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."

exposed my strength on

to me

Monolith and the Union's cease-fire was set to expire the following month, and I would only have a chance to influence the situation and participate if I had a

meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just how hard it was to break through to the

which was far beneath the rank I wanted

Bang—!

"Damn it."

me into another

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

'Blood...'

little and my vision blurred. This lasted for a good minute

"Not again..."

lowered my head and stared at

"Fuck."

curse silently left my mouth while more blood dropped

blood with my arm, I raised my head to stare at

"What's wrong, nervous?"

a recognizable voice as my reflection

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

I was able to calm myself down and washed my face with some

result of his

starting to be increasingly difficult for

going to say

paused on my face while water dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared at the mirror, or to be more precise, my

Our eyes met.

Two years have already passed, move on.

Only then did I

to give you my body after

"Oh?"

of my reflection

a few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't take control of your body and do

"Right..."

the sink with

Cra..crack…

started to form on the

so sure that I was the one

my head

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly staring at the

icier as I

think that I wouldn't know this was something you devised? I may be stupid

grip on the sink as

damage. He may have not been a clone, but he wasn't exactly in

Kevin destroyed the core. Even if he didn't show it, I could tell. I may have not been able to defeat him, but I

that transpired

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

no way you could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was unquestionably something you wanted to

you also knew that he was hurt. This shows that you had

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

from the enigmatic words he said after his memories stopped playing, I knew

head to glare at the

on Smallsnake in particular, but without a doubt, you

saying anything, he just looked at

bit before

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

heart tightened when I heard

'I knew it.'

it in the first place, there is no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the planet were things that I was aware would

that can be predicted, and 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 did? ...and why do you think you were

sure you know exactly why I did what I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

to defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would

Bam—!

force. The glass

in the mirror

room my

don't have time