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."

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

today was important to me for

and I would only have

I would already be rank by the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just

which was far beneath the rank

Bang—!

"Damn it."

sent me into another fit

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

'Blood...'

my vision

"Not again..."

lowered my head and

"Fuck."

mouth while

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

"What's wrong, nervous?"

recognizable voice

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

to calm myself down

as a result of his

increasingly difficult for me

not going to

my face while water dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared at

Our eyes met.

Smallsnake? Two years have already

Only then did I open my

to give you my body after what you've

"Oh?"

eyebrows of

put an end to things even if I don't take

"Right..."

gripped the side of the sink

Cra..crack…

to form on the porcelain

one behind it? It could just be you blaming

my

"You think I'm stupid?"

asked while calmly staring at

voice became icier as I

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

tightened the grip on the sink as I recalled the events of two

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

but his injuries worsened shortly after 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 sure as heck would have been able to delay him...Enough to buy Smallsnake some time, had you lent me your

the events that transpired back then

the things I could've done to prevent such

unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was unquestionably something you

this, you weren't concerned for my safety because you also knew that he was hurt. This shows

that this was the last loop, but I

enigmatic words he said after his memories stopped playing,

raised my head to glare at

in particular, but without a

saying anything, he

little bit before he

right, I could've helped you and avoided his death. In a

when I

'I knew it.'

in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the planet were things that 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 way isn't exactly too hard. Why do you think you were able to see the memories

know exactly why I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

you to defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you

Bam—!

The glass shattered

in

the room my breath felt

have time