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."

to the meeting and exposed my strength on a whim.

important to me for a certain

following month, and I would only

already be rank by the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just how hard it

only ended up ranking 18th, which

Bang—!

"Damn it."

sent me into

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

'Blood...'

and my vision blurred. This

"Not again..."

and

"Fuck."

left my mouth while more blood dropped down from my

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

"What's wrong, nervous?"

picked up a recognizable voice

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

able to calm myself down and washed

as a result of his personality merging

to be increasingly difficult

not going to say

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

Our eyes met.

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

Only then did I open my mouth to

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

"Oh?"

of

think I mind if I 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

"Right..."

gripped the side of the sink with all my

Cra..crack…

slowly started to form on the porcelain

that I was the one behind it? It could just be you

my

"You think I'm stupid?"

asked while calmly staring at the

voice became icier as I drew nearer

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

sink as I recalled the

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

I may have not been able to defeat him, but I sure as heck would have been able to delay

that transpired back

of all the things I could've done to

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

concerned for my safety because you

I sure as heck knew that he had enough power

the enigmatic words he said after his memories stopped playing,

head to glare at

have set your targets on Smallsnake in particular, but

saying anything, he just looked at

bit before he

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

tightened when

'I knew it.'

to conceal 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 I was aware would

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 did what I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

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

Bam—!

all my force. The glass shattered

in

room my breath

don't have time for