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."

didn't come to the meeting and exposed my strength on a whim. Rather, I did it

today was important to me

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

the meeting started,

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

Bang—!

"Damn it."

me into another

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

'Blood...'

and my vision blurred. This

"Not again..."

and stared

"Fuck."

my mouth while more blood dropped down

my arm, I raised my head to stare at

"What's wrong, nervous?"

recognizable voice as my

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

calm myself down and washed my

result of

starting to be increasingly difficult for me to contain my

not going to

water dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared at the mirror, or

Our eyes met.

you still hung up on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years have

closed the valve without saying anything. Only

me to give you my body after what

"Oh?"

of my reflection

The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't take control of your

"Right..."

the side of the sink with all my

Cra..crack…

form on the

so sure that I was the one behind it? It could

words, my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

asked while calmly staring at the

I drew nearer to the

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

sink as

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

been able to defeat him, but I sure as heck would have

the events that transpired back

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

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

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

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

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

my head to

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

anything, he just looked at

persisted for a little bit before he

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

tightened when I heard his

'I knew it.'

first place, there is no use in lying about it now.

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

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 him was dwindling as you began to stand still. My decisions were driven by need. Smallsnake

Bam—!

The glass shattered and shards fell on

in

the room

don't have time for