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?

were the case, then they wouldn't be experiencing

their quality of life for them

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

it was the most logical

do I take

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

he was, she kneeled down slightly and caressed

mother; why wouldn't I take care of

not

his face

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

ever be a burden. My life has never been more fulfilled now that you're with me. I'm sure your father thinks

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

more

was what broke him out of his reverie as she suddenly squeezed him more tightly in

a rare occasion that I didn't even notice

of excitement once again made

such a reaction

Humans…

creatures far more confusing than he

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

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

down and stared at the lifeless body of his mother

"Why?"

place in the subsequent minutes and seconds, he

"Kevin, move!"

in an effort to protect him from a demon, but

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

you didn't have to take care of

asked, poking at the dead carcass of his

from where he stood, was completely

at his mother and father for an undetermined amount of time while they lay

his heart felt emptier than

like this, but for some strange reason,

'Why is that?'

area and placed in an orphanage before he even

point, life returned to how it had been before, and Kevin's

*

Twenty five years later.

Kevin found himself

as it

life, Kevin was much more powerful in

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

in his previous life by combining the knowledge he gained from his previous

the most skilled instructors, which contributed

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

look eerily

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

"…You couldn't possibl—"

was already raised, and a white hue began to emerge from it. It covered the entire

after that, and a powerful wave of energy headed

"Akashic laws…"

to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance

I need in order to get