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?

experiencing nearly as much suffering as

the contrary, their quality of life for them would

if they got rid of him. He

all, it was the most

take care

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

toward where he was, she kneeled down slightly

why wouldn't I take care

not

his face

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

life has never been more fulfilled now that you're with

the soft and warm embrace of his mother,

was more confused

him out of his reverie as she suddenly squeezed him

such a rare occasion that I didn't

sudden burst of excitement once again made Kevin

is she showing such a reaction for such a trivial

Humans…

far more confusing than he

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

themselves. The demons came, and his parents died trying

body of his mother while he prodded her

"Why?"

mind replayed the events that had taken place in

"Kevin, move!"

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

father dragging him away and hiding him in the same

to take care of me.

the dead

too far away from where he stood, was completely mangled, and he was

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

felt emptier than

for some strange reason,

'Why is that?'

placed in

been before, and Kevin's progress

*

Twenty five years later.

again, Kevin found himself standing

as it had been

previous life, Kevin was much

a little bit;

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

skilled instructors, which contributed to

put, he could swat his former self in just a couple of moves. He

eerily

eyes glossing over his body. With a raised eyebrow, he

"…You couldn't possibl—"

raised, and a white hue began

and a powerful wave

"Akashic laws…"

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

the missing piece that I need in order to get