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

their quality of life for

wouldn't really think anything of it if they got rid of him.

all, it was the most logical

I take care

a friendly grin

where he was, she kneeled down slightly and caressed his

why wouldn't

not a

his

expression changed to one of surprise as she listened to his

burden. My life has never been more fulfilled now that you're

and warm embrace of

more confused

sound of his mother's voice was what broke him out of his reverie as she suddenly squeezed him more tightly in her

such a rare occasion that I didn't even

of excitement once again made

such a reaction for such a

Humans…

more confusing than he

***

Ding—!

System configured

100%

and the same scenes from the first life repeated themselves. The

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

"Why?"

the events that had taken place in

"Kevin, move!"

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

father dragging

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

asked, poking at the

who was not too far away from where he stood, was

stared at his mother and father for an undetermined amount

heart felt emptier

for some strange reason, he felt even

'Why is that?'

from the area and placed in an orphanage before he even had a chance

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

*

Twenty five years later.

again, Kevin found himself standing in

same as it had been in the

life, Kevin was much more powerful

wasn't just by a little bit; it was by quite

life, he was able to become even more powerful than he had been in his previous life by

also received instruction from the most skilled instructors,

swat his former self in just a couple of moves.

look eerily familiar,

the world, his eyes glossing over his body. With a raised eyebrow,

"…You couldn't possibl—"

white hue began to emerge from

that, and a powerful wave of

"Akashic laws…"

long. Instead, he appeared to have realized something, as evidenced by the appearance

the missing piece that I need in order to get to