised

"…You couldn't possibl—"

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

attack not long after that, and a powerful wave of energy

"Akashic laws…"

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

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