The Author's POV

"Are my words bringing back memories to you?"

It was Jezebeth's words that coaxed Kevin out of his thoughts and back into the present. When he raised his head, he looked directly into Jezebeth's eyes.

"How much do you know?"

Kevin asked, his eyes losing focus every so slightly.

"Not much."

Jezebeth replied, walking around the patch of grass he was on.

"My recollections are rather disorganized. Only fragments of the past remain in my memory. Many times, I recall beating you. I recall the various methods I used to defeat you...but I do not recall the exact events that transpired."

Jezebeth's feet came to a sudden pause, and his head turned.

"...Of course, this is due to the fact that I have not yet amassed every fragment. Once I've collected each and every one of them, I'll naturally remember everything."

"I see..."

Kevin blankly stared at Jezebeth and slowly closed his eyes. No one knew what was on his mind at the moment.

Slowly, he opened his eyes and stared directly at Jezebeth.

"...So the reason why you called for me is just for this?"

"No, no, no."

Jezebeth waved his hands in the air.

Even though his actions were a little over the top, Kevin felt uneasy around him.

Jezebeth exuded an air of calm and self-assurance, which gave the impression that he had everything under control at all times...and Kevin's countless regressions had proven that this was the case the majority of the time.

Of course, things were different this time.

Jezebeth continued.

"Not really the reason I called you here. I've just been wondering. If the records are your enemy, why don't you just work with me? ... Why don't you just allow me to consume the earth and access the records? I can put an end to them for you. If that is your objective."

Kevin merely smiled at Jezebeth before lowering his head and murmuring.

"...You wouldn't understand."

"What wouldn't I understand?"

Jezebeth asked, the smile on his face fading.

I can tell, your objective is the records. The same applies to me. If we work together, we will easily be able to get to the records. Once

"Heh..."

out a soft chuckle, and Jezebeth's face

the records? Me? The being that was created

his head and waved his hand in the air as the world around him began to disintegrate

clear blue sky, the mountains...it seemed as though everything was beginning to shatter like glass, including Jezebeth, who did not move from the

fight the records. You should know full well that I was born to obey the records, and regardless of whatever happens,

knowledge that a puppet couldn't fight its own

wanted to fight them, it

would only lead to the destruction of

and

turning around and raising it once more. A dazzling white glow materialized on

was all that I needed

completely shatter the illusion he was

just as he was about to open his mouth to respond, his eyes stopped on a

"Wha―"

extended his hand in front of him and then slowly closed

be shocked. I'm sure 'he' will be even more shocked than you, but that doesn't matter. Our time together is over, and I found out everything that I wanted

Crash―!

could even finish his sentence, the

pity if you died before I even

was only able to hear those words for a moment before he was whisked away and found himself

"Cough...Cough...Cough..."

that he once more began violently coughing, and blood once more began to spill all over the floor, splattering

he had no choice but to get down on one knee and support himself by placing his arm

'Shit...'

consequences of his decision to use the Akashic laws, despite the state

failed, and if it weren't for the thin layer of mana that was still circulating through his body and into those

"Blergh."

with

Kevin was able to hang on to the last bit of sanity he had and managed to keep his balance before collapsing to the ground with his back resting against the wooden frame

spun, and his eyes drifted toward his hands,

don't have much

***

a pretty sight. The sky was pitch black, and the surface lands were demolished; large swaths of the ground were pitted with craters and radiated with residual

ground, where they had been

odor persisted in the air, permeating a significant portion of Immorra's landscape, which

single living

C..crack―!

a disruption in the

was from this gate that two

region that encircled them―created a further imbalance in the world as the demonic energy in the air suddenly started

surface of the world, a voice that was

"...What happened over here?"