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 nearly as much suffering

quality of life

wouldn't really think anything of it if they got rid

all, it was the most logical

take care

at him with a friendly grin on her face as she turned her

toward where he was, she kneeled down slightly

your mother; why wouldn't I

I not

his face

surprise as she listened to his words,

Why would you ever be a burden. My life has never been more fulfilled now that you're

the soft and warm embrace of his

was more confused

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

spoke! It's such a rare occasion

sudden burst of excitement once again made Kevin

she showing such a reaction

Humans…

creatures far more confusing than

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The demons came,

the lifeless body of his mother while he prodded her flesh with his

"Why?"

that had taken place in the

"Kevin, move!"

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

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

have to take care of me. Why did you do something so

the

was not too far away from where he stood,

stared at his mother and father for an

his heart felt

like this, but for some

'Why is that?'

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

that point, life returned to how it had been before, and Kevin's progress in strength continued

*

Twenty five years later.

again, Kevin found himself standing in front of

expressionless face was the same as it had

when compared to his previous life, Kevin was much

little bit; it was by quite a large

more powerful than he had been in his previous life by combining the knowledge he gained from his previous life with

the most skilled instructors,

just a couple of moves. He had

look eerily familiar,

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

"…You couldn't possibl—"

white hue began to emerge from it. It covered the

long after that, and a powerful wave of energy headed

"Akashic laws…"

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

I need in order to get to the