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

quality of life for

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

all, it was the most

take care of

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

was, she kneeled down slightly and caressed his

mother; why wouldn't I take care of

I not

his

of surprise as she listened 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

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

was more confused

broke him out of his reverie as she

rare occasion

burst of excitement

she showing such a reaction for such a trivial

Humans…

more confusing

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

passed, and the same scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The demons

down and stared at the lifeless body of his mother

"Why?"

place in the subsequent minutes and seconds,

"Kevin, move!"

him to the side in an effort to protect

witnessed the dismemberment of his mother, followed by his father dragging him away and hiding

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

the

from where he

and stared at his mother and father for an undetermined amount

his heart felt emptier than

usually felt like this, but for some

'Why is that?'

away from the area and placed in an orphanage

Kevin's progress

*

Twenty five years later.

himself standing in

was the same as it had

previous life, Kevin was

just by a little bit; it was by quite a

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

instruction from the most skilled

put, he could swat his former self in just

eerily familiar,

world, his eyes glossing over his

"…You couldn't possibl—"

hue began

after that, and

"Akashic laws…"

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

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