The Author's POV

'He's changed a lot since the last time I saw him.'

Donna quietly thought to herself as her gaze fixed on Ren who was seated a few tables ahead of her.

Even she felt pressured at the time he revealed his strength in front of everyone.

The power he displayed...

It was frightening.

'I knew he was talented, but I didn't think it was to this point.'

One could not come close to describing the rate of his progress. It was simply, frightening. To the point where both Monica and Kevin were left behind.

She was more shocked to find that not much time had elapsed since she had taught him at the Lock.

About six years.

In about that period of time, he had transformed from a typical ranking student to someone whose strength had surpassed hers.

'How monstrous.'

She mumbled to herself once more.

In the past, she thought that Monica was the most talented human she knew, but it was clear to her that there was someone else that was above her.

It was none other than Ren.

'His strength isn't the only thing that changed about him, his demenour also seemed to have changed.'

When Donna looked at him more closely, she saw that he was different from how he had been in the past.

Around him, there was a somewhat melancholy vibe. One that left Donna feeling uneasy. It was sufficient to make her face turn grave.

'...Just what happened during the few years that I haven't seen him?'

He wasn't exactly cheerful, but he sure as heck wasn't like how he was now.

It kind of worried her a little.

'I should probably talk to him after this is over.'

Thus, she made her mind up to talk to him after the meeting was over. It had been a couple of years since they had come to contact with each other, might as well catch up a little.

***

Bang—!

My fist smashed against the side of the bathroom wall, and fine miniature crevices extended all the way toward the ceiling of the bathroom.

The meeting had ended a couple of minutes ago. As expected, Octavious ranked first, and Maximus who was previously ranked third was now ranked second.

But that wasn't what resulted in my rage.

"Rank 18? Seriously?! ...After all that hard work?"

I gritted my teeth as a burst of rage erupted from deep within my body.

I was upset with my slow improvement rather than my poor ranking. I had been working hard for the past two years. Really hard.

During that period, I went through a phase of relative strength increase, helped by the air's increasing mana density and the merging with the strength of my former self.

My efforts paid off, and I was able to advance to level in just two years. I was just a little shy of reaching rank.

But...

"Too slow!"

I muttered through my clenched teeth.

Two years.

That was how much time I had left before my other self would take over or the curse that was in me would activate.

Two fucking years. That was how long I had to live.

The rate at which I was progressing was slow. Too fucking slow.

"...I miscalculated."

strength on a whim. Rather, I did

to me

month, and I would only have

had previously anticipated that I would already be rank by the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just how hard it was to

up ranking 18th, which

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into

sensation running down my nose. I saw a noticeable red stain on

'Blood...'

and my vision blurred.

"Not again..."

and stared at

"Fuck."

mouth while more

my arm, I raised my head to

"What's wrong, nervous?"

picked up a recognizable voice as

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

deep breath I was able to calm myself down

sudden outburst came as a result of his

starting to be increasingly difficult for me

going to

sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared

Our eyes met.

to Smallsnake? Two years

valve without saying anything. Only

you expect me to give you my body after what you've done, you

"Oh?"

eyebrows of my reflection

put an end to things even

"Right..."

gripped the side of the

Cra..crack…

to form on

what makes you so sure that I was the one behind it? It could just be you blaming me for your

my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

asked while calmly

icier as I drew

death, but do you seriously think that I wouldn't know this was

the grip on the sink as I recalled the events

sense it at the time...Jezebeth sustained damage. He may have not been a

tell. I may have not been able to defeat him, but I sure as heck would have been able to delay

events that transpired

all the things I could've done to prevent such a situation

could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was unquestionably

would show up, but despite this, you weren't concerned for my safety because you also knew that he was hurt. This shows that you had something planned and that something was Smallsnake's

was the last loop, but I sure as heck knew

his memories stopped playing, I knew that he wasn't planning to end the loop

head to glare at

Smallsnake in particular, but

anything, he just looked at

silence persisted for a little bit before

his death. In

heart tightened when I

'I knew it.'

about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the planet

from there, changing little things to make them go your way isn't exactly too hard. Why do you think you were able to see the memories for as long as you

why I did what

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you began to stand still.

Bam—!

punched the mirror with all my force. The glass shattered

in

around the room my breath felt

don't have time