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?

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

of life for

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

in all, it was the most logical

do I take care

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

toward where he was, she kneeled down slightly and caressed

your mother; why wouldn't I take care of

I not

his face

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

My life has never been more

soft and warm embrace of

more confused

out of his reverie

You spoke! It's such a rare

excitement once again made

showing such a reaction

Humans…

far more confusing than he

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

same scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The demons came, and his parents died trying to protect

down and stared at the lifeless body of his mother

"Why?"

had taken place in the subsequent minutes and seconds, he became even

"Kevin, move!"

clearly remember his mother pushing him to the side in an effort to protect him from a demon, but she ended up being the

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

you didn't have to take care of

poking at the dead carcass of his

not too far away from where he stood, was completely mangled, and he was no longer

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

his heart felt emptier than

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

'Why is that?'

area and placed in an orphanage

had been before, and Kevin's progress in strength continued

*

Twenty five years later.

found himself standing in front of

same as it had been in the

his previous life, Kevin was much more powerful in this

just by a little bit;

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

skilled instructors, which contributed to

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

eerily familiar,

glossing

"…You couldn't possibl—"

was already raised, and a white hue began to

attack not long after that, and a powerful wave

"Akashic laws…"

he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced by the

piece that I need in