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."

on a whim. Rather, I did it with a goal

was important to me for

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

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

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

Bang—!

"Damn it."

into another

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

'Blood...'

my vision blurred.

"Not again..."

lowered my head and stared

"Fuck."

left my mouth while more

arm, I raised

"What's wrong, nervous?"

ears picked up a recognizable voice as my reflection moved

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

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

as a result of his personality

increasingly difficult for

going to say

down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared

Our eyes met.

years

the valve without saying anything. Only then

you expect me to give you my body

"Oh?"

eyebrows of my

to wait a few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't

"Right..."

the side of the sink with

Cra..crack…

form

one behind

my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

while calmly staring at the

as I drew nearer to

that I wouldn't know this was something you devised? I may be stupid at times, but I'm

the grip on the sink as I recalled the

sense it at the time...Jezebeth sustained damage. He may have not been a clone, but he wasn't exactly

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

events that transpired back then

to prevent such a situation from

appearance. You

because you also knew that he was hurt.

I sure as heck knew that he had enough

playing, I knew that he wasn't planning to end

to glare at the

particular, but without a doubt, you

anything, he just

bit before he opened his mouth to

you and avoided his death. In a way, you can say that I

tightened when I heard his

'I knew it.'

attempted to conceal 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

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 even allowed to see

you know exactly why I did what I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you began to stand still. My decisions were driven by need. Smallsnake had to perish in

Bam—!

the mirror with all my force. The glass shattered and shards fell on the

reflection in the

the room my

have time for