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

their quality of life for

anything of it if they got rid of him. He knew that he was nothing but a nuisance

was

I take care

looking at him with a friendly

he was, she kneeled down

why wouldn't I

not

asked, his face

to one of surprise as she listened to his words, and then she smiled broadly and pulled him closer

Why would you ever be a burden. My life has never been more fulfilled

soft and warm embrace of his

more confused than

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

such a rare occasion that I didn't even notice

burst of excitement once

she showing such a reaction for such

Humans…

more confusing

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

first life repeated themselves. The demons came, and his parents died

lifeless body of

"Why?"

that had taken place in the subsequent minutes

"Kevin, move!"

him to the side in an effort to protect him from

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

have to take care of me.

asked, poking at the dead

not too far away from where he stood, was completely mangled, and he was no

father for an undetermined amount of

heart felt emptier

felt like this, but for some strange reason, he felt

'Why is that?'

arrived, he was whisked away from the area and placed in an orphanage before he even had a chance

had been before, and Kevin's progress in strength

*

Twenty five years later.

himself

expressionless face was the same as it had been

life, Kevin was much more

wasn't just by a little bit; it was by quite

his previous life by combining

the most skilled instructors, which contributed

his former self in just a

look eerily familiar,

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

"…You couldn't possibl—"

a white hue began to emerge from it. It covered the

and a powerful wave

"Akashic laws…"

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

missing piece that I need in order