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?

be experiencing nearly as

quality of life for them

really think anything of it if they got rid

all, it was the most logical

I take

him with a friendly grin on her face as she turned her head and

toward where he was, she kneeled

wouldn't I take care of

I not

his face

to his words, and then she smiled broadly

burden. My life has never been more fulfilled now

of his mother, Kevin didn't say

more confused than

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

You spoke! It's such a rare occasion that I didn't even

sudden burst of excitement

such a reaction

Humans…

far more confusing than

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

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

at the lifeless body of his mother

"Why?"

the events that had taken place in the subsequent minutes and

"Kevin, move!"

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

mother, followed by his father dragging him away and hiding him

that you didn't have to take care of me. Why did you do something

the dead carcass

where he stood, was completely mangled, and he was no

and stared at his mother and father for an undetermined amount

felt emptier

usually felt like this, but for some strange

'Why is that?'

in an orphanage before he even had a

point, life returned to how it had been before, and Kevin's progress in strength continued at a steady pace as

*

Twenty five years later.

himself standing

was the same as it had

to his previous life, Kevin was much more powerful in this

a little bit; it was by quite a

than he had been in his previous life by combining

received instruction from the most skilled instructors, which contributed to his

in just a couple of moves. He

look eerily

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

"…You couldn't possibl—"

hue began to emerge

long after that, and a

"Akashic laws…"

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

missing piece that I need in order to get to