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."

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

to

cease-fire was set to expire the following month, and I would only

rank by the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just how hard it

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

Bang—!

"Damn it."

sent me into another fit

felt a wet sensation running down my nose. I saw a noticeable red stain on my hand when I wiped the area with my

'Blood...'

a little and my vision

"Not again..."

my head and stared at my trembling

"Fuck."

while more blood

the blood with my arm, I raised my head

"What's wrong, nervous?"

ears picked up a recognizable voice as my reflection

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

calm

a result of his personality

to be increasingly difficult for me

going to

raising my head,

Our eyes met.

on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years have

valve without saying anything. Only then did I open

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

"Oh?"

eyebrows of my reflection

on you will put an end to

"Right..."

the sink

Cra..crack…

slowly started to form

one behind it? It could just be you

words, my

"You think I'm stupid?"

while calmly staring at the

icier as I

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

the sink as I recalled the

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

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

events that transpired back

to prevent such a situation

You aren't this negligent. His

despite this, you weren't concerned for my safety because you also knew

have known that this was the last loop, but I sure as heck knew that he had enough power to

playing, I knew that he

raised my head to glare

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

anything, he

silence persisted for a little bit

In a way, you can say that

tightened when I heard

'I knew it.'

is no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's

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 way isn't

sure you know exactly why

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

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

Bam—!

The

in

room my

have time