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

meeting today was important to me for a certain

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

meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated

up ranking 18th, which was far beneath

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into another fit of

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

'Blood...'

and my vision

"Not again..."

my head and stared at

"Fuck."

silently left my mouth while more blood dropped

arm, I raised my head

"What's wrong, nervous?"

a recognizable

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

was able to calm myself down and washed my

sudden outburst came as a result of his

difficult for me to contain my

going

sink. Slowly raising my

Our eyes met.

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

Only then did I

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

"Oh?"

eyebrows of

if I have to wait a few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end

"Right..."

the side of the sink

Cra..crack…

started to form on the

was the one behind it? It

my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

while calmly staring at

as I

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

grip on the sink as

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

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

that transpired

things I could've done to

You aren't this

he would show up, but despite this, you weren't concerned for my safety because you also knew

may not have known that this was the last loop, but I sure as

the enigmatic words he said after his memories stopped playing, I knew that he wasn't

my head to glare at

in particular, but without a doubt, you

anything, he

bit before he opened his mouth

In a way, you can say that I did plan for

tightened when I

'I knew it.'

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

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

why I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

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

Bam—!

mirror with all my force. The glass shattered and shards fell on

in the

around the room my breath

don't have time for