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."

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

important to me for a

would only have a chance to

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

only ended up ranking 18th, which

Bang—!

"Damn it."

into

only stopped when I felt a wet sensation running down my nose. I saw a noticeable red

'Blood...'

vision blurred. This lasted for a good minute

"Not again..."

lowered my head and stared at

"Fuck."

silently left my mouth while more blood dropped

I raised my head

"What's wrong, nervous?"

up a recognizable

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

I was able to calm

outburst came as a result of his personality

increasingly difficult for me

going

toward the sink. Slowly raising

Our eyes met.

up on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years have already

Only then did

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

"Oh?"

of

an end to things even if I

"Right..."

the side of the sink with all my

Cra..crack…

slowly started to form on the porcelain

one behind it? It could just be you blaming me for

his words, my

"You think I'm stupid?"

while calmly staring at the

I

fault in his death, but do you seriously think that I wouldn't know this was

tightened the grip on the sink as I recalled the

may have not been a clone, but he wasn't exactly

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

now, the events that

to prevent

there is no way you could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance

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

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

said after his memories stopped playing, I knew that

my head to glare at the

not have set your targets on Smallsnake in particular, but without a doubt, you

anything, he just looked

bit before

you and avoided his death. In a way, you can say that I did plan

tightened when I

'I knew it.'

it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the planet were things that I

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 for as long as you did? ...and why do you think you were even allowed to

know exactly why I did what I did,

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you began to stand still. My decisions were driven by need. Smallsnake had to perish in

Bam—!

force. The glass shattered and shards

in the mirror

the room my breath

don't have time for