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."

and exposed my strength on a whim. Rather, I did it

was important to me for a

and I would only have a chance to influence the situation and participate if I had

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

only ended up ranking 18th, which was far beneath the rank I wanted it

Bang—!

"Damn it."

into another fit of

nose. I saw a noticeable red stain on my hand when I wiped the area with my

'Blood...'

left arm spasmed a little and my vision blurred. This lasted

"Not again..."

lowered my head and stared at

"Fuck."

mouth while more blood dropped

I raised my head to

"What's wrong, nervous?"

a recognizable voice as

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

to calm myself down and washed my face with some

outburst came as a result of his personality

increasingly difficult for me

going

raising my head, I glared at the mirror, or

Our eyes met.

on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years have

the valve without saying anything. Only then did I open

me to give you my body after what you've

"Oh?"

eyebrows of my reflection

The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end

"Right..."

of the sink with all

Cra..crack…

to form on

makes you so sure that I was the one behind

words, my head

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly staring at the

icier as I drew nearer to

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

on the sink as I recalled the events of two years

it at the time...Jezebeth sustained damage. He may have

worsened shortly after Kevin destroyed the core. Even if he didn't show it, I could tell. I may have not been

the events that transpired back then haunted

things I could've done to prevent such a situation from

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

my safety because you also knew that he was hurt. This shows that you had

last loop, but I sure as heck knew that he had enough

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

head to glare at the

your targets on Smallsnake in particular, but without a doubt, you wanted someone

he just looked

silence persisted for a little bit before he opened

right, I could've helped you and avoided his death. In a way, you can say that I

heart tightened when I heard his

'I knew it.'

the first place, there is no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on

things to make them go your way isn't exactly too hard. Why do you think you were able

exactly why I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

with that shaky resolve you had at the time, there was simply no way for you to defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting

Bam—!

the mirror with all my force. The

in

room my

don't have time for