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.

comprehend. From what 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 we reach them, I

"Heh..."

soft chuckle,

Me? The being that was created by the

hand in the air as the world around

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

almost everything. I'm sure you know that it's not possible for me to fight the records. You should know full well that I was born to obey the records, and regardless

was common knowledge that a

or wanted to fight them,

and betrayal would only lead to the destruction

what controls me, and I know that you know

once more. A dazzling white glow

all that I needed to know to

he was about to completely shatter the illusion he was in, he heard a couple of faint words coming

him and began to formulate his response. However, just as he was about to open his mouth to respond, his eyes stopped on a spot right behind Jezebeth, and for a split second,

"Wha―"

his hand in front of him and then

but that doesn't matter. Our time together

Crash―!

Kevin could even finish his sentence, the world around him shattered into

be a pity

moment before he was whisked away and

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

blood once more began to

chest continued to intensify, he had no choice but to get down on one knee and support himself by placing

'Shit...'

suffering from the consequences of his decision to use the Akashic

organs had failed, and if it weren't for the thin layer of mana that was still circulating through his body and into those organs, Kevin would have died right there

"Blergh."

the floor was soon splattered with even more blood. The world began

on to the last bit of sanity he had and managed to keep his balance before collapsing to the

vision spun, and his eyes drifted toward

don't have

***

aftermath of the conflict that took place between Suriol and Ren was not a pretty sight. The sky was pitch black, and the surface lands were demolished; large

were still lying on the ground, where they had

rancid and sulfurous odor persisted in the air, permeating a significant portion of

living creature was in

C..crack―!

of the world were abruptly shattered in one of the secluded parts of Immorra by a disruption

this gate that two

that encircled them―created a further imbalance in the world

of the world, a voice that was both raspy and ominous

"...What happened over here?"