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?

be experiencing nearly

quality of life for them would significantly

it if they got rid of him. He knew that he was nothing

in all, it was the

I take care

a fleeting glimpse of his mother looking at him with a friendly grin on her face as she turned her

where he was, she kneeled

mother; why wouldn't I take

I not

his face

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

never been more fulfilled now

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

more

of his reverie

It's such a rare occasion

of excitement once again made Kevin

a reaction for

Humans…

creatures far more confusing than

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

themselves. The demons came,

at the lifeless body of his mother while he prodded

"Why?"

that had taken place in the

"Kevin, move!"

clearly remember his mother pushing him to the side in an effort to protect him from a demon,

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

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

asked, poking at the dead carcass

not too far away from where he stood,

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

his heart felt emptier than

for some strange reason, he

'Why is that?'

in an orphanage before he even had a

been before, and Kevin's progress in strength continued at a

*

Twenty five years later.

found himself

face was the same as

to his previous life, Kevin was much more

bit; it was by

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

from the most skilled instructors, which

swat his former self in just a couple of moves. He

eerily familiar, don't

the world, his eyes glossing

"…You couldn't possibl—"

a white hue began

not long after that, and a powerful

"Akashic laws…"

expression of shock on Jezebeth's face didn't last for very long. Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance of a

the missing piece that I need in order to get to the