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."

my strength on a whim. Rather, I did it with a

meeting today was important to me for a certain

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

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

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

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into another

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

'Blood...'

arm spasmed a little and my vision blurred. This lasted for a good

"Not again..."

my head and stared at my trembling

"Fuck."

curse silently left my mouth while more blood

my arm, I raised my head

"What's wrong, nervous?"

a recognizable voice as my

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

another deep breath I was able to calm myself

outburst came as a result of his

to be increasingly difficult

going to

water dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head,

Our eyes met.

to Smallsnake? Two years have

the valve without saying anything. Only then did I open my mouth to

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

"Oh?"

eyebrows of my

have to wait a few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to

"Right..."

the sink with all

Cra..crack…

started to form

was the one behind it? It could just be you blaming me

his words, my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly

as I drew nearer to the

in his death, but do you seriously think that I wouldn't know this was something you devised? I may be stupid

the grip on the sink as I

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

the core. Even if he didn't show it, I could tell. I may have not been able to defeat him, but I sure as heck would have been able to delay him...Enough to buy Smallsnake some time, had you lent

the events that transpired back then haunted

all the things I could've done to prevent such

You aren't this negligent. His appearance was unquestionably

aware that he 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

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

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

to glare at

in particular, but without a doubt, you wanted someone

anything, he just looked

for a little bit before he opened his mouth to

helped you and avoided his death. In a way,

heart tightened when I heard

'I knew it.'

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

if I may not be able to completely anticipate what will happen, major factors like that are indeed something that can be predicted, and from there, changing little things to make them go your

sure you know exactly why I did

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

at the time, there was simply no way for you to defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you began to stand still. My decisions were driven by need. Smallsnake

Bam—!

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

in the mirror

around the room my breath felt

have time