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 as

the contrary, their quality of life for

if they got

was the most

do I take care

glimpse of his mother looking at him with a friendly grin on

she kneeled down slightly and caressed his

your mother; why wouldn't

I not a

his face

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

be a burden. My life has never been more fulfilled

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

was more confused

of his reverie as she suddenly squeezed him more tightly in

rare occasion that I didn't even

excitement once again

she showing such a reaction for such

Humans…

were creatures far more

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

same scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The demons

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

"Why?"

replayed the events that had taken place in

"Kevin, move!"

his mother pushing him to the side in an effort to

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

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

poking at the dead carcass of his

not too far away from where he stood, was completely mangled, and he was

and father for an undetermined amount of time while they

his heart felt emptier

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 to realize a day

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

*

Twenty five years later.

found himself standing

same as it had been in

his previous life, Kevin was much more powerful

bit; it was by quite a

his previous life by combining the knowledge he gained from his previous life with the system given

most skilled instructors,

just a couple of moves. He had

look eerily familiar, don't

the world, his eyes glossing over his body.

"…You couldn't possibl—"

was already raised, and a white hue began to emerge from

long after that, and a powerful wave of energy

"Akashic laws…"

Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced

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