The Author's POV

"Why are you still struggling?"

A soft voice echoed, and a fist appeared before Ren. Cocking his head, he just barely dodged the fist and pressed his finger against Jezebeth's abdomen.

It only touched him, but the moment it did so, it sent Jezebeth hurling back and plummeting against the sea beneath.

Splash—!

Calmness returned to the world, and Ren looked around him. He was in the middle of the ocean, and the sun hung in the cloudless blue sky.

He could feel the sunlight gently envelope his body and bathe it in a warm light. He could smell a rather stale, sulfurous smell coming from the sea.

Such vivid sensation made him wonder if he was back on earth or if this was a separate space.

The answer was very hard to find. He couldn't quite tell anymore.

Everything just seemed so realistic, and if not for the fact that he couldn't see any pillars near him, he'd be inclined to believe that he was back on Earth.

"Have you seen enough?"

A soft voice whispered behind him, and Ren turned his head.

There he saw Jezebeth standing not far from him, his gaze focused on a small projection that appeared before him.

His expression was anything but good at the moment.

"You really…"

As a matter of fact, it was getting worse with each second that he spent staring at the projection, and tearing his gaze away from it, he looked at Ren while sweeping his hand through the air.

His gaze was a mix of complicated emotions.

"…didn't hold back, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend like you don't understand."

Frowning, Jezebeth clenched his fist. The water beneath him broke apart, and a significant wave rose high into the air.

"I bet… Everything that has happened to him is not a coincidence. The death of his-no, your dad, was on purpose… it was, wasn't it?"

The water that was surrounding Jezebeth began to wriggle and move around his body as if it were a serpent with its own independent will. A strange power fluctuated inside of the water, and Ren couldn't help but look at it.

At the same time, his mouth parted open, and he spoke.

"What makes you think that I would purposely kill my own father? What reason would I have for doing that?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

his hand, hundreds of projections appeared in the

Jezebeth pointed at them.

no longer seemed to care about himself or those around him. He's been going on a rampage ever since, and even now, as broken as his body is, he's still trying

pause mid-sentence and tear his

happy, realizing that only two of his seven patriarchs were alive. In fact, the realization hit him

"Haa..."

him to rid himself of any of the unfavorable emotions that he was

expressionless, and the very air around him

he indeed felt sad at the thought of his comrades dying, he was quick to cut such emotions off and regain control

was sure of it

that had happened was within

type of person who would stoop to anything to achieve his goal. I'm sure what's

between the two of them started,

idea before, but the more he watched, the more confused

he planning? What was

other self to this point in order to achieve your

of them to see, Ren never showed any care or concern for

something… and when Jezebeth watched again and saw

his death, no…" Jezebeth corrected

eyes of the two met at that moment, and Ren's expression

Jezebeth continued.

you chose to sacrifice one of the people he was close with. I don't know how, but I

It had to be.

clearer and rid

the more Jezebeth felt

other version of

someone who tended to

after getting a better idea of their power and attempting to stabilize the situation over the entirety of the world

it consumed

the most, however, was the fact that Ren could absorb the laws that

the Protectors, and it was at that moment that

all of the Seven Patriarchs unless he was this way… Your goal is to

"That's enough."

Jezebeth off in

on him, Ren quietly stared at him for a good couple of seconds and

nodding for? Are my words

"Partially."

Ren didn't deny it.

That being said, not

point

a bit disappointed that you figured it out a bit later than I thought

"Haha."

Jezebeth laughed lightly.

me off a lot

"That's a pity."

"Mhm. Indeed…"

Jezebeth raised his hand and pointed at Ren. After that, the water snake that had been winding itself around his body suddenly twisted and launched itself in Ren's