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?

the case, then they wouldn't be experiencing nearly as much suffering as they were right

contrary, their quality of

of it if they got rid of him. He knew that

was the most

take care

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

where he was, she kneeled down slightly and

why wouldn't I

not a

asked, his face

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

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

warm embrace of his mother, Kevin

more

out of his reverie as she suddenly squeezed him more tightly in her

It's such a rare occasion that I didn't even notice

burst of excitement once

a reaction

Humans…

more confusing than

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

from the first life repeated themselves.

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

"Why?"

taken place in the subsequent minutes

"Kevin, move!"

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

his mother, followed by his father dragging him away and hiding him in the same place

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

the

where he stood, was completely mangled, and he was

sat on the ground and stared at his mother and father for an undetermined amount of time while they lay dead on

heart felt

this, but for some strange reason,

'Why is that?'

from the area and placed in an orphanage

and Kevin's progress in strength

*

Twenty five years later.

Kevin found himself standing in front

was the same as it had

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

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

received instruction from the most skilled

just a couple of moves. He had

look eerily familiar,

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

"…You couldn't possibl—"

hue began to emerge from it. It covered the

after that, and a

"Akashic laws…"

last for very long. Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance

see...so you're the missing piece that I need in order to get to the