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 with

to me for a

only have a chance

rank by the time the meeting started,

ranking 18th, which was far beneath the

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into another fit

nose. I saw a noticeable red

'Blood...'

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

"Not again..."

and stared at my

"Fuck."

mouth while more blood dropped down from

blood with my arm, I raised

"What's wrong, nervous?"

up a recognizable voice as my reflection moved

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

deep breath I was able to calm myself down

as a result of his personality merging

starting to be increasingly difficult for me to contain my

going

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

Our eyes met.

up on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years have already passed, move on. Why

the valve without saying anything. Only then did I open

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

"Oh?"

eyebrows of my reflection

have to wait a few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't take control of your body and do it myself. You've lost no

"Right..."

the side of the sink with

Cra..crack…

to form on the

Smallsnake, what makes you so sure that I was the one behind it? It could just

my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly

icier as I drew nearer

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

sink as

damage. He may have not been a clone, but he wasn't

been able to defeat

events that transpired

I could've done to prevent

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

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

not have known that this was the last loop, but I sure as heck knew that he had enough power to

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

raised my head to glare

in particular, but without a doubt, you wanted someone involved to

he

bit before

could've helped you and avoided his death. In a way, you can say

heart tightened when I heard

'I knew it.'

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 were things that

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 as you did? ...and why do you think

know exactly why I did

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 began to stand still. My decisions were driven by need. Smallsnake had to perish in order to

Bam—!

punched the mirror with all my force. The

reflection in the mirror

the room

have time for