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?

then they wouldn't be experiencing

their quality of life for them would

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

it was the most logical

do I take

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

he was, she kneeled down slightly and caressed his

why wouldn't I

not

asked, his face

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

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

of

more

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

such a rare occasion that

of excitement once again

a reaction

Humans…

were creatures far more confusing

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

repeated themselves. The demons came, and

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

"Why?"

events that had taken place in the subsequent minutes and seconds,

"Kevin, move!"

in an effort to protect him

his father dragging him away and hiding him in the

have to take care of me. Why did you

poking at the dead

not too far away from 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

felt emptier than

usually felt like this, but for some strange reason, he felt

'Why is that?'

additional support arrived, he was whisked away from the area and placed in an orphanage before he even had a chance

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

*

Twenty five years later.

again, Kevin found himself standing in

same as it

previous life, Kevin was much more powerful in

wasn't just by a little bit;

he had been in his previous life by combining the knowledge he gained from his previous life with the system given to him by

instruction from the most skilled

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

look eerily familiar, don't

throughout the world, his eyes glossing over

"…You couldn't possibl—"

hand was already raised, and a white hue began to emerge from it. It covered the entire world around him, and Jezebeths'

and

"Akashic laws…"

he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance of a

missing piece that I need in order to get to the